"Thank you for that, you have proved that to be true time and time again." Nora managed to say with a smile.
Zuph felt his heart beating out of his chest. Seeing her smile at him like that and acknowledging his care for her just made him feel so happy.
At the moment he just felt like maybe this was the time to tell her how he truly felt. The song that had been ringing in his heart for the longest time now. He wanted to share it with her, yet the fear of rejection he had was just too much for him.
"What is the matter? What is with that look on your face?" Nora chuckled, she noticed how silent he was. His eyes were very focused and unmoving and if it had been anyone else, she would have been worried.
Zuph snapped out of his daze and looked at her. Her face was always so innocent, and that was one of the things he liked most about her. He loved her honesty, her smile, the way she thought the best of everyone, how easy it was to talk to her.
"Nothing..." Zuph said.
"Nothing?" Nora laughed as he looked away.
"Actually, there is something..." Zuph said, he felt his heart beating faster and faster each passing moment.
This was it, this was the moment he had been waiting for. A voice within him told him that maybe this was too soon, she had just come to terms with forgiving Mero, it was certainly too soon.
"What is it?" Nora asked sounding worried. She had never seen Zuph look so soft before.
"Nora, I have been waiting to tell you this for the longest time." Zuph began. He began to hear Elihu's annoying voice ringing in his ears telling him that this was not the time. This was not the time.
"I really value your friendship." Zuph looked up and managed to say.
"Oh..." Nora said, sounding a bit disappointed. That was not what she thought he had to say. He looked like there was something really important he wanted to say.
"Yes." Zuph smiled.
"Well, I really value your friendship too Zuph." Nora smiled at him and he smiled back at her.
"Another thing I wish to tell you, your smile is always to enchanting." He added.
Nora could not help but laugh. She did not feel cornered, instead she felt flattered.
"You are just saying things like that to flatter me." She laughed.
"It is not flattery if it is the truth." Zuph simply replied.
"Well to me it is." Nora said getting up and carrying away the dirty dishes.
"Do you find it odd that we have dinner together almost every day?" Zuph asked.
"Well no, I do not think it is odd, after all, we are great friends, and if people want to gossip, let them, we have nothing to hide right?" Nora replied turning to him.
"You are right, another reason why I admire you so much, your honesty." Zuph smiled.
"And I admire how you make me laugh." Nora replied walking back into her tent. Zuph could not help himself, he had a bright smile plastered on his face.
He was not ready to trade the relationship he had with Nora for anything. Even if it meant she never knew how he truly felt about her. He would take her friendship over her love any day.
Maybe today was not the right time, nor tomorrow, or the day after that, or maybe for the next years or so. Either way, no matter what happened, he wished to spend his days with her as a friend rather than a lover.
Many weeks later.
"Good morning Wura." Mero smiled walking into her office.
"Good morning Mero, looks like you are in quite a good mood." Wura smiled looked up at him.
"That is only because you are in a good mood." He replied sitting across her.
"How do you know that I am in a good mood?" Wura asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I could feel the rays of your good mood emanating from outside." Mero said.
"Mhmm, right, what have I told you about lying to me?" Wura replied.
"I am not lying to you. I could feel your burst of energy from outside. I knew that when I walked in, I would find you smiling." Mero said assuringly.
"There is no way that is true." Wura said shaking her head and laughing.
"Well it is true. I can read your different feelings and emotions. So tell me, what has made you in such a good mood?" Mero asked.
"I do not think I should tell you, since you can read my emotions and feelings." Wura scoffed.
"I am not a mind reader, it only works in certain circumstances." Mero replied chuckled.
"Mhmm, so why are you in such a good mood?" she asked again.
"I told you. If you are in a good mood I am in a good mood." He replied.
Wura sighed and shook her head. It was things like these that made her rethink is working closely with Mero was such a good idea.
"Anyway, I am in a good mood because for the past few weeks, I have seen Nora the happiest she has been in ages." Wura finally said.
"That is a good reason to be happy. I too am happy to see her happy." Mero replied.
"I know right." Wura said.
"Yes, now we can see each other in the way and greet one another instead of ignoring each other. I like to see her smile as brightly as she does." Mero said.
"Mhmm, I agree with that. I love how you two have returned to a state of peace. And I think I know who to thank for her lovely mood in recent times." Wura said.
"Really? Who?" Mero asked.
"Zuph of course, she cannot stop talking about him. They have become great friends." Wura said.
"That is true... they have always had a connection between them. I remember in the yonder realm was when they really started to connect well." Mero said.
"I agree with you. I am just glad she has someone other than me to talk to. Someone she trusts and I am sure that Zuph feels the same. I like it when the both of them are not focusing on the wrong things."
"Ever since they both forgave you and decided to move on, I have to say that was the best decision they made." Wura said.
"Mhmm." Mero replied. It was then that Wura began to notice that Mero did not seem too happy.
"What is the matter? You still have feelings for Nora?" Wura asked, there was no point in hiding it.
"No... it is not that." Mero replied.
"Right, because I have noticed that any time I mention Nora and Zuph in the same sentence, your demeanour changes." Wura did not sound upset, far from it, she just sounded curious.
If Mero still had some feelings for Nora, she would not mind, in fact, she still had a little ounce of hope that they could get back together, however, what she did not like was the fact that Mero pretended as if it did not affect him.
"I honestly wish them both happiness, it is just that I had a feeling that this would be the outcome a long time ago, and because of that my thoughts towards Zuph changed, but now after I hurt her, I just want her to never be hurt again by anyone." Mero said.
"Hmm, so you think Zuph would hurt her?" Wura asked, for once Mero was not making any sense to her. If there was anyone she was certain would never hurt Nora, it would be Zuph.
"As much as I do not wish to say it. I believe it, bear with me. I know he cares for her deeply, but does she know that?" Mero asked.
"Apart from that, I do not want her to rush into another relationship quickly after what transpired between us." He added.
Wura scoffed, typical of men to still have some sort of hold on the women they had a relationship with.
"You have not truly moved on from her Mero, it is that simple." Wura sounded upset.
"No, I have, do not mistake my concern for feelings." Mero replied, Wura did not look as if she believed him.
"I am telling the truth, if there is one woman I have not moved on from, it would be you." He said and with that he reminded Wura of the reasons she had told him that they keep their distance.
"Answer me this, have you moved on from me?" he asked. Wura looked away, refusing to meet his gaze. She knew that he already knew the answer to that question.
She was not going to allow herself go through the trouble of answering him with her words.