Under the same roof, we cried out to You. With fingers intertwined, we praised You. You held us together to bless us with love.

—H.

❥⁠˙⁠๑

Him

The smiling face of Barak is like the prize of his life. He lives for that smile. He lives for his child's delight. Watching him riding his bicycle while making noise makes him chuckle every time he crosses the line and shouts;

"Daddy, I won!"

And then he goes to the starting point again while Adam watches him. This is the weekend and that's how Barak wanted to spend this day—with his father, outside.

They asked Evalena to come but she had a compulsory task to terminate. But Adam knew it was just an excuse to keep a distance from him. Or else, he knows she is one of the women who don't prioritize work over family.

Anyway, he couldn't compel her. He couldn't say anything to her when they had Barak as an audience.

Days have passed since that incident and Adam is seeing the outcomes of his mistake. Evalena has not been talking to him nicely since that incident and it irks him somewhere in his heart.

He doesn't like that!

The way Evalena ignores him is like letting a swarm of bugs crawl upon himself and watching it happen while he has limbs but he can't even use them like they're chained.

Adam feels vulnerable when being under the same roof, Evalena ignores him. He doesn't know how this all started but he has gotten used to her eyes on him every time and the way her body reacts to his nearness and sometimes his innocent touches.

But this all has not been happening lately.

His gaze leaves the elderly couple sitting on a park bench and he goes to sit upon a place where there is no one and he can keep an eye on Barak.

However, the ephemeral moment that tries to embrace him can't overpower for a minute as someone taps on his shoulder.

He looks at the person over his shoulder, finding the same man whom he watched talking with his wife happily.

"Hey, young man, greetings." The old man with silver hair smiles down at Adam.

"Hello," he replies, watching the man coming to sit beside him. He makes a place for him.

"I'm Benedict. I thought you should know the man you watched happily with his wife."

Adam steals his gaze, scratching the back of his neck. "I apologize," he says, "You two look pretty together. I couldn't help it."

"That's a very expected compliment!" Benedict waves off, "Your name, by the way, young man."

"This is Adam." He gives his hand for a shake which Benedict receives with a smile. He holds the firm hand of Adam with his weak and old skin that feels cold yet the warmth in his eyes surpasses everything.

"Diora—my wife caught you, actually, not me. You know women are blessed with this sharp ability but not us."

They chuckle. "You're right, sir," Adam says, searching for his son just to find him competing with someone else.

Benedict does the same. But for his wife. She is now talking with someone else. Her friend Isadora, if he remembers her name. And he recalls he has been sent here by his wife.

"And she saw through you. You look upset."

Adam sighs.

Benedict continues, "What we don't have, we mostly see in others. I just felt you were missing your wife."

"My wife..." He only has Evalena in his head, "My wife is upset with me."

"Young people nowadays face this problem. Well, you should impress her then. Win her heart, young man, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of ways but you only need one. Because a woman's heart is very delicate. She desires love more than anything."

And Adam wonders if he can give her this. He isn't able to forget Nora. Nor does he have such feelings for Evalena, her childhood friend.

"I've been trying to do it, actually. Nothing seems to work."

"So you've hurt her quite deeply, I see."

Adam's gaze lowers as he nods. Benedict can see how guilty he is. He is getting fewer words to speak. But Benedict wants to help this young man because his wife wants him to.

Putting a hand on his shoulder, he says, "Give her flowers. What does she like?"

"She likes every flower."

"Then give her what you find the most beautiful in the flower shop. And man," he halts, earning Adam's alert to continue, "Have you invited God in your personal matters?"

"No. I thought I'd handle things on my own."

"Here we all make mistakes, young man. I too made this mistake many times until I was weary of making mistakes. Know that He knocks at the door. Whoever invites Him in, will have supper with Him. He's a God Who is ready to clean the place with you before sitting for dinner with you. Invite this humble God in your personal life and see Him working beautifully."

"I will," he almost mumbles, letting his mind think about it deeply.

"Do you pray together?"

"We don't."

While Adam looks away, Benedict smiles weakly. Oh, these people! How to compare them with a Gardner? Those who do not allow the roots of the plants in their own garden to plunge deep. Those who destroy their own garden and wonder how it happened when they put fertilizer and all. However, they forgot to take care.

"Then do. The only person you need to please here is your wife."

Adam nods while the realization sinks into him that it isn't some random man who is guiding him. Rather, his Creator is trying to talk to him through this old man.

He has been praying for a solution, after all. And it gets confirmed when the man brings out something he wasn't even aware of.

"I don't know why I feel this urge to tell you but don't think about your past. Live your present. Learn from the wife of Lot. How she became a pillar of salt when she tried to look back at her old lifestyle and the town which was under judgment."

Adam's heart skips a beat. He knows and he knows that God has been watching him, knowing the sadness inside him that nobody could get a realization of! He wasn't alone! His divine Creator, the Most High, was with him every time he prayed in distress but still earnestly.

"She was strictly told not to look back at the towns but she did. That's because she was reluctant to leave the town. She was getting used to their sinful lifestyle and God didn't like it. He is the God who searches the hearts. One's wickedness of heart can't be hidden from Him. And that way, she became the pillar of salt right there. Her story teaches us not to look back when God has blessed us with something more beautiful and cherishable."

Finishing himself, he asks, "You know what you have to do now, right?"

"I know," Adam answers. Right then, Barak calls him, letting him know that he has won again.

"God bless your child," says Benedict before getting up to leave. Adam thanks him.

⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑

Her

Her eyes burn because of focusing too much. She closes the laptop and puts it aside. A yawn escapes her mouth as she pats her lips lightly. She takes her feet off the table and stretches her body with a sigh. The muscles on her back hurt but it was worth it. She has completed her task.

Getting up, she leaves her room. However, her gaze falls upon the marble shelf where there used to be Nora's picture. It is not there now, for it has been days since Adam has removed her belongings completely from their room.

After the dawn she confronted him, he had hidden all the pictures that belonged to Nora. Only because he didn't want to hurt Evalena again because of his foolishness.

She doesn't know where those pictures are but somewhere in her heart, yet she feels the sparks that stab her insides mercilessly. Adam's carefulness doesn't seem to change anything even a bit but surely the change in his emotions will.

But as he said he doesn't know what his heart wants, he is afraid he might damage her instead of treasuring her because of his unreliable as well as greedy decisions.

But he is not any of them.

Neither he is irresponsible, nor is he a greedy person. He just thinks of himself as such after being encountered by Evalena in that darkness. According to him, he has been only using Evalena and he blindly neglects how he has been living selflessly till now.

She looks away and walks into the kitchen, minding her own business when the noise and gigglings coming from the living room stop her.

She recognizes the source of it, smiling instantly. And soon her eyes meet her boy who comes hopping like a rabbit.

"Welcome home, honey," she chirps, changing her way to him.

"Mama!" He runs to her and gives her the bouquet. "For you!" He grins, stretching his arms full.

Evalena holds the bouquet, her gaze softly lingering upon the pink gerberas. The lovely present is wrapped up in a brown paper and it melts her heart. Her plump lips stretch into a small smile and she looks back at her child.

"This is so beautiful." She crouches in front of him, cupping his cheek while holding the bouquet in the other hand. "Thank you so much, my love," she almost whispers and kisses his chubby cheeks one by one.

He giggles. "Though this is from Daddy, I'm happy to receive the kisses," he jokes, stealing a glance at his father who's been watching them for minutes.

Evalena's smile drops and she looks up at Adam. He has his eyes already set on her as he stands behind Barak, a few steps away.

"I love gerberas! Daddy wanted to give you but I took the bouquet! I, too, wanted to surprise you, Mama. But you can give kisses to Daddy, too."

The last statement leaves her flushed. She looks away from Adam, hiding her blossoming cheeks like cherries. Adam also steals his gaze, scratching the back of his neck.

Kids are cute and innocent, the couple must admit.

"It's okay, baby." She gets up, patting his cheek. She then mumbles a small 'thank you' to Adam, too and he hums in return.

"But that'd be unfair to Daddy, Mama! It was Daddy's idea to surprise you with flowers, not mine!" Barak insists, holding her hand to make her into his starry eyes.

She bites her bottom lip, not knowing what to say while Adam remains shut. She doesn't know what's holding him back when she needs him to interrupt.

She steals a glance at Adam, finding a smirk being pulled on his lips as he watches them with sparks of amusement in his golden eyes.

A frown edges her eyebrows but she doesn't say anything to Adam even though she wants to scold him. What's so entertaining here?

"Let it be, honey. I know it was your Daddy's idea. I'll thank him with a treat, how's it?"

"Wow! Can I also join?"

"Oh, honey, you're always welcome. What would you like to have?"

"Chocolate shake!"

"I'll get it for you." Kissing him again, she leaves with those flowers. A sigh escapes her lips and she mentally praises herself for handling the situation well.

But as she walks away, she hears Barak saying something to his father that blasts the heat in her cheeks even more.

"Sorry, Daddy. I took the sweet kisses you deserved."

As soon as she has entered the room, she closes the door behind herself and leans back with a deep sigh. Her heart thuds inside her chest and she puts her hand on it.

Barak is so innocent but the things he says and the way Adam reacts are more than enough to make her heart react vigorously to them. And her shy nature is like fuel to the fire burning around. Makes it too visible that Adam smiles whenever he catches the rosiness on her cheeks.

Thinking if he likes those blushing cheeks or not would be stupidity and a waste of time because he openly admits that he likes it. She, too, knows. But she doesn't run her brain upon it more than enough before she is well aware of the sickness of her heart whenever she is deep in his thoughts.

So she decides to shut it up.

She arranges those flowers in their room. She then goes down and gives them a treat but there, too, she shares no words with Adam.

As it has been going between them for days, so remains even the same evening. Barak gets her all attention as they talk while Adam sips his tea, silently listening to their conversation.

"We had a lot of fun, Mama! But then she came!" He complains, raising his hands in the air to exaggerate his dislike towards the girl.

"You shouldn't say this, honey. Instead, don't refuse any friend who wants to play with you."

"She only wanted a ride, Mama, and she had it. I don't like her!"

Evalena chews her bottom lip. She leans back, letting the soft material of the couch relax her muscles. Her gaze lingers upon Barak and she wonders why he is always talking about that girl even if he claims to hate her. Well, all seem to do the same in their childhood.

She arranges the white dupatta over her chest that matches the white cotton kurti she is wearing. Amid so, her knuckles faintly touch her earring and it tinkles.

She asks, "And why so?"

"Because she's annoying and very greedy! She's always angry and teases me. She calls me a monkey!"

Evalena can't help but chuckle.

"Mama, please! Don't laugh!"

"I'm sorry, honey."

He purses his lips. "It's okay. I also call her 'wild cat'. She's feral and mannerless."

Evalena sighs. She wraps an arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer. The sweet fragrance of berries and honey that escapes her, meets the boy and he feels comfortable with her.

"Next time, don't use such words, okay?"

"Why not, Mama?"

"Because it's not good and we don't teach you such. I wonder who taught you this all."

"That girl." He rolls his eyes, admitting the truth. It is right that nobody has taught him such words. He never knew he could call people rude names, too. But the girl he claims to hate has taught him so. In reality, he hurls her own words at her.

"You don't have to give attention to them from now on, okay?"

"But she's annoying, Mama. She always starts the quarrel. And she's the trouble in my class." He looks down, mumbling in distress.

But Evalena doesn't let him. She cups his face, making him look at her back.

"You're God's child, aren't you?"

"I am."

"Then you have to be like Him, too, honey. Jesus says, don't repay evil for evil. You don't have to retaliate with insults when people insult you."

"How's it possible, Mama?" He releases his face, finding it all absurd.

"It is possible, my dearest. Remember when Jesus was arrested, they all insulted Him. They spit upon Him, punched Him, flogged Him, and whatnot. Even on the cross, they hurled insults at Him but still, He took it all. If He wanted, He could call upon the army of heaven and order His angels to destroy the entire nation but He didn't do it. Because our God is humble. That's why, be humble as our God is humble."

Barak chews his bottom lip, lowering his gaze. Learning new things from his parents makes him somehow patient and he deeply thinks about it. However, his dislike towards the girl seems like some harder land to conquer.

"And what about her?"

"She'll stop teasing you if you do as God says. Be not overcome by evil. Rather, overcome evil with good."

He nods, telling her further the issue, "I get so angry that I call her names, too."

"If you get angry, just try to keep in mind that God is with you always. In your class, He sits beside you. Would you then call her names?"

His eyes widen. "Never, Mama."

Behind his mother, he peeks at his father who is scrolling through his mobile while taking very small sips. But he doesn't know that Adam is all ears to their conversation.

"So in His presence, you'll bless her. No matter who is before you, you don't have to forget what God has taught you through your Daddy. In this way, you'll honor your Daddy and you like it when he gets proud of you, right?"

The corner of Adam's lips twitches up and he puts the mobile away, giving them his full attention.

"I like it, Mama."

"So, be the reason, honey."

He smiles. "I will."

"That's my boy." She pats his cheek, impressed. She then gathers the cups and leaves the living room, tugging the strands of her hair behind her ear.

Adam watches her leave until she is in the kitchen. He then looks at Barak who is probably deep in thought. And Adam doesn't interrupt him. He lets the Word of God sink into him, taking root.

Later that night when she is covering Barak with a duvet, Adam enters the room and calls her name softly.

She turns around, humming.

He doesn't say anything. Rather, he walks to her and catches her dainty wrist. Her skin reveals its softness to his rough palm and his thumb caresses the smoothness of it, not knowing why. And he leads her to the prayer room and she doesn't even question him.

As they enter the room, he shuts the door behind. "Pray with me," he says, going to sit down.

Evalena follows him silently. The idea seems pretty to her but she has no idea how deep they are about to step into their relationship.

She covers her head with a white lacy scarf while kneeling beside him. He watches her silently as the small act of covering her head feels too beautiful to him. As her arms raised, the satin sleeves of her nightgown glide down, leaving her forearms bare to his eyes.

As she is done, she looks at him but he looks down, opening the sacred Word.

"Who gave you this idea?" She asks him, cracking the shell of silence.

While turning the pages, he answers, "You can say my Lord's Word came to give me this idea. I need to please you, Eva."

The truth he reveals makes her smile secretly. "So you're trying to please me, Adam?"

His hands halt and he looks at her. For a moment, he doesn't speak and just looks into her eyes, sinking into the pupils. Under the glow of the shy moon, she looks gorgeous to him. Oh, but she, being so delicate at the heart, loses her focus at the very moment.

Softness fuses into the warmth in his eyes, making her heart skip a few beats. Shyness returns and her audacity to hold eye contact with him shatters the very moment he smiles a little. Like the touch-me-not flower that tries to move away, her body reacts the same adorable way automatically when he touches her face with his eyes. But he doesn't let her move away. He holds her hands, rubbing the back of her palms tenderly and all these soft gestures melt her into a puddle of nothingness.

She is losing. She is losing again this battle as tender as a twig of a fig tree in summer. Her heart is so merrily ready to get on the knees before him, letting the weapons drop.

Like the cotton candy on one's tongue, she is at his single touch.

If he keeps doing it, she'll be at his feet, at the mercy of his touch. But Adam, like a heartless horseman in a battleground, doesn't show mercy at all even if blood-bathed.

He doesn't let her look away. His eyes are enough to command. His touch awakens the very goosebumps behind the back of her neck, and her pupils dilate while her heart is like running a marathon.

Perhaps he can hear the beating of her heart against her chest inside the silent room and all of a sudden, this urge to comfort that organ sparks an interest in his mind. So dearly and alluringly his mind lets him get a glimpse of those dulcet yet fiery consequences in flashes before his opened eyes.

And he wonders how it would feel to let those sparks turn into a huge flame that would swallow them whole while they burn together to the bones.

"I am trying to please you, Eva."

❥⁠˙⁠๑

"Adam!" She calls his name, running after him even though he has stopped.

"Eva?" He smiles pleasantly, "You didn't have to run. You know I'd wait for you."

Her eyes, on their own, go down on him, finding him to be the most pleasant sight to them. He is attractive, after all. Today when it is his last day at school, her eyes want to behold him as long as they desire.

"Of course!" She chirps, feeling once again her heartbeats soaring like eagles in the sky. Adam has that effect on her, she is unable to deny it.

"But it's me, you know." She chuckles sheepishly. "Anyway, this is for you!" She gives him a bouquet of roses and chocolates in it.

He holds it carefully. "Thank you, little one."

Little one, the name leaves her flushed. She was never a fan of nicknames because to her, her name was alone a beautiful poetry but Adam has his ways to break those walls and make her heart submit to him even though he never wanted it.

He dips his hand into the bouquet, bringing out a chocolate. "Oh, I needed it dearly."

"You have now. But why?" She can't hide her curiosity.

"They gave me a treat and I was forced to have a chow mein roll."

Being an innocent kid in love with a guy who doesn't know even a bit of it, she frowns. She doesn't like the news because it causes him trouble. Don't they know he doesn't enjoy spicy food?

"But thank you, little one."

"Anything for you, Adam," she answers him in a daze, admiring him once again. And this time, Adam catches her. His lips curl into an amused smirk.

Evalena and her innocent eyes.

She doesn't know how pretty she looks when she beholds Adam like her moon; like the rose among lilies. With those big green eyes, she can melt anyone's heart and Adam is one of them.

"Eva?"

"Yes, Adam?"

"You call your eyes emeralds, what do you say about mine?"

Evalena sighs. In those days, she wasn't afraid of getting caught because she was an innocent child. She wasn't even aware of growing emotions in her heart and from the bottom of it, she admired his eyes.

And that's why, she never shied away from Adam until she was a teen.

"Your eyes?" She thinks, catching a glimpse of the sun above them, and his eyes are golden under the glow.

He hums, waiting for her. He wants to listen to her because he likes it. Evalena metamorphosed when she spoke and all thanks to her brother who loved poetry at a young age and she listened to him dearly.

"Your eyes..." She begins when someone from behind interrupts them, calling Adam.

A girl approaches Adam with a smile. She too holds a bouquet of tulips in her hand. Someone gave her flowers, too. Lovers of outer beauty aren't less, after all. She is also a sight to behold. Like the wild waves trying to touch the sky and the view of them from the shore can overwhelm anyone.

Evalena can't help but scan her down, finding her to be gorgeous.

She is a blonde with deep blue eyes. She is tall and attractive. She is dressed up decently and she seems close to him.

"Nora," he calls her name with such softness in his tone that hearts melt in whoever listens to him.

She smiles brightly, letting him wrap his muscular arm around her shoulders and the warmth in his eyes speaks of unmeasurable love that he tries to hide behind. And soon, they leave after he excuses himself politely.

With a smile, Evalena assures him so that he won't be guilty for leaving her alone. But after they leave, she feels a pang in her chest that speaks of something deeper than the affection she has been growing on the land of her heart.

And the name of the girl echoes in her head. Nora. She is the girl who seems something more to him and was able to show Evalena a side of Adam of which she was unaware until now. Until she entered the frame; Nora. 

❥⁠˙⁠๑

A/n:- How was the chapter?

Truly, I wanna see your reaction if a girl comes in between Adam and Eva now. Oh, things were about to get alright between them but that person is also necessary to come! I'm excited. Can you guess who SHE can be?

Also, I'm on Instagram now. I have poetries to share regarding Adam and Eva. You can follow me on Instagram to read those poetries if you find them beautiful, ofc!

Instagram:- @wattpad.ahava

Thanks for reading, btw. Please, vote, comment and share.

Jesus loves you <3