Chapter 5 Lines drawn in love

The weeks that followed were softer gentler.

Mrs. Leah's condition began to improve steadily. The doctors were pleased with how her body responded to the medications, and she no longer looked as pale and tired as she had that first terrifying day in the hospital.

It was like life had stretched a warm arm around their shoulders and whispered, breathe now, things are shifting.

All thanks to Eden.

He was everywhere, yet never overbearing.

He drove Iris to her morning lectures whenever he could. Sent her lunch when she was too distracted to eat. Paid for her mother's medication before she even remembered the dates. Sometimes, he would leave fresh groceries outside their door with little sticky notes that said things like "Eat well, genius. The world needs that brain."

Mrs. Leah adored him.

"Eden is a good man," she would say as she carefully measured her morning dose. "God must've sent him, Iris."

Iris would just smile shyly and nod. But deep inside, she knew her mum wasn't wrong.

Still, she was careful.

Despite everything, Iris hadn't let herself fall completely. There was a part of her still holding on. Watching. Protecting. A part molded by the kind of life she'd lived the kind that teaches you that good things often come with hidden costs.

But Eden never made her feel pressured.

He waited. He listened.

He never forced conversations about the future, though it was clear he pictured her in his.

It was on one of those quiet Sunday evenings, while they were alone in Eden's car just outside her gate, that the conversation happened.

He had leaned in to kiss her something that had become familiar now, even comforting. But this time, his hand moved to her thigh, gently.

Iris stiffened.

He paused immediately, sensing her discomfort.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, pulling back slightly. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

Iris didn't speak right away. She stared out the window for a beat, then turned to him.

"I trust you, Eden," she began, her voice steady. "And I like you. More than I expected to. But... I need to be honest with you."

He nodded, giving her his full attention.

"I've never... been with anyone," she said quietly. "I'm a virgin."

Eden blinked, surprised but not in the way that made her feel ashamed. He didn't laugh or raise an eyebrow. He just looked at her.

"And I want to wait," she added. "Till marriage."

Silence fell between them like a warm blanket-not heavy, just still.

Eden exhaled slowly. Then, he reached out, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Thank you for telling me," he said. "That means a lot."

"You're not... upset?" she asked cautiously.

"No," he said. "I'm not upset. I respect you. All of you. And I'm not here for just one part."

Iris's heart softened at that.

"You're worth the wait," he added, his voice firmer now. "And if I'm lucky enough, maybe I'll be the one waiting at the altar."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "You're too smooth."

He grinned. "Only for you."

They sat there for a while longer, hands intertwined, listening to the sounds of the quiet street. No pressure. No expectations. Just warmth, trust, and a slow growing kind of love that neither of them saw coming.

Time, with all its quiet persistence, continued to move.

By the time Iris began her final year in university, life had settled into a familiar rhythm. Her grades remained impressive, earning her recognition among her lecturers and even a scholarship that eased some pressure off Eden's shoulders, at this time Eden was also done with school and now working. Her mother, Mrs. Leah, was doing well each month's medication arriving like clockwork, thanks to Eden's unwavering support.

But beneath the surface, things weren't as smooth anymore.

Eden still spoiled her, yes. He still picked her up from school whenever he could, sent thoughtful texts between her classes, and showed up at the house with groceries and surprises. But there was something else now. A weight he tried to hide behind small smiles and playful teasing.

He was struggling.

Not financially not emotionally even. But physically. Deeply. Silently.

Being in love with a woman he respected, admired, and desired... but couldn't touch beyond certain lines it was becoming harder than he thought.

One rainy evening, they were in his apartment. He had insisted she come over to avoid walking in the storm, and they were curled up on the couch watching a movie. Eden's arm was around her shoulder, her head resting on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat oddly louder than the soundtrack playing from the screen.

Iris shifted slightly, cuddling closer without meaning anything by it but her innocence, her warmth, her scent it all made it worse for him.

Eden closed his eyes for a brief second.

"Iris," he whispered, his voice tighter than usual.

"Hm?" she looked up at him, her eyes wide and trusting.

He stared down at her, conflicted. There was a fire behind his eyes, one he had been trying to tame for months now. He wanted her more than anything. Not just her body, but all of her. Still, his body didn't always understand the boundaries his heart respected.

He swallowed. "We should... maybe not stay like this for too long."

She blinked. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No," he said quickly. "You didn't. I just..." He sighed and sat up straighter. "I guess I'm just trying really hard not to be a guy who crosses the line."

Understanding dawned on her. She bit her lower lip gently and sat up too.

"I'm sorry, Eden. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she murmured.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't make me uncomfortable, Iris. You make me crazy in the best and hardest way. I knew what I was signing up for, and I meant it when I said I respect your choice. But I'm still human, babe. A man. And sometimes, it gets hard."

Her heart ached a little not from guilt, but from love.

"I appreciate how you've respected my boundaries all this while," she said softly. "More than you know."

They looked at each other, a long moment stretching between them one filled with understanding, compassion, and unspoken longing.

He reached out and took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

"I can wait," he said again. "Even if it's killing me sometimes."

She smiled. "Just don't die before the wedding."

He laughed loud and genuine. That was her magic. No matter how heavy things got, Iris always managed to lift the moment back up.

Their relationship became a delicate dance. Eden learned to channel his frustrations into other things his work, gym sessions, late-night walks. Iris learned to be more intentional with her presence not avoiding intimacy but also being aware of the struggle Eden faced silently.

Some days were easier. Others, not so much.

But through it all, love remained. Not just the mushy, romantic kind, but the quiet, stubborn kind the kind that chooses to stay even when it's hard.

And in a world full of temptations and compromises, that kind of love was rare.

It was theirs.