Ahmed stood for a moment inside that silent room... looking at Irina... then at the ring in his hand. Silence. A heavy silence... as if it carried a thousand questions. He breathed slowly... and said quietly:
"Come... let's get ready to head back first... then we'll talk on the way."
He began gathering his things... putting them inside the bag... slowly... and with focus... but inside... he was not calm at all.
"What have I done...?"
"Misaki... Irina..."
"Did I betray...? Or was I just... late in understanding everything?"
He closed his eyes for a moment... then opened them as if escaping his own thoughts.
Irina also prepared her bag... but her eyes... were watching him. Quietly. Expectantly.
They left the room... and returned to the darkness of the tunnel.
The cave on the way back was... quieter... and felt deeper. The light from Ahmed's flashlight flickered against the walls... reflecting off the hanging water droplets... shining as if they were tiny stars inside a forgotten land.
Drip... drip... drip...
The sound of water returned... but this time... more clearly.
Their footsteps... produced a faint echo... step... step... the sound resonated... then vanished into the depth of the darkness.
Some tunnels were narrowing... until Ahmed had to bend slightly... the walls drawing closer... the air becoming heavier. He felt as if the cave... was testing them.
Ahmed said while walking:
"I have many questions... I want you to answer honestly."
She looked at him... and said quietly:
"I will answer... and I will not lie."
He fell silent for a moment... then said:
"Did you... intend to kill yourself?"
She stopped. Silence. She looked at the ground... then said:
"Yes."
Ahmed's heart trembled. But she continued:
"I couldn't bear it... seeing you with another girl..."
Then she looked at him... and tapped his shoulder lightly:
"You traitor."
Ahmed lowered his gaze... and said in a quiet voice:
"I am... sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
They were silent for a bit... and the sound of water filled the void between them.
Then Ahmed said, trying to break the atmosphere:
"When did you plan all this...? Honestly... your plan would have terrified the devil."
She looked at him with surprise... then said:
"The devil wouldn't be able to pull off a plan like mine. This is... the result of sadness and oppression."
Then she stopped suddenly:
"But... shame on you."
Ahmed smiled faintly:
"If I could come up with plans like yours... I would have become rich in three days."
She laughed... a light laugh... then the silence returned.
They continued walking... and the light reflected off the damp walls... moving with every step... as if drawing their path. Ahmed stopped for a moment... looked around... then said:
"How beautiful the sound of the water droplets is here..."
Then he looked at her... and said in a calmer voice:
"But... the beauty of the cave... does not equal yours. And your voice... is calmer than all this echo. If I lost you... I don't know what I would have done..."
He fell silent... but his inside was saying: "I am saying this... but what about Misaki...? Do I deserve to be with either of them?"
He felt a weight in his chest... he hesitated... but continued walking.
Irina... stopped. She looked at him... and her eyes began to glisten. Then suddenly... she cried. Not an ordinary cry... but a sob that came out after a long suppression.
She said in a broken voice:
"As long as... you are by my side... I can live."
Ahmed did not hesitate this time. He approached her... and embraced her gently. He patted her head... and ran his hand through her hair quietly.
"Calm down... I am here... and I won't let anyone hurt you."
She stayed for moments... then calmed down gradually. She wiped her tears... and said in a faint voice:
"Thank you... Ahmed..."
She took a deep breath... then said:
"What will we do now?"
He looked ahead... at the darkness that began to thin out slightly... and said:
"We will get out of here... and return home. It's still late... and if we hurry... we will arrive before anyone notices."
She said: "I have a shortcut... we won't need more than half an hour."
Ahmed stopped suddenly. He looked at her in astonishment:
"What...? I walked for three hours to reach you!"
She smiled faintly... and said: "That's... because you don't know the place."
Ahmed sighed... then laughed:
"Alright... let's go..."
He paused for a moment... then said:
"My fiancée."
Irina froze. She looked at him... as if she couldn't believe what she heard. Then... her eyes filled with tears again... but this time... tears of joy. She placed her hand over her mouth... and said in a trembling voice:
"Really...? I am... your fiancée...?"
Then she approached him quickly... and said:
"I will be a good wife to you... I promise..."
Ahmed smiled... but inside... he was not at ease.
"Fiancée...?"
"And also... Misaki..."
He felt the word was heavier than it seemed.
He said quietly: "Come... let's hurry."
And they began to run... with light steps... from one tunnel to another... from one passage to another... ascending gradually... the air becoming lighter... and the light increasing.
Until... a different light appeared before them.
The exit of the mine.
Irina said while panting: "We've arrived..."
Ahmed smiled... breathing with difficulty: "Well done..."
He stood for a moment... looking outside... but inside him... only one question repeated:
"I am now... wearing two rings... What will I do?"