Chapter 4 - The Torment of Love, Chapter Four

The Torment of Love Chapter Four: A Joint Project and the Deep Look After days of tense scene in the cafeteria, Carla began to feel the need to focus on something practical and calm. Fortunately for her, she and Youssef had been chosen to work together on a complex social science research project, which provided them with the perfect excuse to get away from Zain's drama. They decided to meet in the city's main library, away from the noise of the university. The atmosphere there was conducive to concentration. Youssef was an example of an ideal partner. Not only was he smart and organised, he knew exactly when to help without imposing his opinion. They worked for hours, interspersed with short breaks during which they would exchange jokes or talk about their dreams for the future. During one of the breaks, Joseph leaned back in his chair and looked at Carla as she meticulously took notes. "You're really good at organizing ideas, Carla. You would make an excellent lawyer. You know how to connect the dots." Carla smiled with relief, his appreciation for her effort was more valuable than superficial flattery. "And you give me momentum, Youssef. I am very practical, but you always find the philosophical or social angle that makes the research deep and interesting." Youssef was silent for a moment, his gaze deeper than usual. "That's what a good friendship does, right? We complement each other." At that moment, Karla felt an overwhelming desire to lean on this understanding. With Joseph, she felt complete, safe, and understood without the need for many words. Their relationship was as smooth as a calm breeze, in contrast to her tense and hectic relationship with Zain. While they were searching for a specific resource on the Internet, Youssef approached her screen. His hand was casually touching her arm as he indicated a sentence. It wasn't a romantic touch, it was completely casual, but Carla felt a slight flash of electricity where he touched her. Joseph immediately withdrew his hand, but did not move away. Pointing to the text, he said: "Here. This paragraph sums up exactly what we said about the balance between the individual and society." When Youssef approached her for work, Carla saw serenity and confidence in his eyes. Youssef saw the future clearly, and he saw Carla as a natural part of this future, without shouting it. Unlike Zain, who saw the future as something to be grasped with passion, Youssef saw it as something natural that simply had to take shape. They finished work late. When they left the library, it was dark. "Excellent work, Carla. We are way ahead of schedule." Joseph said as he adjusted his bag. "Thanks to you." Carla replied, feeling a little sad that time was up. As they walked to the bus stop, Carla thought: With Joseph, there was no drama, no pressure, no need to prove anything. There was just a comfortable, visceral acceptance. If this is love, why not choose it immediately? But then, she remembered Zain's passionate look on the night of her birthday, and she remembered the impulsive passion he had promised her. She wondered: Could it be that comfortable security is just a strong friendship, while confusing passion is the true love that you have to strive for? End of the fourth chapter.