“Home is where the heart is.”
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— Joel —
The shrill buzz of my alarm shattered the silence, pulling me from a deep sleep. Instinctively, I reached out to switch it off, but before I could rise, a glance at the sleeping beauty beside me stopped me in my tracks. There she was, Cecile, her delicate features softened by sleep, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. She looked so peaceful in her white pajamas, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Hey, Joli.” I leaned in, gently poking her nose to wake her. For the past week since we got married, waking her had become my favorite part of the morning. I usually greeted her with kisses that melted away the barrier between sleep and wakefulness, but not today. No, I had to resist—because kisses would only lead to rolling around in bed for another hour, and time wasn’t on our side.
“Joli.” This time, I lightly pinched her cheeks, careful not to startle her. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, revealing those beautiful, sleepy orbs.
“Hey…” Her voice was groggy, her face blank for a moment before breaking into a warm smile. She yawned, stretching slightly, and greeted me. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Joli.” I pulled her close, wrapping her in my arms. The warmth of her body was comforting, grounding me in the present. “How was your sleep?”
“It was okay. Yours?”
“Fine.”
She smiled softly before nestling into my chest for a brief moment. But I knew better than to let her linger too long. “Alright, Cecile,” I said, gently nudging her. “You need to get up now.”
“Why?” she mumbled, her voice carrying that innocent tone that always made me chuckle.
“Because you have lectures in an hour, and you need to get moving.”
“But…” she pouted, her lips forming the most endearing expression.
“No buts,” I interrupted firmly, scooping her into my arms. She squealed softly, half-protesting as I carried her to the bathroom.
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“Not again,” I muttered under my breath when she emerged, wearing one of my light blue shirts.
“What?” She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “This is mine now, okay?” Her tone was as matter-of-fact as ever, and I was momentarily tongue-tied. The shirt fit her perfectly, accentuating her petite frame and pairing effortlessly with her high-waisted jeans.
“You’ll never change.” I shook my head, watching her grab her brown handbag from the shelf. We had just returned from a short honeymoon break to retrieve some of her things, but clearly, her love for my shirts hadn’t waned.
“Well, I don’t have to.” She slipped into low-heeled sandals, spraying her favorite body mist before tying her hair up with a bow that sat perfectly in place. As she moved to the mirror, applying lip gloss and light makeup, I couldn’t help but think how unnecessary it all was—she was already stunning without it.
Before she could walk out the door, I stopped her.
“Don’t you think you should say something to me before you leave?” I pulled her back gently, lifting her onto the dressing table.
“What should I say?” she whispered, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.
“For starters, you could acknowledge the fact that I’m your husband and that we’re part of each other now,” I teased, locking eyes with her.
“Joel…” She pouted again, looking away, but I tilted her chin back toward me.
“First things first,” I said with a grin. “You’re going to hug and kiss me before you leave for lectures. Deal?”
She hesitated, her blush deepening. “But I have lip gloss on.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I leaned in, placing a lingering kiss on her lips. Her arms wrapped around me instinctively, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. Reluctantly, I pulled away, lifting her down to her feet and holding her in a warm embrace.
“You can go now,” I said softly, smoothing her hair.
“Okay.” She nodded, turning to leave. But just as she reached the door, she spun around and jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist.
“I love you, Mr. Husband,” she said, her voice full of mischief. Then, before I could react, she kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless. With a giggle, she hopped down and rushed out, her laughter trailing behind her.
So cute.
---
“Someone looks happy,” Simeon remarked, pulling me from my thoughts. I realized I had been humming Can’t Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley, completely unaware.
“Yeah,” I admitted, smiling as I accepted the coffee he handed me. But then it hit me—Cecile hadn’t had breakfast before she left. Guilt crept in, threatening to sour my mood, but I quickly brushed it aside. It’s okay, I reminded myself. We were pressed for time.
“Married life treating you well?” Simeon asked, taking a seat across from me.
“With the right woman, it’s more than I could’ve imagined,” I replied honestly.
He nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. Marriage is a journey—one with ups and downs—but if the foundation is strong, it’s worth every moment.”
I nodded in agreement, comforted by his words. Deep down, I knew the years ahead would test our love and commitment. But wasn’t that what made love real? True love wasn’t just about the easy days; it was about weathering the storms together, growing stronger with each trial.
But well, Isn’t love only pronounced true when it’s tested and refined?
Well, I believe so. 
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A/N: What do you think, guys?