Chapter 2 #2
“Dad’s birthday is tonight,” he reminded me, rubbing my back while I still sniffled. “We’re stopping by a cake shop first, right?”
I nodded through my tears, and the silence returned, heavy and raw, as my sobs slowly eased. But my heart still churned with questions I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“What will happen? After this… what do you think will happen, Mas?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t explain further. I knew he understood what I meant.
My twin pulled away so I could see his face. His handsome features looked solemn under the glow of the car’s interior light. His hands gripped my shoulders as his gaze locked on mine.
“Nothing. We will continue our lives. Just as usual, okay?” His voice was deep, steady, and calming. And all I could do was nod, trying desperately to quiet the chaos in my heart.
? ── * ── ?
If the universe had a sense of humor, it was cruel today.
Because as we arrived home, I blew out a sigh when my weirdo best friend sprawled on our living room sofa like a hen sitting protectively on her eggs. He was squinting at us, lounging comfortably with his legs dangling, munching on nuts straight off his stomach.
The last person I wanted to see in a state like this was him. Because I knew Andi would bombard me with a thousand and one questions—
“Wait—what the hell?” Andi frowned, narrowing his eyes at me. “Bib? Why are your eyes red?” He squinted harder, and the second he caught the puffiness in my eyes, he shot up, set the nuts on the table, and rushed toward me. “What happened?” he asked, eyes fierce.
Exhausted, I sighed, walked past him, and dropped my bag on the sofa. Tsabinu followed behind, locking the door. “Andi, what are you doing here? At this hour?” I asked, rubbing my eyes as I collapsed onto the couch.
Avoiding his questions, of course.
Andi raised his shoulders as if it were the dumbest thing to ask. “Isn’t it our dad’s birthday tonight?” He shrugged, looking back at me as if I were the clueless one.
This guy…
“My dad,” I met his gaze as I spoke, then pointed at Tsabinu, who was calmly taking a seat. “And his dad.” Then I jabbed a finger at Andi. “Yours is at your freakin’ home, Andi.”
Rolling his eyes, he waved his hand at me. “Duh, your dad loves me, and I love him.”
Now Andi plopped himself on the couch beside me, his expression sharp as his eyes darted between Tsabinu and me. I knew, without even looking, that Tsabinu was already shaking his head in warning, but, of course, Andi was Andi.
He leaned in and hissed under his breath. “Bitch, you ditched my calls all day. That’s first. Then you left me hanging with a thousand questions. That’s second. And—” His voice rose until he practically exploded. “AND I KNOW YOU MET ZIOH TODAY, DIDN’T YOU?!”
His shout made me wince and cover my ears. Tsabinu and I exchanged the same pained grimace. “WHAT THE HELL? HE’S SUDDENLY WORKING ON OUR COMPANY’S PROJECT?!”
“Andi—”
“No, no, no, what the fuck? You must have met him, right? Didit dragged you to see him, right? Bitch, what—”
“Andi!”
Like I said. A thousand and one damn questions.
I glared at him while Tsabinu sighed and shook his head. “Andi, my dad’s already asleep. Shut it, or I’ll grab that knife—” I pointed at the cake box with the little plastic knife inside— “and stab your neck with it.”
Andi rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, but—wait.” He squinted at Tsabinu. “Why aren’t you shocked, Bib? Hah?” His face lit up with realization. “You already knew, didn’t you?! And you stayed silent—”
I smacked him with a sofa cushion.
Not a knife.
For now.
Andi glared, then grabbed my wrist. He yanked me toward the stairs. “Come on,” he hissed.
“Where are you going?” Tsabinu stopped him.
“To her room,” Andi answered, whispering as if only now realizing how late it was and that my dad was asleep.
Tsabinu shook his head. “No. Stay here. A man and a woman shouldn’t be alone in a room.”
Andi gaped, his face screaming wtf. “Bib, if I wanted something with your sister, it would’ve happened ages ago.
I’ve been with this creature forever,” he pointed at me, “If we wanted each other, you’d be a damn uncle by now.
My ‘junior’ doesn’t work with her, so stop being fucking difficult.
Come on, both of you, grab the cake, let’s do this upstairs. ”
Andi stomped off first, grumbling.
Tsabinu and I stared at his back in disbelief, and an exhausted sigh escaped my brother beside me. “How are we even friends with him, Dek?”
I sighed too. “No idea. Poor us, I guess.”
? ── * ── ?
“So? How was it?” Andi pressed, voice full of curiosity.
We were now sitting on the thick carpet beside my bed. Andi was on one side, Tsabinu was on the other, and I was stuck in the middle.
Huh… this was going to be hard.
When I stayed silent, twisting my fingers, Andi leaned closer. “How is he? Is he different now? Hotter? Taller? Like the pics?”
Tsabinu shot him a warning look, silently pleading with him to stop, but Andi ignored it. His breathing grew heavier, and he became impatient with my silence.
I let out a tired sigh. “Hm.” That was all I could muster.
Andi clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Hm, hm, what the fuck is that? Answer properly, Bib.”
“Come on, Ndi,” Tsabinu muttered, exhaling. “My sister’s exhausted. Don’t make it worse.”
Andi’s eyes scanned me up and down, “Yeah… this isn’t just physical exhaustion; it’s emotional exhaustion too.
I shot him a weary look. “Then how do you expect me to answer?”
“I expect the truth. Because I swear to seven generations of galaxies, I won’t be able to sleep unless you answer me.”
Finally giving in, I let my shoulders slump. “He did the usual small talk with the higher-ups about the upcoming project. And yes… he’s even more handsome now.” My voice dropped to a whisper at the last part.
“Shit! I fucking knew it! You never want to listen when I bring him up or show you his pictures in the news—Bib?” Andi’s rant cut off when he noticed the tears slipping down my face, again. But now it was unstoppable, streaming like rain. “Are you okay?”
Sobbing, I bowed my head, while Tsabinu glared at Andi, who only gestured helplessly that he was as lost.
“That’s it, Andi,” I choked. “Just that, and he ignored me.” My sobs grew harsher. “He looked through me like I wasn’t even there.”
My gaze drifted upward to the wall above my bed, covered in photos.
Our photos.
Snapshots of memories, proof that those moments were real. Hundreds of them, from our childhood to our high school years. Me, Tsabinu, Zeraiah, and Zioh.
Sitting on car hoods with ice cream melted in our hands.
Riding bikes in the park, with me trailing behind.
We were barbecuing in Zioh and Zeraiah’s yard, with Tsabinu trying to chase Yellow.
Tsabinu and I blew out the candles, and Zioh pressed his fingers against my cheeks.
Smiling in front of Christmas trees, except Zeraiah, who sulked while looking at the pile of my gifts.
We wore Halloween costumes, with Zioh and me always paired up.
Our trips to the UK. That one magical night.
And so many more. Hundreds of photos, even silly ones with ugly faces and big grins.
They covered almost an entire wall.
They were real.
So alive.
But how could they only exist in the past?
That our happiness was meant only to stay in our memories.
Andi’s eyes softened, his hand stroking my arm. “Really? Just that? After ten fucking years? Nothing else, Bib?”
I shook my head, my tears still falling.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Tsabinu murmured, his fingers running through my hair, and for a moment, only my sobs filled the room. Then, I stood and left them behind. My chest felt raw, and my eyes burned.
“I’m taking a shower,” I muttered before they could question me. I slipped into my bathroom and closed the door. “Use warm water, Dek! It’s late,” Tsabinu called from outside.
I turned on the shower, and warm water washed over my face and body. The heat soothed me, but it couldn’t calm the storm raging inside.
I wanted Zioh to talk. I wanted to really speak to him and ask about his life, his last ten years, even though I already knew the answer.
Of course, he was fine—more than fine. He was successful, famous, and a celebrated architect in his mother’s homeland.
He was featured in the media and received an award.
He had graduated from Cambridge with first-class honors.
He had a life of promise and luxury, and someone—a woman rumored to be with him.
The moment I saw the news for the first time, I instantly recognized that gaze… the way he looked at her in the photos in the media.
Because it was the same gaze he once gave me.
The sparkle, the warmth, the depth—the same… love.
It shattered me into pieces so small I couldn’t even gather them anymore because Zioh had broken his promise. The promise that once anchored me.
Or maybe… only I had cherished us with such depth.
“Why, Zi? Why did you throw me away?” I whispered to the steam, to the ceiling, to the memory of his hand in mine.
Then my phone buzzed on the sink.
Stepping out, I grabbed it with wet hands and unlocked the screen. My breath caught. My eyes widened as I read the notification.
A message.
From Zioh.
A rapid thudding erupted in my chest, pinning me in place.
I kept wiping my damp face, trying to convince myself, even biting my lip on purpose. When the pain bloomed, and the text was still there, I knew it was real.
Using his old number, the one that had been dead for ten years, ever since he disappeared to London. The text was only one word, but it stopped my entire world.
Zioh my hero: Sophie
He called me by the name only he ever used. The name he swore would belong only to him.
Failing even to punch in my passcode, my hands shook violently; meanwhile, my heart hammered against my ribs until my knees threatened to buckle.
Then, another message appeared.
Zioh my hero: Ah, I apologise. I meant to say, Miss Sophia? This is Natasha.