Andi sighed in defeat, staring at me. “So? Do you want me to come with you?”
I instantly looked up, and I knew; I looked at him with wide, gleaming, cat eyes that could have melted anyone. My nod came in rapid motion. “Yes, please. Thank you.”
He clicked his tongue. “Where else are you gonna find a friend like me? Good, handsome, loyal.” He sighed, the side of his mouth hitched up. “And stop your bad habits, like last night. Also, pay me back with Labubu.”
« -- * -- »
10 hours earlier
“Bib, your sister’s been in the shower for half an hour, and it’s midnight! She’ll get possessed in there,” Andi complained for what felt like the hundredth time outside my bathroom door, followed by another round of knocks.
“Dek?” Tsabinu’s voice came after a ten-minute pause. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Letting out a long breath, I shut off the water. “I’m done, Mas. Give me five minutes!” I called back, rubbing my aching eyes.
I grabbed the towel behind the door and dried myself, taking a deep breath and letting the air leave me slowly.
It was Natasha.
He had called me Sophie, but it wasn’thim.
He had given me a flicker of hope, only to snatch it away, turning my pounding heartbeat into a hollow ache.
I slipped into my bathrobe, my hands trembling, and I opened the bathroom door and saw that both men were still there.
I sighed as their eyes were on me, those men refusing to take the hint that they should leave my room already. Honestly, I wanted to hide—as if they could see right through me.
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” Andi muttered, making the cross sign on his chest. “Bib… Biba, are you sure you’re okay?” His voice shook as he pointed at my brother. “Who am I with these glasses, man, Bib?”
I shook my head at his nonsense, walking toward my small walk-in closet beside the bathroom. “Out. Both of you, will you?” My voice was low but firm. “I need to change.”
Of course, it didn’t work.
Tsabinu knew me too well. He followed, pulling the closet door half-closed but leaving a small gap, leaning against the wall beside it. I knew his eyes were now fixed on Andi, who muttered something ridiculous again about me being “possessed.”
Yeah. I must’ve looked that bad.
“What’s wrong, Dek?” Tsabinu’s soft voice came through the gap.
When I didn’t answer, he tried again. “Hey… are you okay? His tone was laced with concern. “Did something happen?”
“She’s really possessed, Bib,” Andi whispered, clearly to Tsabinu. “Didn’t you see her face when she came out?”
Rolling my eyes, I snatched a pair of pajamas from the closet and let out a weary mutter. “Nothing happened. Just get out, please.” I hurried to change and towel-dried my still-damp hair. “I needspaceandboundaries.”
Andi sighed in relief. “Oh… she’s still with us.”
This man, seriously.
I stepped out in my pajamas, hair wrapped in a towel, and both of them still stared at me. Ignoring them and walking straight to my vanity, I began my nightly skincare routine—choosing silence, even as I caught their reflections in the mirror.
Andi’s eyes were narrowed in suspicion. Tsabinu’s gaze was worried.
But I stayed quiet.
“Seriously, what the hell is happening?” Andi asked again, trying to peel away my defenses with those hawk-like eyes.
“As I said, nothing happened,” I shot back, calm but cutting, rubbing moisturizer into my swollen face.
