My breath hitched.
“Do not fucking touch him!” The woman shrieked, her voice shrill and piercing. With quick steps, she strode towards Zioh and me. Her hand raised to grab me, but before she could reach, Tsabinu was already there.
He moved fast to my side, blocking her path. With one firm shove, he pushed her back from us. “Don’t you dare,” he warned. He planted himself before me, shielding both Zioh and me.
The woman glared at us, her eyes stabbing through the air.
And then… she pouted.
Still holding onto Zioh, I stared at her in disbelief, narrowing my eyes. She turned her head away, caught her reflection in the car’s side mirror, and smoothed her hair. Over and over, she adjusted it, all while whistling.
I glanced at Tsabinu, and he looked back at me. Without words, I knew our eyes exchanged the same thought.
Her whistling grew louder and sharper. Sweat began to trickle down my forehead, and I turned again to Zioh. He was still struggling to breathe, his hands clamped over his ears, and his eyes screwed shut. “No, no, no, no…” he whispered again, and he felt so cold under my touch.
Icouldn’t catch a single steady thought. What should I do? “Zioh, please look at me…” I begged, but he didn’t respond; he only shook his head harder and harder.
The woman’s whistle stopped, making my whole body stiffen.
When I turned back to her, she gave me a faint smile, then narrowed her eyes. She tilted her head, trying to peek past me. “Zioh…?” she crooned.
When Zioh didn’t respond, she pouted again. Lifting her fingers, she examined her nails, humming. “Zi… you’re bad,” she sang. “Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?” Her eyes flicked past my shoulder, then at me.
I didn’t flinch—I couldn’t.
She began lowering her fingers one by one, “One… two… four… six… hmm…” Her tone sharpened, and her stare darkened. “How many times have I gone back and forth to your penthouse, to your house?” Her brows furrowing, “And it turns out you’re here.”
“Zioh!” she suddenly barked, making me flinch and clutch Zioh tighter.
Tsabinu snarled. He squared his shoulders. “Stay away.”
A blaring car horn tore through the tension, dragging all our eyes forward. A row of cars was pulling into the car park, and I recognized—Uncle Bakti’s car.
At the same time, the lift behind us chimed open. I turned, and Mas Zaeem was striding toward us in a rush. As he drew closer, his steps faltered, his narrowed gaze pierced the low light of the parking lot, and he tensed. Shock spread across his face at the sight before him.
Why did everyone react like this to her?
Then the sound of a car door opening made me turn my head around.
Uncle Bakti had stepped out of his car. The woman lit up at once, her wide smile returning in full bloom. “Daddy-in-law!” she squealed, clinging onto Uncle Bakti’s arm with giddyaffection.
Standing there, I turned to stone.Daddy-in-law?
Yet what shocked me most was Uncle Bakti’s reaction. He gave her a warm smile, almost too warm, as though her presence wasn’t a danger, but a gift.
“You’re here already, Cindy?” Uncle Bakti asked, walking closer as she leaned into him with an almost childlike cling.
Cindy… So that was her name.
Uncle Bakti stopped before us, and Cindy was still wrapped around his arm. His eyes fell on me. He held my gaze for a long moment and gave me a wide smile. “Tshabina, you’re here too,” he greeted, raising his hand to touch me.
But before his hand reached me, Zioh snapped upright. With sudden, forceful strength, he yanked me behind him. I gasped, and his grip trembled against my skin.
His glare bore into his dad. “Stay the fuck away from her,” he growled, his voice low and venomous.
Zioh’s eyes then cut to Cindy, still holding onto his dad. His breath came faster, heavier. Cindy’s expression twisted into a sour scowl as she met his gaze with equal sharpness.
Zaeem strode forward, planting himself at Zioh’s side. I glanced at him and his whole frame was tense, like words trapped in his throat. His hand pressed against Zioh’s waist, steadying him, grounding him.
