I drew a slow breath and tried to ignore him, my pencil hovering above the page. Zeraiah sighed, clicking his tongue, but didn’t push. Instead, he murmured, “You should show them to her, though,” he added, his voice deep. “I mean, your drawings. I know you never show her any of those.”
My hand stilled again. “She always sees my draw—”
“Your drawings ofher,” he cut in. “The only sketches you ever let her see are of other people, buildings, scenery—anything but her. And every time you draw her, you tear it out of your book.” His finger jabbed towards the sketchpad riddled with dozens, maybe hundreds, of torn pages.
His brows knotted. “Why?”
Why.
My gaze slipped back to Sophie, running and laughing in the sun.
I didn’t even understand it myself. Perhaps it was an uneasy feeling that she’d find it strange and look at me differently, just likehim.
My heart pounded as I turned back to Zeraiah. “Do you think—”
My question was cut short. Sophie and Tsabinu were racing towards us, breathless, and Dad was trailing behind with his usual genial smile.
Snapping my sketchbook shut, I slid it into my satchel and got to my feet, trying to appear casual. But I knew Zeraiah watched me in silence, noting every move.
“Zioh!! Zer!!” Sophie called out with a wide smile, her voice lighting up the air. “Uncle Bakti is amazing at this game! No wonder he prefers playing with Mas Bibu, they’re both so good!”
Her chatter made us all laugh. Mum rose to hand Sophie a cold drink, gently wiping her damp face with a tissue. “Here, darling. Your face will break out if it stays dirty.”
Sophie’s beautiful smile widened again. “Thank you, Mama Nadine.”
Tsabinu ruffled her hair before joining us with his own drink. I stepped closer to Sophie, brushing her damp cheek. “Isn’t he?” I asked, making her lift those warm hazel eyes to me. I smiled, teasing, “But you’ve got me. I’m better than them.”
She raised her brow, her smile curved toward me. “Cih~ arrogant,” she huffed, chuckling. Her laughter was so melodious, so soothing. I couldn’t help but laugh with her.
I reached for her hand. “C’mon, I wanna show—”
But before I could take Sophie to the edge of the lake, Zeraiah swooped in, slinging his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and dragging her away from me.
He glanced back with a sly grin, one of those many moments when I wanted nothing more than to punch my little brother.
He did this often, and it drove me mad.
“And you’ve got me,” Zeraiah crowed, brimming with energy. “I even beat Mas Zaeem last month!”
“Really?!” Sophie gasped, her eyes sparkling. “Then we get our revenge next month!”
The two of them laughed, heading towards the lake.
A sharp wave of discomfort seized me the instant my eyes landed on the way he’d stolen her hand as though she were some private toy of his.
“Fucking star boy…” I muttered under my breath.
When I glanced at Tsabinu, he was watching too, but his eyes were thoughtful, penetrating, as though he’d seen right through me.
And I knew. He had.
He alwaysdid.
« -- * -- »
Present
When I stepped out of my car, I spotted the McLaren I’d seen earlier on my phone. I stopped, staring at it for a second, and Natasha, who got out from the other side, followed my gaze.
