Tsabinu didn’t flinch. His reply was calm and polite. “I’m more than willing to carry out my duties well, including assisting you during your time here.”
Zeraiah scoffed, mocking. “Huh. Even after everything, still obedient like a dog, huh?”
For the first time, Tsabinu’s face hardened. His eyes sharpened, though he said nothing. As Zeraiah was about to continue whatever he was going to say, the lift chimed again.
Our father stepped out.
His gaze swept the room, settling on Zeraiah. He approached, studying him as though trying to decide if his youngest son was still capable ofdisgracinghim.
“Zeraiah—”
“Long time no see, Dad.” Zeraiah cut in, cold as ice.
Dad exhaled, giving a faint nod. “Yes, son. How have—”
“Looks like you’ve got yourself into trouble again,” Zeraiah spat, his voice venomous. “Which girl this time, hm?” Crimson burned across Zeraiah’s face; his short breaths signalled that even the air had turned heavy. He snorted. “Let me guess… Judging by how frustrated they look—” He pointed at me and Tsabinu, “An artist’s daughter? An actress? Young starlet? Underage girl?”
I growled when Zeraiah said that.
“Shit, am I right?” Zeraiah laughed at our father, which was enough to ignite Dad’s rage.
“Watch your mouth, Zeraiah!” Dad growled. “You’re getting more and more disrespectful,” our dad said, looking at his youngest son firmly. “I already know the company you keep over there is disgusting!” He scanned him from head to toe. “Just look at how you and your brother have become arseholes now.”
Zeraiah lunged, his fists clenched. “Oh, yeah? You have no idea what we went through—”
“Enough.”
My voice was low, but sharp enough to cut through his rage. His body locked up, glaring at me. “I don’t have time for this.” My jaw ached from the tension. “Mas Zaeem called him,” I jabbed a finger towards Tsabinu, and my gaze shifted to our father. “Because something’s happenedagain.”
“And I swear, if we don’t get to it, I’ll drag Mas Zaeem back myself and dump this bloody mess in his lap. I’ve postponed far too much important work for this project. If it’s not worth it, I’m done.”
I looked away from my father as fast as I could.
He was a wrecker.
Dad drew a deep breath and looked past me at Tsabinu. “Come with me, Tsabinu. We’ll talk in my study.” He turned back, glancing at Zeraiah. “And you, join us for dinner.”
Zeraiah ignored him and glanced at me, then at Tsabinu. “Sorry, you guys, I’m so fed up that I’d rather gut myselfthan fill myself up.” He left and went downstairs. “I’m out,” Zeraiah added.
But before disappearing, he turned back, looking at me. “Call and text Grandma and Grandpa more often, will you?” His eyes snapped towards Dad, sharp and cutting.“Don’t make our only parents worry.”
And then he was gone.
17
Tshabina
An hour had passed since I’d returned, yet the dampness on my face remained. The house was quiet because, luckily, only Mbak Mayang was around. No Tsabinu, no Dad—just the heavy silence of an empty home.
After leaving the restaurant, I got in a taxi and headed home, ignoring Andi’s dozens of calls and going through almost an entire box of the driver’s tissues along the way.
Pathetic.
When I got in, I locked myself in my room, stripped everything off, and stood under the shower. I stayed there for ages, hoping the water streaming down and spiraling into the drain could somehow take my ruin with it. But my chest still burned, no matter how cold the water was.
Ever since that incident, since Zioh and Zeraiah had left and vanished, I were nectar, and cruelty was the honeybee because it never failed to find its way to me.
It had taken my mom away in such a horrific way—leaving Dad broken, crushing Tsabinu’s dreams, leaving me alone, and slowly tearing us all apart.
