He paused, lifting his head toward me. His dark brown eyes bored into me, deep and piercing. I swallowed and forced myself to continue. “I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable. It’s just…” I squeezed my fingers. “Our superiors asked me to document everything properly, so it must feel like a paparazzo is shadowing you.”
He said nothing, and his gaze didn’t waver. My chest tightened and my breath caught. Still, I stumbled on. “You play such a vital role in this project, so I—”
“Did I say that?” His voice cut through, calm yet profound, so deep itstartled me.
I stared ahead, unmoving.
He added, just as steady. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Tshabina.”
Letting out a shaky breath, I realized I’d been holding it. I nodded, forcing the motion. His gaze wavered, a brief flicker of emotion before he turned back to his sketch, his knuckles whitening around the pencil.
For a long time, neither of us spoke. Then, quietly, Zioh asked. “What would you like to eat?”
I blinked, baffled.
He set his pencil down and met my eyes. “What food do you fancy?”
“Sorry, sir?”
“What food do you want?” he repeated, glancing at his watch.
I stared, uncertain. Did he expect me to fetch him lunch?
Seeing my confusion, he continued. “Natasha’s out, but she’ll be back soon. Tell me if there’s something you like; she can bring it.” He picked up his phone. “It’s best if we eat together because lunch break isn’t long. After that, I have a meeting with the INDTV team. You’ll need to document it, won’t you?”
My mind spun, and my words stumbled out: “I-I…” Then my phone buzzed with several notifications and messages from Andi—our plan.
I glanced back at Zioh, flustered. I couldn’t think of a polite way to decline. My brain felt frozen.
He prompted again, “So? What will it be, Tshabina? Do you want—”
“How long, sir?”
His brow lifted. “Pardon?”
“How long do you usually take for lunch? I’ll match it.”
He studied me. “Thirty, forty minutes.”
I nodded. “Alright, sir. Then I’ll finish in thirty to forty minutes as well. Thank you for the offer, but I think I’ll eat outside.” I placed my phone on the table and quickly packedaway my equipment. Once everything was stowed, I picked the phone up again and looked at him.
He was still watching me.
Inclining my head, I excused myself and exited the room with a long, heavy sigh. As I walked, I reread Andi’s message.
Andi:Navy shirt, black hair, sitting at table thirty. Good luck! And you better tell me everything afterwards.
20
Zioh
My thoughts were cut short when the door Tshabina had left through opened again, revealing Natasha’s face. She stepped inside, her arms weighed down by a stack of tote bags.
I shook my head, unsettled by the gnawing unease in my chest ever since Tshabina had left the room.
Seeing that familiar shadow again and having her shadow my every step made my heart lose its steady rhythm.
Each time I saw her swollen and trembling eyes, veiled by a cold wall she’d built, I nearly lost my grip. That restless face of hers, the quiet unease… it pushed me to want to take it all away.
