"Seth, it seems like your chicken sprouted wings and flew away! There isn't a single piece of chicken on it!" Fred shouted, his spoon halfway to his mouth, the realization hitting him as he tasted the dish. "You idiot!" Elli smacked Fred on the back of his head, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "You're eating egg curry, not chicken!"
Fred's eyes widened in shock, and he took another spoonful, chewing thoughtfully. "Aren't you going to eat?" Sophia chimed in, placing her chicken wings on Amaya's plate. "Yeah, Ama, aren't you going to eat meat?" Fred added, his mouth full of chicken wings.
Amaya scoffed, frustrated at Fred for bringing everyone in Zeya's apartment when she clearly told him to tell everyone to gather at Seth's apartment. Her gaze drifted to Zeya, who entered with Seth, balancing glasses and bottles of wine. "Ama, I was talking about chicken meat that's on your plate. Why are you staring at Zeya? You can't eat her!" Fred joked, causing Zeya's face to flush crimson and hide her face with hair.
Amaya's anger boils over. She tightened her grip on her fork, knuckles whitening, her jaw clenched. Her eyes, filled with fury, seemed to shoot daggers at Fred. "If you don't shut your mouth right now, I swear I'll crack your eggs with this fork and fry it, then feed it to your dog," she hissed, taking a fierce bite of her chicken wings, her rage palpable in the air.
"Why did you suddenly leave for Feather City?" Somiya asked, sitting between Sophia and Zeya, her curiosity evident. Amaya shook her head and took a sip of her red wine, a hint of nostalgia flickering in her eyes. "To meet papa," she replied softly. Somiya's eyes lit up, her excitement palpable. "You never told us about your parents! How are they doing? What does uncle do?" Zeya leaned in closer, eager to hear more. "Yeah! I want to know everything too!"
Sophia and Elli exchanged glances, their expressions momentarily shifting to concern as they remembered the sensitive topic. They paused, spoons halted mid-air, while Fred and Seth, aware of the weight of the conversation, chewed slowly, their eyes downcast. Amaya noticed the change in atmosphere and offered a gentle smile before taking a bite of her chicken wings. "He is lazy!" she declared playfully, waving her hand as if to brush away her friend's gloomy mood. "And he said he's been so happy and tension free these past nine months since there's been no one to nag him around. Can you believe it?!?" She exclaimed.
Somiya and Zeya burst into laughter, trying to lighten the mood, but the others remained quiet, their expressions a mix of empathy and sadness. "Your papa sounds easy to get along with!" Zeya exclaimed, her voice brightening the room. Amaya chuckled softly, her tone shifting as she turned slightly toward Somiya and Zeya. "Oh, trust me! There's no one as fun and awesome as he is! You'll definitely fall in love with him!"
Somiya burst into laughter, her joy infectious, lighting up the room. "Is he handsome?" she asked, her voice brimming with curiosity. Amaya smirked, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "Imagine me as a boy—that's exactly how he looks! We're like identical twins! He has a slender body with six-pack abs, fair skin, blue eyes, rosy lips, and a baby face! If he competed in beauty, he'd have won every time!"
As she spoke, a bittersweet smile crossed her face, reflecting both pride and a deep longing for the father she cherished. Everyone listened intently, absorbing her words about her deceased father without a hint of doubt. Somiya's eyes twinkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "I can't wait to meet him!" Amaya laughed softly, nodding her head, feeling the weight of both joy and sorrow swell within her heart.
Wherever you want to go, you're free to drift far away from me.
Amaya's smile shattered like glass, the laughter around her fading into a haunting silence. Her voice trembled, cracking under the weight of her memories, "I'm sure he would have loved to meet you all too." The room felt heavy, each word a stone dropped into a still pond, creating ripples of sorrow. "If only he was in my life… I would have introduced you all sooner…" Her voice trailed off, and tears spilled down Sophia's cheeks as she turned away, unable to bear the sight of her friend's pain. Elli swallowed hard, her throat tight, and wiped her tears, hiding from Amaya. Grabbing her plates, Amaya licked her lips and whispered, "I'm– going to wash my plates," her voice barely above a whisper as she stood, clutching her half-filled plate like a lifeline.
Zeya's heart twisted painfully at the sight of Amaya, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that spoke of a lifetime of hurt. She wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but her legs felt like lead when Seth's voice cut through the silence. "Ama's papa died when she was just eight years old." His voice was thick with emotion, and he buried his face in his palm, as if hiding from the truth that hung in the air. "She has never told anyone about it. Only our school's classmates and a few teachers knew about it."
Amaya stood at the balcony, her skin shimmering under the moonlight, casting an ethereal glow that made her seem almost otherworldly. She watched the smoke of her cigarette trail into the night, wishing it could carry her away to a different realm. A small hand wrapped around her waist from behind, resting softly against her back. Amaya tilted her head back, resting it gently on other's head, their connection unspoken yet palpable as they both gazed at the vast sky above. The silence enveloped them, the only sound being the quiet crackle of the dying cigarette, its ashes cascading down like tiny stars falling from the heavens.
"Sofy, go inside. You'll catch a cold," Amaya whispered, her voice weary, tinged with concern. Sophia tightened her embrace, shaking her head defiantly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Let's catch a cold together," she replied, a hint of mischief in her tone despite the heaviness in the air. Amaya smiled softly, turning to wrap her arms around Sophia, brushing her hair away from her face and placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "I love my baby doll the most!" she teased, her voice lightening the mood momentarily.
Just then, Amaya's gaze flicked to the door, where Zeya and Demi stood watching. Zeya felt her heart clench painfully as she heard Amaya's confession, the words echoing in her mind like a haunting melody. She approached with a heavy heart, her steps faltering as she reached for the cigarette that threatened to burn her finger. "I too love you, Ama," Sophia murmured, a gentle smile breaking through her earlier sadness. But for Zeya, those words felt like daggers, piercing through the fragile hope she had held onto. In that moment, Amaya and Zeya exchanged a glance, the unspoken feelings between them palpable. With a forced smile, Zeya stepped back, her heart breaking as she turned away, leaving the two in their moment of connection, the weight of unspoken feelings heavy in the air as she walked away, feeling more alone than ever.
"Okay, thanks." Demi hung up the call, her heart heavy as she turned to Zeya, who lay in bed, eyes squeezed shut, feigning sleep. She placed her phone on the table, the silence in the room thickening as she sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze drawn downward. "Zeya," she called softly, her hands clenched, the bitterness in her voice barely contained. "Maybe it was just a friendly confession."
Zeya opened her eyes, her gaze drifting to the wall, as if seeking answers in its blankness. "You saw how heartbroken Amaya looked at the dining table. And Sophia, she knows Amaya's pain better than anyone," Demi continued, her voice trembling slightly. Zeya pushed herself up, her expression a mix of suspicion and hurt as she turned to Demi. "You really think so?" she asked, her voice innocent yet laced with vulnerability.
Demi felt a pang in her chest, a flicker of sadness in her eyes that she quickly masked with a bright smile. "Of course! They've been best friends forever. It's normal to hug and share feelings," she insisted, though her heart was racing. Zeya studied her, biting her lip as if trying to suppress her emotions, then turned away, retreating into the covers. "I know you're just saying that to make me feel better. You think the same as I do. You don't have to lie, Demi," she whispered, her voice muffled as she hid her face in her hands.
Demi's smile faltered, her heart aching as she saw Zeya curled up in bed, tears glistening in her eyes like raindrops on a windowpane. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Zeya's shoulder as she gently tucked the blanket around her, the fabric warm and enveloping. "Zeya," she began, her voice trembling, thick with emotion, "sometimes we say 'I love you' to each other, but it doesn't always mean we love each other romantically, right?" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, reflecting her own turmoil.
But as her words hung in the air, Zeya's face crumpled, and a single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek. But Ama never once said she loves me, not even in jokes. Zeya whispered in her mind, her lips trembling, a fragile quiver that broke Demi's heart. The weight of Zeya's sadness pressed down on her, and she felt a lump forming in her throat. With a heavy heart, Demi turned to leave, the door creaking softly as it closed behind her, leaving Zeya in a cocoon of silence and sorrow.
As she stepped into the hallway, Demi was startled to find Amaya standing there, her expression unreadable. For a moment, shock coursed through her, but it quickly changed into a blaze of anger. Without a second thought, she lunged forward, grabbing Amaya by the collar and dragging her outside. The rooftop loomed above them, the wind whipping through their hair as Demi threw Amaya away from her with a forceful shove.
Taking a step forward, fierce determination etched on her face, Demi's hand flew out, connecting with Amaya's cheek in a sharp slap that echoed in the stillness. Amaya stumbled back, shock flashing across her features before she quickly regained her balance. Clenching her fists, she glared at Demi, her eyes blazing with anger. The tension crackled between them, each moment heavy with unspoken emotions, as they stood on the rooftop, the city sprawling beneath them, unaware of the storm brewing above.