Mandume watched her with narrowed eyes, his arms folded, his jaw set. Something in Star's calmness didn't sit right with him.
"Star… you're just hurting me more," Tomas said through the phone, his voice breaking.
Star blinked away the burn in her eyes. "Don't worry, Dad. Mom is fine. You're fine. So nothing is difficult anymore. We just need to work hard… and meet again, if God permits it."
Tomas was silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy. "I'll make it up to you…"
The call ended before Star could respond.
"…Right, Star. That's your father," Rudra said quietly beside her.
"Thanks, Rudra," she replied.
"It's nothing. I'm just doing my job."
"I need to thank you properly. I'll text you—"
Before she could finish, Mandume snatched the phone and switched off the speaker.
"Uh oh," Star muttered, confused. "What was that for?"
On the other end, Rudra's voice came through, still unaware. "Sure, Mandume will give you my number."
"Thanks, man. Appreciate your work," Mandume said flatly.
"Oh… thought Star said she'd text me," Rudra replied, a little surprised.
"We'll thank you properly," Mandume said curtly, brushing the comment aside. "Have a great day."
He cut the call without waiting.
Star blinked. "What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" Mandume snapped. "Star, I thought your dad's been abusing you left and right? And you just talked to him like nothing ever happened?"
Star frowned, her voice calm but firm. "Wait… let me get this straight. What exactly did you expect me to do, Mendu? He's my father. Fatherhood isn't about blood—it's about presence. That man has fed us for ten years. I'm still a student. Mom hasn't worked a day for pay. It's been Dad all along."
Mandume paced once, ran a hand down his face. "And that's the same man who tortures you. And you still find it in you to forgive him."
"Yes. But did you expect me to shout at him? Insult him? Curse him? That's not me, Mendu. You don't pay evil with evil. That's not how I was raised."
Mandume stared at her like she was speaking in riddles. "You're… strange, Star. I'll never understand you."
"Mendu…" she took a step closer. "You heard the conversation, didn't you? His wrongs were burning in his chest. But I soothed him. You know why? Because God punishes your enemies. You don't have to carry that burden yourself."
He exhaled deeply, finally lowering his eyes. "…Okay. I understand."
Star tilted her head. "What? Are you angry now?"
"No," he said after a pause. "I just realized… I need to study you. Like—really study you."
She smiled, the weight in the room lifting slightly. "Ah. At least I'm making sense now."
"Oh, you're making sense alright," Mandume said, eyeing her with a strange fondness. "And that's exactly why I want to study you."
"Mmmh…" she teased, "Mr. Stubborn."