Star reached for the door just as Rudra's voice sliced through the silence.
"That's not the toilet. I said the second room."
She flinched, startled. "Oh—sorry. You scared me."
"Come on," he said, taking her gently by the wrist and guiding her away. "This way."
He opened the door to the correct room.
"I'll wait here," he added.
Star blinked, wary. "No, it's fine. I'll come on my own."
"Okay," Rudra said, but didn't move an inch.
When Star stepped out minutes later, there he was—still standing there, watching.
"Oh… you didn't leave?" she asked, trying to mask her unease.
"Let's go," he said casually.
Star followed, but her mind was racing.
Why is he acting like a guard? What's in that room? Why wait? This doesn't feel right.
Back in the living room, Mandume noticed her odd expression.
"What happened, Star?"
"Nothing. I just got lost," she lied.
Rudra suddenly stood up, phone in hand. "Guys, I gotta head out. Just got an urgent call. Mandume, I'll talk to you later."
Mandume frowned. "Oh… yeah, sure."
As Rudra disappeared out the front door, he exhaled a heavy sigh—relief flooding his face.
Mandume and Star took a cab home in silence.
After a quick shower, Star headed to the kitchen to take her meds. Just as she was finishing up, Bonita walked in. She clearly hadn't expected anyone to be there. Her face was puffy, eyes swollen from crying.
"Oh, you're back already?" Bonita asked, voice flat.
"Yeah... Are you okay?" Star asked gently.
"I'm fine. Just came to get something to drink."
Star watched in silence as Bonita made juice, her back turned. Her shoulders trembled slightly.
She was like this yesterday too… what's going on? Is she hurt? Did someone break her heart?
"What did the doctor say about your mutism?" Bonita asked, still not turning around.
"It's fear-induced," Star replied softly.
"He said it's temporary. I got medication for it."
"Good for you," Bonita said, voice low. She finished her drink and turned to leave.
But Star reached out, grabbing her wrist—and pulled her into a tight hug. Bonita stood frozen for a moment… then broke down. She sobbed into Star's shoulder, her cries raw, real, and wrenching. When she finally pulled away, she ran down the hall, tears pouring freely.
Star stood there, stunned.
What's going on with Bonita? That wasn't fake… that was real pain. But why? What's eating her alive?
In her room, Bonita locked the door, grabbed a tissue, and tried to calm herself.
"It's okay, Boni. Everything's going to be okay. You just need to forgive yourself… and move on."
But when her eyes fell on the photo of her parents, the tears returned.
"What did I do to deserve this?" she whispered, breaking all over again.
Back in the hallway, Star couldn't shake the feeling.
It doesn't make sense. Could it be a trap? But no... that hug — I felt her pain. It was raw. It was honest.
Still… I need to be careful. Not now. But I will find out what's really going on.
Without another thought, Star quietly followed Bonita to her room.