Zara's phone vibrated again.
Once.
Then again.
The screen lit up the dark room like a warning.
Unknown Number — Incoming Call
Neither of them moved at first.
The kiss still lingered between them, suspended in the air like something fragile that hadn't fully settled yet.
Linda's hand was still lightly on Zara's waist.
Zara's forehead was still close to hers.
But now… everything felt different.
Cold again.
Interrupted.
Zara slowly turned her head toward the phone.
Her expression changed immediately.
Not fear.
Not shock.
Something more controlled.
More… resigned.
Linda noticed that shift.
"Answer it," Linda said quietly, pulling back just slightly.
Zara hesitated.
The phone rang again.
This time longer.
Insistent.
Zara exhaled through her nose and stepped away from Linda, breaking the space between them fully.
She picked up the phone.
Linda watched her closely.
Zara didn't press accept immediately.
Instead, she walked toward the window, as if needing distance before deciding.
"Zara," Linda called softly.
Zara lifted a hand slightly—asking for a second.
Then she answered.
"…Hello."
Silence on the other end.
Linda couldn't hear the voice, but she could see Zara's posture tighten instantly.
Her shoulders straightened.
Her jaw clenched slightly.
Linda's stomach sank.
Zara didn't speak again immediately.
Then, finally—
"Stop calling me," Zara said firmly.
Pause.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
"I told you. It's done."
Another pause.
Zara glanced briefly toward Linda, then turned away again.
"No. Don't bring her into this."
Linda's chest tightened at that line.
Her.
So it was about her.
Zara's voice dropped lower now.
"This is not your business anymore."
Silence again.
Zara listened for a moment longer, then her expression hardened.
"I don't care what you think you saw. You don't know anything."
A beat.
Then—
"Don't call this number again."
She ended the call.
The room fell completely quiet.
For a moment, only the faint hum of Lagos outside existed.
Zara stood still by the window, phone lowered in her hand.
Linda didn't speak immediately.
She was watching Zara carefully now.
Not just her words.
Her reaction.
The way her shoulders slowly loosened after the call ended.
Like she had done this before.
A lot.
Zara turned around slowly.
"I'm sorry about that," she said quietly.
Linda crossed her arms again, but this time less defensive.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Zara hesitated.
Just a second too long.
Then—
"The same person," she admitted.
Linda nodded slowly. "Your ex."
Zara nodded back.
"She doesn't stop," Zara said simply. "She calls, she texts, she uses different numbers. I block, she finds another way."
Linda's voice lowered. "And you didn't think that was important enough to tell me before I came here?"
Zara looked away briefly.
"I didn't want you to think I'm… complicated."
Linda scoffed softly. "Everyone is complicated."
Zara looked back at her.
"But not everyone deserves to deal with someone else's mess the first time they come over."
That made Linda pause.
The sincerity in Zara's voice was real.
But it didn't erase everything.
Linda exhaled slowly.
"You still should've told me."
Zara nodded immediately. "I know."
Silence stretched again.
This one different from before.
Less tense.
More reflective.
Zara walked back slowly toward the bed, stopping a short distance from Linda.
"I handled it," she said softly. "And I'll handle it properly tomorrow. I'll change my number, block everything permanently. I promise."
Linda studied her.
Then asked quietly—
"Does she know where you are?"
Zara shook her head immediately. "No."
A pause.
Then softer—
"I made sure of that."
Linda nodded slowly, processing.
Her heart was still unsettled.
But not panicked anymore.
Just… cautious.
Zara took another small step closer.
"I didn't want tonight to become this," she said quietly.
Linda let out a small breath.
"Neither did I."
That honesty hung between them.
Zara's gaze softened again.
And slowly, carefully, she lifted her hand once more—but this time didn't touch Linda.
Just hovered near her fingers.
"I'm sorry," Zara said again.
Linda looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
"You already said that," Linda murmured.
Zara gave a faint, tired smile. "I know. I just… need you to hear it properly."
Linda hesitated.
Then, slowly, she uncrossed her arms.
The tension in her body eased a little.
"I hear you," she said quietly.
Zara's shoulders dropped slightly in relief.
A pause.
Then Linda added, softer—
"But don't shut me out like that again."
Zara nodded immediately. "I won't."
Silence again.
But this time, it wasn't heavy.
It was different.
Gentler.
Zara exhaled slowly.
"I didn't expect tonight to go like this," she said.
Linda raised a brow slightly. "How did you expect it to go?"
Zara looked at her for a long moment.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Better."
Linda huffed a small laugh despite herself.
"That's your fault."
Zara stepped closer again, this time with more confidence.
"Yeah," she admitted softly. "Probably."
The air between them shifted again.
Not as tense as before.
But still charged.
Still aware.
Zara stopped just in front of her.
"I meant what I said earlier," she added quietly.
Linda's voice softened. "About what?"
Zara's eyes held hers.
"About not meaning to do that."
Linda's breath slowed.
Zara hesitated for half a second… then leaned in again.
This kiss wasn't uncertain.
But it was still careful.
Like Zara was trying to make up for everything she hadn't said.
Linda responded this time almost immediately, her hand sliding up slightly as she pulled Zara closer by instinct.
Zara exhaled softly against her lips, as if relieved.
But after a few seconds, she pulled back gently again.
Resting her forehead against Linda's.
"I really didn't mean to," Zara whispered.
Linda didn't open her eyes yet.
"…You keep saying that," she murmured.
Zara gave a quiet, breathless laugh.
"I mean it."
A pause.
Then Linda finally opened her eyes.
And instead of pulling away, she stayed right there.
Too close.
Too real.
And somewhere in the background—
Zara's phone lit up again on the bed.
Unknown Number.
Incoming call.