Chapter 6: Second chance ?
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Inside the cozy living room, a quiet tension hummed beneath the surface. Sewa sat stiffly in the single-seater couch by the window, her arms folded tightly across her chest, legs crossed. Her expression was unreadable, but the subtle twitch of her jaw betrayed her frustration. Across from her, Tobi occupied the other chair, sitting upright, hands clasped between his knees, clearly uncomfortable. The room was dimly lit, the muted glow from the TV casting shadows across their faces. The air was thick with unsaid words.
From the dining table a few feet away, Moji leaned forward, elbows on the surface, a slice of pizza in hand, eyes darting between the two like she was watching a live drama series. She chewed slowly, deliberately, waiting for the spark that would ignite the storm.
Sewa finally broke the silence, her voice even but laced with disappointment.
"So… what's your excuse? Phone got damaged? Relative died? You were just so busy you couldn't find a minute to text?"
Her tone wasn't sharp, but it pierced all the same. She wasn't looking for drama—she was looking for a reason to still believe this man sitting in front of her wasn't just another waste of time.
Tobi shifted in his seat, guilt etched in every line of his face. He took a breath, eyes meeting hers.
"I know it's a d*ck move to ghost you for almost two days… especially after what happened Saturday."
He paused, running a hand through his hair. "And I'm really sorry for it. I don't have a grand excuse. The only thing I can say is… I hope you can forgive me."
Moji's mouth dropped open slightly before she tossed the crust she was holding back into the box and stood up.
"Are you kidding me?" she barked. "You're too lazy to even come up with a proper excuse? So you just showed up here like, 'Oh forgive me, I vanished without a word but now I'm here so everything's fine?' Bla bla bla." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Just leave, please. I'm not arguing with you."
Sewa didn't react immediately. She kept her gaze on Tobi, her silence louder than Moji's outburst. It was disappointment, but there was a flicker of hope in her eyes—as if still waiting for something more.
Tobi looked at her, ignoring Moji's hostility. "I know it sounds absurd. And I know it's asking a lot when I can't give you an explanation… but there are some things I genuinely can't talk about right now. Not because I don't want to—but because I'm not allowed to."
His voice softened, and he leaned forward slightly. "But I came here, Sewa… because I couldn't stand the thought of you thinking I just didn't care. I do. I promise I do. I just need time to prove that to you."
The room fell into silence again, the tension now laced with uncertainty. Moji huffed and slumped back in her seat, folding her arms with a grumble. Sewa remained still, her thoughts running wild behind her calm expression.
She didn't know what to believe—but what she did know was that sincerity, even when incomplete, was hard to fake.
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Sewa let out a deep sigh, her shoulders relaxing just slightly as she leaned back into the chair. The air between them had shifted—still tense, but now laced with a quiet understanding. Her gaze softened just a little, though she kept her tone composed.
"Tobi… you can go," she said, waving her hand slightly toward the door. "But you owe me another date."
For a second, Tobi blinked in surprise, then a slow, relieved smile spread across his face. It was genuine—warm, even a little shy. He stood up, nodding.
"No problem," he said gently, "I'll text you."
He looked like he wanted to say more, maybe explain again, but something told him to leave it there. He gave her one last look, then made his way out the door, closing it softly behind him.
Silence lingered for a moment before Moji, now lounging comfortably on the couch with the empty pizza box beside her, smacked her lips and declared with dramatic flair, "Well, the pizza's gone, and so is the mystery man."
She licked her fingers clean, clearly unbothered by manners in the presence of her best friend. Then, narrowing her eyes at Sewa, she added, "Are you sure you wanna do that? Let him off that easy? That might've been his plan all along, babe—showing up unannounced, saying just enough to seem mysterious, then faking sincerity so you let your guard down."
Sewa walked over and dropped onto the couch beside her, letting out a breath as she reached for the throw pillow and hugged it against her chest.
"You're the one who said I needed some vitamin D," she replied, casting a sideways glance at her friend.
Moji's eyes widened for a moment in mock delight, then melted into a soft grin. "Aww, you listened to me." She reached over and nudged Sewa's shoulder. "I feel so honored."
But after a beat, her gaze shifted from playful to protective. Her voice lowered just a little, losing its earlier teasing edge.
"I just don't want you to get hurt," she said sincerely. "You don't let people in easily, Sewa. And I know that even one date meant more to you than you let on."
Sewa gave a small smile, appreciating the honesty. "I know. And I get it, really. But it was just one day. Just one. If I'm being real, I had a great time. He made me laugh, made me relax in a way I haven't in a long time." She paused, then added, "I can't tell if he's hiding something or just dealing with something, but… I think I should give him the benefit of the doubt. At least this once."
Moji exhaled slowly, watching her friend closely. Then, with a reluctant nod, she leaned back into the cushions. "Okay. I guess that's fair. But just so you know… I'll kill him if he hurts you."
Sewa laughed softly, bumping her shoulder into Moji's. "Duly noted."
With the mood easing, the girls turned their attention back to the TV. The show picked up again, the drama on-screen now feeling like background noise to the real emotional rollercoaster that had just happened. Sewa pulled the throw blanket over both of them while Moji, already reaching for a new snack from her mystery stash, offered her a bite.
They didn't speak for a while, just watched and munched in companionable silence. But in the back of Sewa's mind, the night's events replayed quietly. She didn't know where things with Tobi would go, but for now, she was choosing hope.
And that, for someone like her, was already a big step.