"I feel so awkward…" Sapphire sighed while preparing lunch, her eyes fixed on the simmering pot. She felt hesitant to call out to or even approach Dayesh right now.
"Seriously, why am I the one feeling shy? I wasn't even the one who confessed."
"This smells amazing," Ghoth praised, lightly nudging Sapphire on the side.
"Go on, taste it and tell me if it's good," she said, taking a spoon, scooping a bit of broth, blowing on it gently before feeding it to him. "Open up."
"Hmmm. Yeah, it's good. Really tasty," Ghoth replied after tasting.
"You don't even look convinced. Should I add something else?" Sapphire asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"I don't know anything about cooking, but for me, it's already good," the young man said with a wink.
"Wait, I'll taste it too," Sapphire said, taking the same spoon and sampling her own cooking.
Ghoth's eyes immediately widened at what she did.
"Hey! Why did you use the spoon that was just in my mouth?!"
"So what? What's the big deal? Are you sick or something?" Sapphire replied, genuinely confused.
"No, I'm not… but doesn't that look kind of… you know?" Ghoth said, bringing his fingers together and awkwardly gesturing like a kiss.
"You believe in that stuff? It's nothing. I thought you were sick, you really startled me a bit," she said, brushing it off.
"It's almost done. Can you call Big Brother and her so I can start setting the food on the table?" Sapphire added, deliberately letting Ghoth do it instead. She still felt uneasy, worried that Dayesh might misinterpret every small interaction she had just now.
"Alright," Ghoth said before turning away to call them.
At the dining table, everyone had gathered, including the owl, which they had thoughtfully given its own portion of pellets to eat.
Sapphire sat beside Lzith, who was also seated next to Dayesh. Across from them were Amon, Khafa, and Ghoth. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the soft clinking of utensils and quiet chatter, though beneath it all lingered an unspoken tension that only a few seemed to notice.
Sapphire carefully fed Lzith, her movements gentle and attentive.
"Aren't you going to eat yet?" Khafa asked, glancing at her.
"Not yet. I'll eat later. I'm still feeding the little princess," Sapphire replied with a small smile, focusing on Lzith.
Dayesh, on the other hand, remained quiet. His gaze would occasionally drift toward Sapphire, observing her in silence. He had genuinely liked the taste of the dish she prepared, but with so many people at the table, he chose not to voice his praise. It was not the right setting, not when every word could be noticed and misunderstood.
Once everyone finished eating, the group slowly dispersed. The sound of chairs scraping and dishes being gathered filled the room. Dayesh joined in cleaning up, carrying plates toward the kitchen.
When he finally found a moment alone with Sapphire, he leaned slightly closer and spoke in a low voice.
"It was delicious," he whispered.
Sapphire felt an unexplainable mix of warmth and unease at his closeness. A faint shiver ran down her spine, and almost instinctively, she turned away and took a step back, putting a bit of distance between them.
"Are you avoiding me?" Dayesh suddenly asked, his voice calm but direct.
"N-no. I just feel a little awkward," she admitted, unable to meet his eyes.
Without another word, Dayesh wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her gently but firmly into an embrace.
"Why would you feel awkward? Hmm…" he murmured near her ear.
"Let go of me. Someone might see us," Sapphire said, her voice low but tense.
"And what if they do? You're mine anyway."
"Yours? We're not even married. How did I become yours?" she shot back, turning her head slightly.
"Do you want marriage? I can marry you as soon as tomorrow," Dayesh replied without hesitation.
Sapphire let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders lowering. "It's not that simple, Big Brother."
"I told you to call me by my name," he said, his tone soft but firm.
"It's still not that simple," she continued. "You have a child. She doesn't know about what we're doing. I feel like I'm betraying someone… I feel guilty, even if I'm not supposed to feel this way."
Dayesh gently turned her to face him and pulled her into another embrace, this time from the front, his expression more serious.
"I can tell Lzith. She'll understand," he said.
Not far from them, hidden just beyond the doorway, Ghoth had been about to enter the kitchen to get some water. But the moment he saw Dayesh holding Sapphire, he froze, then quietly stepped back.
"I'll just pretend I didn't see anything," he muttered to himself.
Deep down, however, there was something he could not ignore. A quiet hope lingered in his chest, stubborn and persistent, wishing that somehow, she would choose him instead.
"The question is… can I even compete?" he thought bitterly. "If it's strength, I already lose to Big Brother."
Night eventually fell, and once Sapphire made sure the children were already asleep, she quietly stepped বাইরে to get some air. It had become her usual routine, a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other, letting the silence of the night settle her thoughts.
The cool breeze brushed against her skin as she leaned back slightly, exhaling smoke into the darkness.
"Oh, so you're here."
Sapphire glanced to the side and saw Ghoth approaching. He had always known about her little nightly ritual, but in the past few days, he had been too hesitant to come near her, worried that he might be interrupting something or someone. Tonight, however, he finally gathered the courage to seek her out.
"Yeah. Sorry if it smells bad. It's a bad habit," Sapphire said casually, lifting her cigarette slightly.
"What's in your cup?" he asked, peering at it with curiosity.
"Coffee. Want me to make you one?"
"No, just let me have some of that," Ghoth replied, taking the cup from her hand without waiting. He took a sip, then raised an eyebrow. "Coffee? At night?"
"That's normal where I come from. I can still sleep even after drinking coffee," she answered with a small shrug.
"I'm weak when it comes to coffee. If I drink a whole cup tonight, I probably won't be able to sleep until tomorrow," he said, handing the cup back.
"You'll get used to it. Especially if you ever experience working night shifts," Sapphire said, her tone light but distant, as if recalling something from far away.
They stayed there for a while, sharing the quiet. No teasing, no tension, just the soft sound of the night and the faint glow of her cigarette. When Sapphire finally finished both her coffee and cigarette, she stretched slightly.
"I'm heading back to my room," she said.
"Alright," Ghoth replied.
He watched her leave before eventually returning to his own room as well.
Sapphire, as usual, did not bother turning on the lights when she entered her room. Darkness welcomed her, familiar and comforting. She stepped inside without noticing the figure already lying on her bed.
"I've been waiting for you," Dayesh whispered, his voice low and almost affectionate.
She flinched in surprise. "You scared me," she said, lightly hitting him.
"Come here. I want to hold you," Dayesh said, his tone leaving little room for refusal.
Sapphire hesitated, her feet rooted in place. She was unsure whether to approach him or not. Seeing that she did not move, Dayesh shifted instead, closing the distance himself and pulling her into his arms.
Sapphire stiffened at first, then slowly became aware of the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her. It was unfamiliar, this kind of closeness. She had always been independent, so much so that she had never imagined meeting someone this clingy, someone who sought her presence this much.
"W-wait, I need to use the bathroom first," she said quickly, slipping out of his embrace.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, she let out a long breath.
"What is this feeling? I don't like it. I don't feel at ease. I don't think I want to go back to my room yet," she murmured to herself.
Instead of returning, she decided to lie down on the couch in the living area. The exhaustion of the day caught up to her, and she fell asleep almost immediately.
Back in the room, Dayesh grew restless when she did not return. After waiting for a while, he stood up and went to look for her.
He found her sleeping on the long couch, her figure curled slightly, completely unaware of her surroundings.
"Why are you sleeping here? Do you not want to sleep beside me?" he asked softly.
Sapphire faintly heard his voice, but she had no intention of responding. Sleep had already taken over.
Without another word, Dayesh carefully lifted her into his arms. Her weight seemed effortless to him, as if carrying her required no strength at all.
Half-conscious, Sapphire felt herself being carried. The motion was gentle, steady. When she was finally laid down, she felt the softness of her bed beneath her again. A blanket was pulled over her, tucked securely around her.
Through her drowsiness, she heard the fading sound of footsteps… and then the quiet click of the door closing.
"Good, he finally left," she murmured faintly before drifting back into deep sleep.