Once upon a rommie

Countdown

The sizzling of oil in a pan woke Mia up and she looked around to see that Zola wasn't home so she rushed out to the kitchen just to see Corbin. Then that tear came , she stepped back trying not to make a sound.

"You don't have to try so hard kid , Zee went to work , she'll be back by evening" Corbin said and she froze. He put off the gas and put the egg he was drying in a plate then he went straight to the dining area,

"Come and eat , Zola would kill me if you starve , she gave me an ear full this morning" he added . Mia hesitated before she went to the table and sat as far as she could.

"Will you kill me because I recognise you?" She asked in a tiny shaky voice and Corbin's heart broke.

"I'm not going to harm you and I'm sorry for your family" he said , his head bowed low. He couldn't get himself to make eye contact with her.

"What if I tell ms" she said .

"I know I have absolutely no right to ask you for anything, but I don't want to lose her, I am scared to lose Zola, I would appreciate it if you don't tell her but even if you do I won't harm you"

"But I didn't want to lose mine either "

"I'm sorry" Corbin teared up

"If I tell ms would you kill her?"

"Why would you ask that ?"

"My uncle said never to reveal any knowledge of someone who kills , he said they'd kill anyone who even knows as much as their scent "

"You didn't listen to him"

"I'm stuck here now , you might as well do what you want to , I'm not strong enough to stop you anyways" she said and Corbin sighed .

Corbin stared at the young girl across the table, the weight of her words pressing down on him like lead. The eggs on the plate before her were growing cold, untouched, but it was the quiet, hollow resignation in her eyes that hurt the most. She wasn't fighting anymore. She was just bracing for the inevitable.

He pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down, keeping his movements slow and deliberate so as not to startle her. He needed her to understand, even if she couldn't forgive him.

"Kid," Corbin began, his voice barely above a whisper, choosing his words with agonizing care. "Your uncle was right to warn you. In the world I used to live in, people like me didn't leave loose ends. Secrets were dangerous. But Zola... Zola isn't part of that world. And neither are you anymore."

Mia lifted her chin just a fraction, her lower lip trembling. "Then why are you here? Why does she let you stay?"

"Because she doesn't know," Corbin admitted, the confession burning his throat. "Not the full truth. She knows I’ve made mistakes—terrible, unforgivable mistakes—but she thinks I'm trying to change. And god help me, Mia, I am. Being with her... seeing how fiercely she cares about people, how she took you in when you had nowhere else to go... it made me want to be someone she could actually be proud of."

"She thinks you're just a guy with a rough past," Mia whispered, the realization dawning on her. "If she knew what you did to my family... she would throw you out."

"She would," Corbin nodded softly. "And she might never look at me again. That terrifies me more than any enemy I ever faced."

Mia looked down at her hands, tightly knotted in her lap. The silence stretched between them, heavy with a decade of grief and a fragile, tangled secret.

"I won't lie to you," Mia said, her voice growing stronger, carrying a fierce, unexpected echo of her uncle's stubbornness. "I hate you. Every time I look at you, I see what was taken from me. I might not tell her today, or tomorrow... but I can't promise I'll keep your secret forever."

Corbin closed his eyes and let out a long, shaky breath, feeling a strange mix of sorrow and profound relief.

"I understand," he said, opening his eyes to meet her gaze directly for the first time. "I don't expect your forgiveness, Mia. And you don't owe me your silence. Just... eat your breakfast. Zola worries enough as it is, and I promised her I'd take care of you while she's gone."

Mia looked at the plate of food, then back to Corbin. She didn't smile—there was nothing to smile about—but slowly, hesitantly, she reached for her fork.

...

"Hello sis...I'm switching to face time " Zola's said I'm her language.

"Your eyes look empty " Zola's sis said .

"Yesterday I took a little girl in" Zola said and her sis Amara smiled at her.

"I know you're not the impulsive type but you know kids come with responsibilities, I know you have your reasons " Amara said while trying to coax her crying baby .

"Did she run away too, did someone take her in?, is she alive ?" Zola's eyes welled up with tears , she blinked fast not to let it out. Amara on the other side of the screen watched her and said nothing. Zola kept talking and Amara did not for once interrupt. Amara has this ability to listen, she's someone anyone can talk to and the person wouldn't worry about getting interrupted. She was their family's therapist .

Siddharth walked into her office with a smug look but it vanished as soon as he saw that Zola was on the phone and she crying. He didn't understand what she was but whatever it was , it wasn't Good news. He quietly walked up to her table. Zola noticed the silhouette and raised her head.

"You have work?" Amara asked from the screen and Zola shook her head.

"Wanna talk?" Sid asked and Zola shook her head

"I'm fine " she said cleaning her tears

"Amara I miss you, I miss mom, I miss dad, I miss those two little creatures, they must be all grown up right now and I'm sorry I wasn't there to carry your child" she said and Amara smiled

"As long as you're happy and safe we're all good, we don't even have any sort financial issues and most of it thanks to you " Amara said

"Come back with a man next , the man behind the screen can I see him ? " Amara asked and Zola disconnected the ear pods .

"Did my sis wanna talk to you" Zola said and he came beside her and bent over the table

"He's very handsome Zee" she said and Sid blushed

"He's also very annoying" Zola said

"It won't be bad if you bring him home " Amara said in their language.

"Come on , he's not as good as he looks " Zola said

"What did she say?" Sid asked

"Something that'll feed your ego and I don't like it" Zola snapped

"At least she sees my worth " Sid said with a smug look on his face .

"What's your name handsome "

"Your husband won't be happy when he hears you call another man handsome " Zola said

" I'm Siddharth.... Siddharth Gupta " he said to Amara

"And her husband can't change the fact that I'm handsome " he said to Zola and Amara laughed

"I like him can get your number ?" Amara said

"Amara ?" Zola called out .

"Come on , I need your friend's number for emergencies " Amara said

"He's not my friend " Zola said

"I know her apartment and my cousin is her next door neighbour " Sid defended

"That's just enough " Amara smiled and before Zola could say another word She already exchanged contacts with Sid

"Amara right " Sid asked

"Yes "

"You're gorgeous and not as frustrated as Zee , your husband is lucky " Sid asked , Amara laughed and Zola was fuming.

"Amara I'll be going back to work " Zola said

"Love you " Amara said and ended the call.

"Leave my office if you have nothing to say" Zola said

"Who would believe you were vulnerable few minutes ago " Sid said

"What do you want?"

"There's this new restaurant that sells Nigerian dishes 5 minutes away I want us to go try it out"

"I'd probably be disappointed " Zola said

"I'm paying "

"Let's go then" Zola said and got up hanging her coat on her chair .

The restaurant was small, tucked away between a bookstore and a quiet café, with a warm, inviting sign hanging above the door that read Taste of Home. As soon as they stepped inside, the rich, aromatic scents of spices, fried plantains, and slow-cooked stews washed over them.

"See? I told you," Sid said, nudging her arm with a grin as a waiter showed them to a corner booth. "Smells authentic enough, doesn't it?"

"Smells can be deceiving," Zola retorted, sliding into the booth and picking up the laminated menu. But despite her words, her stomach gave a quiet rumble. Between the emotional morning and skipping breakfast, she was starving.

They ordered Jollof rice, fried plantains, and peppered chicken, along with a bottle of malt drink for Zola.

As they waited for the food, Sid leaned across the table, his playful demeanor softening just a fraction. "Alright, Zee. You don't have to tell me if it's none of my business, but... you looked broken on that screen earlier. Is everything okay With home?"

Zola stared at the condensation forming on her bottle. For a second, she considered brushing it off with a sarcastic remark. But Sid had seen her at her most vulnerable, and despite how much he drove her crazy, he was perceptive.

"I miss them," Zola said softly, tracing the rim of the glass with her thumb. "My family. My sister Amara... she holds everyone together. And taking Mia in—it’s just brought a lot of things to the surface. Mia has this sadness in her eyes, Sid. The kind that doesn't just go away with a warm bed and a plate of food. It feels like I've stepped into the middle of a storm I don't know how to stop."

"You took in a child ? When? How?" Sid was surprised

"Long story , but it was yesterday" Zola replied

Sid watched her quietly, the shock entirely gone from his face. "You have a massive heart, Zee. That's your superpower, and honestly, your biggest weakness. You carry everyone else's weight because you think you have to. But you don't have to do it alone. You've got Corbin there, right? And... well, you've got me, whether you want me or not."

"The two of you are a massive part of my problem " Zola said

"At least I'm not just so useless in your life right now am I ? Sid smiled

Zola looked up, caught off guard by the genuine sincerity in his voice. Before she could find a witty comeback to mask the sudden warmth in her chest, the waiter arrived, setting down plates piled high with steaming, vibrant food.

The rich, smoky flavor of the Jollof rice instantly commanded their attention. Zola took a bite, closed her eyes, and let out an appreciative sigh. "Okay," she conceded, a small smile breaking through. "You were right. It's actually good."

"I am usually right," Sid beamed, diving into his food. "Now, eat. And tell me more about your sister's husband—I need to know what I'm competing against."

"Home wrecker" Zola said and they both laughed .

Back at the apartment, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.

After finishing her breakfast in near-total silence, Mia had retreated to the guest room Zola had set up for her. She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers tracing the edge of a small photograph she always kept hidden in her pocket—a picture of her parents and her uncle before everything changed.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

Mia stiffened. The door pushed open slowly, and Corbin stood in the doorway, holding a small glass of water and a plate with a slice of cake Zola had bought the day before. He didn't step inside, respecting the invisible boundary she had drawn.

"I know you're probably still wishing I was a thousand miles away," Corbin said quietly, his voice gentle. "And you have every right to feel that way. But I wanted to give you this. And... I wanted to tell you something."

Mia didn't look up, but she didn't tell him to leave either.

"When Zola comes back tonight," Corbin continued, stepping just a little closer, "she's going to ask how you're doing. I'm going to tell her you ate, and that you're resting. I won't lie about your mood, but I won't give her a reason to worry more than she already does."

He set the plate and the glass of water gently on the nightstand.

"You told me earlier that you're not strong enough to stop me," Corbin said, looking down at his hands. "And maybe you aren't. But you're stronger than you think just for surviving. If you decide to tell Zola the truth, I won't stop you, and I won't hurt her or you. I give you my word. But until then... let me help keep this roof safe for you, the same way she's trying to keep it safe for both of us."

He turned and walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

Mia sat alone in the quiet room. She looked at the plate, then at the door. The terrifying weight in her chest hadn't vanished, but for the first time since she had walked into this apartment, the air in the room felt just a little bit easier to breathe.

Zola came back from work but she didn't have that usual exhaustion in her eyes , she opened the door to Mia reading a random book and Corbin in the kitchen. It felt warm inside .

"Mia " she called softly and Mia ran and hugged her ,Zola noticed Mia relaxing and realized she might have been tensed.

"Did he do anything to you? Talk to me I'll deal with him myself " Zola said and Mia shook her head

"I missed you" she said

" Hope you were well fed " Zola asked

"He made sure I didn't skip a meal" Miagave a faint smile .

"Corbin may be extremely annoying and overbearing every time, he can also be so aloof and prideful even when he just feeds off his dad...."

"I can hear you Zola and I have a job" Corbin interrupted from the kitchen

"I've never seen him go to work believe me, but he'd come home with bruises and might look rough at times but he's not a bad person baby" Zola tucked Mia's stray hair behind her ear.

"Give him a chance " Zola concluded and saw the hesitation in Mia's eyes.

"I'm not asking you to do it immediately but slowly okay " Zola patted Mia's shoulder and went to her room to bath and get changed . By the time came out the table was set with Corbin and Mia sitting across from each other.

"Let's eat" she said all smiles while taking a seat beside Mia. She noticed Mia's eyes going from Corbin to her plate and how she bit her lower lip .

"Does he scare you ?" Zola asked and Mia nodded, Corbin tightened his grip around his fork, his heart raced .

"Did he do anything to you ?" Zola asked concerned . There was a long pause . Mia looked at Corbin who couldn't bring himself to look up at her.

"He looks intimidating and barely wears colours , it's scary" Mia said and Zola laughed and Corbin excused himself to use the bathroom.

He locked himself in and kept washing his face to wash away the tears rolling down his cheeks . He rested his hand in the sink and looked at the mirror, all his life he's been feared , begged and praised. Now in front of a seven year old he felt so weak and somehow felt saved . The guilt hit him, He made the girl watch her loved ones die and somehow she didn't even try to ruin him , even after he explained how much he cared about Zola to her. She was a better person than he was, it was selfish of him to want her to help him keep the secret but now that she did that it didn't feel good. It felt like a part of him died. Something in him died and somehow he didn't even know what it was. He came out of the bathroom looking defeated and he sat down, he picked up his fork and added meat to Mia's bowl with his hand slightly trembling.

"Are you okay?" Zola asked

"Yes just constipation" Corbin lied and he watched Mia and Zola make fun and somehow it felt like relief for him. He picked his phone up and pressed it a little.

After dinner he got a call from his intel that his father's men and silence have reached the country and it's just like a day left for the building to be surrounded .

Corbin made breakfast and added a powdered stuff to Zola's food

"I'm sorry Zee but I need you close today" he muttered. He was wearing a bright pink top , white apron and hello kitty pants. He set the table waited, in less than three minutes Mia and Zola came out and they were both stunned by the sight .

"She said she was tired of my boring colours so I decide we'd match" He said looking at Mia who had hello kitty pants and pink top on . Mia's eyes lightened a little and Zola laughed . She was already prepared for work so she sat down and they began to eat. Soon her stomach began acting up and she rushed to use the restroom .

"Is she okay " Mia asked and Corbin shrugged eating his food like he had no idea what was happening.

" Zola will definitely call in sick , I'll be leaving and don't open the door for anyone, if anyone knocks ask them ... What you ate yesterday in the afternoon, and if they don't know don't open the door . Here ..." He hands her a key, " if the person doesn't answer , quietly go to Zola's room and open the iron door there , both of you hide there " he said as he grabs his key . " Yes another thing , I wouldn't need to knock I have my own keys " he left the house and from the front door he said

"Lock the door" which Mia did immediately. She remembered her uncle giving her information about hiding before he was killed , who knew his killer would be the one telling her to hide this time around .

She went to Zola's room and she just got off the phone

" I don't think I'll go to work today I don't feel good " she said rubbing Mia's hair and that was when it clicked . Something was wrong and Corbin couldn't bring himself to tell her and he tampered with her food to make her stay .

"Smart" Mia murmured

"Huh"

"Nothing you need to rest " Mia said and went to the living room making sure every door and window was shut tight .