Episode 5: The game begins
1199 Words
Even though Kira had said yes, she hadn’t moved.
The word family lingered.
Not softly.
Not in passing.
It sat in her chest like something misplaced,
turning, questioning, refusing to settle. And before anything could follow voices returned.
Movement.
Footsteps.
It was the kitchen staff. Ezekiel noticed it first. Of course he did.
His eyes flicked once, just once toward the entrance.
A quiet awareness.
A silent calculation.
And just like that the moment ended.
He didn’t push.
Didn’t repeat himself.
Didn’t even look like he was waiting.
He simply took the answer he had been given
and left.
Like it had been enough.
Leaving Kira standing there with something unfinished sitting between her ribs.
Tatiana turned to her almost immediately.
“Girl… seriously?” she said, eyes wide, voice half-disbelief, half-amusement. “Family?”
Kira frowned slightly, still staring ahead.
“What?”
“You think you guys are family?” Tatiana pressed.
Kira hesitated.
Her fingers curled slightly against the edge of the counter.
“…Aren’t we?”
Tatiana blinked.
Then shook her head slowly.
“No.”
There was a brief pause.Then her expression shifted sharper now. Curious.
“Wait…”
Tatiana leaned in slightly.
“Are you actually interested in him?”
Kira didn’t answer immediately.
Because now that the question had been said out loud, it felt heavier.
More real.
“…Yeah,” she admitted quietly.
Tatiana straightened so fast it was almost dramatic.
“Then why didn’t you give him your number?”
Kira exhaled, looking down at her hands.
“I don’t know. You said he’s a player.”
Tatiana waved that off like it meant nothing.
“Girl, he is a player, but he’s not broke,” she said bluntly.
Kira glanced at her.
“He has his own money,” Tatiana continued. “He doesn’t depend on his mum. At all.”
She leaned closer, voice dropping slightly
“He’ll spoil you.”
Kira blinked.
There was something unsettling about how easily she said it.
“All you have to do,” Tatiana added, “is not fall for him.”
A small grin curved her lips.
“Let’s eat his money. Let’s get spoiled.”
Kira stared at her. Part of her wanted to laugh.
Another part was thinking too much.
“The only reason I’m not dating him,” Tatiana went on casually, “is because we’re actually close. Like… family family.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“But you? It’s different.”
Kira looked away.
Her thoughts shifted again.
Different.
“So you want me to get his number?” she asked.
“Yes!” Tatiana said instantly. “You should have given it to him. That was your chance, you blew it!”
Kira let out a small breath.
Tatiana groaned dramatically, throwing her head back slightly.
“Our empty pockets would have been full by now.”
That almost made Kira smile
almost.
But then, another thought crept in.
“…Will I even be able to face Mrs. Blackwood if…” she hesitated.
“If something actually happens between us?”
Tatiana rolled her eyes immediately.
“Girl, she won’t even know.”
Kira looked at her.
“You think he’s going to tell her?” Tatiana added, shrugging. “It’ll be lowkey.”
Lowkey.
Kira repeated the word in her mind.
“…I guess you’re right.”
But she didn’t sound convinced. Before she could think any further, a voice cut through the air.
“Tatia.”
Both of them turned. It was Mrs. Blackwood.
Tatiana straightened instantly.
“Coming.”
She moved toward her without hesitation.
Kira followed, but slower. She stopped near the doorway.
Close enough to see.
Too far to hear.
Mrs. Blackwood spoke calmly.
Controlled.
Focused.
Tatiana listened.
Nodded.
Responded.
Kira didn’t catch a single word. Her attention had drifted again.
Should I have given it to him?
The question circled back.
Sharper this time.
Then, she heard footsteps closing in on her.
Kira didn’t turn immediately. But her body registered it.
His presence.
Ezekiel.
“Would you guys like to go out?” he asked casually. This time everyone could hear, be it Mrs Blackwood, her remaining quest or Tatiana. “I’m heading out with a friend. Since you’re graduating… you could celebrate.”
Tatiana answered first.
“I have a photoshoot this evening.”
Kira shook her head slightly.
“I’m traveling tomorrow morning.”
There was a pause.
Ezekiel nodded once.
“Alright then.”
Simple.
Too simple.
He walked past them into the kitchen.
For a moment, it felt like that was it.
That he had moved on just as easily as he arrived.
But then, he came back. And this time,
he didn’t stop at a distance.
He stopped right beside her.
Close enough for her to feel it.
Kira turned slightly.
He was already looking at her.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
“The number,” he said quietly. “Is that a yes or a no?”
Her breath caught, just slightly.
Tatiana’s voice echoed in her mind.
That was your chance.
Kira exhaled slowly.
“…Alright,” she said. “I’ll give it to you.”
He handed her his phone. Kira took it.
Her fingers felt steadier than she expected,
but her thoughts weren’t.
She typed.
Carefully.
Quickly.
“What’s your name again?” he asked.
She paused.
Just for a second.
“…Kira.”
He nodded once.
“Alright, Kira.”
“Thanks.”
No smile.
Just that same slight curve of his lips.
And then he left.
Just like before. Kira stood there.
Still.
Her phone wasn’t even with her.
It was somewhere else charging.
So there was nothing to distract her.
Nothing to ground her.
Just the feeling.
As he passed, something lingered.
Faint.
Clean.
Warm.
His scent.
Kira inhaled slightly, before she could stop herself. And froze.
It was subtle, but it stayed.
Like something that didn’t belong, but didn’t want to leave.
Tatiana returned moments later.
“Girl,” she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. “What’s up with you?”
Kira blinked slowly.
“…He smells nice.”
Tatiana stared at her.
“…What?”
Kira didn’t look at her.
Tatiana’s eyes widened.
“Wait, he came back, didn’t he?”
Kira nodded.
“…Yeah.”
A pause.
“I gave him my number.”
Tatiana gasped.
“You did?!”
Then immediately she exclaimed.
“Oh my God, thank you!” she said, grabbing her arm. “Please don’t mess this up for us, okay?”
Kira gave her a look.
“Even if he tries to play you,” Tatiana continued, “don’t fall for it. Just enjoy it.”
She grinned.
“Get spoiled.”
Kira exhaled slowly.
“And if he tries anything you don’t like,” Tatiana added, “just ignore him. It’ll end.”
Kira nodded.
“…Okay.”
But this time, the word felt lighter than the thoughts behind it.
Because deep down…
beneath the curiosity
beneath the hesitation
beneath the quiet thrill
Kira knew one thing already. This wasn’t going to be simple.
And for some reason that didn’t scare her as much as it should have.
- Writer
