Rhea walks fast.
Too fast for her injured knee, but she doesn't slow down. The corridor lights blur past her as she heads toward the stairs.
Behind her, Ling follows—silent at first.
Then, under her breath, raw and almost angry at herself:
"You were supposed to make up with me," Ling mutters. "Even if I told you to leave."
Rhea hears it.
She pretends she didn't.
Her hand grips the railing as she starts down the stairs.
Ling follows, one step behind, jaw tight, eyes locked on Rhea's back like if she looks away even once, she'll lose her.
At the bottom of the stairs—
Dadi appears.
She wasn't hiding. She never hides. She's just… there. As if she's been waiting for the exact second everything goes wrong.
Dadi looks at Rhea first.
Then at Ling.
Then back at Rhea.
"Oh," Dadi says lightly. Too lightly. "Going somewhere this late?"
Rhea stops.
Barely.
"Yes," she says flatly.
Dadi smiles. It's warm. It's useless. She knows it.
"At night?" Dadi adds. "With a bandaged knee?"
Rhea doesn't answer.
Ling closes her eyes for half a second.
Dadi glances at Ling sharply, her expression screaming: Do something. Say something. Don't just stand there.
Dadi steps forward, blocking the hallway—not firmly, not convincingly. Almost apologetically.
"You know," Dadi says, waving a hand vaguely, "the gates are… very strict at night. Security protocol and all that."
Rhea finally looks at her.
Her eyes are calm. Too calm.
"I came through worse," Rhea says. "I'll manage."
Dadi's smile falters.
She tries again, fumbling. "Also—ah—Eliza is… awake sometimes. It would be… awkward."
Rhea lets out a short laugh. No humor in it.
"Everything tonight has been awkward."
Ling's chest tightens.
Dadi turns to Ling, eyes pleading now. Stop her. Properly.
Ling opens her mouth.
Nothing comes out.
Rhea looks between them, understanding dawning slowly, painfully.
"So," Rhea says, voice steady, "this is the part where everyone pretends this is about security."
Dadi winces.
Ling finally speaks, low. "Rhea—"
Rhea raises a hand. "No."
Ling freezes.
"I didn't come here to be stopped by half-answers," Rhea continues. "Or watched like I'm doing something shameful."
Dadi tries one last time, softer. "Child, at least sit. Rest for five minutes."
Rhea shakes her head. "If I sit, I'll stay. And if I stay, I'll say things I can't take back."
Her gaze shifts to Ling.
"And you already said enough."
Ling steps forward instinctively. "I didn't mean—"
"I know," Rhea cuts in.
Silence.
Thick. Crushing.
Dadi sighs quietly, defeated. "You're stubborn. Both of you."
Rhea nods once. "Yes."
She moves around Dadi.
Dadi doesn't stop her this time.
As Rhea walks toward the main door, Ling stands frozen—watching the distance between them stretch, every step loud in her head.
Rhea reaches the door.
Her hand rests on the handle.
Ling finally blurts, voice tight, almost breaking:
"You weren't supposed to leave like this."
Rhea doesn't turn around.
"Neither were you," she says quietly.
Ling moves.
Fast.
She steps in front of Rhea before the door can open, palm flat against the wood, blocking the exit with her body. Not dominance. Not control.
Desperation.
"Sorry," Ling says.
The word lands wrong. Too naked. Too unguarded.
Rhea looks up sharply. "Move."
Ling doesn't.
"Baby," Ling adds, quieter, voice rough, like it scraped her throat on the way out. "Please."
Behind them—
Rina freezes mid-step.
Dadi's brows shoot up.
Rina whispers, scandalized and delighted, "Oh my God. Is this real?"
Dadi covers her mouth, eyes shining. "She said please."
Rhea hears them. She ignores them.
Her eyes burn into Ling. "Don't call me that."
Ling swallows. Her jaw tightens, then loosens again, like she's forcing herself not to snap.
"I was wrong," Ling says. "About letting you go. About acting like I didn't care."
Rhea scoffs. "You didn't act."
Ling flinches.
Dadi murmurs to Rina, amused, "She stabbed her clean."
Rina grins. "Direct hit."
Ling exhales slowly, hands flexing at her sides like she's restraining the urge to grab Rhea and anchor her in place.
"I didn't come to hurt you," Ling says. "I came because you hurt me."
Rhea laughs bitterly. "So you punish me for it?"
"No," Ling snaps—and immediately lowers her voice again. "I shut down. That's different."
Rhea steps closer, chin tilted up. Angry. Beautiful. Dangerous.
"You don't get to shut down and then beg," Rhea says. "Pick one."
Ling's lips part.
Nothing comes.
Rina leans toward Dadi, whispering loudly on purpose, "She's malfunctioning."
Dadi nods. "Complete system failure."
Ling shoots them a look. "Not helping."
Rina raises her hands. "Sorry. This is historic."
Rhea folds her arms. "Step aside."
Ling doesn't move.
Instead, she does something worse.
She lowers her head slightly. Not bowing—but close enough to feel like surrender.
"I don't want you leaving angry," Ling says. "I can handle hatred. I can't handle you walking away like I don't matter."
Rhea's breath stutters.
Just once.
She masks it immediately.
"You matter too much," Rhea fires back. "That's the problem."
Ling's eyes darken. "Then stay."
"Don't say it like an order."
"It's not," Ling says. "It's a request."
Dadi gasps softly. "Another one."
Rina is openly laughing now, shoulders shaking. "I'm framing this night."
Rhea turns her head slightly, furious. "Can you two stop enjoying this?"
Dadi smiles innocently. "No."
Rhea looks back at Ling. Her voice drops. "You think saying sorry fixes everything?"
"No," Ling says honestly. "I think it starts something."
Rhea shakes her head. "You don't apologize. Ever."
Ling meets her gaze. "That's how you know I'm serious."
Silence.
Heavy.
Rhea's fingers curl into her palms. "You told me to leave."
Ling steps closer. Close enough that the air shifts.
"I lied," Ling says. "I wanted you to fight me."
Rhea's voice cracks despite herself. "I did."
Ling's eyes soften dangerously. "I know."
Dadi sighs, dramatic. "This is better than television."
Rina nudges her. "She's ruined. Completely ruined."
Rhea finally looks away, jaw trembling with restrained emotion. "Move, Ling."
Ling hesitates.
Then—slowly—she steps aside.
The door is clear.
Rhea doesn't move.
She exhales shakily. "I hate you for this."
Ling nods. "I can live with that."
Rhea looks back at her, eyes blazing. "You shouldn't have to."
Ling answers without thinking. "I'd take worse if it keeps you here."
That shuts everyone up.
Even Rina.
Even Dadi.
Rhea stares at her.
The war between leaving and staying fractures—just slightly.
And Ling waits, breath held, knowing this is the most powerless she's ever been.