Rhea's phone vibrated in her hand.
The screen lit up with one name.
Mom.
Her smile vanished instantly.
Ling noticed the change. "Who is it," she asked quietly, already knowing.
Rhea swallowed once, then accepted the call. "Hello?"
Kane's voice came sharp and immediate, no greeting.
"Are you with Zifa?"
Rhea didn't hesitate. Not a second. "Yes."
Ling's jaw tightened. She stayed silent, watching Rhea's face carefully.
Kane continued, cool and suspicious. "You told Shyra?"
"Yes," Rhea replied smoothly. "She knows. I stayed the night."
There was a pause on the line. Long enough to feel dangerous.
Ling leaned closer, not interrupting.
Kane spoke again. "Put Zifa on."
Rhea's fingers curled slightly around the phone. "She's asleep. I woke her late. You know how she is."
Another pause.
Ling could almost hear Kane calculating.
"Hm," Kane murmured. "You sound… fine."
Rhea forced a small laugh. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you never lie to me this calmly," Kane said.
Ling's eyes flicked to Rhea's face. Rhea didn't look at Ling. She kept her expression neutral, bored even.
"I'm tired," Rhea said. "That's all."
Kane exhaled slowly. "You'll come home tonight."
"Yes," Rhea answered. A beat. "Tomorrow night."
Ling's head snapped toward her at that.
Kane caught it instantly in the silence. "Why tomorrow?"
Rhea recovered fast. "Because Zifa asked me to stay today."
That one landed.
Kane softened—just slightly. "Fine," she said. "But Rhea."
"Yes, Mom."
"Don't try to be over smart," Kane said flatly. "You remember."
Rhea's throat tightened. "I remember."
Ling didn't move.
Kane ended the call without another word.
The line went dead.
Rhea lowered the phone slowly, her hand shaking just enough to notice.
Ling spoke first. Quiet. Controlled. "You lied well."
Rhea laughed once, brittle. "I've had practice."
Ling stepped closer, voice low. "You didn't have to say tomorrow night."
Rhea finally looked at her. Her eyes were sharp—but there was something frayed underneath.
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
Rhea exhaled, rubbed her face, then met Ling's gaze head-on.
"Because if I don't give myself time," she said softly, "I'll run before I even understand what I'm running from."
Ling's expression didn't soften—but her hand lifted, stopping just short of Rhea's wrist.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Ling said.
Rhea's lips curved faintly. "So are you."
A beat.
Ling nodded once.
"And before your mother notices the mark again." said Rhea.
Ling smirked. "Let her."
Rhea's eyes flicked to her neck, then back to Ling's face.
"Careful," she said. "You're starting to sound proud."
Ling leaned in just enough to make the space between them ache.
"I am."
Rhea's phone rang again—this time Shyra.
Rhea answered immediately, voice dropping. "Sheruu?"
Shyra didn't waste time. "Mom asked at breakfast," she said. "I told her you're with Zifa. She watched me for a full ten seconds."
Rhea exhaled, eyes closing. "Thank you."
A beat. Then Shyra's tone shifted—lighter, teasing.
"So," she added casually, "is Ms. Damn Hot with you right now?"
Rhea opened her eyes slowly. "Shyra."
Ling, who had been leaning against the dresser pretending not to listen, froze. Her lips twitched.
Rhea hissed, "Don't."
Ling grinned.
Rhea tried to angle the phone away, but Ling was faster—she leaned in, smoothly, unapologetically, and spoke right into it.
"Hello," Ling said, voice warm and reckless. "Future sister-in-law."
Rhea shot her a murderous look. "Ling—"
Shyra went silent for half a second.
Then: "Oh. You."
Ling laughed softly. "Missed me?"
Rhea tried to snatch the phone. Ling lifted it higher, out of reach. "Ling, give it—"
"I was actually missing you," Ling continued, unfazed. "My future wif—" she paused deliberately, then corrected herself with a smile Rhea could hear, "—I mean, your sister."
Rhea's face went red. "You are impossible."
Shyra snorted on the other end. "I can hear her glaring from here."
Ling leaned back against the bed, relaxed, still holding the phone. "She's always angry," Ling added thoughtfully. "Is that just with me, or is it a family trait?"
Rhea finally managed to grab Ling's wrist and yank the phone closer. "She is not always angry."
Shyra laughed outright now. "She's never angry with me."
Ling raised a brow. "Unfair."
Rhea pressed the phone to her ear, trying to regain control. "Shyra, ignore her. She's—"
"—dangerous?" Shyra supplied lightly.
Ling smiled. "Accurate."
Shyra's tone softened just a little. "Rhea," she said, quieter now, "be careful."
Rhea met Ling's eyes as she answered. "I am."
Ling didn't interrupt this time. She just watched—steady, intent.
Shyra cleared her throat. "Alright. Mom bought it for now. Don't do anything… spectacularly stupid."
Ling leaned in again, murmuring just loud enough, "No promises."
"Ling," Rhea warned.
Shyra laughed again. "I'm hanging up before I regret knowing this much."
"Ok and Thanks again," Rhea said quickly.
"Love you more," Shyra replied—and then, to Ling, "Don't traumatize my sister."
Ling smiled into the phone. "I would never."
The call ended.
Rhea lowered the phone slowly and turned on Ling. "You enjoy chaos."
Ling shrugged, eyes bright. "Only when you're blushing."
Rhea crossed her arms. "You called me your wife."
Ling tilted her head, unbothered. "I corrected myself. Because I was wrong I would have said future wife."
"Hate you."
Ling stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You didn't deny it."
Rhea opened her mouth—then stopped.
Ling smiled, victorious but quiet, only to find Rhea already climbing onto the bed, settling back against the headboard like she owned the place.
Ling didn't even pretend to resist. She went straight in behind Rhea, arms circling her waist, pulling her close until Rhea was half in her lap, half against her chest.
Rhea smiled lazily. "You're clingy today."
Ling rested her chin on Rhea's shoulder. " I'm celebrating."
Rhea hummed, fingers tracing slow, absent patterns on Ling's arm. "Future wife energy already?"
Ling scoffed, but her grip tightened. "You started it. Calling me brave in front of your sister."
"I didn't," Rhea said innocently. "You just exposed yourself."
Ling shifted, lips brushing near Rhea's ear—not kissing, just close enough to make her react. "You like when I do."
Rhea tilted her head slightly, giving her space on purpose. "I like when you think I don't notice."
Ling smiled against her skin. "You notice everything."
"Except when you're scared," Rhea shot back.
Ling pulled away just enough to look at her. "I'm not scared."
Rhea raised a brow. "You froze when my mom's name came up."
"That's respect," Ling argued.
"That's fear wearing manners," Rhea teased.
Ling groaned dramatically and buried her face in Rhea's neck. "You're evil."
Rhea laughed, soft and satisfied, arms wrapping fully around Ling now. "And you adore me."
Ling sighed into her. "Unfortunately."
They stayed like that—Ling holding her, Rhea completely relaxed in her arms—talking about nothing and everything.
Ling complained about her mother. Rhea mocked her terrible excuses from the morning.
Ling retaliated by reminding Rhea who had snuck in through a window and scraped her knee like a criminal.
Rhea flicked her forehead. "Worth it."
Ling caught her hand and pressed it flat to her chest. "That's the problem. You always are."
Rhea went quiet for a second, then leaned in, forehead resting against Ling's. "You don't get to act tough and then melt like this."
Ling smiled softly. "Only with you."
Rhea smirked. "Good. Stay that way."
Ling tightened her arms again, pulling Rhea closer until there was no space left for teasing—just warmth, quiet laughter, and the unspoken understanding that for now, this was enough.