After getting home, Yusuf couldn't stop thinking about what he had seen that evening. He sat alone in the living room, wrestling with his thoughts. "It must be her brother," he tried to reassure himself. "Or a cousin, a nephew... something like that." His attempt at rationalization was weak, even to his own ears. His mother came in and noticed his troubled expression. š
"You've been looking so stressed lately, just like your brother sometimes. What's the matter today?" she asked, her voice gentle with concern.
"It's nothing, Mom. Just an office issue. I was thinking about a solution," he lied, avoiding her gaze. š
"Hmm... even if it's about work, don't overthink it, son. Everything resolves itself with time," she said soothingly, patting his head before leaving him to his thoughts.
Meanwhile, at the Manalo dinner table, the atmosphere was warm and lively. Stephan was enthusiastically helping himself to more of Mrs. Manalo's cooking, his repeated trips to the serving dishes a silent but high compliment to her culinary skills. š
After his mother left, Yusuf's resolve crumbled. He told himself he just needed to confirm Kirana had gotten home safely. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.
At the dinner table, Kirana's phone rang. Seeing "Boss" on the screen, she excused herself and answered. š³
"Hello, Kirana. Sorry to call at this hour. I just heard about the bus shortage today and wanted to make sure you got home safely," Yusuf said, his voice strained with forced casualness.
"Oh, yes, sir, I..." she began to reply. š
Just then, from across the table, Stephan's voice cut in, playful and loud. "Hey, Kira! Pass me that chicken dish, will you?"
Kirana quickly handed the dish to Stephan and returned to the call. "Sorry, sir... As I was saying, I got home safely." š£
"Alright then. I'll let you go," Yusuf said abruptly, hanging up before she could even wish him a good night.
The call ended, but for Yusuf, it only deepened the mystery. He had clearly heard a young man's voice calling her "Kira" in a familiar, easy tone. Who was that? The question looped in his mind, burning away any hope of sleep. The professional distance he clung to felt like a thin veneer, cracking under the weight of a simple, personal curiosity that felt dangerously like jealousy. š„