DESIRE BURNS

"I’m sure she’s fine. Nash would message you, he definitely would," Emily Morton said, settling back against the emerald-green bouclé couch, her legs crossed casually as if Ruby’s worry wasn’t pressing.

Ruby paced, her fingers tangled together. "What if he doesn’t? What if he tries to cover up for Zahra? She’s supposed to be home by now. It’s midnight, Emily."

Emily sighed, rising from the couch and heading toward the kitchen. "You’re being too protective. She’s a student, Ruby. Students have parties, distractions, and lives outside textbooks. You can’t hold her down forever because first you’re her lecturer, now you give her a curfew? That’s not parenting, that’s suffocating." She shook her head, her voice both firm and pitying.

The room fell into heavy silence. Ruby’s lips pressed tightly together. She hated how Emily’s words burrowed beneath her skin, because a part of her knew they were true.

Just as the silence became unbearable, the front door creaked open. Nash stepped inside, his arm steadying Zahra, who leaned heavily against him. Her laughter spilt into the living room, too loud in the midnight stillness. She stumbled, nearly collapsing, and Nash caught her again, jaw tight with the effort.

"Zahra!" Ruby’s voice snapped, slicing through the air.

Zahra hiccupped and straightened. Her dark eyes lit up the moment they met Ruby. "Uh? Isn’t it my favourite sister?" she slurred, wriggling out of Nash’s hold and staggering toward Ruby, her arms flinging around her in a hug.

Ruby stiffened, heart twisting painfully at the scent of alcohol clinging to Zahra’s.

"I missed you, Mom," Zahra whispered, pressing sloppy kisses to Ruby’s cheek, her forehead pressed against hers before she gave out entirely, and Ruby caught her, holding her tight.

"Nash, help me take her to her bedroom."

"Sure, Ruby," he said softly, lifting Zahra effortlessly into his arms and carrying her upstairs.

Ruby’s gaze followed them until they disappeared down the hallway. Emily raised her brows, even with her tone light it held edged judgment. "Well, someone’s in trouble…"

"Come on, Emily. She drank and partied. She doesn't have good grades!" Ruby snapped, defensiveness cracking in her voice.

Emily smirked faintly, grabbing a pillow on her way upstairs. "You know what you need to do. Anyway, I have a train in the morning. Goodnight."

A few minutes later, when the house had quieted. Ruby turned the knob of Zahra’s bedroom door, peeking inside. Her chest eased slightly at the sight of Nash seated by the bed watching Zahra. Ruby managed a small, grateful smile as she stepped in.

"How is she?"

"Asleep," Nash chuckled, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and concern.

"Thank you so much for this, Nash. I shouldn’t be bothering you," Ruby murmured, rubbing her arms nervously, guilt prickling her voice.

"It’s okay. I don’t mind," he said with an easy smile. The silence that followed was thick.

Ruby quickly busied herself with Zahra’s bag, pulling out her phone, tidying her belongings, anything to fill the space.

"If there’s nothing else, I should go," Nash said after a beat.

Ruby turned sharply. "Oh! Thank you, Nash," she said hurriedly, just as Zahra’s phone vibrated in her hand. Her eyes fell on the screen, the text freezing her blood.

Soulmate: Don’t forget your dare, Z. His hotel by 9 p.m. Tell me more about your time with the mighty Leslie.

Her breath hitched. The words blurred as disbelief and confusion crashed into her. Hotel? Dare? Mighty Leslie?

"Ruby?" Nash called gently.

She didn’t hear him. Her eyes darted between Zahra’s peaceful sleeping face and the glowing message, her stomach twisting violently. The phone slipped from her hand when Nash touched her shoulder, jolting her back to the present.

"Oh. Yeah. Nash." Her voice cracked. She blinked rapidly, forcing composure, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m sorry. I can’t escort you down. Why don’t you…leave first?"

Nash’s eyes flicked to the phone lying dark on the nightstand, then back at her. She smiled harder, too quickly.

"Alright. Goodnight, Ruby," he said finally, though there was a hint of hesitation in his tone.

The door clicked shut behind him. Ruby’s mask crumbled instantly. Her smile dissolved, her green eyes narrowing with a storm of disbelief and anger. She turned toward her sister, asleep and innocent-looking, rage clawing up her throat.

Her hands trembled as she whispered under her breath, "The mighty Leslie? Who the fuck is that?"

The weight of betrayal pressed down on her chest. Zahra’s sudden change in behaviour wasn't a mystery anymore. It was a warning. And Ruby wasn’t about to ignore it.

The next morning, Ruby pulled into the staff parking lot, her little car humming softly before she killed the engine. She sat there for a moment, palms pressed to the steering wheel, staring out at the bustle of campus life.

Her reflection in the rearview mirror betrayed none of the turmoil twisting inside her. Her curls framed her face perfectly, lipstick precise, her eyes cool despite the sleepless night. She reached for her canvas tote, slung it over her shoulder, and stepped out.

The early sunlight caught the pale blue of her slip dress, the silk clinging lightly to her frame, layered under the sweeping drape of her oversized coat in a deeper blue.

"Ruby," a familiar voice called.

She turned, her green eyes meeting Mrs. Ola’s. The older woman, dressed in a crisp Ankara blouse and skirt, gave her a knowing smile as she walked over.

"My dear, you look like you stepped out of a Paris magazine this morning," Mrs. Ola said.

Ruby managed a small smile. "Thank you, Ola. Just trying to survive the week."

"You and I both," Mrs. Ola chuckled. Her expression softened as she lowered her voice. "You seem… distracted. Is everything alright?"

Ruby tightened her grip on the tote strap, her gaze flicking briefly toward the student halls where Zahra should be by now.

The mighty Leslie pulsed in her skull.

"I’m fine," Ruby lied smoothly, pulling her coat on her shoulders. "Just a long night."

Mrs. Ola studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Well, don’t let these students eat you alive. Come by later, we’ll have coffee."

Ruby’s smile softened. "I’ll hold you to that."

As Mrs. Ola walked away, Ruby exhaled slowly, her mask cracking for only a second before she caught herself. She adjusted her coat, lifted her chin, and strode toward the building.

Ruby adjusted the tote on her shoulder and turned into the main hallway. The hum of students moving between classes filled the space, the sound echoing against the tall windows.

She barely made it three steps before colliding with a solid frame. Her breath caught as her tote slipped slightly down her arm.

The man she’d bumped into barely staggered, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence dominating the hallway without even trying.

Ruby looked up, ready to apologise, but froze at the expression on his face.

He was annoyed. His light brown eyes narrowed, and his jaw was tight as if her very existence had interrupted something important.

Ruby blinked, confusion rippling through her. Why is he staring at me like I’ve offended him?

Before she could speak, a voice rang out down the hallway. "Hey, Leslie!"

The name cracked through her like lightning. Ruby’s head snapped toward the caller, then back to the man before her. Her lips parted, brows arching as realization hit. A scoff left her throat so disbelieving.

"So you’re the mighty Leslie?" she said, her voice laced with mockery and disbelief.

The man’s gaze darkened instantly, his irritation sharpening in his eyes. He took a step closer, towering over her. "And who the fuck are you?”