Chapter 90: Settle In
Kofi unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for Thea to enter. He flicked on the light switch just inside the frame. The living room was illuminated, revealing a simple but tidy space.
’Okay, this is it. The point of no return.’
Thea took a hesitant step inside, her eyes wide. She was still clutching the plastic bag with her old clothes. She looked around the room, at the clean floors, the small couch with its neatly arranged cushions, and the stack of manga on the coffee table. Her expression started to crumble.
’Ah, this is bad. Her eyes are getting watery.’
He watched as her lower lip began to tremble. Her gaze drifted from the living room to the small, attached kitchen, where the counters were wiped clean and the new frying pan sat on a drying rack by the sink.
It was just a normal apartment. It was nothing special. But for her, it was clearly something else entirely.
A single tear escaped and rolled down her bruised cheek.
’She’s going to cry. What am I supposed to do? Should I say something? Pat her on the back? That seems wrong.’
"Uh," he started, his own voice sounding awkward. "This is it. You can, um, put your bag down."
Thea didn’t move. She just stood there in the entryway, her shoulders shaking slightly. She quickly wiped the tear away with the back of her free hand, as if angry at herself for letting it fall.
’I should just give her a minute.’
He decided it was best not to draw attention to it. He walked past her and set his own bag down by the couch. "The guest room is this way," he said, keeping his tone as neutral as possible. "I’ll show you."