☾︎✿︎☽︎
“Ah-ah, not like that,” one of Caleb’s aunts said, gently correcting Zoey’s grip on the knife. “You’ll bruise the tomatoes.”
Zoey laughed lightheartedly. “I promise I’m not usually this useless.”
“Please, you’re more useful than our muroora, who’s seated at the corner on her phone,” muttered another, nodding towards Gigi, who sat across the room, perched on the barstool, wine in one hand and her phone in the other.
“Varungu,” the other aunt shook her head as she went back to peeling the potatoes.
Zoey couldn’t help but frown at the negative comments. She turned toward Gigi’s direction. “Gigi! Come join us. We could use an extra pair of hands,” she called, her voice bright.
“Most of the work is done,” Gigi replied without looking up. “What more could I possibly do?”
“You could chop the vegetables. Or peel potatoes. It’d be a good bonding time with the future in-laws.”
Gigi finally glanced over, a flicker of sarcasm in her tone. “You seem to be bonding with my future in-laws just fine.”
Zoey bristled. “They’re not just your in-laws, Gigi. They’re Caleb’s family.”
“Don’t be pedantic. It doesn’t suit you.”
Don’t react. Don’t react.
Zoey sighed, lowering the knife. “I’m not being pedantic. I’m just trying to help. And last I checked, it’s hella disrespectful to be sitting while everyone else is doing something at a family gathering.”
“Whatever,” Gigi waved a dismissive hand.
Tati was about to say something until one of the aunts put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. “Musiye.” Tati let out a resigned sigh and fell silent. (Let her be.)
Just then, Caleb and Abby walked into the kitchen.
“Hello, ladies,” Abby flashed a smile at Tati and the women around her, then gave a curt nod toward Gigi. “Gigi.”
Without another word, he moved straight to Zoey, a big grin lighting up his face. “There’s my girl.”
Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her—a quick, soft peck that left her frozen for a moment, warmth blooming up her neck before she could stop it, then swatted his arm playfully.
“What are you doing?”
Abby feigned indignation. “What? I can’t kiss my girlfriend?”
Zoey scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Not in front of the whole family, you doofus. At least give me a warning.”
He blinked innocently. “Wow. God forbid I do my boyfriend duties, and my own girlfriend expects a warning for affection? How cruel, geobug-i.”
“No one wants to watch PDA at a family gathering, abs for brains.”
Abby gasped dramatically, clutching his imaginary pearls, turning to Caleb. “You see what I have to deal with?”
Caleb shook his head, laughing, and raised his hands. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”
“Coward,” Abby snorted.
"Self-preservation," Caleb corrected, with a smug smirk.
“What are you two doing here?” Zoey asked.
“We need more meat for the braai,” Caleb explained.
“And I needed an excuse to see my dear little geobug-i,” Abby added, pursing his lips as he leaned in again.
“Get away from me,” Zoey warned, dodging him.
“Fine, fine, I’ll behave since you’re being a party pooper.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Tati watched them with a knowing smile. “So,” she said, crossing her arms lightly. “How did you two meet?”
Abby straightened with a grin plastered across his face, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. “Well,” he began solemnly, “it was a warm autumn afternoon in a cornfield—”
“Oh my God, you’re full of shit,” Zoey cut in, sparking laughter around the kitchen.
Abby clutched his chest. “God forbid I tell our love story.”
“You were about to say we locked eyes across a tractor.”
“And it would’ve been romantic. Come on!”
Tati chuckled. “So, what’s the real story?”
“We met in uni,” Zoey said quickly. “I was a freshman, he was a sophomore. We became friends and eventually started dating. The end.”
“Hey!” Abby pouted.
“Go cry about it to your eomma, Lee Woojin.”
“That’s it? No funny anecdotes or endearing memories?” Tati asked, feigning disappointment.
“Trust me. There are stories for days. Zoey just doesn’t want to admit how in love with me she was.” Abby replied.
“No. I don’t want you rewriting history and selling a Wattpad fanfic ass story.”
“Hater.”
“Eat a dick, Abby.”
Gigi chose that moment to chime in, her voice cool. “And how long have you been dating?”
Zoey and Abby’s heads snapped toward each other, faces paling.
“Two months.”
“A year.”
They winced.
“A year.”
“Two months.”
Another wince.
Finally, in unison: “Two months.”
One of the aunts tilted her head. “Only two months? You act like you’ve been together at least a year.”
“W-well, when you’re in love, you lose track of time,” Zoey stammered.
“Yeah, and we were best friends first,” Abby added smoothly. “We’re basically soulmates.”
“Amen to that,” Tati said, giving Abby an approving look.
Gigi put her phone down and tilted her head to the side. “That’s an interesting way of saying ‘I got dumped by my ex and decided to date his friend.”
The room fell silent.
The aunts’ eyes widened. Caleb’s eyebrows shot up. Zoey’s whole body went stiff.
“It’s not like that,” Abby retorted.
“Then what is it like exactly?” Gigi challenged. “’cause from what I’m seeing, either this is a rebound relationship or she’s just passing herself around her friend group.”
Before Abby could retort, Tati cut in, her voice sharp. “Well, seeing as you’ve passed yourself around two of Caleb’s teammates, you’d certainly know.”
Gigi flinched as the temperature in the room plummeted.
“That was different. We were on a break,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“And Zoey and her ex were already broken up before she got with Abby.”
“I was just stating my opinion—”
“And I stated mine.”
The two women locked eyes, tension thick between them.
“The only reason why I’m allowing you to stay is out of respect for my brother. But I will not tolerate slander towards my guests in my house.” Tati said, her tone firm. “If you have a problem with it, leave.”
Gigi turned sharply to Caleb, giving him a look that said, ‘Aren’t you going to say something?’
He sighed, weariness etched into his face. “Aren’t you going a bit too far?”
Tati scoffed. “Ko ndanyepa? Haana kuhura nemateammates ako pamakarambana, here?” (Am I lying? Didn’t she sleep with your teammates when you broke up?)
“Ehe,” Caleb admitted quietly. “But I forgave her.” He looked around the room. “She’s going to be part of the family. At least show her some respect.”
“Respect yekupi?” one of the aunts snapped. “Why should we respect munhu anozviitira kunge ari holier than thou?”
“I know… but we can’t compare mistakes,” Caleb insisted. “It’s not the same.”
“Tell that to that hypocrite you call your fiancée,” Tati responded.
Gigi shot up from her stool, wine glass sloshing dangerously.
“I don’t need this,” she muttered, grabbing her phone. She stormed out of the kitchen, heels sharp against the tile.
Caleb sighed, chasing after her.
Zoey, Abby and the other women in the kitchen watched the exchange in silence; Gigi’s heels slamming against the tiles was the only sound. Slowly, the chatter from earlier picked up, now softer and less heated.
Zoey, still feeling the weight of what just happened, looked a little lost until Abby rested his hand on her shoulder.
You okay?” Abby mouthed.
Despite herself, she managed a weak smile, nodding before turning back to her vegetables.
☾︎✿︎☽︎
“I don’t know why you’re friends with her.”
Zoey and Tati were seated under the patio as they watched the guest mixing and mingling amongst themselves. Tati was leaning against the chair, staring at Zoey with an unreadable expression.
Zoey tensed up. She knew that this conversation was bound to happen eventually. “Tati—”
“I’m not saying this to be cruel. I just don’t understand why you let her walk all over you like a doormat.”
Zoey exhaled, rubbing her arms. “Look, I appreciate you standing up for me. Really, I do. But you didn’t have to embarrass her like that. You could have talked to her in private.”
“Well, she didn’t have a problem embarrassing you.”
“Tati…”
“I understand loyalty, but I draw the line at disrespect. Especially when it’s wrapped in plastic smiles while throwing knives.”
“Gigi’s never been outright disrespectful,” Zoey protested. “She’s smug, sarcastic, maybe sometimes thoughtless—”
“Thoughtless?” Tati’s eyebrows shot up.
“Okay—mean, then. But she’s still my best friend. We’ve known each other since forever—”
“That’s really cute. Still doesn’t justify her being a cunt. I matched her energy. And I’m not sorry for it,” Tati said firmly.
Zoey shook her head in exhaustion. “Let’s just put it behind us, okay? For Caleb’s sake.”
Tati’s expression softened a fraction. “You know… if it were up to me,” she said, almost as an afterthought, “I would’ve preferred you as our muroora instead of her.”
Zoey choked on air. “You… what?”
Tati rolled her eyes playfully. “Come on, Zoey. I’ve known you since you and Caleb were in high school. You think I never noticed your crush on him? Or his fondness for you?”
“That—that was forever ago,” Zoey said, cheeks warming up.
“He was happy with you. He tolerates Gigi. Even now, his fondness for you never faded.”
Zoey was silent, looking down at her lap and slowly shook her head. “It was just a crush. Nothing happened. I moved on.”
“I know,” Tati said softly. “And I respect that.”
The sliding door creaked open.
Gigi stepped out onto the patio.
Tati’s gaze flicked to her once, then back to Zoey. “We’ll talk another time.” And she was gone.
Zoey turned to Gigi, trying to ignore the awkwardness between them. “Are you okay?”
Gigi sighed as she settled into the vacant chair where Tati had been seated. “Seeing that I was humiliated by my own future sister-in-law while my fiancé did jack shit? I’m just fucking peachy, Z.”
Zoey took a deep breath. “Well… you’re not all that innocent either, Gigi.”
“Oh, so now you’re taking her side?”
“I’m not taking sides. I’m just being real with you.”
Gigi’s eyes narrowed. “You call that keeping it real?”
“Yes. You can’t be bitchy and not expect to be called out on it.”
Gigi fell silent, jaw tight. “Fine. You’re right.”
Zoey did a double-take. “You’re… agreeing with me?”
“Yeah. Tati always acts like she can boss people around,” She shrugged. “It’s no wonder Caleb doesn’t have the backbone to put her in her place.”
Zoey turned fully, voice steady. “I can tolerate how you talk to me. But don’t speak that way about the woman who raised the man you’re marrying.”
Gigi blinked, caught off guard.
“That’s not okay,” Zoey continued quietly. “And I won’t pretend it is.”
Gigi shifted uncomfortably. “You’re just saying that because you’re mad about the other thing.”
“I’m saying it because you went too far.”
“It was harmless banter.”
Zoey gaped. “Harmless? How is humiliating me in front of his family ‘harmless?”
“You know what? I see where your loyalty is.” Gigi turned to leave.
“Gigi, wait—”
“Save it.” She snapped over her shoulder. “Your words made it very clear whose side you’re on.”
“It’s not about sides!”
Gigi waved dismissively, not slowing down. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“Draaaaamaaaa,” Abby sang softly in her ear, making Zoey jump in her seat.
“Dude! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” She swatted his arm.
“Sorry! Ninja skills,” he said, striking a Naruto pose.
“You’re a weirdo, you know that?”
“Only for you, geobug-i.” He pursed his lips, leaning in for a kiss.
“Get away from me,” she laughed, craning her neck back.
“Come on, let me love you, baby. Gimme those luscious, plump lips,” he drawled in a terrible country accent.
“Ew, not the twang! You sound horrible.”
“I’m authentic!”
Zoey grimaced. “Your accent is as authentic as Kim Kardashian’s acting.”
Abby clutched his chest. “Okay, ouch. That’s an insult to my craft.”
“You are such a drama queen.”
“I bring all the drama-ma-ma—oof!” He grunted as she jabbed his side.
“Did I hurt your poor little ego?” she taunted.
“I’m suffering internal bleeding, fractured ribs, and crushed spirits. I may never love or feel joy again.”
Zoey gasped dramatically. “Oh, sorry. Did I also crush your fragile ego by criticising your fake accent?”
“Yes, actually.” He sniffed.
“Drama queen.”
“I am the drama.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“You love it.”
“Fuck you.”
Abby gasped. “At least take me to dinner first.”
She swatted his chest. “You’re impossible.”
“Oh, you love it.”
“Don’t confuse tolerance with love, abs-for-brains.”
“Ouch.” He clutched his chest. “You wound me.”
“You’ll live.”
Abby chuckled and took her hand, pulling her up from her seat. “Come on. Let’s mingle instead of sulking.”
“You just want more food.”
“Obviously. I’m not missing out on sadza and grilled meat.”
“Of course. Nothing matters more to your stomach.”
“You know you adore me.”
Zoey rolled her eyes—then froze.
Abby stopped, noticing the change. “Zo? What’s wrong?”
Her body went rigid, eyes locked on the gate.
Her parents.
Her breath hitched.
The world tilted as they stepped through, her mother scanning the yard, her father following not too far behind her.
It all felt like it was happening in slow motion. Her breathing became rushed and laboured, as if each breath had to fight its way out of a constricted throat. A tight knot formed in her chest, squeezing relentlessly, making it harder to draw in the air she desperately needed. The world around her faded into a blur, the colours and sounds muffled and distorted, amplifying the growing sense of isolation.
Before panic could swallow her, Abby stepped in front of her, blocking their view.
“Hey,” he murmured, guiding her back. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”
She wasn’t. He could see it in her rigid posture, the tremor in her hands, the hitch in her breath.
He shifted closer, a steady shield, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her to his chest.
“We’re leaving.”
“Now”
“Yes. Now.”
“But what about—"
"No buts. We're leaving. End of discussion." His voice left no room for argument.
She didn’t protest.
He led her away from the noise, the laughter, the smoke—away from the past she wasn’t ready to face. His touch remained light but steady, grounding her as they moved, sensing the tension humming beneath her skin.
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