Twenty minutes passed.
Katherine stepped out of the shower and began to dry herself off with a towel. She walked into her walk-in closet and slipped into her night garment. Downstairs, Stephen was still on the couch, his eyes fixed on the TV as the F1 Voortrekkers Grand Prix played.
Quietly, Katherine descended the staircase. She crept up behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders, and rubbed them slowly — a quiet gesture that said more than words could.
"Someone's in the mood tonight." Stephen said cunningly.
Katherine moved in closer to kiss him "I just missed you so much." she replied happily. "Since you missed me so much, how about you start making dinner." Stephen joked.
Katherine rolled her eyes "Wow, what a way to ruin the mood." she said— her energy depleted. Stephen threw his feet on the coffee table "Well, you did go to the shop to buy a few products." he stated confidently.
A cold shiver ran down Katherine's spine the moment she heard Stephen talk about groceries. She could already feel the weight of unspoken questions — and began crafting excuses in her mind, rehearsing what she'd say to explain why she came home empty-handed.
"Well… huh—" she began… but before she could finish, the intercom at the front gate buzzed loudly.
"What were you about to say?" Stephen asked. "Never mind." Katherine said "Anyways who the hell could be at our house at this time?" she asked.
"I don't know. But if it were Tokyo or Lucas, they wouldn't have rang the intercom.", Stephen stated.
"True." Katherine replied.
"I'll go check who it is, just wait here honey." he declared.
Stephen stood up from the couch and marched toward the front door. Without a word, he stepped outside. Katherine sat down slowly, her mind flooded with guilt. Anxiety crept through her chest like a tightening knot.
'What do I tell him?' she thought—her heart pounded.
Moments later, the door creaked open. Stephen stepped back inside… and right behind him was Antonio. Katherine's eyes widened.
'Antonio?! What is he doing here?' she panicked silently, she tried to keep her composure steady as her pulse spiked.
"Hey Katherine! look who decided to show up." Stephen said happily.
"Hey Kathy, Long time no see." Antonio greeted as if nothing ever happened—he reached in to shake her hand.
"Yeah, long time indeed." Katherine replied cautiously.
"So, what's up Nio, did something happen?" Stephen asked. "No everything's good, I just decided to pop by and see how you guys were doing.", Antonio replied with a shrug.
Stephen scoffed "Oh really?" he asked cunningly. Antonio sighed "OK you got me…I actually came here to talk to you face to face about something." he stated.
"Yeah sure. What you want to talk about?" Stephen asked curiously.
Antonio cleared his throat "Let's talk about it over a drink at Jack's?" he suggested—a grin widened across his face. Stephen kissed his teeth "I don't man, I don't really drink anymore." he hesitated.
"Aw, come on Steph… for old times' sake?" Antonio persuaded.
Katherine chipped in "Babe we still have to eat dinner—" shesaid quickly.
But Antonio cut her off hastily "Don't worry Kathy, I'll bring your husband back home before you even know it." he stared at her in the eyes— menacingly.
Stephen held hips "Well since you came all this way, one beer wouldn't hurt." he said.
"Wait…why don't you join us for dinner?" Katherine suggested—Hopelessly she bargained.
"I just came to talk with my best friend, so I'll kindly decline your offer, Kathy.", Antonio stated confidently. Stephen fixed his hair "I respect that opinion." he said.
"So…what do you say?" Antonio asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Stephen agreed.
"OK cool, so I'll wait outside…" Antonio said. "No need, I'm just going to put my jacket on." Stephen stated. "You can wait here with Katherine, I'll be down in a second." he said.
Without a second chance, Stephen rushed upstairs to the bedroom to grab his jacket. Katherine remained seated, her eyes locked onto Antonio. Her expression shifted — sharp, cold, and furious. Antonio met her gaze, but neither of them spoke. The silence between them said more than words ever could.
"What the fuck are you doing?" she whispered— anger tinged in her tone. "What? I'm just going to talk with him." Antonio with a cocky reply.
"No, you're not!" Katherine shot back, "You wanted to talk to me about him at KO — and now you're confronting him, even after I specifically told you not to." Antonio checked the time on his watch "Kathy… you're overreacting." he said, his tone soft and affectionate — too affectionate.
"Overreacting? Don't give me that bullshit!" she hissed. "If you tell him about us, I swear to God—"
Before she could finish, Stephen came down the stairs, dressed in his black marine leather jacket, dark blue jeans and a fresh pair of black Timbs.
"OK I'm ready, let's go." Stephen said.
"Babe, please come back home early." Katherine pleaded.
Again Antonio interrupted her "Trust me, your husband will be back before you fall asleep." he said—his voice laced with something dark and unsettling.
Stephen let out a laughter that was unsure of the joke "Babe don't worry, I'll be alright…besides what's the worst that could happen?" he reassured. "Yeah, plus I'll watch over him, so you don't need to worry Kathy." Antonio said earnestly.
Stephen and Antonio walked towards the entrance door and were about to make their way out "Stephen." Katherine called out.
"Yeah." Stephen replied.
"I love you." she confessed wholeheartedly.
"I love you too, honey." he responded adoringly.
Antonio and Stephen walked side by side, they exited the mansion and headed toward the front gate. Katherine stood silently at the entrance door— she watched them leave. A single tear slipped down her cheek. Without a word, she turned around and walked back into the empty house, the silence behind her louder than anything they could've said.
Meanwhile in September Park…
Tokyo was standing in front of Cain's serving table, there was a banner hanging across the side of his caravan written C.C.C.
"Michael! Check this table, it has different types of strains." Tokyo gazed joyfully. Cain straightened himself "Oh, want to try a sample?" he asked.
Michael scrooled on his cellphone "Yeah, you got sour Gelato?" he asked, his eyes stuck to his cellphone.
"Huh? People still smoke that boring grade? here try this." Cain said with a jar in his hand.
"What is it?" Tokyo asked—her eyebrow raised.
Cain chuckled "This is Premo Cremo." he replied. Michael finally put his phone down "Awesome! but I never heard of it." he stated boldly.
"HUH!?, do you live under a rock mate?" Cain asked concerningly.
"What? How am—" Michael startled. Cain chipped in "You're a cheese boy." he claimed.
"Can I buy one bud?" Tokyo requested. Immediately Cain's mood changed "Yea sure that will be 20 bucks." he said.
Furthermore, Abigail and Kyle were at a food stall eating a burger,
Abigail blocked her mouth, while she ate ."Stoners really do cook the best meals." she said.
"Yeaaah…" Kyle yelled, "It… tashte's way bettur… after each bite." his words struggled to form, he chewed like he hadn't eaten all day. "Ew gross, why would you talk with food in your mouth?" Abigail asked disgustedly.
Kyle stuck his tongue out "Yeah, whatever damsel in distress." he teased.
Eventually, Cain finished rolling up a joint.
"Here 'ya go, a chill pill for you and your boyfriend." Cain said.
Michael held his hands up "Oh, we're ju—" he began nervously.
"Thank you." Tokyo expressed her gratitude… Michael was left astounded.
Marcel jogged up to them "Hey! Here y'all are, after y'all left me behind." he claimed annoyingly.
Not a single concern was shown on Tokyo's face "Marcel, can I borrow a lighter?" she asked— like she heard nothing.
"Wow! no sorry? OK…anyways I don't have a lighter, ask Michael if he got one." Marcel replied.
"Yeah, here you go Tokyo." Michael instantly passed his lighter to Tokyo.
Tokyo then lit the joint… she puffed and passed it on. Marcel took a hit and he coughed up like a chimney "God Damn!" he shouted while he Gasped for air.
Cain laughed like it was his last "That's some potent shit, better enjoy it." Cain joked.
Marcel dropped to his knees "Yo MBA, are you good chief?" Michael asked.
"Yeah…it's just strong work—don't worry." Marcel replied.
Tokyo's eyes shined like glitter "Hey guys, I was thinking how about we go see a movie?" she suggested randomly, as she walked away slowly with the wind. Michael followed her."Oh? and what movie would we watch?" he asked. Marcel rushed to them "I was thinking Sky's revelation or avoid the Destruction two…" he suggested, while he strolled behind them.
"What! Avoid the destruction two is out?" Tokyo asked bewilderingly.
"Yeah, you haven't heard?" Marcel replied. Michael puffed a cloud "I didn't even watch avoid the Destruction one yet." he stated.
"How about we ask someone?" Tokyo said. "Not going to lie, Yeah— sounds like a good idea… we could learn something new if we try something we haven't done before." Marcel agreed.
"Yeah, but who?" Michael asked.
Marcel held his finger on his chin "Let's ask the guy with the horseshoe mustache." he said—While he described with his hands.
"Are you talking about the plug that sorted us out a few moments ago?" Tokyo asked curiously. "Yeah." Marcel confirmed.
Michael blew a huge cloud of smoke "Anyways, what is that old man's name?" he asked. "I don't know, can't remember asking him." Tokyo responded.
The three of them, then strolled back to Cain's domain, once they reached his table again —Marcel spotted Cain.
"Hey man, what's up?" Marcel greeted happily. Cain lunged back in his chair "I'm good, what's up?" he replied.
Marcel hung over the table "What's your name?" he kindly asked.
"My name is Cain, what about y'all?" Cain asked. "Oh, my name is Marcel, aka MBA, and this is Tokyo and Michael." Marcel introduced them.
"Cool, came back to try something else?" Cain asked generously.
"No, we just need your opinion on something." Tokyo requested. "Okay, what is it?" Cain asked.
"We want to know which movie we should go watch?" Tokyo politely asked.
Cain began to ponder "Hmm…beyond the pacific." he finally suggested. "What is it about?" Michael asked. "Well, you can get an idea what it's about from the title of the movie." Cain responded. "Let me guess, it's about great whites?" Marcel argued.
"Not entirely though, more action-thriller like." Cain claimed.
Michael sighed "How is that any different from any other shark movie?" he asked sarcastically. "Because this isn't just your ordinary shark movie, this one is beyond your imagination." Cain replied.
Marcel crossed his eyes "Oh? how so?" he asked curiously. "You'll see once you watch it, and to experience it better, you've got to get higher than your IQ." Cain stated. "So you want us to be stoned out of our mind, while watching a shark movie?" Marcel asked.
"Bet." Michael said nonchalantly. "I think it's a pretty cool idea." Tokyo said.
"Here's three sticks for the road." Cain said as he handed the joints to Marcel.
"How much?" Marcel asked. "Don't worry about it—it's on the house." Cain responded graciously.
A bright smile appeared on Tokyo's face "Thank you so much." she thanked him. "Don't sweat it." Cain replied.
Michael, Tokyo and Marcel then began their journey to Kyalami Theaters.
Later in Section 18, northeast of San El Zorro — the suburban district where the community never sleeps. The streets buzzed with life. Interesting characters roamed the pavements, and fast-food chains lit up the corners with neon signs and the smell of grease.
It was 7:00 pm.
A mysterious character sat quietly at a bus stop bench… he wore a brown marine leather jacket. He was tall, broad, and his appearance resembled that of a muscular Western Caucasian. Calm and composed, he sat with visual patience, as he scanned his surroundings. Across the road, he caught the unwavering gaze of a short Latina. She held his eyes with confident intensity. Without hesitation, she stepped onto the road and walked straight toward him.
When she arrived, she stopped in front of him — a confident smile stretched across her face.
"Hey stranger." she greeted with an arousing tone. "Hey there." he responded with a shrug.
"Wow are you going to be any drier?" she asked disappointingly. His tone deep and gravely "What do you mean?" he asked.
She gave a Olympic-level eyeroll. "Stop acting like you don't remember me, Jason." she replied.
Jason scuffed "Yeah, I missed you to Adriana." he said wholeheartedly.
Adriana giggled slightly "So how's it been?" Adriana asked—her gaze fixed and unhurried.
"Life has been vicious ever since I retired, and you? How've you been keeping up?" Jason asked curiously. "Ugh!" Adriana exaggerated "You know, a lady has got to keep her priorities straight." shereplied, sass drenched her expression.
Jason raised an eyebrow "Oh? Are a lady's priorities a logical dream worth chasing… or just obsessive pleasures in disguise?" he asked. "See…This is why you don't have a wife, Jason." Adriana fired back "You're always worried about things that don't concern you."
"Ouch." Jason replied."Anyways, speaking about having a wife, how's your brother?" Adriana asked curiously.
"Who? Sam?" Jason asked.
"No-not that successful asshole." Adriana stated. "The other one, that got married to the Harrington's daughter a while back." she said—while she clicked her thumbs.
"Oh, you mean Stephen?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, the best Hallow in your family.", Adriana replied cunningly. Jason laughed immediately "Yeah in his dreams. I'm on my way to his place, right now." Jason said. "They don't stay in Drop-line coast anymore?" Adriana asked curiously.
Jason's eyes scanned the area "I heard from an old friend out in Crystal Avenue, that they moved there about a year ago." Jason said. He caught a glimpse of the City Lift bus making a slow left turn at the intersection, roughly a hundred meters down the road, just right of the bus stop.
"Looks like my lift is here." Jason said.
"Okay, guess we'll talk another time?" Adriana asked. "Yeah, I guess." Jason replied with a shrug.
"So dry." Adriana said undertone.
"What happened?" Jason asked.
"Oh nothing, tell Stephen I said Hey." Adriana replied swiftly. "Will do, bye Adriana." Jason bid farewell.
"Bye, Jason." Adriana replied softly. He walked toward the bus. He stepped inside, tapped his card for the operator, and found a seat near the window. The engine rumbled to life, and it accompanied him toward his little brother's house—unaware that this ride would change far more than just his destination.