After ending the call with Muiz, Alex decided to take a quick nap. The soft hum of the ceiling fan lulled her to sleep, and soon, she drifted off completely.
By evening, a gentle knock came on her door.
"Alex, it's time to wake up. You haven't packed the clothes from outside," Clara's voice called out before she pushed the door open.
"Big sis… mmmhh," Alex mumbled sleepily, rolling to the other side of the bed.
Clara crossed her arms, amused. "You better get up, lazy cat. The sun's already gone down."
Alex cracked one eye open and smiled. "Thank goodness big sis is finally in a good mood," she muttered under her breath.
A few playful minutes passed between the sisters — teasing, mock complaints, and laughter filling the small room — until the faint sound of a door opening down the hall caught Clara's attention.
"That must be Tom," she said, standing up. "And Alex, I won't be waking you up with a smile next time. You know I mean it!"
Alex immediately sat up, laughing. She knew her sister wasn't bluffing.
After packing the clothes from outside, Alex began ironing them in the living room. The steady rhythm of the iron against the fabric blended with the faint aroma of dinner drifting from the kitchen.
Clara joined her a few minutes later, sitting beside her with a relaxed sigh. "I've already made dinner, so let's gist a bit," she said with a playful smile.
As Alex pressed another shirt, Clara glanced at her curiously. "Oh, by the way, I saw that you spoke to that young man you met at the wedding — through my phone."
Alex's cheeks warmed slightly. "Yes, big sis… I also saw him yesterday at the supermarket. He even escorted me to the shop."
She hesitated, then added, "If not for what happened, I would have told you earlier. Sorry, I forgot."
Clara smiled knowingly. "It's fine, Alex. But remember what I told you yesterday." Her tone softened, carrying that big-sister warmth Alex always admired.
"When you start spending time with someone — whether it leads to a relationship or not — always be careful. Love can be blinding, Mama," Clara said, using the pet name she reserved for Alex. "Don't let it make you ignore red flags. Be cautious, especially when marriage comes into the picture. Some people pretend well, and not everyone's heart is pure."
Alex nodded quietly, listening intently as Clara continued.
"Not all men are bad, as you can see from my husband," Clara said with a fond smile. "But then, look at Mama Tamadu's husband — that's another story. So please, be careful."
She paused, then leaned forward slightly. "And if you ever visit a man's house, always stay alert. If he says sit, stand — don't drop your guard. The world is full of stories lately… women being drugged or taken advantage of because they trusted the wrong person. Some are assaulted simply because they said 'no.'"
Clara's eyes softened as she added, "Not all men are like that, but wisdom means learning from others' experiences."
Alex smiled faintly. "Yes, big sis, I understand. Don't worry too much — Muiz and I are just friends. But I'll be careful, I promise."
"Good," Clara said, her tone lighter now. "Now, let me pack Tom's clothes and mine. And don't forget to arrange those brown papers you've scattered all over your room. You know I can't stand the mess."
"Yes, big sis," Alex groaned with a playful pout as she folded the last shirt. "You're worse than my school instructor."
Clara laughed and walked toward her room.
Later that night, the three of them gathered around the dining table for dinner. The soft clinking of spoons and low chatter filled the room. Afterward, Alex and Clara washed the dishes together, trading light jokes until they were both giggling like children.
As they stepped out of the kitchen, Alex asked, "Big sis, how's Mama Tamadu doing now?"
Clara sighed. "Ah, my friend is really pitiful. She went to her parents' house to complain, and her mother told her not to divorce her husband — to think of her children instead. She said, 'Do you want them to grow up with a broken home?'"
Alex frowned. "But what about their emotional health? Living in constant fights and quarrels isn't good for those kids either."
"I know," Clara said softly. "I told her the same thing. But what can I do? It's still her choice. I only advised her to focus on herself and not take her husband's actions too personally anymore."
Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Marriage shouldn't be a do-or-die affair. But… I guess as long as Mama Tamadu is fine with the situation, we can only support her."
Clara smiled sadly. "Exactly."
The house fell quiet after that — the kind of peaceful silence that comes after honest words.
Alex yawned and leaned on the counter. "I'll go to bed now, big sis."
"Good. Tomorrow's another day," Clara said, patting her shoulder gently.
As Alex made her way to her room, she couldn't help but think of Muiz again — his calm voice, the way he said her name.
She smiled faintly. Just friends, she reminded herself… but her heart said otherwise.