--When the night breaks.
The crash outside sent a ripple of alarm through the house.
Guests rose from their seats, murmuring anxiously. Some moved toward the windows, pulling the curtains aside to see what had happened.
"What was that?" someone whispered.
"Did a car hit something?"
The peaceful gathering had shifted into uneasy curiosity.
Qazeem's father stepped forward calmly. "Please, everyone remain seated. I will have someone check outside."
But tension had already entered the room.
Across the Street
Segun leaned forward in his seat as the distant noise settled.
Bayo glanced at him. "You planned the bike noise and the alarms… but that crash?"
Segun's brows pulled together slightly.
"That wasn't part of it."
They exchanged a quick look.
"Should we leave?" Bayo asked.
Segun shook his head slowly.
"No… let's see how this unfolds."
Inside the Living Room
Rihannat still stood where she was.
Her eyes locked with Basit's from across the room.
So many unspoken things moved silently between them.
Questions.
Memories.
Restraint.
Basit felt his chest tighten painfully.
He hadn't planned to come tonight.
But his heart refused to stay away.
Ridwan stood beside him quietly, watching everything unfold.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," Ridwan murmured.
Basit didn't respond.
His eyes never left Rihannat.
Near the Door
Balkis felt like the ground beneath her feet was slipping away.
Her phone still trembled in her hand.
The real distraction hasn't started yet.
Her breathing grew shallow.
What does that mean?
What else are they planning?
She looked around the room desperately.
Rihannat looked calm.
Too calm.
Rayyan was chatting with another guest.
No one knew.
No one had any idea what she had set in motion.
Her chest burned with guilt.
Ya Allah… what have I done?
Outside the Gate
Two young men stood beside a damaged car near the end of the street, arguing loudly.
The noise had drawn attention.
Neighbors had begun stepping outside.
Phones were recording.
Lights flickered on in nearby houses.
It was a perfect distraction.
But someone else had noticed something different.
A delivery bike slowly rolled toward Qazeem's gate.
The rider wore a helmet.
His face hidden.
He stopped near the guard.
"Package delivery," he said casually.
The guard frowned. "Delivery? At this hour?"
"Urgent," the rider replied.
Inside the box strapped to the bike was something small.
Something harmless-looking.
Something meant to cause panic.
Inside the House
Qazeem walked toward the entrance to see what the noise was about.
But as he stepped closer to the hallway—
He saw Basit.
Standing inside his family home.
The two men froze.
Guests nearby sensed the shift instantly.
Even without knowing the story, they could feel the tension.
Qazeem spoke first.
"Basit."
His voice was calm, but sharp.
Basit nodded once.
"Qazeem."
Ridwan quietly stepped slightly behind Basit, sensing trouble.
Rayyan leaned toward Balkis and whispered, "Why does it suddenly feel like something serious is happening?"
But Balkis couldn't answer.
Because at that moment—
Her phone vibrated again.
Another message.
Unknown:
Three minutes.
Her vision blurred.
Three minutes to what?
Her hands began shaking uncontrollably.
Outside the Gate
The guard reluctantly opened the gate slightly.
"Leave it here," he told the rider.
The rider nodded.
"Sure."
He placed the small box near the entrance pillar.
Then rode away calmly.
No one noticed.
No one suspected.
The box sat quietly beside the gate.
Waiting.
Inside the House
Basit stepped forward slightly.
"I didn't come here to cause trouble."
Qazeem studied him carefully.
"Then why did you come?"
Silence filled the room.
Basit's voice came low.
"To see something for myself."
Rihannat's heart skipped painfully.
The room felt too tight.
Too heavy.
Every eye moved between the two men now.
Guests whispered.
Something deeper was unfolding.
Near the Window
Balkis suddenly stood up.
Her heart hammered violently.
Three minutes.
She couldn't ignore it.
She rushed toward the door.
Rayyan grabbed her wrist.
"Where are you going?"
"I… I need air."
But the truth was worse.
She was running toward the gate.
Toward whatever had been planted there.
Outside
The small box ticked softly.
Inside it was not a bomb.
But a loud smoke charge.
Designed for chaos.
For fear.
For spectacle.
For ruining a perfect night.
And Balkis was running straight toward it.
Inside
Basit and Qazeem still stood face to face.
The air between them sharp with tension.
Rihannat's heart pounded.
Something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Then—
From outside the gate—
A sudden loud BANG exploded through the night.
Smoke burst into the air.
Guests screamed.
Panic erupted instantly.
People rushed toward the exits.
Voices shouted.
"What happened?!"
"Is it an attack?!"
Inside the chaos—
Rihannat froze.
Basit moved instantly toward her.
Qazeem moved at the same time.
And for the first time…
The fragile peace between their worlds completely shattered.
@OlukoyaZainab