After dinner, Star received a shock she hadn't anticipated. Her Electronics Project results had been released—and while her group mates had scored 84%, her score stood at a measly 29%.
Her heart thumped.
"This must be a mistake," she whispered, refreshing the portal again and again, but the score wouldn't change.
It didn't make sense. They'd submitted the same report, done the same work. It had to be an error.
I'll talk to the conductor first thing tomorrow. He has to correct this.
As she sat frozen in disbelief, her phone rang. The same private number. Again.
This time, she answered.
She didn't speak—just listened.
A cold, playful voice slithered through the speaker:
"Hmm… so you finally dared to answer after dodging my calls. Having a breath-holding competition with me, huh?"
Star blinked.
"Who's this?" she asked, her tone confused but wary.
"Call me Bride," the voice replied. "Anyway, just wanted to let you know—your days of comfort are over. Enjoy tonight. Starting tomorrow… your life's about to be a blast."
Click.
"Hello? Hello?" Star called out, but it was too late.
The line was dead.
Silence surrounded her, yet her heart screamed.
She stared at her phone in disbelief.
"Why so much adversity in one day?" she muttered.
Unable to process it all, Star quietly stepped outside to her star-spot under the night sky, needing air, needing something—anything—to ground her.
Meanwhile, in the basement…
Maria had dropped in on Joan—uninvited and late.
"I know what you're thinking. Why am I here this late?" Maria said with a grin. "But I couldn't wait to share the news."
Joan raised an eyebrow.
"Mandume… will be getting married soon!" Maria beamed.
Joan blinked. "What?"
"Yes!" Maria clapped gleefully. "And you should be happy! If he doesn't marry, the company will go to the government. And we both know what that means."
"Who's he marrying?" Joan asked slowly.
"Ah, now we're talking!" Maria teased. "You'll find out soon. What matters is—Star will finally be out of his life and this house for good."
Joan's face fell. "She'll leave?"
"Yes! Why the long face? You don't even know her. You should be happy, Joan! Star's ruining Mandume's future. He's in love with her, which means he'll become the father of her child. That's not what I want for my son. No, no… he'll marry someone I choose. Not some pregnant saint parading around with divine nonsense!"
Joan remained quiet, lips barely moving.
"I'll keep praying," she murmured to herself. "If this marriage is truly from God… then let it be. But if it's not… may He put a stop to it."
Maria started poking around the kitchen.
"You didn't cook? But I just brought groceries a few days ago! Never mind—because I'm in such a good mood, I'll bring you food tomorrow."
Joan still said nothing.
"I'm fasting," she eventually said.
Maria chuckled. "You really have no idea how happy I am."
"When's the wedding?" Joan asked, voice soft.
"No date yet," Maria replied. "Mandume has to meet the girl properly first. Then comes the engagement… and the wedding. Don't worry, Joan. He's in my hands now." She smirked, then left.
Joan folded her hands and looked upward.
"Please God… protect my son."
Back outside, under the sky, Star was having her own moment.
"I look ugly today, huh?" she whispered to the stars.
She paused.
"No… I'm just stressed. I don't know what to do."
She tilted her head up, eyes pleading with the heavens.
"Will you give me a sign? Should I follow Leila's advice and leave? Or should I stay? I want to stand by Mendu… but if I do, I might put his life at risk."
She swallowed.
"Are you for me… or against me?"
Just then, Bonita appeared beside her.
"Why are you sitting out here?" she asked.
"Needed some fresh air," Star replied.
"Mmm. You must be overwhelmed by all the drama in this house."
"No… it's personal."
Bonita studied her for a moment. "I'm a woman too, Star. I know what you're going through."
"It's nothing, I promise."
"Do you miss your mom?" Bonita asked suddenly.
Star's eyes welled up. "Yeah… I miss her. I can't wait to see her again. Why do you ask?"
Bonita smiled gently. "You were holding her photo when you slept earlier."
Star blinked—she remembered.
"Oh. Yeah… I guess I was."
Bonita took a breath. "The year will be over soon. I actually wanted to ask your advice."
"Sure, I'm listening."
"My birthday is coming up, and… I don't want anything from Mandume. How do I make sure that happens?"
"Why not?"
"I just feel guilty. Mom and I are fooling him…"
"You're not fooling anyone, Boni. Mendu's your brother, and that's it. You don't owe him an explanation. You're only feeling guilty because you're still angry at your mom for betraying you—and because it can't be undone. You're not guilty about him, you're guilty about yourself."
Bonita looked down. "Yeah… I guess you're right. I feel disgusted when I see her. She's so sweet in public, but now I know the truth…"
"You've got to forgive yourself," Star said. "Because whether you process it or not, the truth stays the same. And if you don't move on, it'll consume you—make you cold, bitter. That's not who you are."
Bonita nodded slowly. "I still need time. Especially now that Tiffanie's out of my life. It's a lot to take in."
"Believe in karma," Star said softly. "If she's meant to be part of your life, she'll come back."
Bonita looked at her, puzzled. "You really believe that?"
"I do," Star said.
Bonita reached out and held her hand. "Star… thank you. Really. I don't know how you do it—how you manage to be so kind, so composed."
"That's what sisters do for each other."
Bonita chuckled. "But… how would you know what a sister does? You don't have any siblings, right?"
"I have two brothers," Star said, her eyes misty. "We were never close, but… one day I will meet at least one of them again. He'll be so happy to see me. He'll want me around. And I'll be there for him. I know that day is coming."
Bonita squeezed her hand.
"It will come, Star. It will."