Chapter 1 — Last December

The café was loud and warm, packed with people celebrating the end of the year. Fairy lights hung crookedly above the counter, and Brenda Fassie played from a crackling speaker. Thabo stood in the corner, laughing at jokes he didn't find funny.

He always did that at parties. Smiled too wide. Talked too much. It was easier than being real.

Across the room, Nomsa sat quietly, her drink untouched. She wasn't performing anything. She just watched the room calmly, like she was reading the weather.

They'd met before — three times this year. Each time, she'd looked at him like she was waiting for something true.

He never gave it to her.

But tonight felt different. The music slowed. The fairy lights seemed softer. Thabo crossed the room before he could talk himself out of it.

"You hate parties," she said.

"I love parties," he replied.

"You've been laughing at things that aren't funny all night."

Thabo looked at her untouched drink. Something about her stillness made him feel exposed — like she could see exactly who he was beneath all the noise.

"How long have you been waiting?" he asked quietly.

She didn't pretend to misunderstand. "Longer than I should have."

Thabo sat down. Not because he was ready. Because she had waited long enough.

"Tell me something true," she said.

He took a breath.

And for the first time all night, he stopped performing.