Cold one 2

               There was a rustle inside. The water had stopped. She opened the bathroom door slightly, peeking out. 

“What do you mean?”

I looked her in the eyes, and this time, my expression was different. The shadows under the bulb gave my face a subtle weight, like the memory I was about to share had never quite let me go.

“The last time kuwa na water heater,  

design ilinilima ka ghasia venye nilienda kuzima maji after nimemaliza ku shower

nilijipanguza maji nikalala the whole day ju ya kuboeka.”

Her hand gripped the doorframe tighter. I chuckled, but it was dry, not amused — grateful. The bathroom door opened fully now. She stood wrapped in a towel, her expression unreadable but softened.

“Souley,”

she said, voice quieter now, 

“why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?”

I smiled faintly, stepping to her. 

“Some scars don’t talk,

unless, 

someone listens long enough.”

She leaned against the doorframe, the towel clinging to her damp skin, her beautiful eyes now fixed on me—not with judgment or curiosity, but something quieter. Understanding.

“I get it now,” 

she said. 

“You carry it… like a shadow.”

I shrugged, half-smiling. 

“Everyone’s got one. 

Mine just likes to hum whenever it rains.”

I got up and started walking towards the kitchen area, then asked her,

“Nikuchemshie maji, 

ama?”

She hesitated, then said while getting back into the bathroom,

“Wacha tu..

nitamaliza kuoga na maji baridi.”

A few minutes passed before I heard the sound of the bathroom door creaking open. She stepped out, wrapped in a fresh towel, her damp hair pulled into a loose knot. 

“Alright, 

you can stop looking so smug,” 

she said, catching my grin. 

“Haikuwa baridi sana”

She rolled her eyes when she saw I noticed that she was shivering slightly and trying so hard to hide it. 

“You’re lucky you’re funny.”

She paused, then added with a smirk, 

“And slightly weird.”

I laughed. 

“Slightly? I’ll take that. 

After all, 

being weird keeps things interesting.”

She dressed, glancing around. Her fingers traced the edge of the armrest absently. 

“I’ve always thought heaters were just a normal thing. 

Like, 

why wouldn’t you want comfort, 

you know?”

She threw herself down onto the armchair across from me. 

“True. 

I guess that’s what I’m here for, 

right? 

Keeping you on your toes?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You? 

Keeping me on my toes? 

Nah, 

I think it’s the other way around.”

She said, 

“Is it?” 

Raising an eyebrow right back at me. 

“You seem pretty comfortable sitting there.”

I shrugged. 

“Yeah.”

She said, standing up. 

“Sitakam tena, 

kama haujaweka heater, 

sawa?”

I laughed, shaking my head. 

“Ni ka hautaki kunitembelea, 

ju mimi, 

siweki heater tena..”

The banter hung between us for a moment, the tension of the night completely gone now. She gave me a playful glance before walking to the door. 

“I’m heading out, 

going to grab a snack and perhaps a drink. 

Do you want anything?”

I called after her, as she stepped out into the hallway.

“Just surprise me,” 

I felt a soft, warm quiet settle around me. Just two people in the same space, figuring out how to get along. We didn’t need anything more, and we didn’t need to try. 

The space was full of quiet, comfortable understanding. No drama, no awkwardness.