Kalisa found Justin leaning against the rusted railing outside his cramped apartment, a cigarette burning between his fingers and smoke curling around his face like a veil.
The moment she approached, she noticed something unusual about his demeanour, his twitchy stance, the way he kept glancing over his shoulder like someone might be unto him.
"Hey," she said, keeping her tone casual but watching his eyes.
Justin jerked slightly, startled. "Kalisa," he muttered, exhaling smoke. "Didn't expect you. What are you doing here?"
"You don't look too happy to see me either," she shot back.
He said nothing, just ground the cigarette under his heel and stuffed his hands into his pockets. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken tension.
"Are you okay?" Kalisa asked, stepping closer. "You look like someone's hunting you."
Justin scoffed. "I'm fine. Stop pressing."
"No, you're not," she snapped. "You're fidgeting like your secrets are leaking out. What's going on?"
