Chapter 39 Writer's POV
Laila's eyes locked onto Onyi's, her gaze piercing as she began to speak. "So, Onyi, tell me more about yourself," she said, her voice low and measured.
Onyi shifted uncomfortably, feeling like he was under a microscope. He had never been one for talking about himself, and the fact that Laila seemed to be probing for secrets made him even more uneasy. "What do you want to know?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Laila's smile was enigmatic. "Oh, just anything that might be relevant," she said. "Your family, your background... anything that might help me understand you better."
Onyi's eyes dropped, a pang of sadness hitting him. "I'm an orphan," he said quietly. "I don't know much about my family or my background. I was raised in an orphanage, and I've been on my own since I was a teenager."
Laila's eyes seemed to gleam with interest, but Onyi couldn't read her expression. "I see," she said. "And what about your mark? The crescent moon shape on your neck. What can you tell me about that?"
Onyi's hand instinctively went to his neck, touching the familiar shape of the mark. "It's been there since I was born, as far as I know," he said. "The orphanage staff told me it was a birthmark, but I don't know anything more about it."
Laila's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed intently on the mark. "A birthmark, you say?" she repeated. "That's interesting."
Onyi felt a shiver run down his spine as Laila's eyes seemed to bore into his soul. "What does it mean?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of him.
Laila's smile was secretive. "Oh, nothing... yet," she said. "But I'm sure it will be interesting to find out." Her voice was laced with an air of mystery, leaving Onyi wondering what she was really thinking.
As they sat in silence for a moment, Onyi couldn't help but feel like Laila was hiding something from him. He didn't know what her true intentions were, but he was determined to find out. The fact that she seemed to be interested in his mark made him feel like he was a puzzle piece she was trying to fit into a larger picture.
Laila's eyes seemed to gleam with anticipation as she leaned forward. "Tell me, Onyi," she said. "Have you ever experienced anything... unusual? Anything that might set you apart from others?"
Onyi hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He had always felt like there was something different about him, something that set him apart from others. But he had never been able to put his finger on what it was. "I don't know what you mean," he said finally.
Laila's smile grew wider. "Oh, I think you do," she said. "And I think we'll be talking more about this soon." Her words hung in the air like a promise, leaving Onyi feeling both intrigued and uneasy.