Rico hadn't returned all night.
Ivie waited. Pacing. Worry tangled with guilt. She kept replaying the moment with Zino — the way it looked, the way it must have felt to Rico.
The truth was she didn't care what Zino wanted. But Rico…
She cared. Too much.
By noon, Mama Tee finally spoke. "He'll be back when he's ready. But whatever he saw, it broke him."
Ivie nodded quietly. "I never meant to hurt him."
Later that night, after a small mission, Ivie returned to their hideout alone. She headed to the back room — a narrow wash space tucked behind the gang's old stash room. The others were asleep or out. It was quiet.
She stripped off her clothes, stepped under the bucket shower, and let the cold water rinse the day away. Her mind drifted to Rico again — his gaze, the softness beneath his fire, the way he always looked like he was holding back.
She sighed, eyes closed, letting water run over her body.
Then — a soft creak.
She turned.
Rico stood in the doorway.
Frozen.
Eyes wide.
She reached for her towel slowly, but didn't rush. Their eyes locked. No fear. Just heat.
She wrapped it around herself and stepped closer, dripping water on the cracked tile floor.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.
Rico swallowed. "I— I didn't know you were here. I was just—"
She tilted her head. "It's not like you haven't seen a naked woman before."
He went silent.
She stepped past him to pick up a cloth, her towel slipping just slightly, exposing her shoulder. "Why are you here, Rico?"
His voice cracked. "To say I'm sorry. I thought… I thought you betrayed me."
She faced him fully now. "And did it look like I did?"
He lowered his gaze. "I didn't wait to find out. I just… ran."
"Then stop running now," she whispered.
There was a long silence. And then—
They collided.
Mouths crashing, arms pulling, heat rising like fire.
She dropped her towel. He tore off his hoodie. She pushed him against the bed, climbed on top of him, her hands in his curls, his lips on her neck.
Clothes vanished.
The room filled with rapid breathing, aching desire, a hunger they could no longer deny.
Then—
KNOCK KNOCK!
Mama Tee's voice pierced the heat. "Ivie? Rico? You two in there?"
They froze.
Both panting. Still tangled, but not yet too far gone.
Ivie rolled off him, covering herself with a sheet. Rico sat up, hand to his forehead, chest rising and falling.
"Should we…?" he started.
She cut him off with a breathless whisper, "…Pretend nothing happened?"
He nodded.
But neither of them could lie to themselves.
Something had happened.
And everything was about to change.