Hina leaned lazily against the kiosk counter, the soft morning light spilling across her cheeks like warm honey. Henry sat opposite her, one elbow resting on his knee, eyes flicking between the two girls with an unreadable ease. Zari straddled him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, her legs brushing his as she shifted, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips.
"What are you girls having this morning?" Henry asked, voice smooth, gaze steady and curious.
"Or… have you eaten already?" he added, almost like an afterthought.
"Nope," Zari replied, head tilted, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Henry shrugged lightly. "Bella's cooking."
Hina blinked. "Who's Bella?"
He chuckled, soft and fond. "My baby sister. She's been in boarding school, staying with my aunt. Just returned for the holidays. Zari knows her."
"Oh," Hina murmured, leaning back, arms folding beneath her chest as the information settled.
"Want me to ask her to bring food for you girls when she brings mine?" he offered, casual yet warm.
Zari leaned forward, curious. "What's she making?"
"Salty yam and sauce," Henry answered.
"I'll eat—especially if there's egg," Hina mumbled from the counter, voice soft but firm, like someone who hadn't eaten well in days.
Henry smiled at that. "Alright, I'll tell her to add egg for you."
Hina's exhaustion finally pulled at her limbs. She drifted toward the inner room, the weight of sleep sinking into her bones. Within seconds, she was swallowed by the covers, the world fading into quiet darkness.
"If the food comes, should we wake you?" Zari asked from behind, voice gentle.
"Yeah… wake me," Hina mumbled, already halfway into dreams.
---
Two hours later…
A soft brush against her hand stirred her awake. Hina's eyes flew open to meet a girl—bright-eyed, smiling—bearing a striking resemblance to Henry.
"Hi" the girl greeted, her smile quick and warm. Hina sat up, still groggy. The girl settled in the very spot Hina's head had rested moments before.
Hina scanned the room—empty. Henry and Zari were gone. She rolled her eyes faintly.
"Hi," she replied at last.
"Henry called," the girl continued, lifting a small food-filled bag Hina hadn't noticed she held. "He said they were heading out for something and told me to bring your food instead."
Of course they left, Hina thought, a small sigh inside her head.
"Did he say where they went?" she asked.
"Nope. Just told me to give you yours and leave theirs. I'm Bella, by the way," she said with a shy smile. Just then, her phone rang. The shrill tone and her quick reaction told Hina instantly—it was her mother.
"Excuse me," Bella murmured before stepping aside to answer.
When she returned, she looked apologetically at Hina. "I would have loved to stay and talk—really—but Mom wants me to pick something up from the pastry shop. But Henry already told us you and Zari will be staying with us from now on… so we'll have time. When you come home, we'll talk more."
Hina nodded, a polite smile tugging at her lips. "Alright. See you at home."
"See you, dear," Bella waved, smile bright as she stepped away, sunlight catching her like a shimmer before she disappeared down the path.
***
By evening, Hina stood behind the counter, chewing roasted meat she'd bought with Henry's money after selling a box of cigarettes.
In her defense, the aroma was seductive and the vendor wasn't helping — so she bought it.
Halfway through her meal, the two idiots finally returned.
"Welcome, your royal highness — Mr and Mrs Henry the Great, the Eleventh," she said, bowing dramatically, mockery dripping from her voice.
If I'd known you two were coming," she continued, hand on her chest in fake reverence, "I would've hired flower girls, boys, maids — the full parade. We'd spray petals as you entered. Nonsense."
" "Don't be dramatic! I see you're even eating roasted meat let me have a bite." Zari says as she walked towards Hina taking a bite.
" We're sorry, Hina. A friend of mine had an accident, and I wanted to check on him. Zari came along too. Did you… sell something?"
Henry says as he sat on the bench.
"Well, I thought you two went on a date. But I sold some cigarettes and bought this meat… this delicious meat I'm enjoying with your girlfriend! And Zari, you didn't even ask where I got the money; you just started eating."
" Alright let's close " Henry says.
""But it's not even 9 pm yet."" Zari says raising her eyebrows in confusion eyeing him and Hina nodded in agreement.
" This is 6:45pm. "Hina added
"Yeah, I know. Let's go—you girls need to rest. I'm tired too; let's just go home," he said. and they both nodded as they packed the stall goods kept outside taking it inside.
When done they both packed their bags as they went inside.
They walked on the bustling street, people going to and fro as Henry held both girls hands gisting and laughing slightly
"Unbeknownst to them, a dark figure smoked his cigarette as he stared at them, following silently. *Stupid bitch,* he muttered."
Meanwhile the trio reached the down part of grace lace where staircase, each house stacked haphazardly atop the other. Rooftops doubled as terraces, laundry lines crisscrossing above, fluttering like colorful flags in the wind. Narrow, winding alleys twisted between walls painted in sun-bleached pastels, the smell of sizzling street food drifting upward.
Children darted across rooftops, their laughter echoing through the stacked maze, while cats slinked along the edges, balancing with ease. The sunlight hit the uppermost houses first, leaving the lower streets in cool, shifting shadows. Every doorway, every stair, every metal railing seemed alive—part of a living puzzle of home and street, where neighbors called out greetings over the gaps, and secrets could be whispered from one roof to the next.
In this city, the air was thick with life, colors, and the constant hum of movement—dense, vibrant, and impossible to ignore.
They reached their home from the outside u could hear film making noise and occasional giggles.