SWEET SPOT

Hot Sauce 16

Ezekiel

I stood on the shaky ladder, heart hammering against my ribs as I peered through Nyla’s window. The damn thing wobbled with every breath I took, but I didn’t care. Not tonight.

“Can you tell me what’s going on first?” she whispered, her voice tight with frustration.

“Let me in so we can talk properly,” I pleaded. “I can’t explain myself out here like this. The ladder’s shaking, and you don’t want your brother to catch me, right?”

She hesitated, arms wrapped tightly around herself, clearly battling with whether or not to slam the window shut in my face. After a long sigh, she finally pushed it open.

I climbed in as carefully as I could, dusting off my clothes once both feet were on solid ground. “Thanks,” I muttered.

Nyla folded her arms across her chest, eyes guarded. “What is going on, Ezekiel?”

I looked at her — really looked at her. The hurt in her eyes, the exhaustion on her face… it gutted me. Everything that had happened between us these past few days had been eating me alive. I couldn’t sleep. I’d tossed and turned for hours until I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I had to see her. Tonight.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the delicate necklace I’d bought earlier. The small pendant caught the soft light from her bedside lamp.

“I actually brought this in case you still wanted it,” I said quietly, holding it out to her.

“Oh God, Ezekiel,” she sighed, sounding completely drained. “Please don’t do this right now. I really don’t want to drag this matter again. I thought it was over? Why do you keep bringing it back? If this is what you came here to say, then I have nothing else to tell you. You should leave.”

Her words stung more than I expected. I took a small step closer.

“Do you hate me that much?” I asked, my voice low.

Her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the question.

“Tell me,” I continued, swallowing hard. “Do you really hate me so much that you have to push me away without even letting me explain? Without hearing me out?”

She bit her lip, shifting back a little. The silence stretched between us until she finally spoke again.

“Can I ask who Aida is to you?”

I swallowed. “Aida?”

She scoffed. “Why? You don’t want to answer that question?”

“No, it’s not that,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I’m just surprised you’re asking. But if you want to know, fine. Aida is just some girl I know. She’s been a big troublemaker since we were kids. She’s loud, dramatic, and always stirring up unnecessary drama. That’s all she is to me — nothing more.”

Nyla stared at me, searching my face like she was trying to decide whether or not to believe me. I hated that look. I hated that I had given her any reason to doubt me in the first place.

“I swear, Nyla,” I added softly, stepping a little closer. “There’s nothing going on between me and Aida. I don’t know where you got that idea, but it’s wrong. The only person I’ve been thinking about lately… is you.”

“Well, I didn’t ask,” Nyla said, folding her arms tighter across her chest. “And besides, that didn’t really answer my question.”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. She wasn’t going to let me off easily, and honestly, I respected her for it. I had messed up. Now I had to fix it.

“Okay,” I said carefully. “Aida is just… a normal friend. Our moms have been close for years, so we kind of grew up knowing each other. She used to come over to our place sometimes. But I promise you, we’re not more than that. I wouldn’t even call her a real friend. She’s just someone I know and occasionally talk to. Honestly, your brother Garrett is my only real friend. My best friend.”

Nyla nodded slowly, but her eyes still held doubt. “So… is there anything else you want to add about Aida?”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. I hated this. I hated that my carelessness had led us here.

“The thing is… Aida has a crush on me,” I admitted. “She’s told me several times. But I’ve rejected her advances every single time. I’ve made it very clear that I don’t feel the same way. I’ve tried to put a solid wall between us, but she keeps forcing it. She doesn’t want to listen.”

Nyla looked at me directly, searching my face. “Is that really true?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation, holding her gaze. “I promise. Everything I’m saying right now is the truth. Nothing but the truth.”

She was quiet for a moment before asking another question. “Then can I ask why you actually came to class that day looking for her?”

I rubbed the back of my neck, almost embarrassed. “Oh… that. She came to my room one day and took my favourite hoodie without my permission. I had to go find her to get it back.”

Nyla blinked. “Wait… she comes into your room?”

“Yeah,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “Even when I’m not home. Whenever she visits my place, she just walks into my room like it’s hers. I’ve warned her about it multiple times, but she doesn’t listen.”

Nyla stared at me, processing everything. The silence stretched between us until she finally spoke again, her voice quieter this time.

“To be honest… the reason I’ve been acting like this towards you is because of that necklace.”

My heart sank. I stepped closer.

“I promise I didn’t mean to misplace it. I didn’t mean to be careless with it at all. I’ll look for it again. I’ll search the whole house if I have to. I’ll get you the same one, even if it’s rare. I swear I’ll find it.”

Nyla shook her head, pain flashing across her face. “No, Ezekiel. You’re lying to me. I actually saw it on Aida’s neck today. She was wearing it. And when people asked her about it, she said it was from her boyfriend.”

My eyes widened. “Wait… are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“What the f**k!” I cursed, anger surging through me like fire. “Oh hell no.”

I pulled out my phone, hands shaking with fury. Aida had crossed a serious line this time. If she had really taken the necklace from my room…

“I think she took it,” I said, my voice tight. “She must have come into my room again and stolen it. That’s exactly the kind of thing she does.”

Nyla’s eyes widened as she watched me dial Aida’s number. My blood was boiling. I was done being patient with her nonsense.

The call rang. I was ready to explode the moment she picked up.