"So… how did you get home, Ava?" Carl asked casually as he changed into house slippers. Then, to Ava's absolute shock, he bent down to help Nnenna with hers too.
Ava's jaw nearly dropped.
Wait. What?!
Big Brother Carl was always gentle and nice, yes, but never like this. He had never helped her change shoes. Not once. And now he was kneeling in front of this girl, as if it was the most natural thing in the world?
Nnenna didn't think much of it. To her, this was normal. Carl had always taken care of her. She smiled warmly and said, "Thank you," in a soft voice, genuinely grateful, but without any hint of pride or manipulation.
Then she stepped fully into the house.
Ava stared after her, still reeling from what she just witnessed. The soft slap slap of Carl's and Nnenna's slippers echoed down the hallway like a haunting melody.
Her thoughts were spinning
Why her? Since when? What did she do to get this treatment?!
