She Who Stole His Heart

26

The police station seemed to be busy, as always. When August and Veronica walked in, it took a while for them to get attention from the officers.

They were led to Manelisi, in a quieter part of the station, in an interrogation room. He looked up from his hard-looking chair when August entered. He glared at him, following him until he pulled the chair out and took a seat.

"Are you happy now?" August asked. "Is this what you wanted?"

"I should have known this was your doing," Manelisi sneered.

August sighed, shifting slightly in his chair. He looked around him, at the small confined room. He knew that at least there were people watching them from behind the wall.

"No. This was your doing, Mane. I thought that you would have changed by now. I thought that you would have grown up after entering the real world, but what did you do? You try to ruin my career before it even starts?"

"Those were my designs, August and you know it."

"We have evidence," August watched as Manelisi's look turned sour. "Remember my YouTube channel from college? I still have those videos."

Manelisi clenched his jaw, looking away from him.

"You were always a terrible designer. Your ideas were never actually yours. You just incorporated everyone's ideas into your designs. That's why you were never successful. That's why you can't lend a deal, Mane. Not only did you try to ruin my career for your own gain, but you also steal other people's designs. No one wants something they've seen before on the runway."

"You pompous prick!" Manelisi shouted, lunging over the table and wrapping his hands around August's neck. They both fell back, Manelisi being on top of him and squeezing harder the more he saw August try to catch his breath.

~*~

She didn't have any clothes to wear, Kholwa, so she decided to open August's drawers and wardrobe to try and find something that would look somewhat good on her. She was confident he wouldn't mind.

Since most of his clothes were huge., she settled on one of his black t-shirts. It fit her like her dress, all the way up to right above her knees. She chuckled. She was sure it did not fit him that well either. How can something so big be his size?

She slowly walked out of the room. First poking her head out to make sure that no one was around. The passageway was dark. She got out and decided to follow the light, which led to an open living area, where there was a large L-shaped sofa and a 6 seater wooden dining area table. She looked past that and saw another door, which she walked to, and peaked into a separate kitchen. She was awed by the size of it. She stood at the entrance to admire it better.

Compared to her own kitchenette, this one was nearly thrice its size.

After looking through the cupboards, she managed to come up with a cup, which she filled up with lukewarm water.

She walked back to the living room, only to pause when she heard keys rattling on the door. It opened and a stranger walked in, wearing sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt, as his skin glistened from what she was assuming was sweat. She stared at him, her breath caught in her throat, not sure if the person was to be trusted or feared.

He was gulping down water from his huge water bottle. He stopped when their eyes met, and awkwardly smiled.

"You're awake." He stared.

"Hi?" She awkwardly smiled, watching him close and lock the door. He put his keys on one of the five hooks mounted behind the door. There was one other set of keys there and a plastic duck keyholder hanging on another hook.

"I kind of met you last night. You were asleep though." He chuckled at her horrified face. "I'm Rob, August's roommate."

"Rob," she smiled, "I'm Kholwa." She was finally able to breathe freely. Or somewhat, since she knew that the stranger in front of her was someone August knew.

"Nice to meet you. August left with his agent this morning and it felt urgent, so it might be a while." He shifted uncomfortably, before he grinned, "I'd stay to chat more, but I'm starting to stink, so I'm going to take a shower. But please make yourself at home, I'll be back in ten minutes."

She watched him walk into the passage and to where she was guessing was his room. For a while, she awkwardly stood in the middle of the living room, unsure of what to do next.

She was not the best at cooking, but she knew the basics, so she decided that she would make everyone breakfast. If she remembered correctly, August had two roommates. She was not sure what either liked, but she was guessing that whatever was in the pantry, they already ate, so it was a good start.