The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

ⓌⒽⒺⓃ ⓌⒺ ⒹⒶⓃⒸⒺⒹ

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I'VE SPENT THE last fifteen minutes being back at the hotel blow-drying my hair. I would have been mad at him, but being in that water, both of our wet bodies half afloat, half submerged, I think it set off a switch in my head. 

Tomorrow we'll be leaving for Ivan's birthday city, Venice. Yet I feel like Zanzibar is unfinished. We've seen the sunset, then though it wasn't on the list, we got lost in the city, and today, we've been to the Lagoon.

My phone rings. Chinny. I pick it up.

"Those pictures are freaking cute. I wish I was there with you guys," she says. 

"I know right," I put the hand dryer away and tighten the straps of my robe after which I walk to the bedroom.

I love the luxury Zanzibar affords, from the sheets to the bedpost to the chair, everything in the room is white. Where it's not white, it's gold, and where it's not gold, it's glass. I relax on the bed.

"How are you, Chin?"

"Miserable," she says.

I laugh. "Let me guess, you'd rather be here than planning to go to school?"

"It's that obvious. I mean, you're all the way across the world on an adventure, doing thrilling things and I'm here, planning to pack my bags and head off to torture."

"Be careful what you wish for, Chin." 

"Abeg let me hear," she says. "Be careful what I wish for means what?"

"I can't handle you now."  I laugh again.

She hisses. "Have you guys. . .you know?"

"What?"

"You know what I mean."

"I honestly don't."

"Nevermind," she says. "Where is Ivan?"

"In his room."

"I want to talk to him."

"Then call him."

"If I wanted to, don't you think I would have done that already?"

"Well do it."

"Buns, just get your ass up and take the phone to him. Or"—she pauses—"I will never call you again."

I sigh. "Don't get used to threatening me, it's not fun."

"Abeg go and give him phone. Fast," she says. 

I walk out with my key card. His room is directly across from mine so I knock twice and he opens the door.

"Hey," he says, running his eyes over me. Then he smiles. "Are you still cold?"

Why does he have to be shirtless?

"Chinny wants to speak with you." I say. 

"Oh," he takes the phone from me. Leaving me at the door. "Hey, Chin. . ."

I let myself in. His room is pretty much the same as mine, white interiors. The only difference would be that I have pictures of coral reefs and fishes on my wall, whereas he has pictures of the slave trade era. 

I watch him talk with Chinny. Earlier, at the lagoon, I saw him shirtless for the first time and now, again. That switch goes off in my head. 

When the call is done, he returns the phone and I should leave but I don't. I walk around, looking for nothing exactly. He stands by the closed door with his feet crossed over each other and his back against the wall.