For a second, Zoyar's gaze shifted past Rony's shoulder and landed on Cixi, who looked ashen. She was still kneeling on the floor, her body looked rigid, and she held pure fear in her eyes.
Cixi caught his glance and immediately shook her head. She seized the moment and pulled herself upright. She gathered her cleaning supplies with unsteady hands and walked away. And as she walked, her legs felt like wet cement beneath her, requiring a significant conscious effort not to collapse.
Rony did not turn to watch her leave, but he heard her footsteps fading across the tile floor.
"What is your problem, bro?" Rony irritably asked as he squared up to this stranger who had inserted himself uninvited.
"You!" Zoyar took a single step closer to Rony, invading his space and looking directly into his eyes, as if challenging him.
