On the bed was Milton, Catherina and MR flecthers gardener, Milton was intensively thrusting into Catherina while planting deadly kisses on her lips. Catherina's moan could be heard even by the deaf, it was so obvious they were having a really good time. Upon sighting them Zendaya closes her eyes and tries to leave the room when they both noticed her.
Milton immediately put on his clothes while hiding his nakedness under the duvet and sprang out of the room. Looking at Catherina with a big grin on her face " Girl you didn't tell me that that..... She stutters. " I didn't tell you because I didn't even want to believe it myself that I was sleeping with him, it all started one day when he spilled coffee on his shirt so he washed it and dried it, and then he was walking around the house shirtless, you know he is so sexy with all his muscles and all plus I was horny one thing led to the other and we started having sex". Catherina says with a little bit of regret.
" The last thing I'll ever do is to judge you, anything you do and you feel makes you happy I'll support you". Zendaya says and gives Catherina a hug. Catherina gets ready and they both leave in Zendaya's car on their way to the Arcade the get pulled over by cops for regular check up. The sun sat high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the busy street as cars moved in a slow, steady rhythm. Music played softly from the speakers, something upbeat that didn't quite match the mood inside the car.
Zendaya tapped her fingers lightly against the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Beside her, Catherina was scrolling through her phone, occasionally glancing up with a small smile. "I still can't believe you agreed to this," she said, her tone playful. "You? At a game arcade?"
Zendaya let out a quiet huff. "Don't make it a big deal. I just needed to get out."
Catherina raised an eyebrow, studying her. "Mm-hmm. And not because you're trying to distract yourself?"
Zendaya shot her a quick look. "Can we not do this today?"
"Alright, alright," Catherina said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "No deep conversations. Just games, food, and me beating you at everything."
"That's not happening," Zendaya replied, a faint smile finally tugging at her lips.
A while later they get to the arcades and they have a good time, and they drive to Zendaya's house because she planned to see her mum. They get there and Zendaya paused outside the gate longer than she needed to.
"Are you okay" Catherina asked with concern. " Yeah I'm good". But she was'nt Her hand rested on the rusted metal door, fingers curled tightly around it as if she needed to steady herself before stepping in. The paint had peeled even more since the last time she was here, exposing the old iron beneath. She remembered when her father used to complain about fixing it, always saying, "One day, I'll repaint everything myself."
He never got the chance.
Her chest tightened.
With a slow breath, she pushed the door open. It let out that same long, tired creak, and the sound alone sent a sharp ache through her. It was strange how something so small could carry so many memories.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
A faint, broken smile touched her lips… but it didn't last.
Because the laughter that once filled this place was gone.
Zendaya walked toward the house slowly, her heels making soft, echoing sounds against the ground. Each step felt heavier, like the closer she got, the harder it became to breathe.
When she reached the front door, she hesitated again.
The living room looked exactly the same. The same curtains. The same center table. The same slightly worn rug that her father always refused to throw away because he claimed it was "still perfectly fine."
Zendaya's eyes slowly scanned the room… until they landed on it.
The chair.
His chair.
It sat in its usual spot, angled slightly toward the television. Empty. Untouched. Almost like it was waiting for someone who would never sit in it again.
Her breath caught in her throat.
For a second, her mind played a cruel trick on her. She could almost see him there legs crossed, remote in hand, glancing up at her with that familiar smile.
"Aya" you're back?"
Her lips parted slightly, like she was about to answer him.
But the illusion faded just as quickly as it came.
And the emptiness returned.
A sharp pain hit her chest, and she pressed her hand against it as if she could physically hold herself together. Her eyes burned, tears quickly blurring her vision.
" Aya I'm here for you okay?" Catherina said In a low voice.
The day she lost him replayed in her mind, vivid and merciless. The phone call. The way her heart dropped before she even heard the full sentence. The way the world didn't stop even though hers had completely shattered.
Zendaya took a shaky step forward, her gaze never leaving the chair.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye," she said, her voice breaking under the weight of it.
Her fingers curled into fists.
"Aya?"
Then she heard her mother's slow footsteps approaching.
When Zendaya finally turned, the sight of her almost broke her completely. Her mother looked smaller somehow. Weaker. Like grief had taken pieces of her over time and never gave them back.
Their eyes met, and in that moment, they didn't need words.
They both understood.
Her mother opened her arms.
Zendaya didn't hesitate this time.
She walked into them and held on tightly, like she was afraid of falling apart if she let go. The tears came instantly, spilling over, unstoppable. Her body shook as she cried into her mother's shoulder, years of suppressed pain finally breaking free.
"It hurts," she sobbed. "It still hurts so much…"
Her mother held her just as tightly, one hand gently rubbing her back, the other cradling her head like she used to when Zendaya was a child.
"I know," she whispered softly. "I know…"
And that was the hardest part.
She'd tried so hard to numb the pain by acting like she didn't have a heart but it still hurts
Knowing that the pain didn't fade. It didn't disappear. It just stayed, quietly, deeply, living in places like this house, in memories, in empty chairs… and in their hearts.
Zendaya closed her eyes, holding onto her mother as if she was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Because this house…
This house didn't just remind her of her father.
It reminded her of everything she had lost.Her father, her freedom, her happiness.
Zendaya's mum gives Catherina a hug and welcomes her and they all sit to have a conversation. Mid conversation Zendaya's mum gets up to get a drink, and she staggers and have a black out. Laying on the floor, Panick starts to fill Zendaya.