Night out

"Guys, I have news," Inaya sat looming excited with Jiya and Johan sitting before her. Inaya decided to break the news of moving into her new house since there were only two days left. She wanted to surprise the two friends she has. Jiya ordered for barbecue for three and ordered kambucha for her and Johan as Inaya declined it.

"Bring it quick, we are starving," Jiya told the waiter. He soon came to light the girls and placed the marrinated meat along with some veggies.

"Ok tell us now," Jiya said. Johan remained silent, with a smile. He picked Inaya's phone, and decided to connect it with his, to make sure that he can find her easily and monitor where she goes. Inaya was not aware of it.

Johan opened his passion fruit kambucha and sat sipping it slowly. He also recharged her phone as the package was about to get over. He placed it back and helped Jiya grill the meat.

"Why so much of suspense? Say it," Johan said.

"I'm moving into a house and quit jumping between temporary stays," Inaya flashed a smile and said. Johan was surprised.

"Oh my god," Jiya sounded equally excited as Inaya. Jiya got up, moved over to Inaya and gave her a hug. "Sounds so good. I'm glad with your decision, if it makes you happy and if you are able to afford it," she added.

Inaya then looked at Johan who was yet to say any word. Inaya raised her brow.

"I am happy for you, indeed. Bold move. But good one. I asked you to do this earlier," he said. But he did not pass the vibe check, according to Jiya.

"That's it?" Jiya asked.

"Is this the reason why you have been disappearing from time to time?" Johan asked after calculating all the times he was not able to reach Inaya.

"Kind of. I went house hunting for a whole day, and again," she told him. Johan sighed and sipped his kambucha.

He got up. "I will be back in a minute," he said and walked towards the washroom. He was still wearing the uniform and a pullover on top of it. He tried not to feel angry or upset, trying to look pleasant and not say anything harsh.

Johan opened the wash basin in the rest area and splashed some water on his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath. "Don't flip over such tiny matters," he warned himself.

The meat was well cooked and Jiya put some for Inaya on her plate. Inaya was showing the video of the view she captured from the terrace.

"Wow, wow girl, so good. It is such a good deal. The rent, the furniture, everything.

"What deal?" Johan sat down, coming back from the rest room.

"The rent," Jiya said. "She actually is lucky to get such a good deal," Jiya sounded more excited than Inaya.

"How much?" Johan asked, sipping the kambucha again.

"It is only seven thousand and she will get the whole terrace. They will take csre of painting, plumbing, curtain, plus owner offered her to get her some furniture too," Jiya kept talking, not letting Inaya answer anything.

"Really?" Johan looked at Inaya. He developed doubts on her.

"All of it?" Johan asked Inaya.

Imaya nodded and remained silent.

'Will he find out?' She thought and grew tensed.

Johan did not proceed with further questions and the three had a lot of food and drinks. Inaya since she had no expert in drinking, avoiding drinking anything. Jiya was drunk as she ordered more alcohol but Johan remained sober.

"You two may crash at my place just for the night," Johan told Jiya.

"Oh, thank you, Officer Yan," Jiya kept blabbering. Inaya and Johan walked helping Jiya walk with them and booked a cab.

"So you don't go around with car much?" Inaya asked.

"I never use police car except when I'm no duty," Johan said. "I don't own a personal car," he looked at Inaya. Their eyes met, they locked once again. Inaya saw how their eyes flocked again with a gold ring appearing around their pupil.

"Not again," she said and closed her eyes.

Johan looked away. He did not want any trouble.

Soon they reached Johan's apartment. They put Jiya on bed in the guest room.

"How often do you change?" Inaya asked sitting on his couch in the living area.

"I haven't shape shifted for over a year now. I am trying to control," he said sitting next to her.

"Why" she asked.

"It is not something I like," he said, his face closer to hers. The two remained silent for few minutes, looking at each other. Inaya then turned her head away. She could feel her heart beating fast.

"Did you manipulate her, the owner?" Johan asked.

Inaya froze. "I..."