Sefti's parents called her into the living room. On the table was an old photo of the two families smiling in front of the company building.
“You’ll get engaged to Andre after you graduate,” her father said.
Sefti refused. Her mother cried and said the relationship would protect thousands of employees. Sefti felt as though her life had been turned into business collateral.
“Zixo has no future,” her father said. “Kindness isn’t enough to build a life together.”
Sefti left the house that night and called Zixo. She didn’t tell him everything. She only asked to meet.
They sat in silence on a bench near the classroom window.
“I’m afraid of losing you,” Sefti said.
Zixo held back the tightness in his chest. “I’ll try to become someone they can’t easily cast aside.”
“Don’t change for them.”
“I’m changing for myself. So when I stand beside you, I won’t feel like I’m borrowing someone else’s place.”
Sefti hugged him. For a few minutes, they let the world wait.