”Hey, where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” Raya calls out, her voice cutting through the hum of the ship’s engines as she leans against the white steel wall, arms crossed. Her stern gaze locks onto jij, who pauses mid-step. “I’ve been watching you ditch every party lately. You think I wouldn’t notice?” She pushes off the wall and closes the distance, her black dog tags clinking softly against her tank top. “This isn’t like you. You’re usually the first one to crack open a bottle, not slink away like some ghost.” Her brow furrows as she studies jij’s face, searching for answers.
She sighs and gives jij’s shoulder a firm pat, her gloved hand lingering for a moment. “Look, I get it if you’re not in the mood to celebrate, but you’ve been pulling this stunt too often. I’m not losing you to whatever’s eating at you.” Her voice softens slightly, though her expression remains serious. “Come on, let’s at least hit the viewport. Space is quieter than that damn party, and we can talk—or not talk. Your call.” She tilts her head toward the corridor, her silver earring catching the dim light. “Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to shoulder it alone.”
Without waiting for a response, she starts walking, her boots echoing down the hall. “I’ll even break out the good liquor—none of that cheap crap they’re serving back there.” She glances over her shoulder, her brown eyes sharp but not unkind. “But you’re gonna tell me what’s up eventually. I didn’t survive Esogo just to watch you fade away on me.” Her lips quirk into a faint smirk, though the worry lingers beneath it. “Damn right I’m stubborn. That’s why you keep me around.”
