Silence Before Storm

"Naira, you know I'm just a ping away, whenever your lousy husband and irresponsible driver betray you. You can hit me up!" Jess quipped with a sly grin, his eyes shifting to Melvin, who had silently approached Naira. Tension simmered in the room as Jess slowly rose from his chair, his comment deliberately designed to provoke a reaction from Melvin.

Melvin's face flushed with anger, but he managed to summon a strained smile. "Huh, I'll see you in private," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Naira, ever the diplomat, diffused the situation with a courteous response. "Sure. See ya," she replied, the tension in the room now thick as molasses. Her mother, a master of social grace, chimed in, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. "Yeah, Naira will definitely ping you," she giggled in her typical manner, though her eyes conveyed an underlying message.

Melvin shot Naira's mother a stern gaze, his disappointment apparent on his face. It was clear that the rivalry between Jess and Melvin was f