When Hearts Whispers – Episodes
- Episode 1: The Girl by the Lake
- Episode 2: The Secret in her Sketchbook
- Episode 3: The Letter in the Pocket that Changed Everything
- Episode 4: A Butterfly in the Wind
- Episode 5: Rain Over Nyamugari
- Episode 6: The Number That Changed Everything
- Episode 7: Truth at Huye Bus Park
- Episode 8: Jealousy, Trust &; a Kigali Art Cliffhanger
- Episode 9: Trust on Trial under Kigali's Moonlight
The night bus from Huye rattled like old drums. Kevin sat by the window, clutching his bracelet so tight it left red marks. His bag carried nothing but one shirt, his phone, and a heart too heavy for sleep. Mama’s voice echoed in his mind: “Trust is the only strong wall for love.” But the unknown caller’s words beat harder: “Come to Kigali. Or you may lose her.”
Outside, the hills rolled under moonlight. Goats slept near banana groves, fires glowed from village kitchens, and somewhere a child sang a lullaby. Kevin thought of Aline’s diary words: “Trust is fragile, but hope is stronger.”
Earlier that evening, Sandrine had cornered him before he left. Her roasted maize still in hand, she spoke with fire in her eyes.
“Kevin, do not run into Kigali with only fear. Carry wisdom. Jealousy is like drinking salt water you will never be full. Remember: Aline is not a prize to guard. She is a heart to share.”
Kevin nodded, but his hands shook. “Sandrine, what if I lose her?”
She laughed sharply. “Eh! You cannot lose what is already yours. But you can chase it away with suspicion. Be smart, brother. Go to Kigali as her partner, not as her policeman.”
Her words burned, but they stayed with him on the bus.
At dawn, the bus hissed to a stop at Nyabugogo. The city yawned awake with the smell of chapati frying and engines coughing. Street vendors called out, “Ibijumba! Mandazi!” while motorcycles buzzed like angry bees.
Kevin stepped down, his heart thumping. Kigali was bigger, louder, and faster than Huye. He almost felt swallowed.
A boda rider called out, “Boss, where are you going?”
“Nyamirambo,” Kevin whispered. His voice sounded smaller than he wanted.
When he reached Aline’s hostel, his chest nearly burst. Aline was waiting by the gate, her sketchbook clutched to her chest like a child. Her eyes widened, then softened.
“Kevin…” she breathed.
“Aline,” he whispered back.
They stood for a long moment, the city noise fading into nothing. Finally, Aline reached for his hand. “Why did you come?”
Kevin swallowed. “Because someone told me if I love you, I must.”
Her brow furrowed. “Love is not a threat, Kevin. Love is a choice.”
His throat tightened. “I chose you.”
They sat under a jacaranda tree near the hostel. Purple petals fell like blessings around them. Aline touched his bracelet.
“Kevin, I fear sometimes you see me as fragile clay. But I am not. I am fire and wind too. I need you beside me, not over me.”
Kevin’s eyes burned. “And I fear that I am too small for your world. Kigali is so big. You are shining here. What if I fade in your light?”
Aline leaned closer, her voice trembling. “Then walk with me. We will shine together.”
His heart melted. It was the first time he truly believed her words.
But peace did not last. As they talked, Emmanuel walked by, carrying a pile of sketchbooks. He greeted them warmly, “Good morning, Kevin. Welcome to Kigali.”
Kevin forced a smile, but his stomach twisted. Aline noticed. She squeezed his hand.
After Emmanuel left, she said firmly, “Kevin, listen to me. Emmanuel is my teacher, nothing more. If you let gossip be our compass, we will lose our way.”
Kevin closed his eyes. He remembered Sandrine’s words. He whispered, “I will try. For us.”
That evening, Aline showed Kevin the message she had received: “Be ready. Monday’s review will change more than your art. Some want you to shine. Some don’t.”
Kevin’s blood chilled. “This is why the caller told me to come.”
Aline bit her lip. “But why? I am only a student. My sketchbook holds butterflies and hills, not diamonds.”
Kevin frowned. “Dreams can threaten those who fear them.”
They sat in silence, their hands joined, as Nyamirambo’s streetlights flickered on.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Patrice appeared at the hostel gate. His face was hard, his sack heavy on his shoulder.
“Kevin, I did not come for gossip this time,” he said. “I came to warn. I heard whispers from men near the studio. Some say Emmanuel protects you, others say he envies your gift. Be careful. Jealousy is not only for lovers, it lives in teachers too.”
Aline’s stomach dropped. Could this be true?
That night, Aline cried in Kevin’s arms for the first time. Her strong shell cracked.
“Kevin, I am tired. Tired of fear, of whispers, of being tested. All I want is to draw, to dream, to love you without walls.”
Kevin held her close, his own tears falling. “Then let us make a promise. No secrets. No gossip. Only truth. Even if the world shakes, we will hold on.”
She whispered, “I promise.”
Their lips met softly under the dim hostel light. It was not just love; it was survival, faith, and hope tied together.
As they pulled apart, Kevin’s phone buzzed. A message from the unknown number again:
“You came. Good. Now listen: Monday will not be safe. If you want Aline to keep her wings, be at the old cinema in Nyamirambo tomorrow night. Alone.”
Kevin’s heart froze. Alone? Was it a trap, or the only way to protect her?
He looked at Aline. She read the fear in his eyes.
“What is it?” she whispered.
Kevin swallowed hard. “Tomorrow…everything may change.”
The night in Kigali grew heavier, as if holding its breath.
End of Episode 10! Stay tuned for Episode 11
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