It's just past 3 pm, and the sun shines brightly on Maputo, the air thick with the scent of salt from the ocean and the city's usual hum of life. The Day's heat is starting to take its toll as the lunch hour approaches, with people seeking refuge in their favorite cafes or restaurants.
Across the street from the Night Star Hotel, a few reporters and paparazzi stand in small clusters near their cars, their cameras poised in anticipation. They've been waiting for hours, hoping for a glimpse of Christian Ngale, whose life has been the subject of endless gossip and speculation since the photos of him with Marilena surfaced.
But they aren't the only ones in the area. Two figures walk casually towards the hotel, their steps confident and easy, unaffected by the throngs of journalists and flashing cameras.
