Tara's hands slid into her pockets, her breath visible in the icy air, hovering in soft clouds that dissipated as she exhaled. She glanced over at Selena, noticing the way her friend held the cup of herbal tea, fingers wrapped so tightly around it that her knuckles had turned white. Selena's gaze was distant, drifting somewhere beyond the sidewalk's glow, her expression clouded by whatever memories or emotions had overtaken her since they'd left the bar.
As Tara looked at her, she felt a pang of tenderness tighten her chest.
She wasn't sure why she had felt so angry back there. Usually, she avoided trouble and rarely acted on impulse, but the sight of that woman gripping Selena's wrist, and the forced restraint in Selena's eyes as she tried to manage the situation... something inside Tara had just snapped. It felt instinctive to intervene, almost as if her own body had moved on autopilot. Now, however, as the cold wind swept through her and calmed her down, she began to wonder if she had overstepped.
Selena, though, seemed absorbed in her own thoughts, her attention fixed on the paving stones ahead, step after step. Tara stole another glance, fighting the urge to break the silence. She felt a restless need to speak, even though Selena seemed lost in her world.
Just then, as if sensing Tara's stare, Selena lifted her gaze, her dark eyes meeting Tara's with an intensity that nearly made her stop breathing. Beneath Selena's calm exterior, Tara detected a flicker of something—maybe unease, maybe vulnerability—that vanished before she could be sure. Selena's mouth curved into the faintest smile, her expression now a mask of tranquility. "You seem like you have something on your mind, Tara?"
There it was again—that look, that attention that Selena gave her, as though Tara were someone who mattered. Tara couldn't help but return the smile, calm and almost serene, just as she whispered, "No. Just wondering…are your hands cold?"
A flicker of relief passed through Selena's eyes. She had spent the whole walk steeling herself, replaying the earlier scene in her head, wondering if Tara had overheard anything from Nina's outburst. If she had, how much did she know? If Tara had figured out her feelings, would she look at her differently? Would she distance herself, or even—
Selena pushed the thought away and nodded, feigning nonchalance. "A little."
That hint of a smile on Selena's lips stirred something in Tara, the way her eyes softened at the edges, her mouth curving in a way that seemed both coy and endlessly mysterious. Selena was like a winter rose—radiant in her own subtle way, blooming even in the frost.
Without a second thought, Tara slipped her hand out of her pocket, reached for Selena's free hand, and carefully enclosed it in her own. Selena's skin felt almost delicate, light in her grasp, and Tara cautiously guided both their hands back into her warm pocket.
For a moment, neither spoke, the silence filled only with the sounds of their quiet steps and the occasional murmurs of the night around them. She felt Selena's fingers twitch slightly, occasionally brushing against hers. Tara found herself smiling, almost laughing quietly to herself. She noticed for the first time how much Selena liked playing with her hand—always touching her fingers, always finding some excuse to take her hand.
The thought was strangely funny, in the way that only came when something made you feel warm inside.
They continued walking until, suddenly, Selena stopped, her hand tugging gently on Tara's arm. "Tara."
"Yes?"
Selena opened her mouth, as if unsure how to start, before her voice softened. "That birthday gift you gave me… I really liked it. On the back of the frame, there was a message: 'Seek true love. Don't waste yourself on someone who doesn't deserve you.'"
Tara's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure where this was going, but she braced herself, meeting Selena's gaze with an almost anxious smile. Selena's voice was steady, her expression calm, as she asked, "Did you write that?"
After a beat, Tara nodded. She could feel her pulse racing, but her voice came out steady. "Yes, I did. If that upset you, I'm sorry. I just…"
She faltered, but Selena shook her head, signaling her to go on.
Tara swallowed, choosing her words with care. "I heard that call—the one from the man named Ken. He seemed so angry, so controlling. And I don't even know him, but… I don't think he cares for you the way you deserve. People who love each other shouldn't just be there to tear each other down. I only wanted to say you deserve more." Her voice softened. "I thought… maybe he was your 'White Moonlight,' like you said before, so I wanted to write that message as a reminder."
Selena's eyes softened, her gaze lingering on Tara's face. "Is that what you think?" She managed a small, rueful smile. "You thought Ken was my boyfriend, didn't you?"
Tara felt her face warm. She had been so certain, but now that Selena was actually here, asking, she realized how wrong she might have been. Still, something about Selena's reaction—soft, almost touched—stirred Tara's heart.
Selena glanced away, her expression hard to read. When she looked back at Tara, her eyes were glassy, almost vulnerable. "The truth is, I don't even know what real love is, Tara," she whispered, her voice almost breaking. "Growing up, I was always chasing things—an education, a career, a way out. But love?" She shook her head, a faint, bittersweet smile ghosting over her lips. "I learned a lot, but I never learned that."
A pang of sympathy hit Tara. She could almost see a younger version of Selena in her mind—a girl who'd had to be so strong, so determined, who'd faced everything alone. Reaching out, she gently took Selena's hand in her own. "Then… let me show you."
For a moment, Selena just looked at her, seemingly caught off guard. And then, her face softened, the beginnings of a small, hopeful smile breaking through. "You'd do that?"
Tara nodded, her voice filled with a quiet confidence she hadn't realized she had. "I would."
They walked in silence the rest of the way, yet Tara felt like she was floating. Every glance, every brush of Selena's fingers, seemed more meaningful now. The world around them had quieted, the night settling over them like a calm embrace. Above, the moon was round and bright, casting a soft, silvery glow over everything.
Tara looked up, silently wishing this night could last forever.
For just a little longer, she wanted to walk beside her like this. To linger in this moment, in the brief calm that had settled between them, as if this was the beginning of something fragile and beautiful, waiting to bloom.