Selena felt the warm breath against her ear, sending a surprising heat to her cheeks. Her gaze drifted downward, falling on the smooth skin near Tara's waist.
In the soft sunlight, the fine lines of Tara's toned abs were accentuated. Before Selena had fully prepared herself, Tara's hand was guiding her own lower, until her palm pressed against the warmth of Tara's skin. Selena's heartbeat quickened. Tara held her hand in place and leaned closer, whispering, "What do you think, hmm? How's the view?"
The playful question, surprisingly alluring from Tara, brought a grin to Selena's lips. She brushed her fingers gently over the firm muscle, taking a quick, teasing glance up. With a mischievous smile, she leaned in close and whispered, "Not bad. Keep it up."
Tara, captivated by Selena's face and the gleam in her eyes, felt a flicker of something rebellious in her heart. The thought crossed her mind: she could kiss her, right here, right now.
But then, there was a sudden knock at the door. The noise broke her trance, and reality hit Tara like cold water. How had she allowed herself to even think of kissing Selena? Could it be that she'd…fallen for her?
The thought shook her.
Alongside the shock came a pang of guilt, one that mixed with other feelings she couldn't quite untangle. She finally landed on a safer thought: Maybe I just don't have much resistance to beautiful women. This seemed like an explanation she could accept.
By the time Tara's thoughts had settled, Selena had already returned with a takeout bag, the room filling with the delicious smell of their favorite dishes. With a soft smile, Selena nodded toward the table. "What were you daydreaming about over here? Come on, lunch is served! I remembered how much you enjoyed this place, so I thought it'd be perfect for celebrating my grand discharge from the hospital."
Tara blinked, snapping back to reality and trying to smile as naturally as she could. She quickly joined Selena, helping to set the table. Selena, busy unpacking the food, didn't notice Tara's cheeks tinged pink as she silently took a few deep breaths. After settling herself, Tara brought over the silverware, handing Selena a set.
Selena noticed something was off, a tension in Tara that hadn't been there earlier. She frowned slightly, her gaze sharpening. "Is something wrong?"
Tara's chopsticks stilled in midair, her eyes flickering for a moment. Selena's piercing gaze was hard to escape. She managed to force a casual smile, hoping it looked normal. "No, nothing! Actually, since we're both free today, how about we watch a movie after lunch?"
Selena's stare lingered, searching for a hint of truth. But the question fell away as she focused on picking out a movie later, missing the quick dimming of Tara's gaze.
With the unsettling realization that she might feel more than admiration toward Selena, Tara's appetite waned, and she pushed her food around her plate absently. When Selena finished eating, she excused herself to the other room to find a movie for them.
Eventually, she chose Narcissus in Bloom, a film she had always wanted to watch but had never found the right moment.
After lunch, the midday sunlight began to mellow. It spilled gently through the windows, casting warm shades across the room. Selena set the mood by lighting her favorite candles, their fragrance drifting lazily through the room. When Tara had finished clearing the table and returned, she found Selena in a flowing dress of deep blue, its delicate layers and rich fabric cascading down her frame. The back was open, showing a delicate expanse of pale skin, and as Selena spun gracefully, she looked like a blue butterfly flitting through a field of flowers.
Tara felt the careful touch Selena had put into creating the ambiance, a subtle elegance filling the room.
Once the movie started, however, Tara immediately noticed something unexpected.
It was a film about two young women. Rather than a lighthearted friendship, the story wove in a more complicated, barely concealed tension. Every glance, every exchange between the two characters suggested Mary's complex, almost secret affection for Florence. The subtleties of their relationship—the unspoken words, the shared moments—were laced with a yearning that Tara couldn't ignore.
Out of the corner of her eye, Tara caught Selena's gaze, soft and thoughtful.
When their hands touched briefly, Tara's heart jolted, and she pulled away sharply. "Selena, what are you doing?"
Selena's brows knitted, her confusion almost palpable. She had sensed the tension, but this was different. Realization slowly dawned: Tara hadn't called her "sister" once. A gentle sigh escaped her, and she held her hands tight in her lap. Trying to remain calm, she asked quietly, "Do you think Mary has feelings for Florence?"
Tara's heart raced, but she was ready. Forcing herself to breathe evenly, she responded in a steady voice, "No, I think Mary simply admires Florence… she wants to be like her."
Selena lowered her eyes, her expression guarded.
She turned her attention back to the screen, but she wasn't watching the film anymore. Florence's lips hovered close to Mary's, waiting, hoping Mary might have the courage to take a single step forward. Just one step, and Florence would meet her the rest of the way, leaving everything behind if she had to.
At that moment, Tara's phone rang, breaking the heavy silence. She glanced at the screen, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. Turning away, she murmured, "Selena, that's my friend—I'm really sorry, but I have to go pick her up."
Selena clenched her hands tighter, feeling a pang in her chest. She wanted to ask Tara to stay, to spend just a few more minutes together. But she knew she had no right to make that request. She could have mentioned her injury, perhaps, as a reason for Tara to stay, but that felt selfish. She didn't want Tara to feel any sort of resentment.
Putting on a smile, Selena replied softly, "Of course, go ahead. I'm not a child. I'll be just fine here on my own."
"Then… I'll see you later, Selena."
With a slight, hesitant wave, Tara left. As the door closed, Selena's hand fell limply to her side, her heart sinking as the room seemed to grow colder, emptier. She was alone in the dim light, only the faint smell of the scented candles filling the void.
Selena picked up her phone, dialing a friend's number. The line rang on and on, but there was no answer.
Letting out a long breath, she dropped her phone on the sofa. She turned her face into the cushions, not caring that her new phone had clattered to the floor. For the first time, it felt as though the entire world had turned its back on her.
She had lived her life alone, proud and unflinching. And now, because of Tara, she understood what loneliness truly felt like.
When Tara arrived at the airport, her friend Lena was already there, waiting patiently at the curb.
"Lena! I'm so sorry, traffic was crazy," Tara said, taking Lena's suitcase from her.
Dressed in a warm brown coat and with short hair tucked behind her ears, Lena looked sharp as always. She let Tara take the suitcase with ease; as Tara's childhood friend—and the only person who knew Tara's secret—it was a natural familiarity.
In the car, Lena glanced at Tara's dark circles, clucking her tongue as she shook her head. "Look at you! It's insane that you're out here trying to make it on your own. You're worn out already! Where's all the money you were supposed to be making, huh?" She gave Tara's shoulder a squeeze, giving her an appraising look. "Too thin, too tired."
Seeing Tara's troubled expression, however, she softened a bit. "Alright, alright. But seriously, what's up? Why did you call me out here in such a hurry? Is someone at work giving you trouble?"
Lena straightened up, eyes sharp. "Tell me. If you don't want your family to know, I'll handle it myself!"
Tara pushed Lena back into her seat, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "No, nothing like that… It's just… I think I may have feelings for someone."
A moment passed in silence before Lena's exclamation of surprise filled the car.