Time trickled by, each second suspended in the golden afternoon light as Tara nervously watched Selena's face. Her profile was striking against the sunlight, sharp along her jawline, yet her eyes remained hidden beneath loose strands of hair, leaving her expression unreadable.
Tara hesitated, unsure how to respond.
She knew one thing, though: she wasn't ready to leave Selena. Gritting her teeth, she clutched her cold hands tightly in her lap, gathering enough courage to say something—anything. But before she could, Selena let out a soft, humorless laugh and spoke first. "I'm sorry, Tara. It's just been a rough day. I shouldn't have asked such a strange question." She paused, then added lightly, "What I meant to ask is, am I your best friend?"
Her question veiled something deeper, but Tara wasn't relieved. Her chest tightened, the ache spreading, wrapping around her heart in a way that made her press her hand to her chest. She wished she'd had the courage to speak the truth, but some small part of her was grateful that she hadn't—yet. Selena's feelings, after all, were still unclear. She even had a boyfriend.
The surge of emotions settled as Tara composed herself. She gave Selena a gentle smile, the kind she knew Selena liked best. "I don't have many friends, so out of the few close ones I have, you're the most important to me. So, if you ever need help, you can come to me. I'd love to help if I can."
Tara had overheard enough of Selena's argument with her mother to understand some of the painful memories involved, but she wasn't going to bring it up unprompted.
Selena's hands tightened briefly around the steering wheel, her jaw set. She was fairly certain Tara had heard more than she'd intended. After a long pause, she replied, "No, I can handle it myself."
Tara deserved more than the burden of Selena's past. She was bright, carefree—qualities Selena didn't want to taint. With each word, Selena's voice grew softer, hinting at an emotional distance Tara couldn't cross. She nodded in understanding, though it stung.
When they returned to the office, Selena's room was spotless, cleared of every last remnant of the earlier chaos. Every item, including shards of broken glass, had been painstakingly picked up. In the center of her desk sat the shattered remains of a framed butterfly, its brilliant blue wings slashed by jagged bits of glass.
Tara, walking in after her, seemed unsurprised, as though she knew exactly who had taken it upon themselves to restore order.
When Selena raised an eyebrow in question, Tara explained, "Probably Jasmine had someone come in to clean it up."
Selena's skepticism was evident. "Jasmine? Really?"
Tara gave her a slight smile, her voice calm and quiet. "Yes, I think so. She even stood up for you against… your visitor. Maybe she realizes you've given her more leeway than she deserves."
Selena gave a reluctant nod. "You're probably right. How's your head? If you're still feeling dizzy, you should rest. No need to worry about work right now. I can take care of the dinner meeting with Li."
Selena had been struggling to come up with a way to tell Tara she wanted her to stay behind. This unfortunate incident now provided the perfect excuse.
Tara's face fell slightly before she quickly looked away. "All right, thank you, Selena."
Turning to go, she suddenly felt Selena's warm hand tugging gently on her arm. She turned back, startled as Selena drew a step closer. Tara's sneakers brushed against the pointed toe of Selena's heels, and before she could react, Selena reached out, wrapping her arms around her, resting her chin on Tara's shoulder.
"I don't like when you call me 'boss,'" she murmured softly. "I want you to call me… sister. It makes me happy when you call me that."
The affectionate tone melted Tara's heart, and the emotional walls she'd so carefully built came crashing down. She felt herself smiling as she replied, "All right, sister."
After work, Tara was surprised when Selena was ready to leave without staying late. "Come on," Selena said, waiting at the entrance. "Let's go home."
The word home slipped from Selena's lips so naturally that Tara's heart leaped. Was Selena offering this as a gesture of comfort?
On the way back, Tara tried to arrange a weekend shopping trip with Lena, but Lena texted back that she had a dinner commitment. Tara sighed, resigning herself to a lazy day alone at the apartment.
Their apartment complex didn't have underground parking, only a shared open lot. After maneuvering through several parked mopeds and finding a spot, they started walking to their building when a familiar figure appeared in the dim light of the entrance.
It was Selena's mother.
She turned at the sound of their steps, her eyes lighting up. She hurried over to Tara, latching onto her arm, her face a picture of forced concern. "Oh, honey," she cooed, putting on a cloying smile. "I'm so sorry—I didn't mean to hurt you earlier. Are you feeling okay?"
Selena's expression darkened as she watched her mother's performance. She knew all too well the schemes that lay hidden behind her mother's feigned sympathy. She cast a pointed glance at Tara, who took the hint and said, "I'll head up first. Take your time."
Tara ascended the stairs slowly, her ears attuned to every word as Selena and her mother's conversation floated up the narrow stairwell.
"What are you doing here?" Selena demanded.
"A nice young man named Ken told me where to find you," her mother replied, oblivious to her daughter's mounting anger. "Such a good match for you too—a local boy, already has a house and everything. And, he promised a hundred thousand for the dowry!"
Tara froze as the words registered. Her mind reeled, her heart ached as she realized Selena's mother was pushing her toward marriage with Ken, and it all made her feel foolish. Desperate to escape, she fled up to her room and buried herself in her bed. Her chest throbbed painfully as her eyes filled with tears, soaking her pillow as her mind cycled through hurt and betrayal.
When her tears finally slowed, Tara lay there, exhausted, wondering why Selena had refused her offer to help. She clutched the corner of the blanket, her teeth gritted to keep from making a sound, though she couldn't stop the occasional whimper.
In her frustration, she slapped herself on the cheek, feeling the sting burn and swell. She despised Ken now with a ferocity she hadn't felt before, and somehow, she even resented Selena for not seeing through him, for deceiving her in ways that felt deeply personal.
Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she slipped into a fitful sleep.
Hours later, Selena returned, having dropped her mother at a nearby motel after another painful argument. Her ankle ached from a minor twist, and her mood was darker than ever. Her hard-won progress with Tara seemed to have shattered in an instant. Her mother, in her greed, had torn down everything Selena had fought to build, even offering her to Ken like a pawn in exchange for money.
Selena had even made the mistake of calling Ken back. The arrogant tone in his voice was sickening, taunting her as though he was savoring her defeat.
"Don't think you've won," she'd said icily. "I'll pay back the hundred thousand, one way or another. But don't expect a wedding. I'll see you in court first."
He'd only laughed. "Oh, sweetheart, that hundred thousand is gone. It's already in your mom's hands. You'll have to work extra hard to get it back, or just do the smart thing and marry me."
"Never," she spat. "Your voice alone makes me sick."
"Maybe," he sneered, "but that girl you like—Tara, was it? She'll never be able to give you what I can."
Ken's smugness was revolting, and the mere mention of Tara brought Selena's focus sharply back. She wouldn't let someone like Ken pull Tara into his toxic world. Keeping her tone composed, she replied, "Meet me at the café tomorrow, and we'll settle this once and for all."
Back at the apartment, the lights were dim. The silence hung thick in the air.
"Hey, Tara?" she called softly, but there was no answer.
Peering into Tara's room, she found her fast asleep on her bed, curled up tightly, though she hadn't even pulled a blanket over herself. The room felt freezing. Selena tiptoed over, gently draping a blanket around her shoulders, only to notice the tear-stained pillow beneath her.
Selena froze, her heart sinking. As she leaned closer, Tara suddenly grabbed her wrist in a feverish grip, pulling her down onto the bed. Caught off balance, Selena found herself lying beside Tara, forehead pressed close enough to feel the heat radiating from her.
Tara had a fever.
Selena reached out to check her temperature, but Tara stirred, her hand slipping around Selena's waist. Trapped in a loose but insistent embrace, Selena could only stay there, feeling the heat of Tara's breath against her cheek. Tara's other hand pressed gently to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, her voice barely a whisper:
"Please… don't leave me, sister."
The words were a soft, broken plea, carrying the heartache of someone who had already lost too much.