In the summer of 2016, during her final year of high school, Tara chose to stay in the dorms to save commuting time.
The school offered dorms with two, four, and six beds per room. Mrs. Tan, wary of her daughter being out of her sight during this critical time, selected a double room and arranged for Tara's new roommate to be her friend's daughter, Shana Lin.
Shana was lively and warm. Even Tara, who was initially reserved, found herself drawn in by Shana's energy, and before long, Shana's invitations to meals and study sessions turned them into genuine friends.
At that time, Tara was seen as someone who was solely dedicated to her studies, showing no interest in relationships or romance of any kind. Shana, however, came from an open-minded family. Her first crush was a girl, and she didn't think it strange.
One evening, when the dorm supervisor announced a surprise bed check, Tara switched on her phone's flashlight and went to search for Shana, finding her on the rooftop, locked in a kiss with another girl.
The sound of Tara's phone slipping from her hands startled them, and the two girls quickly pulled apart. Shana maintained her composure, sending her girlfriend off before calmly heading back to the dorm with Tara.
On the way, Shana begged Tara to keep quiet, explaining that she feared her parents finding out. They were liberal in some ways, but her grades were important to them. Her last test had already disappointed them, and the news of a relationship would only make things worse.
Tara shook her head quietly. She wasn't shocked by the kiss itself, but rather by discovering that someone she knew shared the same orientation as her.
To reassure Shana, and perhaps because it was the first time she'd found someone who could understand, Tara disclosed her own secret, something she had never told anyone before.
For a few days, it seemed as though the secret would be safe. Then, Shana's parents arrived at the school. Shana and Tara were called back to the dorm after evening study. Her mother pulled a grainy photograph from her purse, slamming it onto the table in front of Shana. "Is this you?"
The photo was blurry, but Tara recognized Shana's girlfriend perched by the window, with the second girl, her back turned, indistinguishable. Since the only person Shana had seen that night was Tara, who'd also had her phone out, she jumped to conclusions. Frustrated and panicked, she insisted, "It's not me. It's Tara!"
Tara, who had been quietly working on her homework, paused, keeping silent.
Shana's mother gripped Shana's shoulders, "Are you sure? Will you betray a friend just to protect yourself?"
But Shana was convinced Tara had taken the photo and sent it to her parents, so she held her ground and accused Tara, suggesting they call her girlfriend to confront Tara directly.
The girl played along, understanding Shana's hint, and claimed that it was indeed Tara she was dating.
Before Tara could even open her mouth to defend herself, Mrs. Tan's slap echoed through the room, her palm connecting with enough force to leave Tara's cheek red and stinging, her head swimming from the impact.
The slap left everyone stunned. Mrs. Tan said nothing more, only yanking Tara to her feet with a cold, "We're going home."
Once home, Tara had barely begun to speak when her mother's high-heeled shoe struck her ankle. The pain was sharp, but what hurt more was her mother's complete refusal to hear her out.
She couldn't remember the exact details of that night. She only recalled the ceaseless torrent of insults that poured out, branding her a "disgrace" to the family. The housekeeper tried to intervene, but Mrs. Tan took a pot of boiling water and threw it at Tara, the heat scalding her arm and neck until the world went black.
When she woke up in the hospital, the truth had finally come out. Shana admitted it was her in the picture. Her parents dragged her to Tara's hospital room to apologize. But Tara's situation didn't improve. Her mother never apologized, never even looked her in the eye. Instead, she strictly warned Tara not to do anything "abnormal" like Shana.
After the incident, Tara was left friendless. No one believed she hadn't been the one to reveal Shana's secret. Labeled a traitor, she was shunned by her classmates.
Sitting in the small garden now, Tara felt the weight of that memory like a fresh wound. Her fingers brushed her thigh where a scar, shaped like a centipede, still twisted across her skin.
"Does it matter if I tell the truth, Mom? You already have your own standards, your own convictions. The truth doesn't change anything."
Tara's words, cold and sharp as a winter wind, struck Mrs. Tan deep in her chest. Her mother clutched her heart, trying to calm herself, her voice pleading, "This time, I promise I'll believe you."
"Fine." Tara clapped her hands, her gaze taunting. "I'll tell you the truth."
Her words caused Mrs. Tan to grip her knees, her palms beginning to sweat.
Tara's gaze drifted to the corner of the garden, where pale pink plum blossoms trembled in the chill air. Her voice, soft but steady, cut through the silence. "Selena and I are dating. That's the truth."
The smile froze on her mother's face. Tara waited, curious to see what her mother's reaction would be.
Would it be the same rage, the screaming, the slaps?
To her surprise, her mother clutched Tara's hand, her lips trembling, eyes wide with unshed tears. "Tara… you're saying this to hurt me, aren't you?"
Whatever patience Tara had left evaporated. Rising from her seat, she freed herself from her mother's grasp, the long nails scratching her skin as she pulled away. She didn't care. Wiping the blood from her arm, she spoke coolly.
"Yes. I lied."
Mrs. Tan watched her daughter's retreating figure, twisting her handkerchief in her hands as she replayed every moment between Tara and Selena. But as she reviewed the evidence, she found no proof—just two close friends.
She assured herself that Tara had only been trying to get under her skin, feeling a wave of relief as the doubts settled.
It was her imagination.
But it was time to push forward with an engagement. A connection with Thomas's family would be ideal. Her decision made, she noted the date. Tara's birthday seemed a fitting day for an introduction.
Selena came downstairs to find Tara, her face shadowed with anger, sitting in the living room. Several long, bloody scratches trailed down her forearm. Blood trickled from the deeper cuts, leaving red spots on the floor, but Tara appeared completely oblivious to the pain.
Selena's brow furrowed, quickening her pace.
Tara took a sip of tea as she saw Selena approach and smiled, "Sister."
Had it not been for the lingering hostility in her eyes, Selena might have believed she was in a good mood.
She sat beside Tara, reaching to take Tara's arm, only to pause, unsure where to start. Blood lined Tara's arm from her elbow to her wrist, but Selena didn't want to hurt her further, so she let go.
"What happened?" she asked, nodding at Tara's arm.
Tara gave a casual smile, "I tried to pick a rose, but I got scratched."
Selena raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? It looks like you were clawed by a person, not a rose."
"It's true. Who else here would scratch me like that?"
"Then where's the rose?"
"Didn't pick it," Tara said slowly, a faint smirk on her lips. "No matter how hard I tried, it seemed the rose didn't want to go with me. So, I decided not to force it. But otherwise, I would've given it to you."
Selena shook her head, her tone affectionate and exasperated, "Acting like a child, even now. Wait here; I'll get the medicine from upstairs."
Tara chuckled, "I knew you'd take care of me."
Once Selena had disappeared, Mrs. Tan reentered the room, looking around. "Selena? Didn't I see her just a moment ago?"
Tara fiddled with the loose cuff of her sleeve, finally giving up on fastening the button. She answered absently, "She went to get some ointment for my arm."
Mrs. Tan's eyes finally fell on Tara's arm, and she froze, startled by the sight. She hadn't realized she'd scratched her daughter so deeply.
Once again, an awkward silence filled the room. Mrs. Tan reached out, giving Tara's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Does it hurt, honey?"
Tara rubbed her temples, too drained to respond with anything more than a dismissive, "I'm fine, Mom. You should go. I'll be alright."
Mrs. Tan looked as though she wanted to say more but instead walked away, heading to her flower-arranging room.
Selena returned, lifting Tara's arm, "Stay still."
Tara winced theatrically.
Selena glanced up, "I haven't even started."
As she dabbed the wounds with iodine, her touch was gentle, yet each stroke conveyed her concern and affection.
"Selena," Tara murmured after a moment, "My internship is ending soon."
"Mm-hmm," Selena replied, concentrating on her work.
"Selena…"
Selena glanced over, finally meeting her gaze. "Yes?"
"When my internship ends, I won't be staying at the company. Tell Li to start searching for my replacement."
"What?"
Selena's hand slipped, spilling iodine across the white marble, staining it a harsh, stinging shade of brown.
She stopped, looking at Tara. "Are you serious?"