The morning came with its peaceful start. Hyacinth sat in her living room, flipping through the pages of a magazine, and finding it hard to believe the events of the previous night. Lana had finally made her choice, standing up for what they both felt but had been afraid to admit. It felt surreal, like a hazy dream that left her mind wandering, but this time, it was real.
Just then, a message popped up on her phone… Speak of the devil.
"Hey! Can we meet at my place?"
A flash of excitement zapped through her, and within minutes, she was up and out the door, filled with anticipation. This was the start of something new, something they could explore together without fear. The feeling was exhilarating.
When she arrived at her apartment, Lana was already waiting, looking radiant in a simple dress that fell just right over her curves. They stared at each other for a heartbeat before Lana pulled her inside, wrapping her arms around her in an embrace that spoke volumes.
"It's just us now," she whispered, "No more hiding, no more pretending."
Hyacinth smiled, feeling as if the load she'd been carrying on her shoulders had finally been lifted.
"Finally," she breathed, brushing her lips against Lana's. The kiss deepened, slow and deliberate, each of them savoring the taste of freedom, of finally having what they both wanted.
They spent the day together, laughing, sharing stories, and filling the gaps between them with conversations and quiet moments of connection. Everything felt new but natural, as if they'd been destined to reach this point all along. Hours melted away, but they didn't care. Time belonged to them now.
By the time evening rolled around, they decided to celebrate their fresh start by heading out for a casual dinner, something they hadn't done without keeping glances and gestures subtle. Walking hand in hand, Hyacinth felt like the luckiest woman in the world. They were finally out in the open, able to share small gestures and laughter without fear.
At the restaurant, their laughter filled the room as they exchanged stories. They had just started digging into their dessert when Lana leaned closer wearing a playful glint in her eyes.
"What would you say if I told you I want to take a spontaneous trip with you next weekend? Just the two of us. Somewhere far away from everyone and everything."
Hyacinth's face lit up.
"I'd say yes before you even finished asking!"
"Perfect," she replied, grazing her hand on Hyacinth's as they shared an unspoken promise for the adventures yet to come.
But as they left the restaurant, their hands intertwined, Hyacinth noticed someone else watching them from across the room. She thought nothing of it, brushing it off as coincidence. But later, as they walked through the city streets, she noticed the same woman walking near the street corner, her piercing green eyes fixed on Lana. There was something unsettling about the way she looked on— an intensity that didn't seem like mere curiosity.
When they returned to Lana's place, she couldn't shake the feeling. But before she could bring it up, Lana pulled her close, distracting her with another kiss, and the world faded away.
***
Over the next few days, they spent almost every moment together, basking in their newfound life together. Each moment was perfect, and for the first time, Hyacinth felt like she finally got what she deserved.
But on a rainy Thursday afternoon, as they sat in Lana's living room, listening to the soft patter of rain against the window, there was a knock at the door. Lana raised an eyebrow, glancing toward her with mild confusion.
"I wasn't expecting anyone."
She opened the door, and there stood the same woman Hyacinth had seen at the restaurant— a tall, striking figure with flawless dark hair and striking green eyes. Her expression was hard to read, but her eyes were fixated on Lana.
"Kim?!" Lana said, sounding surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Kim smiled.
"I was just in town and thought I'd drop by. I didn't know you'd have company." Her eyes diverted to Hyacinth with a slight hint of amusement.
Hyacinth felt a strange sense of unease but forced a polite smile, extending her hand.
"Hi, I'm Hyacinth."
Kim took her hand, smiling sweetly.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim, an… old friend of Lana's."
The way she said "old friend" sent a chill through her. She glanced at Lana, noticing something—maybe guilt, maybe discomfort—pass across her face.
"Kim and I went to college together," Lana explained in a strained tone. "We haven't seen each other in years."
Kim chuckled.
"It's been far too long. Seems like we have a lot of catching up to do."
Lana nodded, forcing a smile.
"Maybe some other time. I'm a bit busy right now…"
"Of course," Kim said, keeping her eyes on Hyacinth. "It was just nice to finally meet you. Take care of her, won't you?" The words felt like a veiled challenge, and Hyacinth's stomach twisted.
Without another word, Kim turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Lana staring after her with an expression Hyacinth couldn't quite read. The moment the door closed, Lana seemed to shake off whatever spell Kim had cast, turning back to Hyacinth with a forced smile.
"Sorry about that. Kim can be… intense."
She nodded slowly, watching Lana's face.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly, brushing it off. "She's just… a bit unpredictable."
But the tension remained, and for the first time since they'd gotten together, Hyacinth felt a crack in the perfect bubble they'd created.
The next day, she noticed Lana was quieter than usual, distracted. Though she tried to brush it off, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kim's presence had stirred something in Lana… csomething that Lana didn't want to talk about.
Over the next few days, Lana's mood continued to shift. There were moments when they laughed and connected just like before, but then she would drift into silence. Her mind was distant, as if it were miles away. Hyacinth wanted to ask about Kim, but she held back, worried that questioning her would only push her further away.
But that Friday night, everything came to a head. They had planned to go out, but Lana canceled at the last minute saying she wasn't feeling well.
Feeling a bit restless, she decided to take a walk, hoping some fresh air would clear her head.
As she wandered through the city, she spotted Lana sitting on a bench near a quiet park. But she wasn't alone. Kim was there, standing close, her hand resting on Lana's arm as they spoke in hushed tones. The intensity in their expressions, the way Lana's shoulders were slumped, filled her with a pang of dread.
She watched from a distance, not wanting to intrude, but unable to look away. After a few moments, Kim leaned in, whispering something into Lana's ear that made her flinch. They exchanged a few more words, their faces unreadable, before Lana finally turned and walked away, leaving Kim standing there, watching her.
Hyacinth's mind raced with a panging betrayal as she stepped out of the corners, approaching Lana.
Lana froze in guilt when she saw her, and she turned pale.
"Hyacinth, I… I didn't expect to see you here," she stammered.
"Who is she to you?" Hyacinth asked.
She hesitated, darting her gaze to the ground.
"She was someone I once fell in love with. But that's in the past."
"Doesn't look like the past to me," she replied. The fear she had been pushing down finally broke through.
Lana's eyes filled with regret, but she didn't respond, leaving her question hanging in the air. The silence consumed them painfully.
"Hyacinth, please… let's talk about this later," she whispered, reaching for her hand. But Hyacinth pulled away, feeling the sting of betrayal.
"What's gonna happen to us, Lana?" she asked, feeling heartbroken.
Lana opened her mouth, but before she could answer, her phone rang. She looked down, her expression darkened as she saw Kim's name. Without a word, she turned away, leaving Hyacinth standing there alone, with her heart shattered.
As she disappeared into the night, Hyacinth realized that whatever she'd thought they had—whatever they'd built—was on the verge of dying before it even lived. And as she walked home, the memory of Lana's smile flashed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the cracks forming in her once-perfect love story.
This was only the beginning of the drama, she knew it. And something told her that Kim's presence wasn't just a coincidence.
It was a ticking time bomb, ready to blow everything apart.