Taeho:

  Who the fuck is this ex of hers? And what could have made him treat this woman the way he did? Given the chance, I’d give him a piece of my mind… or my fist.

  The sudden rage that boils within me takes me by surprise. The woman next to me is a virtual stranger so why should I care? It might stem from own code of ethics and seeing someone who appears to be a gentle soul being treated in that way. But Anya seems to have gone through something truly traumatizing and I’m wondering if what she said is resonating with what’s going on between me and Eliza. We’ve been together ten whole years, so why am I only realizing something’s wrong now?

  I hate being so confused, but I’m reminded I’m not the only one suffering when I hear Anya sniffle. I instinctively hug her tighter. All I want to do is console her. And that’s another complication. I haven’t worked out why I’m like this around her. Why do I feel this need to protect her? We’ve only known each other for a few days, after all. Whatever the reason, I can’t help it. It’s like everything rational about me has succumbed to my emotions. I don’t know if it stems from my own vulnerability—my own need to take comfort from someone. But that someone shouldn’t be Anya. It shouldn’t be anyone else but Eliza.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  I breath in Anya’s sweet smell as she sinks further into my arms. She seems unfazed by how physically close we are sitting here. This shouldn’t feel so… right. It’s like she’s filling a need I didn’t realize I had until now. I’ve never shared this natural connection with Eliza. And now she’s doing nothing other than push me further away. This feeling between me and Anya ... this is new, like uncharted waters.

  Backing off right now would be the appropriate thing to do. Our hug has gone beyond a simple kind gesture and has become something more intimate. Before I have the chance to pull away, a familiar voice breaks into mine and Anya’s shared moment. And it sends a chill down my spine.

  “Taeho?”

  ?Sky Mincharo

  here.