Previously :
"I don't know. We don't talk anymore. Maybe she doesn't even care how I'm doing." Bella said it casually, but there was something in her voice that didn't match the words.
Ellie didn't push. She just listened. Quietly.
And then Bella suddenly changed the subject, as if she realized she wasn't ready to talk about her family just yet. She tried to lighten the mood, hoping to clear the awkward air between her and Ellie.
"Ellie… can I ask you something?" Bella asked, a little hesitant.
"Sure, go ahead. What do you want to know?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?" she asked, almost without thinking.
Bella wasn't even sure why she asked that. It was a random question, but maybe deep down, she was just curious about Ellie—more than she wanted to admit.
Ellie raised an eyebrow and smiled playfully. "That's such a random question. Why are you suddenly asking me that?"
Bella crossed her arms. "Hmm, maybe because I always see you at home, bothering me and teasing me. Just wondering if you ever go out and date someone."
Ellie grinned. "Well, I could say the same about you. I always see you at home too."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Fine. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Her tone was a little colder this time.
Ellie noticed the slight shift in Bella's expression—she looked a bit upset. So Ellie answered quickly, trying to ease the tension.
"Haha, no, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm not really thinking about that right now. My life's kind of a mess, honestly. Too much going on in my head."
"Oh… I see," Bella said quietly.
Ellie looked at her with a sly smile. "Your turn. What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Nope. I'm not interested in having one," Bella replied without hesitation.
"What do you mean, 'not interested'? So… you prefer a girlfriend?" Ellie teased, trying to make a joke out of it.
Bella froze. For a second, her mind went blank.
"Why did that question hit so hard? It was just a joke… wasn't it?"
Bella suddenly went silent. Her eyes dropped, and without saying anything else, she stood up.
"I need to take a shower. You should get ready for work," she said flatly, then walked away.
Ellie blinked, a little stunned.
"Huh?" she muttered to herself.
She sat there for a few seconds, staring at the spot where Bella had just been.
"What just happened?"
Everything had been going fine—playful, light. And then… that question. Did she cross a line?
"Was it the joke?" Ellie frowned. Maybe I went too far.
She leaned back on her chair and exhaled slowly, guilt starting to creep in.
"Shit… did I make her upset?" she whispered, feeling uneasy.
It wasn't like Bella to react that way, and Ellie could tell it wasn't just about the joke. There was something deeper going on, something she didn't quite understand yet.
"Maybe I should ease up a bit. Talk to her properly later."
She got up and headed to her room to get ready for work, but her mind was still on Bella.
"I'll make it up to her somehow…"
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, warm water poured down Bella's head and shoulders like rain, soaking her body and washing away the tension—but not the thoughts spinning in her mind.
She leaned against the wall, eyes closed, her breath slow and heavy.
"Why did I react like that?"
A wave of guilt crept in. She knew Ellie didn't mean any harm. She was just joking, just being her usual playful self. She didn't deserve that cold reaction from Bella.
Bella knew it. And she hated that she'd acted that way.
But still… that joke hit her hard.
Maybe because it was too close to the truth.
Bella was scared. Scared of what might happen if Ellie ever found out—if she knew Bella was only attracted to women.
She wasn't ready for that.
Bella had only just started getting close to her. And now she might've just messed it all up because she couldn't handle one simple joke.
She couldn't imagine the look on Ellie's face if she ever found out. What if she changed? What if she pulled away? What if she looked at Bella with disgust?
That thought alone made her stomach twist.
And now… what if Ellie was mad at her?
Bella's chest tightened at the thought. She hadn't meant to hurt her, but she might have. What if she thinks I'm just being moody or cold for no reason? What if this ruins everything between them?
"I acted like a jerk…"
She sighed and tilted her head up, letting the water hit her face.
"How am I supposed to talk to her now? How do I fix this without making it even more awkward?"
Bella finally stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair clinging to her neck. Her face was still a little flushed, not just from the heat of the shower, but from everything spinning in her head. She quietly walked toward the living room, hoping to run into Ellie—maybe to say something, or at least give her a small smile.
But the room was empty.
She glanced at the kitchen. The stove was off. The dishes were clean.
She's gone…
Bella's eyes shifted to the clock on the wall. Right, she said she had work.
Somehow, knowing Ellie had already left made the guilt hit harder. She didn't even say goodbye.
Bella sighed and sat on the couch, staring at the quiet space around her.
"Now what? How do I face her later? Will she pretend like nothing happened… or worse—ignore me?"
The door opened, and Ellie walked in. She looked tired, holding a plastic bag with dinner inside. She took off her shoes and sighed.
Bella sat on the couch, pretending to read a book. But really, she had been waiting, watching the door every few minutes. When Ellie came in, Bella sat up a little but didn't look at her.
"I brought food," Ellie said softly.
Bella nodded. "Thanks."
Ellie put the bag on the table. It was quiet for a moment—just the sound of plastic and their breathing. Both wanted to say something, but neither knew how to start.
Bella thought about saying sorry, but the words felt stuck.
"Why is it so hard just to say it?"
Otherwise Ellie kept thinking about Bella.
About earlier. About that weird moment between them.
"Was she mad? Did I say too much? Was my joke too much?"
Ellie wasn't sure why she cared this much. But she did.
They sat down on the floor and started eating together in silence. Their hands almost touched a few times, but one of them would pull back quickly.
"Hey… about earlier," Ellie said, her voice a little unsteady. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I was just joking around, but maybe I went too far."
Bella looked down, not saying anything.
Ellie gave a small, careful smile. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Bella finally looked up and met her eyes. She shook her head. "I'm not upset."
A short pause.
"Maybe I did overreact," Bella added quietly. "I just… didn't know how to respond."
Ellie nodded slowly. "It's okay. I get it."
And then—click—everything went dark.
Bella gasped, startled. "What happened?"
"Power's out, I guess," Ellie muttered, already standing up.
Bella fumbled for her phone, but it was just her old Nokia. No flashlight. She let out a breath. "Ugh. Of course."
"Stay here. I'll find a candle," Ellie said, moving toward the kitchen.
Bella hesitated. "Wait—are you leaving me here alone? In the dark?"
Ellie laughed softly. "Just for a second. Don't worry, I got you."
Bella sat still, trying to calm her heartbeat as she listened to Ellie shuffling around. She heard drawers opening, something clatter to the floor, then Ellie cursing under her breath. Finally, the scratch of a match.
A soft glow filled the room as Ellie came back holding a small candle. She placed it on the table between them.
"There we go."
The warm flickering light made everything look softer, like time had slowed down a little. The silence returned, but it felt different now. Closer.
Bella glanced at Ellie. At the same moment, Ellie looked at her. Their eyes met—just for a second—then they both quickly looked away.
"You okay?" Ellie asked gently. "Are you… scared of the dark?"
Bella hesitated, then gave the smallest nod. "Maybe a little."
Without thinking too much, Ellie reached out and took Bella's hand.
Bella blinked, surprised. Her heart gave a small, nervous jump. She didn't pull away.
Before she could say anything, the candle flickered—then suddenly went out.
Total darkness.
They both leaned forward at the same time—bump!
Their heads bumped. Their lips brushed.
A tiny gasp. Then silence.
They froze.
Breathing.
Too close.
Then, quickly, they pulled back.
"S-sorry!" Bella said, her voice shaky.
"No, no—it's fine," Ellie replied, rubbing the back of her neck. "Totally an accident."
They both laughed, awkward and nervous.
Ellie grinned. "I guess… we're even now?"
Bella blinked. "Even?"
"For today," Ellie said with a smile. "We both kinda messed up."