Twisted Fate | rupha

Chapter 3: Awkward Encounters

As Minji's departure loomed, an uncomfortable tension filled the apartment, weighing heavily on Ruka's shoulders. Memories of her past with Rita, added an extra layer of complexity to the situation.

As Minji packed, Ruka stole glances at Rita, feeling the weight of their shared history pressing down on them like an invisible barrier. Rita, too, seemed uneasy; her cheerful demeanor strained as she tried to play the role of supportive girlfriend.

"I'll only be gone for a few days, but I'll be back before you guys know it," Minji said, oblivious to the awkward dynamic lingering in the air.

Ruka nodded, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Yeah, of course," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

With Minji's departure, the apartment felt suffocatingly quiet. Ruka and Rita stood in awkward silence, each acutely aware of the elephant in the room-their shared past that Minji was oblivious to.

"So, uh, what do you want to do?" Ruka finally broke the silence, her voice betraying her discomfort.

Rita shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering between Ruka and the floor. "I don't know, whatever you want," she replied, her voice strained.

Ruka hesitated, unsure how to navigate the delicate dance between their past and Minji's presence. "How about we just... watch a movie or something?" she suggested, the words feeling awkward on her tongue.

Rita nodded, though her enthusiasm seemed forced. "Sure, yeah, that sounds good," she mumbled, avoiding Ruka's gaze.

As the movie played in the background, Ruka couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered between her and Rita. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, she cleared her throat nervously.

"Rita, can we talk?" Ruka asked, her voice barely audible over the sound of the movie.

Rita glanced at her, her expression guarded but curious. "About what?" she replied cautiously.

Ruka took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "About us... about our past," she said, her words heavy with emotion.

Rita's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she composed herself. "What about it?" she asked, her tone neutral.

"We can't keep pretending like it never happened," Ruka said, her voice tinged with frustration. "Not with the way things are between us."

Rita nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I know," she admitted quietly. "I've been thinking about it too."

Ruka's frustration simmered as she locked eyes with Rita, her resolve hardening. "And let's not forget, we didn't break up," she reminded Rita, her tone firm yet tinged with vulnerability.

Rita's gaze softened, regret shadowing her expression. "I'm sorry, Ruka," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. "I should have never left without a word. It wasn't fair to you, and I regret hurting you like that."

There was a moment of tense silence as they both processed the weight of their shared history and the implications it held for their present.

"What do we do now?" Ruka asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Rita reached out, taking Ruka's hand in hers. The gesture was tentative but comforting. "I think... we need to talk to Minji when she gets back," she said softly. "She deserves to know the truth."

Ruka nodded, a sense of relief washing over her at the prospect of finally confronting the truth. "Yeah, you're right," she agreed. "But until then, we'll just have to figure out how to navigate this awkwardness."

Rita smiled faintly, a glimmer of warmth returning to her eyes. "We'll figure it out," she said, her voice tinged with determination. "Together."

And as they turned their attention back to the movie, a sense of solidarity settled between them, a silent promise to confront the truth and navigate the complexities of their past together, no matter what the future held.

Ruka and Rita decided to make popcorn before continuing their movie marathon. They headed to the kitchen, chatting awkwardly but more civilly than earlier. As the popcorn began to pop, the delicious aroma filled the room, making them even more eager to get back to their cozy spot on the couch. Once the popcorn was ready, they poured it into a large bowl and hurried back to the living room, ready for the next film in their marathon.

Ruka reached for the popcorn bowl, only to accidentally spill its contents all over Rita's lap. Cue a flurry of apologies and awkward attempts to clean up the mess, with Rita trying to suppress her laughter as popcorn kernels bounced across the floor.

Ruka glanced at Rita sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I guess I got a bit too excited for movie snacks."

Rita chuckled, trying to brush off the mess. "No worries, it's just... popcorn, right? At least it's not hot sauce or something."

Ruka laughed nervously. "Yeah, imagine that! We'd need a fire extinguisher instead of a vacuum."

Their attempts to lighten the mood only seemed to heighten the awkwardness, with each joke falling flat.

Suddenly, Rita's phone chimed in with a notification, breaking the tense silence. She glanced at the screen, then back at Ruka with a bemused expression. "Minji just texted. She wants to know if we're surviving without her."

Ruka forced a smile, though her discomfort was palpable. "Tell her we're managing... barely."

Rita nodded, fingers flying across her phone screen. "Done. But maybe we should send her a selfie as proof, you know, to reassure her."

The thought of posing for a selfie together sent a fresh wave of awkwardness washing over Ruka. "Uh, yeah, sure. Why not? Just ignore the popcorn disaster in the background."

They attempted to arrange themselves for the photo, but their efforts only resulted in a series of comically awkward poses and angles, each one more ridiculous than the last.

After several failed attempts, they finally managed to capture a semi-decent selfie, albeit with strained smiles and popcorn kernels still scattered across the floor in the background.

Rita chuckled as she sent the photo to Minji. "Well, that should reassure her, or give her a good laugh."

Ruka couldn't help but join in the laughter, the tension easing ever so slightly as they shared a moment of genuine amusement amidst the awkwardness. Perhaps, in their own clumsy way, they were starting to find their footing in this new chapter of their relationship, one awkward selfie at a time.

But they couldn't shake the knowledge that Minji remained unaware of their past. The thought hung over them like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over even the simplest interactions and adding an extra layer of complexity to their already delicate situation.