Eclipse

Chapter 19

★Massimo★

Her eyes bore into me, anger tainting Rya's face. Or at least, what might be mistrust. I can't help but feel awkward as she sips her tea loudly, eyeing me as she does so.

I glance to my side, Aruna sitting with her back straight and her hands in her lap. She looks at me awkwardly. I took in a deep breath and held it as I looked back at Rya, my fingers fidgeting with the cup she gave me. "This tea is exquisite," I began, trying desperately to deter her gaze, but to no avail, she only watches me.

Finally, she sets her tea down, adjusting her stance before clasping her hands together, her lips pursed into a tight line. "What plans do you have with my sister, Massimo?" She says my name with venom.

I smile awkwardly, my hand reaching up for the back of my neck. "Um, Ma'am, I don't know if you're aware, but I'm not romantically interested in women." My eyes dart to anything in the room other than her icy gaze.

She gives me barely a second to get the words out, though, before she's striking back with a reply. "So, you're sexually attracted to her?" Her scowl turns deeper, flames burning beyond her eyes.

My eyebrows practically shoot to my forehead, and I put my hands up, reassuring her. "Oh- no, that is definitely not what I meant," I blurt out, trying desperately to smooth this out. I glance to Aruna and see that she is more awkward than before, her eyes darting between the two of us. But she doesn't seem to be butting in anytime soon. I can't tell if I should be relieved or not that she has so much faith in me.

Rya's eyes narrowed just slightly before her whole face fell into a sweet smile, a beautiful laugh coming from her lips. She leaned her head back, her eyes closing as her giggles escalated. After she relaxed more, she looked back at me, all the fury and hatred erased as if it had never even been there in the first place.

Rya reached forward and took my hand in her's. "Don't worry, Massimo. I knew you were fine from the moment you stepped in here. I was just giving you a hard time." She glances at Aruna as relief floods my chest. She looks back and continues, pulling her hands back and picking her cup up once more. "I had to take the chance while I could. I don't know the next time Aruna plans to bring a boy home, homosexual, or not," she says.

I take a deep breath at the word homosexual. I'm so used to people saying the word with utter disgust, convinced that nothing is worse than a man's heart beating for another man. But the way she said it without thinking twice, the comfort in it... My thoughts drifted off, instead, my heart filled with warmth. The feeling of being accepted. I couldn't help but think that this is what I wish I grew up with. A family who loves me. Friends who love me, who don't expect me to wear a dress, wear my hair in a bun, cover my skin. I don't want this to end. I don't want to go back to being hated for what I am.

Before I realize it, I lift my hand to my belly, graze my finger over the fabric, where I know that layered scars sit. I swallow thickly as I yank my hand down, smiling, letting myself enjoy this moment.

Rya stands up, walks across the dining table to me, and holds her hand out. I accept it in a handshake, standing up and give her a firm shake. Rya grips my hand harder and pulls me into a hug, patting me on the back before she whispers in my ear, so quiet that Aruna can't hear it. "Thank you, Massimo," she begins. "For making my baby sister smile again."

She releases the hug, patting my shoulder once more. I see a tear in her eye now, but just as I see it, it disappears. I nod at her, happy that I was able to make both of them happy. It's a feat that I'm not exactly known for. No one smiles because of me. But I can't help the jolt of my heart knowing that it finally happened.