Entangled

Forbidden Fantasies

Dalia's eyes drifted across the room, locking onto Jonathan's chiseled features as he laughed with her sister, Vanessa. Her heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of something more.

But it was just her imagination, wasn't it?

Dalia forced herself to look away, focusing on the TV as the movie played on. She couldn't keep indulging in these fantasies. Jonathan was off-limits, her sister's boyfriend of two years.

Vanessa snuggled closer to Jonathan on the couch, and Dalia felt a pang of jealousy. Why did her sister get to be so happy, so carefree?

As the night wore on, Dalia found herself lost in a daydream, imagining Jonathan's arms around her, his lips on hers...

"Dalia, earth to Dalia!" Vanessa's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Sorry, what?" Dalia asked, feigning innocence.

"I asked if you're coming to the party with us tomorrow night," Vanessa said, eyeing her suspiciously.

Dalia hesitated, unsure if she could handle a night out with Jonathan and Vanessa, but eventually nodded.

"Yeah, I'll come," Dalia said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Vanessa grinned, oblivious to Dalia's true feelings. "Great! It'll be fun, I promise!"

As the movie ended, Jonathan stood up, stretching his tall frame, and Dalia couldn't help but steal another glance. She quickly looked away, hoping no one noticed her gaze lingering on him for a moment too long.

As they said their goodbyes, Dalia couldn't help but notice the way Jonathan's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at Vanessa. She felt a pang of longing, wondering what it would be like to be the one he smiled at like that.

"Hey, sis, can I talk to you for a minute?" Vanessa asked, pulling Dalia into the hallway.

"Sure, what's up?" Dalia replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite her racing heart.

"I know you've been a bit distant lately, and I just wanted to check in," Vanessa said, her brow furrowed with concern. "Is everything okay?"

Dalia hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. She couldn't exactly tell her sister that she was harboring a secret crush on her boyfriend.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Dalia said finally, forcing a smile. "Just stressed with school and stuff."

Vanessa nodded, seeming to accept the explanation. "Okay, well, if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

Dalia nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt for lying to her sister. But what choice did she have? She couldn't risk ruining their relationship over her own forbidden feelings.

As they hugged goodbye, Dalia couldn't help but steal one last glance at Jonathan, her heart aching with a mix of longing and guilt.