Masked Affections

Chapter Six: Crossing Lines

The days seemed to stretch longer as Perry tried to focus on school and his responsibilities. His interactions with Juanita and Selomi had become increasingly fraught with tension. He wasn’t sure how to handle it—how to keep his own feelings in check while trying to keep the peace between his two closest friends.

The weekend came, and Perry found himself at home, staring at his phone screen. Juanita had texted him earlier in the day, asking if he was up for a study session at her house. She’d also invited Selomi, but Perry couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something more than just studying was on the agenda.

He glanced at the clock. It was already late afternoon. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed his jacket and slipped his phone into his pocket. The quiet of his room, the steady hum of the neighborhood outside, had begun to feel stifling. He needed to clear his head.

By the time he arrived at Juanita’s house, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. The light from inside spilled onto the porch, creating a warm contrast to the crisp night air. He rang the doorbell, his stomach doing flips as he waited.

Juanita answered the door with a wide smile, her usual energy infectious. “Hey, Perry! You’re here!”

“Hey, Juanita,” Perry said, trying to sound casual despite the growing unease in his chest.

“Come on in!” she said, stepping aside to let him through.

Inside, Selomi was already sitting at the dining table, her textbooks open in front of her. She looked up when Perry entered, offering a smile, though her eyes seemed to carry something more—a quiet, almost unreadable expression.

“Hi, Perry,” she greeted softly, her voice as gentle as always.

“Hey, Selomi,” Perry replied, a small knot tightening in his throat. The two girls looked so at ease together, and yet, Perry couldn’t shake the feeling that things were changing.

Juanita motioned for Perry to sit down next to her. “I’m so glad you came over! We’ve got tons of work to do, but maybe we can grab some pizza later and just relax.”

The idea of unwinding sounded good, but Perry couldn’t help but feel like there was an unspoken agenda to tonight—one that didn’t have anything to do with schoolwork. Still, he sat down, opened his notebook, and tried to immerse himself in the lesson at hand.

For the next half hour, they worked in relative silence, save for the occasional comment from Juanita about the project and a quiet response from Selomi. Perry kept his focus on the work, but he couldn’t shake the sensation that something was about to change.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Juanita broke the silence. “So, Perry…” she began, her voice low but direct. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

Perry froze, his pen stopping mid-sentence. He glanced at Selomi, who was suddenly looking anywhere but at him. Her expression was unreadable, though there was a trace of something in her eyes—something he couldn’t quite identify.

“What is it?” Perry asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Juanita looked at him, her expression serious. “I think you know what I’m talking about.”

A cold shiver ran down Perry’s spine. He had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly where this was headed. His heart started pounding in his chest, but he kept his gaze fixed on Juanita, trying not to let his nervousness show.

“You and I have been spending a lot of time together lately,” Juanita continued, her tone softening. “And I… I’ve been thinking a lot about us. About how much I like you, Perry.”

The words hit Perry like a ton of bricks. His mind raced, trying to catch up with what he was hearing. He’d never expected this—at least, not in such clear terms. Juanita had always been lively and outgoing, never one to hold back, but this confession felt like something entirely different.

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Selomi spoke up, her voice steady but laced with an emotion Perry hadn’t heard before.

“Juanita,” Selomi said quietly, “this isn’t the time for this conversation.”

Perry turned to Selomi, his stomach twisting. She had always been the calm, collected one—so why did she sound so… so hurt?

Juanita’s eyes flickered to Selomi, and then back to Perry. “I know it’s a little sudden, but I can’t keep pretending like I don’t feel this way,” she said, her voice filled with determination.

The tension in the room thickened, and Perry could feel the weight of both their gazes on him. His mind raced, trying to process everything at once. He hadn’t expected Juanita to confess her feelings for him, especially not with Selomi in the room. But even more surprising was the fact that he didn’t know how to respond.

“I…” Perry began, his voice faltering. He cleared his throat, trying to gather his thoughts. “I didn’t know you felt that way, Juanita.”

Juanita’s expression softened, though her eyes remained intense. “I’ve liked you for a while now, Perry. But I didn’t want to push you or make things weird. I just couldn’t keep it in anymore.”

Perry turned to Selomi, her face pale as she stood up abruptly, excusing herself. “I’m going to get some water,” she said, her voice tight. She didn’t meet anyone’s eyes as she walked away, leaving Perry and Juanita alone in the tense silence.

Perry’s mind raced. What was happening? How had things gotten so complicated so quickly? He wasn’t prepared for this—he didn’t know how to handle the emotions that were swirling around him.

“Perry, I know this is a lot,” Juanita said, her voice softening as she watched him. “But I just wanted you to know how I feel. I don’t want to keep this to myself anymore.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Perry admitted, his voice quiet.

Juanita’s smile faltered, but she nodded. “I get it. It’s a lot to process. But I just… I needed to tell you.”

The door to the kitchen creaked open, and Selomi reappeared, her face neutral but her eyes carefully avoiding Perry’s. She walked back to the table and sat down, the silence between them thick and uncomfortable.

Perry felt the weight of their gaze on him, each of them waiting for him to say something—anything. But he couldn’t. His mind was too clouded, his emotions too tangled.

The evening dragged on, the project forgotten as the three of them sat in an awkward, strained silence. Perry’s heart ached, knowing he had to make a decision, but unsure how to navigate the situation. He had never wanted to hurt either of them, but now, the fear of what came next seemed inevitable.

He couldn’t help but feel trapped. Between his growing feelings for both girls and the deep connection he shared with each of them, Perry didn’t know how to move forward. No matter which path he took, someone would get hurt.

As the night drew to a close, Perry stood up, gathering his things. He could feel the weight of their eyes on him, but there was nothing more to say—nothing he could say to make it better.

“I think I should go,” he said, his voice barely audible.

Juanita and Selomi both nodded, their faces unreadable as he walked out the door.

As he made his way home, Perry’s heart felt heavy, the weight of his choices bearing down on him. He had never expected this moment to come, and yet here he was—caught between two people he cared for more than he could say. The quiet storm that had been brewing inside him was now crashing down around him, and Perry was left with the painful knowledge that the path forward was no longer simple.

He had to make a choice. But how could he choose between them when his own heart felt like it was breaking in two?