Masked Affections

Chapter Ten: The Unspoken Truth

The day after he’d talked to Juanita, Perry’s mind was still in turmoil. He hadn’t expected the weight of his decision to hit so hard, but it was like a constant ache in his chest—an unrelenting reminder of the price he had paid. Even though he knew letting Juanita go had been the right choice, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a mistake. But there was no time to dwell on that.

Now, the real challenge awaited him.

Selomi’s message had left him in a state of confusion. He hadn’t seen her since that awkward silence at the lunch table when everything had started to unravel. Her words—*We need to talk*—felt like a sharp needle, pricking at the fragile bubble of comfort he’d managed to build in the wake of his conversation with Juanita.

He had been putting off responding, afraid of what she might say, afraid of what he might say in return. But now, as the day wore on and the final bell of the school day rang, Perry knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. He had made his choice with Juanita, but now he had to face the consequences. And more than that, he had to face Selomi—honestly.

Perry checked his phone again, his thumb hovering over the message. Selomi was waiting for him to reply. He couldn’t keep hiding from it.

He walked down the hall towards the courtyard, his heart beating faster with every step. His thoughts swirled in his mind—should he meet her outside, in a place where they could talk privately, or should they sit somewhere quieter? What if she was angry with him? What if he had already lost her?

He pushed open the doors to the courtyard and saw her standing by the fountain, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Selomi wasn’t looking at him, but her posture was rigid, like she was bracing herself for something. Perry hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to approach her. He had been so careful with her before, always walking on eggshells, afraid of saying the wrong thing. But now, everything was different. He had to be honest—no more pretending.

“Selomi?” His voice felt small in the quiet space, but it was enough to make her turn around. Her eyes were guarded, but there was a softness in her gaze that caught him off guard.

“Perry,” she said, her voice low but calm. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t look upset either. There was a quiet understanding in the way she held herself, like she was waiting for him to explain.

Perry swallowed hard, his mouth dry. He didn’t know where to start, but the words came anyway. “I’m sorry,” he said, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Selomi raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt. She just watched him, waiting for him to continue.

“I talked to Juanita yesterday,” Perry went on, his heart beating in his chest. “And… I let her go. I realized that I wasn’t fair to her, leading her on like I did. But even after all of that, I still don’t know what I feel. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”

Selomi took a step closer, her expression unreadable. “You think this is about doing the ‘right’ thing, Perry?”

Perry flinched at the edge in her voice. He hadn’t meant to sound so unsure, but his feelings were a mess. “I mean, I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to hurt you, Selomi. But I also don’t want to make a decision that’s going to mess everything up. I care about you… and about Juanita. But I can’t keep pretending I don’t have feelings for both of you.”

Selomi’s eyes softened, and for a moment, Perry thought he saw a flicker of something—maybe hope, maybe relief—pass through them. She took another step closer, closing the distance between them. “Perry, I’ve always known that you were torn between us,” she said softly. “And I know you care about me. I’ve never doubted that. But…”

Her voice trailed off, and Perry’s stomach twisted. He knew what was coming. He had been waiting for it.

“But what?” Perry asked, his voice thick with emotion. “What are you saying, Selomi?”

“I’m saying that I don’t want to be in this triangle anymore, Perry.” Selomi’s words were steady, but there was a hint of sadness in them. “I’m saying that if you can’t choose, then maybe it’s better if we stop pretending.”

Perry felt his heart drop. “You mean… you’re giving up on us?”

Selomi’s expression softened further, her gaze filled with something he couldn’t quite place. “No. I’m not giving up. I’m just…” She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as if she were trying to gather her thoughts. “I’m just tired of waiting for you to decide. I care about you, Perry. I really do. But I can’t keep waiting for you to figure it out. You need to decide what you want, and I need to know if I’m even in the picture.”

Perry stood there, his mind racing. The words felt like a blow, but they weren’t unexpected. Selomi had always been the quiet one, the one who didn’t demand much, but Perry could see it now—the quiet strength she’d always had. She was telling him that she wouldn’t wait forever, and she was right. She deserved more than someone who was too afraid to make a decision.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Selomi,” Perry said quietly. “I care about you so much, but I’ve been so lost in my own head that I haven’t even considered what you need. What you want.”

Selomi nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his face. “I don’t need you to have everything figured out, Perry. I just need you to be honest with me. And that means making a choice.”

Perry felt his chest tighten. He had always known that this moment would come. He couldn’t keep hiding from it. He had to choose. Not just for Selomi, but for himself.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been selfish.”

Selomi gave him a small, sad smile. “You’re not selfish, Perry. You’re just confused. But I can’t help you if you don’t take that first step. I won’t wait around forever.”

Perry nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of her words. He felt the weight of everything—his feelings for Juanita, his feelings for Selomi—crashing down on him all at once. But now, at least, he understood. He had to decide. For both of them, and for himself.

“I’ll choose, Selomi,” he said, his voice firm. “I just… need some time.”

Selomi’s expression softened, and she stepped forward, closing the last bit of distance between them. She reached up and placed a hand gently on his arm. “Take your time,” she said quietly. “But don’t wait too long.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Perry standing there, his heart in his throat. The choice was his now. And it was time to stop running from it.