Love in the Spotlight

Boundaries and Breaks

The evening wore on, the laughter and chatter filling the room like a warm, steady hum. Gianna, despite her earlier irritation with Vanessa, tried to focus on the conversation at the table. Her parents were reminiscing about old family trips, and Hana had settled comfortably next to her, laughing along with her mom's story about Gianna's childhood.

But Gianna couldn't shake the tension that had been building ever since Vanessa had made her move. Her cousin's attention was still on Hana, though it seemed to be growing more intense by the second. She had kept things light at first—just playful banter and light touches. But Gianna could feel it now, like a slow burn beneath the surface, the way Vanessa's flirtation was starting to feel like more than just friendly teasing.

Gianna had told herself to relax, but the more Vanessa leaned in toward Hana, the harder it became.

Vanessa had positioned herself at the other end of the table now, and Gianna couldn't help but watch as she inched closer to Hana, her eyes lingering a little too long, her laugh a little too flirtatious. Gianna felt her stomach churn, her muscles tensing.

Hana, for her part, remained mostly calm. She'd been nothing but polite with Vanessa, answering her questions, even joking around with her when the mood lightened. But Gianna could tell that something had changed, the air between the three of them growing more thick and awkward by the second.

It wasn't until after dessert that the situation finally reached a breaking point.

The table had cleared, and the conversation was dying down. Vanessa had already made a few jokes about sneaking out to go dancing with some of the locals—something she loved to do every time she visited. Gianna had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't immediately notice how close Vanessa had gotten to Hana.

But she noticed when Vanessa's hand brushed against Hana's arm once again. This time, there was nothing playful about it.

Gianna's breath hitched, her eyes narrowing as Vanessa leaned in, her voice low and flirty. "You know, Hana, I really think we should hang out sometime, just the two of us. I think we'd have a lot of fun."

Hana tensed. Her eyes flicked toward Gianna, and for the briefest moment, there was a flash of something—something almost apologetic, as though Hana was aware of what was happening, but unsure how to handle it.

Before Gianna could even process the knot in her stomach, Vanessa made her move. She leaned in closer, her lips just inches from Hana's.

Gianna froze. Time seemed to slow as she watched, the blood rushing in her ears, her heartbeat suddenly deafening. Her fingers clenched against the edge of her seat, and the urge to stand up and stop it overtook her.

But then, before anything could happen, Hana pulled away sharply, her body stiffening.

"Vanessa, no," Hana said firmly, her tone steady but unwavering.

Vanessa blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. "What?" She laughed, thinking it was some kind of joke. "I was just—"

"I'm with Gianna," Hana interrupted, her gaze locking with Vanessa's, her voice steady and no-nonsense. "And I'm not interested."

Gianna's breath released in a sharp exhale, her body relaxing just slightly. But she wasn't done feeling uneasy yet. She watched as Vanessa's smile faltered, her expression shifting from playful to defensive.

"Well, I wasn't trying to make things awkward," Vanessa said, leaning back and crossing her arms, a huff escaping her. "I was just being friendly."

"Yeah, well," Hana said, her eyes now flicking to Gianna for a moment before returning to Vanessa, "it didn't come across that way."

Vanessa blinked, taking a moment to register Hana's words. There was a brief silence before she shrugged, leaning back in her chair with a self-satisfied smirk. "Alright, fine. No harm done."

Gianna couldn't tell if Vanessa was genuinely backing off or if she was just trying to save face. But the situation still felt thick with tension. She wasn't sure whether to say something to Vanessa or to just let the moment pass.

"I think I'm going to get some fresh air," Hana said suddenly, standing up. "I'll be outside if anyone needs me."

She didn't wait for a response, and Gianna immediately followed, her feet moving faster than her mind could keep up. She felt Vanessa's eyes on her back as she walked away, but she didn't care.

Once outside, Hana had already walked to the porch swing. She was leaning against the railing, her arms crossed, staring into the distance.

Gianna stood there for a moment, trying to collect herself. She felt embarrassed, anxious, and angry all at once. She stepped forward, slowly, unsure of what to say.

"Hana, I'm sorry," she said, her voice soft.

Hana turned, her expression unreadable, but the tightness in her jaw softened when she saw Gianna standing there.

"It's not your fault, Gianna," Hana said, her voice quiet but firm. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable with the way I handled that. But I'm not going to let anyone—anyone—disrespect our relationship like that."

Gianna bit her lip, looking down at the ground. "I just... I don't know what I'm supposed to do when I see someone coming on to you like that. I'm not used to feeling like this."

Hana stepped closer, her hand reaching for Gianna's. "I get it. And I want you to know that nothing's going to change between us. I'm with you. I care about you."

Gianna's heart swelled in her chest, and she felt an overwhelming urge to pull Hana into her arms. "I just don't want to lose you," she whispered.

Hana's fingers brushed against her cheek, lifting her chin so their eyes locked. "You won't. I promise. No one else matters."

Gianna's breath caught, and without thinking, she leaned in, pressing her lips against Hana's in a soft, reassuring kiss. Hana responded immediately, her hands cupping Gianna's face as if she could never let go.

When they finally pulled away, Gianna's eyes were soft, but there was a fire in her that hadn't been there before. "I trust you, Hana. I'm just not used to having to share you."

"You don't have to," Hana replied, her smile genuine. "I'm all yours."

And for the first time that evening, the tension melted away. They stood there together, holding each other, and Gianna finally felt at peace, knowing that no matter what, they were solid.