ELI
It's been weeks now. Weeks since Dad moved into Damir's house temporarily and, well, let's just say things have been…interesting. Awkward moments have reduced, which is good, but Lian? Oh hell no Lian flat out refused to go back to his own house. He's made himself right at home, practically treating this mansion like a vacation resort. School break came and went, and still, he stayed. He didn't even visit his boyfriend just kept sticking to me like I was oxygen. I mean, I love Lian to death, he's my best friend, but even I could tell Damir was getting fed up.
Damir had complained to me so many times, subtly and not-so-subtly, about how Lian was invading his space. I understood where he was coming from, really. If it were anyone else, Damir would've chased them out long ago. But this was Lian, and for Damir's sake, I appreciated him tolerating it for me.
One hot, sticky afternoon, Lian and I were chilling in my room. We'd been goofing around, hitting each other with pillows, insulting each other like the brats we are, laughing until our bellies ached. It felt good, normal, light. Lian always knew how to pull me out of any funk, even when I didn't realize I was slipping into one.
He suddenly got a text. His phone lit up beside him and he glanced at it quickly. His brows raised, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he stood up and said, "Hold on, I want to get some water. Your fridge is just an ice cream museum. I need something liquid."
I rolled my eyes, flopped back on the bed, and waved him off. "There's water in the bathroom, idiot."
"Ew. Tap water? Baby girl, I'm classy," he replied with a smirk and disappeared out the door.
Minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty. I raised my head from my pillow, glancing at the door. "Lian?" I called, but there was no response.
What the hell was taking him so long? He said he was getting water, not climbing Mount Everest. I got up, a little annoyed but also curious. I slipped on one of Damir's singlets, it was oversized on me, falling to my mid-thighs, soft and smelling like him. I had no shame in stealing it. Sue me.
I padded downstairs barefoot, moving slowly as the cool floor soothed the heat on my skin. I passed the hallway and turned toward the kitchen where the fridge always had bottled water stacked to the brim. And that's when I froze.
There they were.
Lian and…. My dad?
In a position I would've never imagined. Not touching inappropriately, but close enough. Too close. Dad's hand was still brushing against Lian's waist when I entered. Both of them jerked slightly, like they hadn't heard me coming.
They untangled immediately, acting like I hadn't just seen what I saw. They both cleared their throats awkwardly.
Lian tried to be his usual self, forcing a laugh, like he could laugh this whole thing off. "Oh, hey, I was just… helping your dad reach for the mineral water."
My dad rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, we just…uh, bumped into each other."
I blinked at them. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I didn't want to believe it. But I laughed. Maybe it was from disbelief or confusion, I don't know. I just laughed and pretended like it didn't faze me. "Okay… mineral water," I echoed sarcastically.
They chuckled nervously.
But deep inside, I was freaking out. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and leaned against the counter, watching Lian closely. "So, anything you wanna tell me?"
He raised a brow. "What?"
"That. You and my dad. I mean, I'm not mad… yet. But if something's going on, you should tell me."
Lian waved his hands frantically. "No, no, no, girl, what are you even saying? Me? Your dad? Ew. I mean, your dad is hot…I'm not blind…but I have a boyfriend. You know that. I love flirting but I wouldn't go that far."
I narrowed my eyes. "Then why were you two acting like you were caught red-handed?"
"Because we were caught red-handed… bumping into each other. Jeez, Eli, you've got the most suspicious mind besides your dad is not even gay." He forced a playful smile.
My dad added, "It was nothing, really. Just a moment."
I sighed and took a sip of my water. "Okay. But if you ever feel something like, anything…..please let me know. I'd rather hear it from you than see it."
Lian nodded quickly. "Of course. Pinky promise. You know I love you. I'd never do anything shady."
I nodded slowly, pretending to be satisfied with the answer. But a weird feeling lingered in my chest. Something unspoken. Something off. I wasn't going to push it though not yet.
So I just smiled, tossed my water bottle in the bin, and said, "Well, I'm going back upstairs. Enjoy your mineral water, Lian."
He stuck his tongue out at me and I laughed.
But the thoughts….they lingered.