Take Care

Eliana stumbled back into the kitchen, her mind still spinning from the events at the bathhouse.

"Why do you look like you just got transported into another world?" Alice's voice cut through her daze, pulling her back to the present.

"Huh?" Eliana mumbled distractedly, barely aware of her surroundings. Her thoughts were consumed by the memory of Beta Leo's kiss.

"See? You're not even listening to me. What's wrong with you, girl?" Alice barked, snapping her fingers in front of Eliana's face.

Eliana hesitated, unsure whether she should share what had happened. Alice had been nothing but kind to her since she'd arrived, so if anyone could be trusted, it was her. "Something happened," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.

Alice narrowed her eyes, curiosity lighting them up. "What happened?"

Eliana shifted uncomfortably, debating how much to reveal. "I went to the bathhouse earlier to meet Beta Leo, and he…" She stopped mid-sentence.