Tangled Strings

Chapter 24: The First Time

She let herself want.

For the first time, she didn’t push Chiquita away.

For the first time, she didn’t say no.

Chiquita’s hands moved—up Ahyeon’s arms, to her collar, fingers tugging at the buttons of her blazer.

Ahyeon groaned against her lips, pressing her back against the teacher’s desk, hands gripping Chiquita’s waist, holding on like she was afraid she’d disappear.

They broke apart just long enough to breathe, foreheads pressed together, panting.

Chiquita’s voice was barely a whisper. "Tell me this isn’t a mistake."

Ahyeon’s grip tightened.

She couldn’t.

Not now.

Not when Chiquita was looking at her like this.

Instead, she kissed her again.

Harder.

Deeper.

And Chiquita understood.

The rest blurred together.

The touch of warm hands. The sound of breathless sighs. The heat between them, unbearable and unrelenting.

Ahyeon didn’t think.

Didn’t question.

Didn’t stop.

Not when Chiquita pressed soft, lingering kisses down her jaw.

Not when their uniforms became a mess of wrinkled fabric, discarded without hesitation.

Not when Chiquita whispered her name like a prayer, like a secret she had been holding onto for far too long.

For the first time, Ahyeon let herself be selfish.

For the first time, she let go.

And for a while, nothing else mattered.

—

Ahyeon woke up to the morning sun filtering through the blinds, casting faint patterns against the desk.

For a brief moment, she didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Then, reality hit.

The warmth beside her.

The soft sound of Chiquita’s breathing, still asleep, her face turned toward Ahyeon, peaceful in the early light.

Ahyeon stared.

She looked beautiful.

The kind of beautiful that made Ahyeon’s chest ache.

The kind of beautiful she should have never let herself have.

Guilt coiled in her stomach.

This was a mistake.

It had to be.

Because if it wasn’t, then Ahyeon would have to admit that every rejection, every cold word, every time she pushed Chiquita away—

Had all been a lie.

And she wasn’t ready for that.

Slowly, carefully, she sat up.

Chiquita stirred slightly but didn’t wake.

Ahyeon reached for her uniform, her hands shaking as she buttoned it back up, trying to ignore the way her body still ached with the memory of last night.