Lily's Screwed, Save Her!!!
"Owwie..."
"Careful coming in."
"Yeah..."
The doctor said it was just a sprained ankle with some shocked muscles—nothing serious, no need to worry. A few days of ointment, and it'd be fine in no time. What a relief.
But for now, I couldn't move freely, so I had no choice but to lean on Serina for support as we made our way. And that's how we ended up at her house. As if our date wasn't over yet.
First things first, I headed to the bathroom to clean my injured foot. Then I wrapped it tightly with the white bandage from the hospital to keep it from twisting weirdly.
"Wanna lie down on the bed?"
"Uh, yeah..."
For a second, I think maybe it would've been better to just head back to the dorm and rest properly. But the hospital was closer to Serina's place on the way, and more than anything, I was desperate to flop down somewhere fast, so I didn't refuse.
I lay down, and Serina watches over me. She's sitting in some chair that came out of nowhere, gazing down with her face full of worry. I flash a smile like I'm totally fine.
Serina's concerned eyes roam all over my body. Starting from my face, down my neck and chest, past my navel, lingering a bit on my waist and thighs, then to my slender calves, and finally settling on my swollen purple ankle.
"Wh-what're you staring at like that?"
"Just rest. I'll grab some ice."
"Yeah..."
She bustles around for a bit, then comes back with a basin of ice water. She soaks a towel in it, wrings it out smoothly like a pro, and presses it to my injured foot.
"Eek...!"
"..."
It's cold. Like pressing a block of ice right against it. The burning pain in my ankle eases up a little, at least.
This is embarrassing to admit, but every time Serina's touch grazes me, I let out these little "Ah, ah, oh" noises. Even to my own ears, my dainty whimpers sound kinda loud.
After a few minutes of silently holding the towel to my foot, Serina finally scolds me.
"Lily. Don't make those weird sounds..."
"Sorry, it just feels good..."
"..."
Serina's being so devoted. Anyone would think my ankle was made of gold. No, she's treating my whole foot like a sacred relic. It's clearly just the ankle that's hurt, so why does she keep fiddling with the top of my foot, my toes, my sole out of nowhere?
"Ahaha, it t-tickles..."
"Yeah..."
"Serina. Eek, it tickles, I said...?"
"Yeah..."
What do you mean "yeah"? Listen to me!
Since I keep squirming from the tickling, Serina starts doing something a little odd. She slips her fingers between my toes like she's interlocking them, then squeezes hard with her grip.
I have no idea what she's up to. All I can think is, good thing I washed my feet right when I got here, or this would've been mortifying. Actually, even washed, it's still embarrassing.
"Lily's feet are pretty, too..."
"...Sudden foot compliments don't make me that happy, y'know."
"Yeah. They're pretty."
"..."
You're acting weird. Especially your eyes. Like you're possessed or something. Where'd that sweet big-sis vibe go?
Serina spends a good while kneading my foot. At some point, the towel's tossed aside far away. Her touch is ticklish but feels good, and I end up sighing like I'm soaking in a hot bath.
Lying there, letting her hands work on me, my mind drifts to old memories. After school swimming. Getting a massage at Serina's house.
Ah.
I realize the situation now isn't much different from back then. My foot hurts, she drags me here helpless, lays me on the bed, touches me all over, I squeal like an idiot, and Serina looks down at me with that strange expression.
"..."
"..."
I think blankly. Being with Serina always ends up like this. She's way too good at drawing out natural skinship. It started from the beginning, and the more time passes and we get closer, the more intense it gets.
I know where this is headed. Too well, that's the problem.
My mood sinks a little. Why does it always veer this way? Lately, I feel like the moment where I can't just pretend anymore is closing in.
...
Thinking that far, I sit up from where I'd been lying obediently. I perch on the edge of the bed and stare straight into Serina's brown eyes.
"Lily?"
"..."
That innocent gaze holds more than simple kindness. My suspicions are confirmed today. I know when a girl gets that look. I've seen it plenty. I even know what happens when jealousy clouds it.
Twice already. No way I'm letting it happen a third time. Sorry, but this is it.
Out of the three surrounding me, I'm drawing a line with Serina specifically because she's different from Dana and Risha. I think Alicia and Dana accept each other. At least, that's how it seems to me. They might not like each other, but they tolerate being by my side.
But Serina's different. Actually, those two are the weird ones, and this is the normal reaction. But I'm too twisted and rotten for a pure relationship where you give your all to one person.
If I let Serina in like this, she'd start wanting things I can't give. She's too pure. One drop of black jealousy paint, and her whole heart would be stained.
She wouldn't accept it. She'd try to fix me. Change my surroundings. And when the fallout from our relationship hits because of her, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself anymore.
This isn't about Serina—it's purely for my own sake that I decide to push her away. How selfish is that?
A bitter edge creeps into my forced smile. On purpose.
"Serina."
"Yeah...?"
Her round shoulders twitch. She senses something's off with my vibe.
"I'm not... as pretty a girl as you think. Nngh."
"..."
Suddenly blurting this mid-foot rub. I admit I'm terrible at this. But even this out-of-left-field line, I trust smart Serina will get it.
And sure enough, her face turns serious. It's not about looks. It's a confession that my heart's rotten to the core.
"You don't like girls who aren't pure, right?"
"No. I..."
"No need to deny it."
She's just started high school—she's gotta be dreaming of that clumsy, innocent first love. Where you giggle just from eye contact, fresh and sweet.
That's impossible for me.
I seize her wrist while she's off-guard. Whatever fantasy you had about me, I'll shatter it all. That's my resolve as I pull her hand inside my clothes to prove I'm not pure.
"Wait, Lily..."
"Ngh...!"
Her hand, chilled from the ice water, touches my skin. But that's not the only reason my hairs stand up—my exhaled "Ngh" carries a sweet edge, and my face relaxes as I look at Serina.
"I-I'm a weird girl."
"Wait, just wait, this is too sudden. Lily."
That's the point, dummy. I want you to hate me.
I keep emphasizing how weird I am.
"You're misunderstanding me."
"..."
I squeeze her elbow tight inside my top. And I guide her hand to touch me wherever I want. I don't forget to make weird noises every time our skin meets. No acting needed for that—it's effortless.
"Hic, ngh, ah, aaah...!"
How's that? Just groping around my waist and solar plexus a bit, and I'm moaning like an idiot. Weird, right? You nice girls would say you get it, but this isn't your ideal type.
I look at her confidently. Serina's so shocked she can't even blink her wide eyes. It's kinda funny, so I laugh. Though it comes out as a hiccuppy "Heuk," which is weird.
Whatever.
"Even now, hah, look. Just this much. Touching. Not even lewd. Just hand in my clothes. Not pure at all. Not like you thought. I like this stuff. Always thinking about it. Yeah. So. Even if anyone touches me, I react like this. Not just you. Anyway. Be disappointed. Don't like me. Hate it. Ah, hah, wait, feels good...!"
I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. Instinct's spitting out fragmented words, and I can't sort them before they tumble out.
"..."
Look at her. Frozen like a statue, can't do a thing. Serina, fantasy shattered yet?
This was totally out of nowhere. Impulsive, sudden, like she said. We were having a nice date, and boom—don't come near me. But that's why it'd hit her harder.
I'm triumphant. Eyes half-lidded lazily, I shove my flushed face forward proudly. I lick my lips, stick out my tongue, and pant like a dog.
Serina's shocked by that too, apparently. She's stammering, at a loss for words.
"No, I... Lily. That's..."
"Ehehe."
"..."
Even though her cold hand warms up to my body heat, I don't stop. I place her palm inside my clothes, right over my chest. The soft flesh cushions it snugly, squishing freely. No sexual intent. Just her palm against my bra. No kneading or anything—just pressing there.
"..."
"..."
This should be enough. I give one last big grin and release her hand.
A shocked truce settles between us. Serina can't hide her shame-flushed face, mumbling "Ah. Uh. Ah" like her words are stuck.
I wait patiently. Until she finally calms and speaks again.
"Honestly."
"Yeah."
"I don't really get what Lily's trying to say."
"Oh...?"
"Yeah."
I'm a slutty mess, not pure, weak to desire, moaning for anyone who touches me, too greedy to refuse, you'll get jealous for sure, so we can't be together. Why can't you get that?
"And I don't get why you think I'm so innocent either."
"Huh?"
"So... can I take this as you seducing me...?"
"Eh?"
Seducing? No, that's not it! Why are you flipping it around?
I try to protest, but Serina moves first. She pushes my shoulders lightly, laying me back on the bed like before. And. Yeah, and...
"Wait, wait, waitwaitwaitwait nooo...!"
"Lily. Even when I said wait, you didn't stop at all."
"But that's..."
Huh? Why's it turning out like this? Oh, don't climb on! Wait, really, just a sec. Give me a minute to think!
"Ah."
And then I realize. Only now. After it comes to this. All my countless attempts to push Serina away had failed.
"It's okay. I'll be gentle..."
"Awaawaawaawaah...!"
Lily's screwed, save her!!!