Penny closed the door to Elena's room softly, but her mind was spinning. A crush? That didn't explain the tears, or the sudden mood swings, or the way Devin had looked at Elena the other day like he wanted to say something but couldn't. There was something more, and Penny felt it deep in her gut.
She walked back to the kitchen, sat at the table, and stared blankly at her half-finished cup of tea. The silence in the apartment suddenly felt too loud. Penny reached for her phone and hesitated for a moment before scrolling to Devin's name. Her thumb hovered over the call button, but she shook her head and set it down. No this wasn't her business. Not yet.
Later that night, a soft knock came at Penny's door. She opened it, surprised to find Elena standing there in her pajamas, eyes puffy but calm.
"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" Elena asked quietly.
Penny nodded, stepping aside. "Of course."
They lay in the dark for a few minutes, the only sound the hum of the city outside the window. Then, out of nowhere, Elena whispered, "we kissed ."
Penny turned to look at her, heart skipping. "Devin?"
Elena took a deep breath, her fingers twisting the edge of the bedsheet as if grounding herself. "It wasn't by the fire pit," she said, her voice low. "It was just me and Devin... at the bar in the mansion."
Penny's eyes narrowed slightly, listening closely.
"Jonal had gone off to look for you. I was already two drinks in, trying to forget how much it still hurt... Kelvin, everything. I guess I didn't want anyone to see me like that. But Devin did."
Elena's voice cracked slightly, and Penny gently rested her hand on hers.
"He asked me why I was crying," Elena continued, "and I don't even remember all of what I said. Just... bits and pieces. I remember telling him something like 'Why does it hurt so much?' And then I kissed him."
Penny's eyes widened. "You kissed him?"
Elena nodded slowly. "Yeah. I kissed him first. And then... he didn't stop me."
The air felt heavier now. Penny's heart sank as she realized just how deeply this had been buried inside Elena.
"We ended up... sleeping together that night," Elena whispered. "And the next morning? It was like it never happened. He avoided me. Didn't even look me in the eye. Then everything moved so fast. We left for China the following day, and I didn't even get a chance to talk to him about it."
Penny let the silence stretch between them before finally saying, "Elena, I'm so sorry."
Elena shook her head. "I keep trying to convince myself it meant nothing. That maybe he regretted it. But... I didn't. I still don't."
Penny looked at her friend, eyes softening. "Do you think he cared too? Even just a little?"
Elena gave a small, humorless laugh. "If he did, he's buried it deep. And I'm not sure I have the strength to dig it out."
Penny reached out and pulled her into a hug. "You don't have to do it alone. Not anymore."
Elena rested her head on Penny's shoulder, tears silently falling. Somewhere inside her, a quiet hope still flickered dim, but alive.