The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the room with hues of amber and gold through the expansive windows of Hana’s peaceful bedroom, her yoga studio. The session had just wrapped up, leaving her glistening with sweat, muscles humming with the satisfying ache of effort, the faint, delicate traces of her floral perfume mingling with the unmistakable scent of exertion. With her mat neatly rolled and tucked away in the corner, Hana crossed the room barefoot, a towel draped over her shoulder. Her pink yoga leggings hugged her plump legs. Her white sports bra clung to her skin, streaked lightly with beads of perspiration making their slow descent. Calm, measured breaths escaped her lips, a testament to years of discipline and practice, and with each step, an unmistakable sense of serenity surrounded her. She moved toward the half-open door to the hallway, ready for the reprieve of a warm shower to conclude the yoga practice. But as her hand grazed the door, you were suddenly there, standing right in her path. “Wahh!!” A startled yelp escaped her as she stumbled in surprise. Her towel dropped to the ground as she tripped into you, throwing her hands up instinctively to shield the bright flush that crept up her cheeks. Heart racing—though not solely from the surprise—her gaze darted to where your hands had steadied her. The brief contact left her pulse thrumming in a way she hadn’t felt in a long, long time, like a spark catching on dry tinder. For a moment, she froze, caught between embarrassment and something much harder to ignore. “Y-You scared me… Sorry… Uwah…”
S-sorry big sis I didn’t mean to
You don't have to be sorry... It's just... ah, me being jumpy, that's all." She glanced at you again, her cheeks still flushed. With a small smile, she reached out and brushed a stray hair from your forehead, her touch light yet lingering. "Are... are you okay? Did I hurt you or anything?" Her voice was soft, hesitant; in that moment it seemed like something inside her had shifted, grown bolder. Curiosity overcame the shyness that so often held her back, causing her to lean forward slightly, drawn by your presence and the spark she saw flickering between them
Even though Hana’s shyness was gone Ruby was still super shy and could barely manage a sentence
*In the face of your obvious awkwardness, her own bashfulness crept back in. Yet there was still that spark, the curiosity... "Um... I-I'm okay," you stammered out, avoiding eye contact. "Is... is something wrong? Or did I miss something?" Hana took a step closer to you, heart racing with anticipation at this unexpected connection between them, and reached up to brush another strand of hair from your forehead, the touch featherlight but reassuring. Her voice lowered, taking on a soft, almost conspiratorial tone as she leaned even closer. "Or... do you just want to talk? Because I'm always here for you. You know that."
Ruby gets super shy and runs off to her room
With a confused frown, she watched as you hurriedly turned tail and disappeared down the hallway. The momentary connection had been shattered, leaving her feeling flat and slightly foolish. "R-ruby?" Her voice trailed off into the quiet of her bedroom as she knelt to retrieve her dropped towel, wrapping it around herself again. Something told her that there was more going on here than just a case of the jitters. But for now, it seemed like you didn't want to talk about it.
Maybe another time... she mused, giving a small sigh as she straightened up and made her way toward the bathroom once again. Her thoughts drifted back to the moment before you'd fled; there had been something there, something intense but fragile, like a glowing ember waiting for a breath of air... Perhaps next time, she'd find a way to fan those flames without
Later Ruby shyly goes to Hana’s room wanting to talk with her
Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the quiet knock at her door. She couldn't deny the thrill that surged through her at the thought of you being here, wanting to talk. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Hana replied softly, "Come in." The words barely had time to leave her lips before the door slowly opened, revealing your shy, nervous form. Her eyes locked on yours, seeking some sign as to what it was you wanted to say or if she should just hug you without hesitation.
Hana then told Ruby to sit on her lap
As you perched uncertainly at the edge of her bed, she smiled gently and patted the space beside her invitingly. "Come here, sweetheart," she cooed, her voice soft and reassuring. You hesitated for a moment longer before slowly inching closer, finally settling down on her lap with a sigh. The feel of your warmth against hers sent a wave of comfort coursing through Hana's body, steadying her racing heart.
Her arms circled your waist, pulling you close as she nestled her chin on top of your head, inhaling the sweet scent of your hair. "You can tell me anything," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm here for you." For now, Hana focused on being present in this moment, savoring the closeness they shared, hoping that it would be enough to help you open up and confide
I-I just wanted to say sorry… and I wanted to spend time with you
A small laugh escaped her lips at your words. "There's nothing to apologize for," she murmured, running her fingers through your hair with a soothing rhythm. "I understand how you feel; we all need our space sometimes." Her grip tightened ever-so-slightly, as if to reassure you that this was only temporary. "And I'm always happy to spend time with you," she added softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the crown of your head. "I love having you around."
The weight of her words hung in the air between them for a moment, thick and heavy. It was almost too much for Hana to bear; the forbidden longing inside her ached with the wantonness of it all. But she held herself together, grounding herself in this moment, focusing on what truly mattered: the bond they shared as siblings.
Then one day after that Ruby gets really sick and is forced to go to the hospital
The news sent a shiver down Hana's spine. She sprang into action, clutching her phone in one hand and throwing on shoes with the other as she hurried toward the door. "Oh no! I'm coming with you," she insisted, grabbing her purse from the hall table. Her voice was filled with worry as they rushed through the house and out to your car.
Once in the car, Hana darted glances at you between peering out the windshield, checking traffic and directions on her phone. The knot of anxiety in her stomach twisted tighter with every passing moment. "Are you sure you feel okay to drive yourself?" she asked hesitantly, casting a worried glance in your direction.