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About Talks

"We need to talk."

 

Serena was sitting at the dinning table when she heard Hannah's voice.

 

No names or pronouns or even a "hey".

 

The apple really didn't fall far from the tree.

 

Not that she minded. Serena had found herself became more...amiable...these past few years and she didn't know if she liked it or not.

 

But June did so she decided that's the only thing that matters.

 

And that's why she looked up from the book in her hands and at Hannah who waswearing a simple white T-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans, carrying a purple backpack.

 

"O...kay? What about?"

 

It's not unusual that Hannah wanted to talk to her. But it did seem a little unorthodox that Hannah caught her when they're alone.

 

Although they had a civil and slightly pally relationship which Serena never took for granted, Serena was not and never in a million years will be Hannah's go-to person for chitchats.

 

So this must be serious.

 

Serena suddenly missed June and those stunning blue eyes that never failed to calm her down. She tried to paint June's face with her conscious to stop her breaths from getting heavier.

 

"Are you and my mom a couple or what?" Hannah asked as soon as she sat on thechair across from Serena.

 

And the paintbrush broke in half.

 

"I'm...so..sorry?" Serena squeezed the words out like a toddler trying to learn how to speak.

 

It's not like they didn't talk about it, but both Serena AND June wanted to wait until Hannah's a bit older to tell her the truth.

 

Apparently Hannah disagreed.

 

"Don't‘I'm sorry?’me. I'm not a child anymore, i'm fourteen. I can tell."

 

Hannah's dark curly hair moved with her when she leaned against the back of the chair. 

 

She didn't sound disgusted. That's a good sign. 

 

In fact, Hannah sounded a little amused.

 

"Plus, it's not like you guys did a good job hiding it. I mean, my mother looked like she was trying to undress you with her eyes whenever you're in her sight."

 

Hannah said while rolling her eyes which made Serena couldn't help but think of June. 

 

Her June.

 

"I..." Serena was struggling on what to say.

 

"And spoiler alert? You're NOT a good liar." Hannah's voice was nothing but confidence.

 

And she was annoyingly right.

 

Sure, there's no point in denying it and Hannah's, like she said, fourteen and big enough to at least deserve to know the truth. But June's not here and Serena wasn't sure whether or not June would be crossed if she admitted their relationship to Hannah without her consent.

 

Plus, what exactly IS their relationship? 

 

Partner? That seemed too heavy.

 

Companion? That made them sound like one hundred years old.

 

Couple? Like Hannah said? 

 

Well, that's not bad? 

 

But still, it didn't sound...right.

 

How can she describe the feelings she got every time June's eyes were on her? 

 

The excitement, the trust, the yearning.

 

And above all that, to be able to love and being loved back.

 

How can she describe all of these in just one fucking word?

 

To be honest, Serena's not sure their “relationship” would survive this long If they actually tried to label it and put a tag on. 

 

That's what normal people would do.

 

And they were definitely NOT that kind of people.

 

Another reason as to why Serena's having trouble at talking their relationship is that she's scared. Shitless.

 

Yes, she's changed and yes it was four years ago but people still recognized her.

 

It had only happened once but it did not end well. Bruises and cuts and everything. 

 

She remembered that night when they got home, June ran her a hot bath and throw the both of them in and held her tightly while washing her dirt-and-blood-covered body clean.

 

The night still seemed blurry but Serena would never forget the look on June's face when the petite woman, the woman who's been cradling her to sleep for the past 1,489 nights, sang the lullaby that they sang every night to baby Nicole.

 

That face was saying“It's okay, you're not going to get hurt. Not here".

 

And that's the look Hannah was giving her now.

 

"...Yes. Your mom and i are...together...but i want you to know that it's not..."  Serena said in a small but steady voice.

 

She gave up.

 

If June's going to be crossed then so be it. Serena's sure she'll figure out something to do to make June less angry since she had done that so many times.

 

But more importantly?

 

Serena's done hiding.

 

"Nope. Uh-huh.  I just wanted  to know weather or not you guys are dating  that's all. I don't need to know anything else and certainly NOT the details.”

 

Hannah made a face like she had smelled an rotten apple.

 

"I.."

 

There's no doubt that Hannah inherited June's ability to make Serena speechless.

 

"The only reason i asked is that i'm tired of you two sneaking around to kiss each other when i'm not looking and acting like total strangers when i do." Hannah saidwhile staring at Serena with a teasing smile, "Even I am exhausted by that."

 

"That's right. I noticed." Hannah finished her little speech with a sly wink. 

 

The same smug impression that Serena had seen on June's face a million times.

 

The wise man were right. Like mother, like daughter. 

 

"So...You're not worry about..." 

 

They kept the little incident to themselves as adults would, but Serena knew that Hannah knew what happened -- teenagers were always way too sensitive about these stuff and not to mention that Hannah walked in on her one time  when she was showering and saw the scars. 

 

"What? The people and their gossips?" Now Hannah's face turned into a mocking one, but it was not directed at her.

 

"Please. People TALK. That's what they'll ever do." And that famous eye-rolling that ran in the family appeared.

 

"So we might as well like the things we like and fall in love with who we fall in lovewith."

 

Hannah said it with such casualness that made Serena feel, as strange as it sounded, relaxed. And safe.

 

"I guess you're right."

 

No. Her voice certainly did not tremble. It's just allergies.

 

"Of course i'm right." Hannah waved her hands in the airs while getting up from  the chair she was sitting on. 

"And don't worry, you past the test." She smiled at Serena before grabbing her backpack.

 

A genuine smile.  

 

Serena couldn't pinpoint the feelings that's accumulating in her heart.

 

"Although if you break my mother's heart, i will personally make sure that you'll never see the tomorrow's sun."

 

Now that's more like the Hannah Serena knew.

 

"I won't."

 

Serena promised out loud.

 

"You better not."

 

The warning look Hannah gave her was real. Serena could tell.

 

"We are home!"

 

Just when Hannah was about to reach for the doorknob of the front door, it turned and incoming a heavily dressed June Osborne holding hands with a six-year-old Nicole.

 

"Hannah? What are you doing here, baby? I though you have study group." 

 

June's eyes landed on Serena first who smiled at her from across the room and then on Hannah who rubbed Nicole's hair which made the little one giggle. 

 

"I do. I'm just back for my computer." Hannah patted the backpack in her hands. "See you later mom. And you sticky." 

 

"Sticky" was the nickname Hannah gave Nicole because the little girl just won't leave her big sister alone every time they got together. 

 

"See you bunny, don't be late for dinner." June kept eyeing in between Serena and Hannah like they've just committed something bad.

 

"I won't. Oh, and mom?" Hannah was already one foot out of the door when she suddenly turned around and looked at her mother.

 

"Yes, baby?" June stared at her oldest daughter puzzlingly.

 

"Please tell your girlfriend to stay away from my poor bathroom, i really don't need more scented candles."

 

With that, Hannah Bankole-Osborne disappeared behind closed door.

 

"Okay, i will...wait, what? Han...Hannah?!"

 

June Osborne was fucking confused.

 

"What happened, Serena?"

 

And she turned to her alleged “Girlfriend” who was still sitting at the dinning table but now with Nicole on her laps.

 

"We...had a little talk?"