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It was a rather ordinary afternoon, the kind where nothing interesting happened and Tata had absolutely nowhere to be. She had spent most of the day doing random chores and was now continuing her day with a slow, leisurely stroll. She offered fake smiles to the familiar faces she saw along the way, continuing on her path without pausing. Everything was moving along quite ordinarily. That was, until she caught sight of a figure at a crossroads. Lada. No matter how much Tata didn't want to admit it, the sole purpose of her idling around and walking all day was to see that girl. Deep down, she hoped she would run into her, that Lada would show some interest and insist they spend the rest of the day together. Because Lada always did that, and even though Tata didn't let it show, she secretly wished for it to happen. Because that girl occupied Tata's mind far too frequently, for no reason at all. Not that she was complaining about it.
In fact, she was already starting to get excited about running into her. She played it out in her head: she would walk right past her as if she hadn't seen her at all, and when the girl called out to her, she would act surprised. Involuntarily, her hands adjusted her clothes and hair. She wanted to look pretty for Lada. Just as she felt a surge of confidence and took her first step, she stopped herself right away. Damn it. While Lada was scanning her surroundings as if looking for something, her gaze had landed on someone. And that someone was Sirin. That wretched witch. She had practically bewitched Lada! Otherwise, what business would Lada have with her anyway? The whole world knew that the witch fancied women, and was the witch's new target Tata's Lada?
The orange-haired girl felt her heart warm upon seeing Lada's genuine smile, but that feeling was short-lived. Because the target of that smile was not her. She watched them with uneasy eyes. She observed the witch walking ahead and how Lada followed her. A moment later, without a second thought, she began to tail them. If she were noticed, she had absolutely no idea what she would say, but curiosity had triumphed over logic. She could hear Sirin and Lada talking, but what they were saying was unintelligible. Tata didn't even know what she was doing or where she was going.
After watching the duo walk from behind for a while, they reached their destination. From where she stood, Tata watched the girl she loved enter the house where Volot and Sirin stayed. She muttered a curse under her breath and sat down on a boulder she found. Placing her hands on either side of the rock, she let out a loud sigh. What was she supposed to do now? She wished Volot would come home. That way, Lada wouldn't be left alone with the witch. But even Tata couldn't know where the young priest was or when he would return. She had to get in there somehow. She wanted to burst inside, demand answers from the witch, and take Lada away from her. But she had no right to do so. She was aware of Lada's feelings toward her, yet she still hadn't given the girl an answer. She had no right to interfere with Lada. But she wanted to. And she was going to do it anyway. Giving herself one last push of encouragement, she rose from the boulder she was sitting on. After lingering for a moment, she approached the house with small steps. There wasn't a single sound coming from inside. She raised her hand and knocked on the door twice.
A few seconds later, the door creaked open. After scanning Sirin from head to toe a few times, Tata's gaze locked onto her face. As the witch looked at her questioningly, Tata took a moment to think about what she should say. Clearing her throat, she spoke. "Witch. I think I'm falling ill. Examine me."
Sirin arched a suspicious eyebrow and scrutinized the orange-haired girl from head to toe. "You are perfectly healthy. And I am busy right now. Come back later."
As the witch attempted to close the door, Tata blocked it with her hand and spoke quickly. "No! Really. I'm sick. Just my head. And I can't come back later. If you don't look at it now, it'll get worse."
The dark-haired girl paused after scanning Tata once more. Then, a knowing smirk settled onto her face. She finally understood the orange-haired girl's true grievance. As her smirk widened, she let out a sigh and stepped back. "Fine, come in. But I have a guest." Entering right behind the witch, Tata scowled. A guest. As if Tata didn't already know.
The orange-haired girl glanced around the cabin. She hadn't entered this place before. Candles and wood carvings were frequently scattered everywhere. A general scent of herbs enveloped the inside of the house. When the two entered Sirin's room, Tata's gaze immediately found Lada. The young girl was at the counter with her back turned to them, tinkering with something. "Who is it?" the witch answered as she moved behind the counter with unhurried steps. "Your girl."
Lada quickly raised her head from whatever she was immersed in. "Tata?" Only then did she turn her head toward the curly-haired girl. A mortar was in front of her, filled with various herbs. "What are you doing here?"
Sirin murmured with that understanding smirk on her face, threw a cardigan over her shoulders, and headed toward the back door. "When you're finished, put the ointment in the jar, Lada. I need to gather some herbs."
Once the dark-haired girl left the room, Tata crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Her anger was evident in her voice. "What kind of curse are you looking for here anyway? You're walking down the road with the witch, all smiles like a fool, then you enter her house, even her room. What were you thinking?!"
Following the unexpected outburst, Lada couldn't hide her bewildered look. "Tata? Are you alright? Calm down."
"I can't. Where were you all day? Were you with that stupid witch? Since when did you two get so close? Be careful, hanging around her all the time will turn you just like her." She turned around with a flash of anger. She had regretted it immediately after the words left her mouth. Yes, that was what she thought, but she shouldn't have projected it onto Lada. What if Lada grew cold toward her? Just as she was about to step out the door, Lada grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"You are being unnecessarily rude. What did Sirin ever do to you? What did I ever do to you? You don't have to love me, but your rejection is enough. Do you hate me that much-"
Tata couldn't take it anymore. Turning around with a mix of regret and a hint of embarrassment, she cupped Lada's cheeks without hesitation. Wasting no time, she pulled the girl close and pressed her lips harshly against hers. She would be crazily embarrassed about this afterward, but right now, it didn't matter. The only thing she could think of, the only thing she could comprehend, was the sensation of the soft lips of the girl in front of her. It was a slightly clumsy, inexperienced, and passionate kiss. Neither of them knew exactly what to do, but driven by the tension of the moment, they were simply following their instincts.
Lada, on the other hand, had been deeply hurt by the girl's rude behavior toward her, and while she was complaining to her, she was expecting a fight, not for the girl to kiss her. Because the first time she had kissed the girl, her reaction had been different. Lada had thought she hadn't liked it, but Tata was proving the exact opposite to her right now. Without keeping her waiting too long, the dark-haired girl placed her hands on the other girl's back and deepened the kiss. Her nose was filled with Tata's distinct scent. She was still angry with her, and she was taking her spite out by kissing her fiercely.
They kept going until they both ran out of breath. Tata was the first to pull back. She rested her forehead against Lada's and closed her eyes. She was taking deep, heavy breaths. Caught in the magic of the moment, it was as if they had both forgotten how to speak. Lada was the first to break the silence.
"What were you thinking?"
Tata opened her eyes and looked at the girl. She could feel that Lada was waiting for an explanation from her. But she had no idea what to say. What could she even say?
"Did you ever do this with the witch?"
"I didn't."
"I... I'm sorry. I don't know what possessed me. It was like-"
"The jealousy fairies. I get it. Don't go on."
The orange-haired girl wrapped her arms around her and buried her face in Lada's shoulder. The warmth radiating from her body could easily be felt by the other girl. "I love you. And I am incredibly embarrassed right now." Lada giggled and tightened her embrace. She was exactly where she wanted to be. And the two remained just like that until the witch opened the door loudly and burst back inside.