Chapter Text
The afternoon sun hung over Rosa’s family household, casting shadows across the garden. It was a peaceful place for blooming marigolds and carefully pruned hedges, Rosa’s pride and joy, and recently, Stella’s favorite place to relax.
Anon wasn't there today. It was just the two of them, a rare occurrence lately. Considering the three of them had become attached like glue to one another.
Rosa wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her gardening glove, sitting back on her heels. Beside her, Stella was sitting cross-legged on the grass, shuffling her tarot deck with a rhythmic zip-zip-zip sound.
“Stella, you are going to wear those demon cards out.”
Rosa teased gently, pulling off her gloves.
“They aren’t demon cards!”
Stella stopped, her hands hovering over the spread. She looked tired. Not because of the physical tax of gardening, but from mental fatigue.
“The spirits are misaligned, Rosa. Or maybe…it’s just me that’s confused.”
Rosa poured two glasses of lemonade from the pitcher she’d brought out earlier. She handed one to Stella.
“Drink. You think too much. What is troubling you? Is it school? Your parents? The future?”
Stella took the glass but didn't drink. She stared into the lemonade with a thoughtful, yet concerned expression.
“It's…it's about Anon.”
Rosa stiffened slightly, her smile faltering for a fraction of a second before she recovered. She took a long sip of her drink, buying time.
“An-on? Has he done something? If that tonto has upset you, I will make him replant the entire flowerbed using a spatula.”
“N-no!”
Stella blurted out, her cheeks flushing a distinct shade of green.
“No, he hasn't done anything wrong. He's just…he's really…”
She struggled for the word, gripping her glass.
“…Sweet.”
Rosa softened.
“Sí. He is. He is a good man, despite how much he tries to deny it.”
Stella looked up, her eyes piercing throgh Rosa’s forced neutral demeanor.
“You like him too, don't you?”
The question wasn’t an accusation, but it hit Rosa like an arrow. She set her glass down on the garden bench, hands unsteady.
“Stella, I…he is—el es nuestro amigo. He helps in the garden. He listens. And he is dependable. Of course I like him.”
“Rosa.”
Stella’s voice was quiet, trembling slightly.
“I know I’m not good at social cues, and I know you don’t like my enthusiasm for the ‘arcane’, but I notice things. I see how you look at him when you think no one’s looking. I see how you treat him with extra care…Please, just answer me this.”
She paused, swallowing hard before finally confessing the only secret she’s been keeping from Rosa.
“I like him. Like, like-like him. I think I have for a long time. Even before we met in person. I’m just wondering if…you like him, too?”
Rosa stared at Stella, her heart hammering against her ribs. Denial sat on the tip of her tongue, an easy out for this awkward, difficult conversation: We are just friends. I do not see him that way. But looking at Stella, and seeing the raw vulnerability in her friend’s actions, Rosa couldn't lie.
“Y-Yes. I…I have feelings for him. He brings light into our time. Into my life.”
Rosa whispered, the confession feeling both like a sin and a prayer at the same time.
Silence descended upon the garden. It wasn't the comfortable silence they usually had with each other; this silence was awkward, and prickly, and heavy. The realization was set between them: that they both wanted the same thing. The same person. The same man.
Stella pulled her knees to her chest.
“So. This is…quite cliché. Isn’t it? Two girls going after the same one guy…”
“Ay, it is a mess.”
Rosa crossed her arms. Her lips frowned. She turned to Stella, eyebrows furrowed.
“Stella, I care for you deeply. You are my best friend. Mi amiga. But…my faith, my values…they are strict. Marriage is between only one man and one woman. I cannot…I do not know how to share.”
“I don't want to share either…I’ve never had anyone, Rosa. Not really. Anon is the first person who gets me. Who I feel safe with, just being myself. If I lose him, if I have to watch him be with someone else…”
She trailed off, her eyes watering.
“But if that someone else is you…I think that’s even worse. Because It feels like I’m losing both of my best friends, too.”
Rosa looked at Stella—small, scared, and hiding behind her tail. A wave of protective affection washed over her, warring with the jealousy that had flared up moments ago. She moved from the bench to sit on the grass beside Stella, ignoring the dirt on her skirt.
“Look at me.”
Rosa commanded gently. Stella turned in response.
“I am Catholic. I believe in devotion. But I also believe in Agape—selfless, persistent love for one's neighbor. For each other. For one's family. And you are family, Stella.”
Rosa reached out and took Stella’s hand.
“I will not lie. I want him. I truly do. My heart, it beats for him. But this…this jealousy, this possessiveness I feel? It is ugly. Shameful. I do not want it to ruin our friendship.”
Stella sniffled, her mouth opening with a quiver.
“I-I don't want to fight you, Rosa. You and Anon, you’re both people I cherish. It wouldn’t be a surprise to me if you two were already together…w-which is fine, by the way! I-I don’t…I won’t cause a scene, and we’ll all still be friends, right? An-And I don't think I could win against you anyway. You’re…you’re so much better. In every way. Talent, personality, beauty, will…”
“You underestimate yourself, Stella.”
Rosa chuckled sadly, eyes veering off to the side.
“He cares for you. I see it, too. The way he looks at you when you talk about your…hobbies. And you have qualities of your own. Qualities that even I find attractive.”
They sat there for a long moment, hands clasped.
“So, what do we do?”.
Rosa took a deep breath, looking up at the bright blue sky, large, puffy clouds slowly passing by, birds flying in flocks to destinations unknown to her.
“What else can we do? We will let him choose.”
Stella looked terrified.
“And if he chooses you?”
“Then I will still be your friend. It will hurt. Dios mio, it will hurt. But I will not abandon you. And if he chooses you…I…I will pray for your happiness, and I will mean it. Eventually.”
Rosa squeezed Stella's hand. Her eyes looking back at her.
Stella managed a weak, watery smile.
“And what about now?”
“We continue as we are. We let el plan de Dios unfold naturally. And when the time comes…”
Rosa hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around Stella’s hand.
“We face it with grace. Together.”
Stella glanced down at her tarot deck scattered on the grass. She picked up a card that had fallen face up: The Lovers. She flipped it over so she couldn't see it.
“Okay.”
Stella breathed out, wiping her eyes.
“Friendship first. No matter what happens with Anon.”
“Friendship first.”
Rosa proceeded picked up her lemonade and raised it in a toast.
“Por nosotras?”
Stella raised her glass, clinking them together softly.
“To us.”
They drank in the cooling air, letting the day pass by without regrets. The awkwardness wasn't entirely gone—the rivalry was there now, a romantic one—but the fear was manageable. They were Stella and Rosa. The two amigas…and one amigo (who was busy playing rock ring throughout all of this).
“By the way…Since we're competing, I'm inviting him to a marathon tonight.”
Rosa chuckled, her eyes glinting with a fierceness never seen before (although still friendly).
“Try it, brujita. But remember, the way to a man's heart is always through his stomach. And I, for one, know how to cook without causing a fire.”
Stella groaned, but she was smiling.
“That's cheating. It was one time, and I—ugh…not fair. I don’t know how to cook, but you do…”
“All is fair in love and war.”
All is fair in love and war, indeed.
EPILOGUE:
A while after their talk…
“Rosa?”
“¿Sí?”
“What if…and this is just a hypothetical, purely based on Anon’s personality…what if Anon doesn’t choose?”
“You mean if he is too cowardly to pick? If he remains a cobarde forever?”
“No, I mean…what if he chooses both of us?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Hah…If that bastardo thinks he can play us like tontas, then he will find out very soon that even mercy and patience has its limits.”
“Yeah…you’re right! If he does that to us, I’ll bind him to a chair and make him watch The Endless Eight for 48 hours on loop! While you…”
“Force-feed him with the most bland boiled patatas for an entire week.”
“Cruel, but so right! Hehehe…we’ll make him regret playing with our feelings like that! The audacity!”
“Hahahaha!”
“Ehehehehe!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“But…knowing him, he might—”
“Actually do it.”
“—Actually do it.”
“Yeah…And if that happens…what then?”
“Uhm…”
“…”
“…”
“W-well, Anon is…he’s basically the heart of this group. And Rosa, you’re the brain, while I’m the…body? No, glue. I’m the glue that holds our trio together. If he really couldn’t choose because he loves us both exactly the same…I don’t think I could be the one to break this. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s weird.”
“We’d be escandalosa. Mi familia would need a lot of convincing, and I would need a very, very long confession with the priest. But…if it means not losing either of you? I suppose I could learn to share. Eventually.”
“M-me too…”
“But still, An-on needs to be whipped if he tries to get us both.”
“Agreed.”
Somewhere, in Skin Row...
Anon: Why do suddenly I feel like I'm in danger?