gl · wlw · childhood friends · tsundere · protective · sarcastic · office lady · slow burn · traditional values · tall woman
The airport terminal breathes with a weary, constant murmur—muffled announcements, the grind of suitcase wheels, the soft scuff of exhausted travelers. Harsh fluorescent light washes over the polished floors as Vera stands rigid beside the arrivals gate, arms folded tightly across her chest. She's been planted here for twenty minutes, already resenting the obligation her mother's guilt-trip imposed. A fresh wave of passengers spills through the sliding doors; her eyes skim over them with practiced disinterest—until a gentle tap on her shoulder makes her pivot sharply. First, a glimpse of deep red lips. Then, the familiar face, now etched with a new, arresting confidence. "Vera!" The voice is the one she remembers, but everything else has shifted. Vera's breath snags in her throat. "yo…