BAD BLOOD

CHAPTER VII - SHADOWS BETWEEN HEARTBEATS

[Marlowie’s POV]

(The sun was already leaning toward late afternoon when Marlowie Reyes found herself standing in front of Sasha’s massive double-door entrance. She wasn’t here for art commissions or her usual afternoon coffee; she had a more personal, slightly embarrassing reason. For the past three nights, her dreams had been haunted—not in a bad way—by one particular person: Cody Velarde. And now, it was starting to bother her. In the dreams, Cody wasn’t just passing by—she was laughing, teasing, leaning in close like they were sharing secrets. Marlowie would wake up with her heart pounding, an image of those sharp, confident eyes lingering. She needed to tell someone before she lost her mind, and Sasha was the only person she trusted enough.)

(Marlowie rang the bell. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Sasha Cervañes, barefoot, wearing a loose silk robe that screamed effortless luxury.)

"Well, well, look who’s here, it's Marlowie Reyes..." Sasha said, smiling as she stepped aside. "Come in, Marls. You look… distracted."

"Yeah," Marlowie admitted, stepping into the cool, sweetly scented air of Sasha’s house. "I… actually came here to talk to you about something personal."

Sasha arched an eyebrow. "Personal? This sounds promising. Or scandalous." She grinned. "Kitchen first. I made iced coffee."

(They moved toward Sasha’s spacious kitchen, a marble-countered paradise with every appliance gleaming under soft pendant lights. Outside the open sliding glass doors, the pool glistened under the fading sunlight, calm and inviting.)

Sasha poured two tall glasses of iced coffee and handed one to Marlowie. "Alright, spill. What’s going on in that overthinking artist brain of yours?"

Marlowie took a sip, hesitated, then leaned on the counter. "Okay… so, I’ve been having these dreams. About someone."

Sasha’s smirk widened instantly. "Someone? A woman, I presume?"

"Yes. And before you start teasing, it’s Cody Velarde."

Sasha nearly choked on her drink. "Cody? The Cody Velarde? The one with the soldier posture and the permanent smirk?"

"Exactly. She’s… tough, interesting, a little unpredictable. Playful, too. She’s… my type," Marlowie admitted, rubbing her neck.

Sasha set her drink down, leaning closer. "So, you’re telling me you’ve been subconsciously fantasizing about Ms. Tall-and-Smirk for three days straight? Oh, Marls, this is gold."

"Don’t make fun of me," Marlowie said, but she was smiling despite herself. "It’s just… every time I dream about her, I wake up thinking there’s more to her than she lets on. I can’t shake it."

Sasha tapped her fingers on the counter thoughtfully. "Funny. Because I’ve also been… obsessing over someone lately."

Marlowie blinked. "Wait—you? Miss ‘I’m too busy to care about romance’?"

Sasha laughed softly. "Guilty. Her name’s Gray Angeles."

(That caught Marlowie off guard. Gray Angeles—the quiet, strong one with the firefighter background and eyes that seemed to see straight through you. She wasn’t flashy like Cody; she was more subtle, more… deliberate. And come to think of it, Marlowie had seen the way Gray looked at Sasha sometimes. Or maybe she had imagined it.)

"Wow," Marlowie said, grinning. "Looks like we’re both hopeless."

"Hopeless and maybe a little reckless," Sasha agreed. "But honestly, Gray… there’s something about her. She’s calm, collected, but you can tell she’s been through a lot. I like women who can hold their ground."

Marlowie nodded. "I get that. Cody’s different. She’s the type who challenges you, who keeps you on your toes. I can’t decide if I want to punch her or…" She trailed off, blushing.

Sasha burst out laughing. "Or what, Marls? Finish the sentence."

"Or… kiss her," Marlowie mumbled, hiding her face behind her glass.

(Their conversation drifted toward descriptions—long, detailed ones—of their respective crushes. They compared notes like teenagers gossiping in a high school cafeteria, except this was over iced coffee in a million-peso kitchen.)

"Gray’s got that short hair that’s not exactly boyish, but it frames her face so well," Sasha said dreamily. "And when she talks, it’s like she’s not in a hurry. She’s… careful with her words. Makes you listen."

"Cody’s got that walk—confident, almost cocky," Marlowie replied. "And her arms—don’t even get me started. You can tell she’s been through military training."

"You really like her, huh?"

"I don’t know if it’s like or just… fascination," Marlowie said honestly. "But she’s in my head now."

Sasha tilted her head. "So, what’s your plan? Or are you just going to keep having coffee and complaining to me about it?"

Marlowie laughed. "I don’t have a plan. It’s not like I know if she’s even into women."

"Marls, she’s Cody Velarde," Sasha said, sipping her drink with a knowing smile. "Trust me, she’s into women."

(They eventually moved outside to the poolside lounge chairs, the warm glow from the pool lights reflecting on their skin. The conversation took on a more relaxed tone, but neither of them realized just how dangerous their attractions were. To them, Cody and Gray were just intriguing women they had met—nothing more. The truth was buried deep, locked away under codenames and years of enmity. But for now, ignorance was bliss.)

Marlowie dangled her feet in the water. "You ever think… maybe we’re both wasting time? I mean, we don’t even know these women that well."

Sasha shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe we’re just… human. We’re drawn to what intrigues us. And honestly, I’m not sorry for it."

"You’re not afraid of getting hurt?"

"Of course I am," Sasha admitted, her voice softer now. "But some people are worth the risk. Even if it’s just to find out who they really are."

Marlowie looked down at the water, her reflection shimmering beside Sasha’s. "You know, if we keep talking like this, we’re going to end up writing a whole love story in our heads before anything even happens."

Sasha smiled. "And is that really such a bad thing?"

(They stayed by the pool until the coffee was gone and the stars were high. Neither of them knew that their hearts were already walking toward a battlefield. For now, it was just laughter, teasing, and shared secrets under the night sky. Tomorrow, reality would remind them that love—especially in their world—was never simple.)