"Confessions in the Garden"

The warmth of the sun on my skin was a welcome respite from the tension that had been building up inside me since the previous night. As we spent the morning lounging in the garden, Charles had excused himself to go for a walk with one of our friends, leaving Charlie and me alone. I was lost in thought, replaying the events of the previous night in my head, when Charlie sat down beside me. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the flowers blooming in the garden bed. "Hey," he said finally, turning to me with a serious expression. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I nodded, feeling a sense of curiosity. Charlie looked around the garden, making sure we were out of earshot. "I think I need to tell you something," he said, his voice low and husky. "Something about Charles." My heart skipped a beat as I turned to him. "What is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. Charlie took a deep breath before speaking. "I have feelings for him," he said, the words tumbling out of his mouth like a confession. "Romantic feelings. I've had them for a while now, but I didn't know how to process them, or how to tell him." I felt a surge of surprise, but also a sense of understanding. I had seen the way Charlie looked at Charles, the way he hovered around him, always making sure he was okay. "But what about last night?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What happened between us?" Charlie's eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the vulnerability there. "That was amazing," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "But it's complicated, isn't it? I mean, we...we shared a moment, and it felt incredible. But my feelings for Charles...they're real, and I don't know what to do with them." I reached out and took Charlie's hand, offering him what little comfort I could. "We'll figure it out," I said. "Together." Just then, Charles and their friend walked back into the garden, laughing and chatting. Charlie quickly pulled his hand away, a look of panic crossing his face. "Hey, guys," Charles said, his eyes scanning the garden until they landed on us. "What's going on?" Charlie and I exchanged a look, and I knew that we had both decided to keep his confession between us, for now. But I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.