Chapter 23 - Possessive Hearts
Tee's hand brushed against Nio's as they walked back from the campus café, the late afternoon sun painting long shadows across the sidewalk. Nio's heart fluttered at the contact, a small spark of warmth that he couldn't quite explain. But it wasn't just the touch. It was the way Tee kept looking over at him, his usual teasing smile now replaced with something a little more intense.
Nio kept his gaze straight ahead, feeling an unfamiliar tension in the air. He was used to Tee's playful teasing, the way he could make Nio blush without even trying. But today, it felt like there was something more behind Tee's actions. Something that made Nio feel… uneasy.
As they reached the dorms, Nio hesitated before unlocking the door.
"Something wrong?" Tee asked, his voice low and curious.
"Nothing," Nio said quickly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Tee was hiding something. He stepped inside and set his bag on the table, trying to shake off the odd sense of tension that had built between them.
Tee followed him in, shutting the door behind them. "You're being weird. What's going on?"
"I'm fine," Nio said, shrugging it off. He turned to face Tee, but before he could say anything else, he noticed the look in Tee's eyes.
It wasn't just playful anymore. It was possessive.
"You're acting like you're avoiding me," Tee said, taking a step closer. "Why?"
Nio's heart skipped a beat. "I'm not avoiding you."
Tee raised an eyebrow, his gaze narrowing. "Then why do I feel like you're trying to run away every time I get too close?"
"I'm not - "
"Don't lie," Tee interrupted, his voice soft but firm. "I see the way you look at other guys. When they get too close, you pull away from me. Like you're afraid I'll get jealous."
Nio froze. He hadn't realized how much it showed. He hadn't thought it mattered.
"I… I don't want you to be mad at me," Nio admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Why would I be mad?" Tee asked, his tone shifting to something softer. "You know I'm not like that."
Nio shook his head. "I don't know, Tee. You act like you don't care, but I can tell when it bothers you. When you get that look on your face…"
Tee sighed, stepping closer, placing a hand gently on Nio's shoulder. "I'm not mad at you, Nio. But if you're not going to let me get close, I can't help but feel… I don't know, frustrated. You're making it harder than it has to be."
Nio's chest tightened. He didn't know what to say. It was all so confusing. He'd never had someone this close before. Tee was everything he didn't expect - everything he didn't know he needed.
"I don't want to push you away," Nio said, looking up into Tee's eyes. "I don't know what's happening, but I don't want to lose you."
Tee smiled, a small, understanding smile, as if he'd been waiting for Nio to admit it all along. "You won't lose me," Tee said, brushing a lock of hair from Nio's forehead. "But if you keep pushing me away, you might."
Nio's heart stuttered as the words sank in. He wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that Tee really meant it. That everything would be okay.