It didn't take long for Nio to notice the change. The way Tee acted around him had shifted after their conversation. He was more affectionate, more open - almost as if Tee was trying to make up for the distance that had been there before.
But the real turning point came one afternoon when Nio was walking to the library with his friend, Somchai. Somchai was a senior, the kind of guy who always seemed to be surrounded by people. He was outgoing, confident, and had a way of making everyone around him feel like they were the most important person in the room.
It didn't take long for Nio to realize Tee was watching them. He was leaning against the wall outside the dorm, arms crossed, a frown pulling at his lips. Nio felt an uneasy twist in his stomach.
"Somchai, I'll catch up with you later," Nio said quickly, walking away from his friend and toward Tee. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing," Tee muttered, his gaze flicking toward the ground.
But Nio wasn't fooled. He knew Tee too well now. There was something off about the way Tee was acting. It was the same kind of possessive energy Nio had noticed before, but this time it was sharper, more pronounced.
"Tee, are you jealous?" Nio asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.
Tee's eyes flashed with something Nio couldn't quite place, and for a moment, he didn't say anything. He just stood there, hands clenched at his sides, looking like he was holding back something.
"I don't like it when you spend so much time with him," Tee finally admitted, his voice tight.
Nio felt his stomach drop. "Tee…"
"I don't know why I feel like this," Tee said, his words coming out in a rush. "But I do. I can't stand the thought of you looking at someone else the way you look at me."
Nio's heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't expected this - hadn't expected Tee to admit it so openly, so vulnerably. But hearing it made something click inside of him. He wasn't the only one struggling with this strange, growing attraction between them.
"I only look at him like that because he's my friend," Nio said, trying to calm the situation. "You don't have to worry about Somchai."
But Tee didn't seem reassured. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his gaze intense.
"I don't want to be just your friend, Nio," Tee whispered. "I want to be more than that. So much more."
Nio's breath caught in his throat as Tee cupped his face, pulling him closer until their lips were just a breath apart. "Tee…" Nio whispered, his voice trembling.
"I want you, Nio," Tee confessed. "And I won't back down until you realize it too."
Nio's heart was racing, but something deep inside told him this was the moment he'd been waiting for. He closed the gap between them, kissing Tee softly, tentatively - until the kiss deepened, and Nio couldn't help but pull Tee closer.