"You look way too happy today," Dao observed, his eyes narrowing at me suspiciously from across the table.

I didn’t say anything, just let out a low hum, my face still plastered with a smile that I couldn’t wipe off even if I tried. It had been there since this morning, permanent and smug, like someone had ironed joy into my skin.

“Did Johan finally ask you to be his boyfriend or something?” Easter chimed in, raising an eyebrow as he leaned forward, curious.

The question hit harder than I expected.

My smile faltered.

I blinked.

“…No,” I mumbled, instantly deflating as my shoulders slumped. I stared down at my drink, stirring it pointlessly with the straw like it had personally betrayed me.

“Well, that’s depressing,” Easter muttered under his breath.

"Should I ask him instead?" I asked quietly, gnawing nervously on my bottom lip, voice barely above a whisper. “Like... should I do it first?”

Phoon tilted his head lazily, a knowing smirk on his face as he lounged with his usual unbothered energy.

"Up to you, baby witch,” he drawled. “If you're okay with possibly combusting from awkward tension afterward.”

Dao snorted into his coffee.

I groaned, burying my face into my arms on the table. “Nope. Nope, nope. I won’t ask. He should. He has to.”

I peeked up just enough for them to see my dramatic pout.

“I mean, he kissed me—like, kissed me—and now he’s just… acting normal. Like everything’s the same. But it’s not the same. He kissed me on a damn desk like a scene out of a drama and then just went back to being a smug pain in the ass.”

“Maybe he’s waiting for you to make the first move,” Easter said, twirling his pen.

“He’s the one with the stupid confidence and the scary eyes and the tall-ness,” I whined. “Why would I make the first move? He should.”

“Sounds like a power struggle,” Phoon muttered, sipping his drink like it was tea and he was the main character in a soap opera.

“Sounds like he doesn’t know what you want,” Dao added bluntly. “Communication, ever heard of it?”

I glared at them all in turn before flopping back down with a dramatic sigh.

“I hate feelings,” I grumbled.

“You love them,” Easter corrected.

“I hate his feelings,” I tried again.

“No, you love his feelings. You just hate waiting,” Phoon shot back, smirking.

I pouted harder.

"He's the one who should be nervous, not me! I'm the catch here," I declared.

Dao laughed. "Then act like it, dumbass."

I groaned again, dragging my hands down my face.

“I swear, if he kisses me like that again and doesn’t ask me out after, I’m filing an emotional harassment report.”

“To who?” Easter asked.

“To the universe,” I deadpanned.

✿✿✿

The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the path as I walked alongside P'Earth, the conversation between us light and aimless. It was one of those peaceful campus afternoons—the kind where the breeze is just cool enough, the trees are whispering above you, and your heart feels a little lighter than usual.

Well, mine did. Despite my complaints earlier, my lips still curled up every few seconds in a smile I couldn't quite suppress.

P'Earth gave me a sideways glance, a small smirk playing at the edge of his mouth.

“You know, if I didn’t know you better,” he said, “I’d think you were actually glowing.”

I snorted. “Shut up.”

“No, really. You’re smiling at butterflies, your hair’s bouncing like you're in a shampoo commercial, and you’ve hummed the same tune four times.”

I blinked. “I didn’t even realize I was humming…”

“Exactly,” Earth said, grinning now. “You look like a romance novel protagonist who just fell in love for the first time.”

“Phiiiii...,” I whined, but I couldn’t stop the smile creeping on my lips.

He looked at me again, and this time, his expression softened.

“You’re happy,” he said gently.

I slowed down a little, letting his words settle. Yeah. I was.

And maybe I looked ridiculous—smiling into the wind, humming to myself, probably looking like a walking ball of sugar-coated serotonin—but I didn’t care.

Because for the outside world, sure, I might’ve just looked adorable. Like a soft, slightly awkward boy in love.

But on the inside?

I was falling—fast, deep, stupid.

And then—

Suddenly, an arm snaked around my neck from behind, pulling me into a tight, rough headlock that jolted me off balance.

“Wha—!?”

I stumbled backward, arms flailing slightly as I tried to regain my footing. Earth had stepped away just in time, laughing under his breath like he knew exactly who it was before I even turned.

My back bumped into someone solid and warm, the scent of musk and leather hitting me instantly.

That familiar grip tightened for a second, not too hard—but firm enough to jolt my heart into a frenzy.

Then a low voice, deep, amused, whispered next to my ear:

“What are you smiling so much for, little brat?”

I craned my neck back with difficulty, eyes widening—and then narrowed immediately.

Dark eyes met mine.

Smoldering. Mischievous.

Johan.

Of course.

He had that infuriating smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, like he’d just caught me doing something embarrassing—which, knowing him, he absolutely thought he had.

“Phi!” I half-gasped, half-whined. “Let go! You’re choking me!”

He loosened his arm a little but didn’t fully release me.

I turned in his grip, glaring up at him, cheeks flushing—not from lack of air now, but from the close proximity and the way his eyes were scanning me like he already knew what I’d been thinking about.

He raised a brow.

“Didn’t think I’d catch you looking that dreamy in public,” he murmured. “Should I be worried?”

“Worried about what?” I snapped, shoving at his chest—though not very effectively, considering he still had one arm wrapped lazily around my waist now.

“Someone else stealing your heart,” he replied smoothly, leaning closer.

My breath caught again.

Earth coughed, loudly. “I’m right here, you know.”

Johan barely glanced at him. “And yet, I’m not worried.”

I stared at him, stunned into silence.

He really had no shame.

Still... my heart was thumping wildly in my chest.

I folded my arms across my chest, trying to scowl but failing miserably. “You can’t just grab people like that out of nowhere.”

“You’re not people,” he said without missing a beat. “You’re mine.”

The words were so casual. So direct.

So dangerous.

I swallowed.

Earth stared between us and then groaned. “I’m leaving before one of you starts dry humping the sidewalk.”

I blushed furiously.

As Earth walked off, muttering about “love sucks,” Johan finally stepped back—just enough to let me breathe—but his fingers were still curled around my wrist, thumb brushing gently over the inside of it.

My stomach flipped.

“So?” he said.

“So what?”

“Why were you smiling like that?” he asked again, a little softer this time.

I paused. Then glanced up at him.

“…Thinking about you,” I admitted under my breath.

He blinked.

And just like that—he was the one caught off guard.

Only for a second, but I saw it.

He didn’t say anything. Instead, his grip on my wrist tightened just slightly before he leaned in—his forehead brushing against mine.

“You’re really dangerous when you’re honest,” he muttered.

I smiled.

“And you’re really annoying when you sneak attack people like a street thug.”

He smirked.

But this time, there was warmth in his eyes.

Not teasing.

Not cocky.

Just soft.

___________________

Author's note-

Author is giggling a little too much . My jaw is hurting.