The Next Day

I was not running.

I was simply... strategically avoiding.

A completely normal thing to do after last night, when Johan confessed-no, half-growled-that he liked me, hated how much he liked me.
So, yes, maybe I ducked behind a vending machine when I saw him near the courtyard. And maybe I took the long route-twice-just to avoid the library where he liked to hang out between classes. And yes, okay, fine, I might've slipped into the girls' bathroom even though I really needed the boys'.

But it was FINE.

I was handling it.

Until the third period, when I walked into my lecture hall and felt a shadow fall over me. I froze.

"Really?" a low voice said behind me, dripping with sarcasm. "You're hiding behind a ficus now?"

I didn't have to turn around to know it was him. The voice alone made my stomach flip like a pancake.

"Not hiding," I mumbled, cheeks heating as I inched toward my seat.

Johan stepped in front of me, blocking my path with his tall, broad frame and that maddening scent of mint and danger. His jaw was locked again-classic-and his brows were drawn in thunderous disbelief.

"You've been avoiding me all morning," he said, voice tight. "Don't deny it."

"I wasn't-" I started, then immediately abandoned the lie under his glare. "Okay, maybe a little."

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because you-" I waved my hands around like they might form a coherent thought. "You said... things."

He scoffed. "You mean the truth?"

"Exactly!" I hissed. "You can't just say stuff like that and then expect me to act normal!"

"I didn't say it so you'd act normal," Johan bit out, leaning in closer, voice lower now. "I said it because I meant it. And I'm not going to stand around and play chase while you run like I confessed to murder instead of feelings."

"I wasn't ready!" I blurted. "You don't warn people before dropping a bomb like that!"

He stared at me, seething. "I don't warn people when they're mine."

My breath caught.

Oh no.

There it was again-that possessive fire in his eyes, like he'd staked some invisible claim on me and dared anyone to question it.

"I'm not a thing you can own," I said quietly, cheeks hot.

"No," he replied. "But you're still mine. That hasn't changed just because you're panicking."

My stomach did a very unhelpful swoop.

I huffed, brushing past him and into my seat. He followed me like a shadow, dropping into the seat beside me like he'd decided that was his now, too.

"Still avoiding me?" he asked under his breath, tone deceptively calm.

I stared straight ahead. "Still being terrifying?"

He chuckled darkly. "Only when you make me."

I slouched down in my seat, pulling my hoodie strings to hide my face.

God. This was going to be the longest day ever.

_____________________

I should've gone home.

I knew I should've skipped lunch and just starved in peace. But no, I had to walk straight into enemy territory: the campus cafeteria.

The moment I entered, I spotted them-Easter, Dao, and Phoon already seated at our usual table, cackling about something with their boyfriends. Hill had his arm lazily slung around Easter's chair, Arthit and Dao were feeding each other fries (gross), and Tonfa had his chin on Phoon's shoulder like a literal cat.

It was all cute and sickening until they saw me.

Dao's eyes sparkled with devilish glee. "Look who finally crawled out of hiding."

"North!" Easter chirped. "How's your possessive playboy doing today? Still growling like a guard dog?"

Phoon smirked over his iced tea. "Or has he marked his territory yet? Should we check your neck?"

I groaned and dropped my tray on the table, face already turning pink. "I will walk into traffic."

"Oh please, you love the attention," Dao teased. "You just don't know how to handle it."

"I don't!" I snapped. "He's everywhere. Following me. Sitting next to me in class. Putting his hand on my back like he's trying to brand me or something."

Hill snorted. "He is trying to brand you. Have you met Johan?"

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Tell your boyfriend to chill."

Easter sipped his drink with a grin. "I would, but I think he'd rather die than 'chill' where you're concerned."

Just then, the cafeteria doors slammed open.

"Oh no," I whispered.

There he was-Johan. Wind in his hair like he'd just stepped out of a K-drama, wearing that same annoyed-but-hot expression he always wore when looking for me.

He spotted our table in under three seconds and stalked over like a lion that had finally cornered its prey.

My friends were silent now-watching the scene unfold like it was their favorite soap opera.

"North," Johan said, voice low and commanding as he came up behind me. His hand slid naturally onto my shoulder, thumb brushing the curve of my neck. "You didn't text me where you were going."

"I don't have to update you every five minutes!" I squeaked, glaring at his chest because looking at his face was too much.

"You do now," he said casually, pulling out the empty chair beside me. He sat down and placed his arm across the back of my seat, his hand resting just over my shoulder like it belonged there.

I could feel the heat rising to my ears.

"You're insane," I muttered.

"And you're mine," he said simply, like it was just fact.

Dao made an exaggerated gagging sound while Arthit murmured, "I can't decide if this is romantic or horrifying."

Tonfa leaned toward Phoon and whispered loudly, "Ten baht says Johan kisses him before lunch ends."

I choked on my drink. "Can you not bet on my love life?!"

"Too late," Easter grinned. "The entire table's in."

"I hate you all."

Johan, meanwhile, looked pleased. "We've good friends"

I narrowed my eyes. "You mean traitors."

He ignored me and picked a fry from my tray. My tray. "Eat. You skipped breakfast."

"How do you know that?"

"I asked your roommate."

"I'm filing a restraining order."

He leaned in slightly, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. "You say that, but you keep blushing every time I touch you."

I shoved a fry in his mouth to shut him up, face now boiling.

Dao squealed. "Adorable! We need a group chat just to document this."

"Already made it," Phoon smirked, holding up his phone. "It's called North's Downfall."

I buried my face in my hands.

This was my life now.