19 (old guest)

We sat comfortably in the hall. Mae was talking about the neighbors again-something about a wedding being planned next door-while Dad flipped through his newspaper, making those little "hm" sounds he always did when something caught his attention.

I was right where I wanted to be-leaning lazily into Johan's side. His arm was looped around my waist, firm and steady, while I munched on chips, occasionally turning to feed him a few. He didn't complain once, just took them with that calm expression of his, though his lips brushed my fingers every time.

It was cozy. Safe.

Until-

"Uncle! Aunt!"

A voice rang from the doorway.

All of us turned.

And I froze for only half a second before my smile exploded, bright and unrestrained.

"P'Tha!" I blurted, grinning ear to ear.

He stopped short. "North!?? When did you come back?" His tone was shocked, his eyes widening as he strode closer.

I started to get up, ready to run over and hug him-

But Johan's grip on my waist tightened.

Not lightly. Tight.

I blinked, looking at him, confused. He stared back down at me with a perfectly blank face, but his hand said it all

Don't.

P'Tha noticed, of course. His eyes flicked to Johan's arm wrapped around me. Then to our fingers resting together-where the silver couple rings gleamed under the living room light.

His smile faltered. Darkened. But he recovered quickly, flashing that sweet grin of his.

"And who's this?" he asked, voice all polite curiosity but with a sharp undertone. His gaze lingered on Johan too long.

I brightened instantly, my cheeks heating. "Phi, this is P'Johan," I said, the words tumbling out proud and unashamed. "My love."

Johan's arm squeezed me closer when I said it, and though his expression didn't change, I felt the silent satisfaction radiating off him.

"Oh." P'Tha's voice hitched for the briefest second. "I see."

Mae, blissfully unaware of the ice forming in the air, interrupted. "What brings you here, son?"

"Pa just came back from Japan," P'Tha said, producing a neatly wrapped gift. "He wanted me to deliver this to you."

Mae's smile lit up as she accepted it, gushing over the thoughtfulness.

Dad, though? Dad peeked over the top of his newspaper, eyes narrowing on Johan's hold around me, then flicking toward P'Tha's forced smile. His lips twitched like he was already amused at the silent war.

The room grew too quiet, too tense.

"P'Tha, sit! You came all the way, right?" I said quickly, trying to ease the atmosphere.

He smiled, softer this time, and came to sit across from us. His eyes, though, didn't leave me. "You should've told me you were coming back. I would've picked you up."

Before I could respond, Johan's deep voice cut through, low and smooth. "That wasn't necessary. I already did."

The air thickened instantly.

I glanced up at Johan, caught by the way his jaw was set, his eyes calm but sharp as knives. He didn't even bother to look at P'Tha directly-like the statement was enough.

P'Tha's smile flickered.

My heart flipped. I shouldn't have liked it. But... oh, I really, really did.

"Still," P'Tha pressed, leaning slightly toward me, "you didn't even message me, North. You used to tell me everything." His hand shifted on the sofa, like he was about to reach out.

But before he could, Johan movd.

His arm around me tightened again, pulling me flush into his chest. Then, casually but unmistakably, Johan extended his long arm across the sofa's back-right in front of P'Tha, forming a barrier.

I bit my lip, hiding a smile as my heart raced.

My iceberg is actually jealous.

P'Tha's hand froze mid-movement, then slowly pulled back. He covered it with a laugh, though it was too forced. "Looks like you've already been... taken care of."

Johan finally looked at him then. Calm, expressionless, but his words cut clean. "Yes. He has."

I couldn't help it-my lips curled up, a secret smile tugging at me. Johan being possessive, protective, territorial... it made me feel warm inside.

Safe. Wanted.

I nestled closer into him deliberately, just to see what he'd do.

And sure enough, Johan's arm pressed me even tighter against him, his thumb rubbing possessively over my waist.

The silence stretched. Mae tried to fill it with small talk about the neighbors' upcoming wedding, but P'Tha's focus was entirely on me.

"So," he said smoothly, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. "North, do you still go to that old café down by the market? You used to drag me there all the time, remember? Always making me share my dessert because you couldn't finish it."

I laughed, the memory warming me. "Oh god, yeah. The strawberry shortcake-"

"That was your favorite," he finished, smiling softly, eyes crinkling in that way they always did when it was just us back then.

But before I could answer, Johan's hand slid up my side, slow and deliberate, until it rested firmly at my ribs-holding me. His thumb stroked once, casual to anyone else, but I felt the unspoken message

Don't get too cozy with him.

I tilted my head up at Johan. He looked perfectly calm, sipping water, but the sharpness in his gaze when he glanced at P'Tha was undeniable.

I bit back a grin.

P'Tha wasn't done. "Do you remember that hill we used to climb? You always made me carry your backpack. You'd complain the whole way up, but then at the top-you'd just sit and smile like it was the best place in the world."

My chest softened at the memory. "I still love that hill..."

He reached across the table, brushing his fingers against mine as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "We should go there again-"

But before his skin could properly touch mine, Johan moved.

It was subtle, but absolute. He shifted my entire body closer to him, his arm coming around me like a wall. My hand disappeared against Johan's chest instead of lingering in P'Tha's reach.

P'Tha smile faltered.

And Johan finally spoke-calm, low, lethal. "He doesn't need to go with you. He already has me."

The air snapped.

Mae blinked in confusion, clearly not catching the tension. Dad, though? Dad lowered his newspaper completely now, his eyes glinting like he was watching his favorite drama unfold right in his own living room.

P'Tha chuckled awkwardly. "Of course, I didn't mean-"

"I know what you meant," Johan interrupted, his voice still soft, but with an edge that left no room for argument. His hand slid up my arm, slow and possessive, until his fingers laced tightly with mine. He tilted our hands slightly, the silver rings catching the light. "But you see, North doesn't go anywhere without me now."

My face flamed.

He really said that. Out loud. In front of my parents.

I peeked up at Johan, and the way his jaw was clenched, the controlled calm in his expression, the warmth of his hand gripping mine-it all made my chest feel tight and fluttery.

I leaned my head against his shoulder with a little smile trying to soothe him.

P'Tha's jaw ticked, though he forced another smile. "I see."

Dad cleared his throat loudly, breaking the silence. "Well, it seems North doesn't lack for... company anymore." His lips twitched like he was hiding a laugh. "That's good. Very good."

Mae just nodded happily, oblivious. "Yes, Johan takes such good care of him."

Johan's grip on me tightened almost imperceptibly at that, pride flickering in his eyes.

And me? I sat there caught between them, my heart racing, my smile refusing to fade-secretly enjoying every second of Johan's fierce jealousy.