Jealous?

Save sat in the middle of his lecture hall, scribbling down notes in an attempt to focus. The professor's words droned on, but Save's mind kept wandering.

Thoughts of his family's pressure for him to go along with the wedding hung over him like a dark cloud. He could barely concentrate, and the upcoming marriage arrangement with Auau had made everything feel even more suffocating.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the sudden presence behind him until two arms wrapped around his waist, startling him.

"Save, you're way too serious for a Tuesday morning,"

Ryujin's voice echoed, light and teasing, as he pulled his friend into a loose hug from behind.

"Ryujin! What the hell?" Save muttered, though he couldn't hide the small grin that appeared at his best friend's sudden attack.

Ryujin pulled back slightly, his chin resting on Save's shoulder as he smiled mischievously. "Relax, you look like you're about to burst a vein. I thought I'd help you out a bit."

Save blinked, trying to push him off playfully. "I wasn't stressed, you idiot," he grumbled, though his voice was tinged with amusement. "I was just... focused."

Ryujin didn't seem convinced. "Right. You're focused. That's why you look like you've been hit by a truck." He pulled away and set a small box down on Save's desk. "Anyway, I brought you something to help with that 'focus.'"

Save raised an eyebrow as Ryujin opened the box to reveal a dozen colorful donuts, their glossy icing gleaming under the classroom lights.

"No way!! Donuts?" Save stared, a little surprised by the sudden sugary temptation. His stomach growled as if on cue, but he quickly regained his composure. "Why the donuts, though?"

"Because you need cheering up," Ryujin said, plopping down in the empty chair beside him.

"You've been looking like someone stole your soul lately, so I figured I'd fix that with something a little sweet. By the way you focus on what, though?" Ryujin snickered, "You've been staring at that page for an hour. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're avoiding something."

Save hesitated. He didn't want to burden Ryujin with his family drama, but at the same time, Ryujin was his best friend. he'd been there for him through everything, so why not now?

"I've got a lot on my mind," Save said, sighing. "My family's been on my case about...this wedding. They're insisting I go along with it, and I don't even know why. I didn't ask for any of this."

Ryujin pulled back slightly, his expression faltering for just a moment. "Wedding? What wedding?"

Save paused, noticing the shift in Ryujin's demeanor but brushed it off. "Yeah, my family arranged it. They want me to marry someone from a family they've known forever. It's all some old promise between my grandfathers. And now I'm stuck in the middle of it, trying to figure out how to get through it without completely losing my mind."

As he spoke, Ryujin's expression tightened, his hand subtly clenching on the desk as he forced a neutral smile. He hadn't expected this. The thought of Save marrying someone else, someone other than him, made an unexpected twinge of jealousy rise in his chest. He quickly masked it with a chuckle, though there was a slight edge to his tone.

"That... sounds like a lot, man. But... wait, this guy you're marrying..do you at least know him?" Ryujin asked, his voice tight, though he kept his gaze fixed on Save.

Save furrowed his brow, sensing the shift in Ryujin's mood. "Yeah, I know him. His name's Auau. But honestly, I don't know him well. We've barely talked, and the idea of suddenly marrying him is ridiculous."

Ryujin's smile remained in place, but there was something off about it now. His eyes narrowed just slightly, and for a moment, he seemed distant, lost in thought. "Hmm. Sounds like you've got a lot to figure out with him, huh?"

Save didn't notice the slight tension in Ryujin's voice. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face in frustration. "It's just all so messed up. I didn't ask for this marriage, and I don't know how to make them understand that. They want me to get along with him, but how do I do that when I'm not even sure I want to?"

Ryujin's jaw tightened as he kept his gaze on Save. It was hard to ignore the surge of jealousy building in him. The thought of Save being with someone else, someone he didn't even know well, twisted something inside him. He tried to push it away, but the feeling lingered.

"Yeah," Ryujin finally spoke, his tone quieter than usual. "I get it. But hey, it's your choice, right? You don't have to go through with it if you really don't want to. You could just... tell them to back off." He gave a half-hearted chuckle, though his voice still held that underlying tension.

Save looked at Ryujin, sensing that something was off. His best friend had always been carefree, never one to get too serious, but there was something different in his eyes.

"I wish it were that simple," Save replied, noticing the subtle shift in Ryujin's mood. "But when my family gets this stubborn, it's hard to back out. You know how they are."

Ryujin nodded slowly, his lips pressed together in a thin line. "Yeah, I get it. Well, if you ever need someone to talk to about it, you know I'm here."

Save smiled, appreciating Ryujin's offer, but he still felt the weight of the conversation hanging between them. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on, something Ryujin wasn't saying. But he didn't want to press it.

"Thanks, Ryujin. Really," Save said, reaching for a donut from the box Ryujin had placed in front of him. "This whole thing's been eating me alive. I'm glad you're here."

Ryujin nodded, though he couldn't quite shake the odd feeling inside him. "Of course. You're my best friend, Save. I've got your back, no matter what."

The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Save took a bite of the donut, and though it was sweet, the heaviness of the situation lingered in his chest. Ryujin, on the other hand, kept stealing glances at him, his mind swirling with thoughts he couldn't quite voice.

Maybe he didn't have the right to feel this way. After all, it wasn't like he had ever said anything. But the idea of Save being with someone else hurt more than he expected.

For now, though, Ryujin pushed the feeling down, burying it behind a smile, even if it didn't reach his eyes. Save didn't notice. Too caught up in his own worries. But Ryujin couldn't help but wonder how things would play out, now that Save was about to get close to someone else, someone who wasn't him.