Chapter 28

Nani Hirunkit

The evening air was cooling as the sun dipped lower, casting a golden hue over the campus. It had been a long day, and I just wanted to get home. As Dew, Win, and I walked toward Dew's car, I could feel the tension between us. Dew had been unusually quiet all day, and his silence made me wonder what was on his mind. It wasn't like him to keep things bottled up for long.

We were almost at the car when Dew suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing as they locked on something—or someone—across the parking lot. I followed his gaze and saw Sky, who was walking toward his own car. I could already feel the shift in the air. Dew was tense, and I knew that the way things had been building up all day, he wouldn't let May's behavior toward me go unnoticed.

I could see Win glancing at Dew, then at me, his expression unreadable. It was clear that he wasn't surprised by Dew's reaction. They knew each other too well. If Dew had an issue with something, he wouldn't let it slide.

"Sky..." Dew muttered under his breath, his voice tight as he shifted his weight, preparing to step forward. I could tell he wanted to say something, to confront Sky, but before he could take a step, May appeared.

She came out of nowhere, her steps quick and confident as she walked straight toward Sky. My stomach twisted as I watched her approach him, a smile already spreading across her face. I had no idea how long she'd been following Sky around, but I knew exactly what she was doing now. She was making her move.

And then, without warning, she clung to Sky. Her arm wrapped around his, and she practically melted into him, acting all sweet and cutesy like she owned him.

I felt a cold knot form in my chest, watching the scene unfold. It was like everything I had been trying to ignore suddenly crashed down on me. May had been on Sky's tail for a while, but this? This felt different. This was public, and it felt like an attempt to stake a claim.

Dew shifted again, his entire body going stiff as his eyes darkened. For a moment, he stood there, staring at May like she was the biggest annoyance in the world. He looked like he was about to explode. And then, without a word, Dew turned around.

It wasn't like he was backing down; it was more like he was giving himself a moment to breathe before confronting the situation in his own way. His jaw clenched as he faced away from them, and I could see the anger simmering in his posture.

Win, who had been walking beside Dew, exchanged a quick glance with me. I wasn't sure what he was thinking, but his expression was calm. He was used to this side of Dew—the protective side that didn't take shit from anyone, especially when it came to people he cared about.

Sky, for his part, seemed taken aback by May's clinginess. He didn't immediately pull away, but I could see him stiffening under her touch. He glanced around, clearly uncomfortable with the situation but unsure of how to handle it.

May looked up at Sky, beaming at him like nothing was wrong. "Sky, you're finally here! I missed you today!" she said, her voice saccharine sweet.

Sky seemed hesitant, glancing back toward Dew and Win, who had both turned their attention away, clearly waiting for him to make the next move. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I knew that Dew wasn't going to let this go.

But for now, Dew remained silent, the only sound the distant hum of the campus as the evening settled around us.

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The apartment was quiet for a change. Dew was in the kitchen cooking, his usual carefree energy filling the room, while Win had sprawled out on the couch with his phone. It was one of those rare moments when the tension from the day had finally ebbed away, leaving space for something simple, something comforting.

"Son," Dew called from the kitchen, not even looking up from the pasta he was stirring. "Do you want your plate now or later?"

I stiffened, feeling that familiar irritation bubble up. I hated it. Always had. But I didn't say anything. I never did. I just let it slide. There was something about the way Dew and Win treated me—like I belonged here—that made it hard to get mad at them, even when Dew was being his usual teasing self.

"Just bring it over whenever," I muttered, shrugging it off.

Win shot me a grin, his usual teasing smile in place. "You know, you really should get used to it. Dew has a thing for calling people 'Son.' He does it to pretty much everyone."

I jokingly rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. I wasn't about to fight about it now.

Dew finally turned around, holding three steaming plates of pasta. "Who's ready for some real food?" he asked with a grin, the playful glint in his eyes unmistakable.

I didn't respond, just grabbed my plate and dug in. The food was good, better than I'd expected, and for a few moments, the conversation shifted to something light. Win was scrolling through his phone, while Dew was in the middle of telling some ridiculous story about his childhood. I half-listened, my mind wandering back to the nickname. I wasn't sure why it bothered me. It wasn't like I hated Dew. Far from it. But the nickname always felt a little... off. Like I wasn't quite ready for it.

Dew seemed to forget all about the nickname as he shifted his attention to Win. He gave a cheeky grin before standing up from the seat beside me, crossing over to Win, and leaning down. "Hey, babe," Dew said, his voice a little too smooth. "You know, you're looking extra cute today."

Win glanced up from his phone, a little surprised, but then his eyes narrowed. "Dew..."

Dew leaned in closer, his grin widening as he reached to brush Win's hair behind his ear, moving in for a kiss.

Win quickly pulled back, his face flushing, but he wasn't having it. "Stop. Not in front of Nani, Dew." His tone was sharp, though there was a clear blush on his cheeks, making it hard to take him too seriously.

Dew pouted, straightening up and crossing his arms. "Aww, come on, Win. It's not like we're doing anything embarrassing." He glanced over at me with a playful glint in his eyes, as if asking for permission.

I just kept eating my pasta, pretending to be uninterested in their antics.

Win looked back at Dew, his face now fully flushed. "We're in front of Nani. Have some decency."

Dew's pout deepened, but his playful side was still very much present. "That's okay," he said, his voice almost teasing, "we can do it when we're alone." He shot Win a wink.

Win let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his temples. "Dew... You're a little too much sometimes."

Dew just chuckled, leaning back against the couch as he watched Win's embarrassed reaction. "Maybe. But you love it."

I couldn't help but smirk at their back-and-forth. It was playful, but there was something about it that felt like a comfortable routine for them. They'd been together long enough that these little moments of teasing and flustered reactions were just part of their dynamic.

I took another bite of my pasta, pretending to be uninterested in their love-drama. Even though it made me feel a little... awkward, seeing how comfortable they were with each other. It was nice in a way.