Jealousy Is A Terrible Feeling
928 Words
CHAPTER 15
Leanne walked into the literature clubroom still thinking about Ren’s red ears.
Which was a problem.
A very embarrassing problem.
Because now every time she remembered accidentally holding his hand—
Her brain stopped functioning for several seconds.
Tragic.
Absolutely tragic.
The moment she entered the clubroom—
Chris immediately narrowed his eyes suspiciously from the couch.
“…Why are you smiling like that?”
Leanne froze.
“I’m not smiling.”
“You absolutely are.”
Kai looked up from organizing ingredients nearby.
“She does look suspiciously happy.”
Ren nearly choked on air.
Leanne immediately pointed at them.
“Why is everyone attacking me today?”
Chris stood dramatically.
“Because something happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
Chris gasped loudly.
“YOU HESITATED.”
Carl sighed from the table while reviewing paperwork.
“You’re interrogating her like a detective.”
“Because I sense betrayal.”
Ren quietly opened his book again.
“…You’re overreacting.”
Chris slowly turned toward him.
And narrowed his eyes harder.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
“…Wait.”
Ren froze slightly.
Chris pointed dramatically between the two of them.
“YOU TWO WERE ALONE TOGETHER FOR THE PROJECT.”
Leanne blinked.
“…Yes?”
“And now Ren looks like he saw a romance movie.”
Kai immediately looked toward Ren too.
Ren looked seconds away from evaporating.
Carl slowly hid his smile behind his coffee cup.
Chris gasped even louder.
“Oh my gosh.”
“Chris,” Ren warned quietly.
“You held hands, didn’t you?!”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Leanne’s face exploded into heat instantly.
Kai dropped a spoon.
Carl nearly laughed out loud.
Ren froze completely.
Chris stared at both of them with the expression of someone discovering national secrets.
“…YOU DID.”
“Nobody died,” Ren muttered quietly.
“REN SANTOS.”
“It was accidental.”
“That’s WORSE somehow.”
Leanne covered her face immediately.
“I hate this club.”
Chris dramatically collapsed onto the couch.
“My own cousin stealing my partner.”
“We were doing homework,” Ren answered calmly.
“But emotionally.”
“That sentence doesn’t even mean anything.”
Kai snorted quietly while trying not to laugh.
And honestly?
Leanne noticed something strange.
Chris was joking.
Still playful.
Still dramatic.
But for some reason—
His smile looked slightly forced now.
Only slightly.
Tiny enough most people wouldn’t notice.
But she did.
Then suddenly—
Chris stood up immediately.
“I need snacks.”
Carl blinked.
“You just ate.”
“I’m emotionally hungry.”
“That’s concerning.”
Chris ignored him and walked out of the clubroom casually.
But somehow—
The atmosphere changed after he left.
Ren slowly looked down at his book again quietly.
Kai sighed softly.
Carl leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
And Leanne suddenly realized something strange.
Chris had laughed.
Joked.
Teased them.
But the moment he found out she held hands with Ren—
He left the room.
Weird.
Very weird.
---
About fifteen minutes later—
Leanne found Chris alone near the academy vending machines.
He leaned lazily against the wall while drinking strawberry milk.
Of course it was strawberry milk.
Leanne walked closer carefully.
“…You disappeared.”
Chris blinked after noticing her.
“Oh. Hi.”
There it is again.
That smile.
Bright.
Easy.
But somehow emptier than usual.
Leanne crossed her arms slowly.
“…Are you upset?”
Chris looked genuinely surprised.
“Huh?”
“You left suddenly.”
“I wanted snacks.”
“You already had snacks.”
“More snacks.”
Leanne stared at him suspiciously.
Chris laughed softly.
“You’re overthinking again.”
Maybe.
But something still felt strange.
Then Chris suddenly offered his drink toward her dramatically.
“Peace offering?”
Leanne sighed but accepted one sip anyway.
Sweet.
Way too sweet.
“Disgusting.”
“You wound me.”
Leanne smiled slightly before handing the drink back.
Then quietly—
“…You really don’t like being left out, huh?”
Chris froze slightly.
Only for a second.
Then he smiled again casually.
“What does that mean?”
Leanne leaned beside him against the vending machine.
“You get weird whenever the others spend time without you.”
Chris laughed lightly.
“That’s because everyone loves me.”
“That confidence is terrifying.”
“But true.”
Leanne rolled her eyes.
Yet somehow—
She still noticed it.
The tiny shift in his expression whenever he thought nobody was paying attention.
Like now.
Chris stared quietly at the strawberry milk bottle in his hands for a moment too long.
Then softly—
“…I just like being included.”
The words came out quieter than usual.
More honest.
Leanne looked at him carefully.
And suddenly—
She remembered what Sabrina said.
> “Once he cares about someone… he cares too much.”
Her chest tightened slightly.
Before she could answer—
Chris suddenly smiled brightly again.
Completely normal.
Like the vulnerable moment never happened.
“Anyway,” he announced dramatically, “if you hold hands with Ren again, I demand compensation.”
Leanne blinked.
“…Compensation?”
“Yes.”
“For emotional damages.”
“You’re insane.”
“I want strawberry cake.”
“That’s not compensation.”
“It is in my heart.”
Leanne burst into laughter again despite herself.
And instantly—
Chris smiled properly again too.
Warm.
Bright.
Real.
Like making her laugh fixed something inside him.
And somehow—
That realization felt dangerous.
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