She Belongs To Him

Chapter 2 : Mate

The clock creeps closer to midnight as I step into the hallway. The air feels thick, like even the silence has weight. It’s pitch black—so dark I’m convinced I’ll trip over something and break my neck.

It’s happened before. I know the drill.

I fumble forward, eyes straining in the darkness. Maybe turning the lights off really *was* a dumb idea. I can’t see a thing, and now I’m regretting every life choice that led me here.

“Stupid switch,” I mutter, my voice cutting through the quiet. My companion, on the other hand, bolts off toward the living room like a fearless little gremlin.

Mark insisted on zero suspicion when we arrived—but did it have to be this *dark*? It’s like they *want* me to fall on my face.

After several toe-stubbing stumbles, I finally find the switch. I flip it on—and the room bursts to life.

“Surprise!”

Laughter explodes as people jump out from behind couches and furniture. I freeze for a second, blinking against the light. Then I glance at Callyx—his eyes wide, frozen in place.

Pride swells in my chest as I take it all in: the ridiculous decorations, the confetti falling like lazy snow, the warm lighting. It’s perfect.

I can’t help but giggle when I spot Callyx again. He’s standing with a hand on his head, mouth slightly open, still trying to process it all.

“Hey, Callyx, this was all Eira’s idea,” Kwon says, suddenly beside me with an arm slung over my shoulder. He grins and points at me.

I roll my eyes. “Since your parents are celebrating your birthday in Jeju, our Eira decided to throw you a party a day early,” Kwon explains, giving me a side hug. “So we could still be here for it.”

Callyx’s eyes are still on me. I flip my hair for dramatic effect, completely missing the admiration flickering in his gaze.

“I’m such a great friend,” I say, loud enough for the crowd to hear. It earns a few laughs.

But Callyx isn’t laughing.

Before I can react, he grabs my wrist and pulls me into his chest. I freeze, surprised… and then melt into the warmth of his hug. I don’t normally do hugs. But I make an exception for him—just today.

“Thank you, Eira,” he murmurs, voice low and warm near my ear. “I love it.”

My heart softens instantly. I was about to respond when—

“Woooo! Get it, Eira!” Josh’s obnoxious voice cuts through the moment. He’s in the crowd making kissy faces, orange hair sticking up in every direction.

I shoot him a warning glare. He grins harder.

“You should be grateful,” I mumble to Callyx, trying to shift gears. “I’m broke because of you,” I add, thinking back to the six rounds of ice cream he conned me into earlier.

Callyx chuckles and lets go of me. I pout a little when he pulls back. I kind of miss the hug.

I rub the back of my neck, but then I notice something strange—Callyx is still staring at me, brows slightly drawn. Focused. Intense.

“Earth to Callyx?” I snap my fingers in front of his face. “You there, little buddy?”

He blinks back to life and casually takes my hand, lowering it.

“Where’s my present?”

I blink. The shift catches me off guard.

“…Wait here,” I say, already turning. I return moments later with a black-and-white floral gift bag. “Happy thirty-minutes-early birthday.”

He raises a brow, opening the bag—then pulls out a pair of socks.

His eyes narrow. “Socks? Really?”

I burst out laughing. The deadpan disbelief on his face is priceless.

He rolls his eyes but lifts the socks like they’re ancient relics. “Thanks for the gift,” he says, mock-serious. “I’ll protect them with my life.”

He’s honestly sweet when he wants to be. I try to get it together, but the image of him treasuring socks like gold is too much.

“Don’t make me feel bad now,” he adds with a sly smirk. Then he pulls out another bag. “Here’s your *real* gift.”

My eyes widen. “You got me something?”

He grins as I open it—and gasp.

“No way.” I stare at the latest wireless headphones, the ones that sold out everywhere. “Didn’t these disappear off the market?!”

“Yep,” he says, clearly proud. “You’ve been talking about them for months.”

I glance up at him. “Please tell me you didn’t use your parents’ money.”

“Nope.” He shrugs, flashing a smug grin. “Paid with my own.”

I squint suspiciously. “You sure about that?”

He laughs. “Relax, Muffin.”

I roll my eyes as he pulls me into a quick side hug.

Before I can respond, all eyes shift toward Mark, who now stands at the front with a mic in hand. He throws a heart to the crowd and beams his billion-dollar grin.

“Alright, folks, we’ve got just a few minutes left before Callyx’s *real* birthday hits!” he announces.

The crowd erupts into cheers. Callyx waves them off, laughing—until he turns to a group of squealing girls and winks.

I sigh. Playboy mode: activated.

“It’s countdown time!” Mark shouts as the screen behind him starts flashing numbers.

“Ten!”

The crowd joins in. “Nine… Eight…”

“Three… Two… One!”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALLYX!”

The room erupts again as people rush over to hug him. I step back, watching with a small smile—until I catch the glint in Matt’s eyes.

He leans down, voice low. “I’ll distract him. You get the bucket.”

Matt, with his silky silver hair and unreadable smirk, is trouble in the best way.

I nod and slip into the kitchen, weaving through dancers and partygoers. I grab a bucket, fill it with water, and toss in ice for good measure.

Payback time.

I make my way back and approach carefully. Callyx still has his back to me, unaware. I wait for Matt’s cue.

“Happy birthday, Cal!” Matt yells. “You should hit the showers—don’t want you getting sick from all that water. YOU’RE WET!”

Just as Callyx turns, *splash*—ice water pours down his back.

He gasps, spinning around. “What the hell, Eira—”

Matt and I double over laughing.

But then Callyx blinks, and suddenly, the room quiets.

He wipes water from his face, locks eyes with me, and mutters one word.

“…Mate.”