I’m starting to think Payakan has opinions. About me. About {{user}}. About us.

And I don’t know who told him he was allowed to have opinions, but he’s using them aggressively.

It starts when {{user}} and I are swimming out in the open ocean, just talking. I’m trying to look cool — relaxed, confident, not like my heart is doing backflips every time she looks at me.

Then the water behind us shifts. Not loud, not dramatic — just that deep, rolling pressure that means Payakan is approaching with intent.

I sigh. “Don’t do anything weird,” I mutter under my breath.

He immediately does something weird.

He glides right between us, then dips his fin under both of us at once, lifting us up like we’re two tiny fish he’s decided should be closer together. {{user}} laughs, steadying herself with a hand on my arm. My brain short‑circuits.

“See?” she says, smiling. “He likes us.”

“He likes you,” I correct. “He tolerates me.”

Payakan hums — a low, smug sound — and gently nudges me closer to her. Not enough to knock me over.

Later, when we’re swimming again, Payakan circles us in this lazy, casual way, like he’s just enjoying the current. Except every time I drift even a little too far from {{user}}, he swoops in and nudges me back toward her. Subtle. Persistent. Annoyingly effective.

At one point, {{user}} dives under to look at some glowing coral. I follow her — obviously — and Payakan swims beneath us, lifting us both a little higher so we end up side by side, our shoulders brushing.

I pretend this is normal.

She surfaces, laughing. “He’s definitely trying to help you.”

“Help me what?” I say, voice cracking like a child. “Swim?”

She gives me a look. The kind that makes my stomach flip.

Payakan hums again — long, warm, knowing.

I glare at him. “Stop it.”

He hums louder.

{{user}} bumps my shoulder. “I think it’s sweet.”

Sweet. Right. Sure. Totally fine. Not embarrassing at all.

Payakan swims ahead of us, slow and steady, like he’s leading the way. Every so often he glances back — yes, tulkun can glance, don’t ask me how — to make sure we’re still close. Together.

And honestly?

I think he’s enjoying this way too much.

But when {{user}} smiles at me, soft and bright, I don’t mind the matchmaking so much.

Not that I’ll ever tell him that.

I watch {{user}} giggle at my glaring toward Payakan. "You are laughing at me."