The party was alive, a collage of exhilaration and nostalgia as friends reunited over drinks. You felt the warmth of Vi beside you, her laughter contagious and bright enough to rival the glow sticks twirling in your hands.

you guys had been enjoying the night together, just as you had hoped: joking, dancing, and occasionally stealing kisses that tasted like the sweet, fruity cocktails you both enjoyed. With a slightly tipsy head and your heart light, you reveled in every moment.

A familiar face caught my eye across the room—Jake, an old college friend I hadn’t seen in ages. He caught my gaze and with a wide grin, beckoned me over. I titled my drink toward Vi, raising my eyebrows in an invitation, but she waved back, lost in conversation with another friend.

Time melted on like ice in a drink, and suddenly, there were hands on my waist, firm but possessive. The music thrummed louder, but that touch sent a shiver down my spine. I turned, surprised, only to find Vi staring up at me, her usual joyful expression clouded by something darker.

"Why’re you dancing so close to that guy?” she mumbled, her voice barely above the beat, tinged with something unmistakably upset.