You and Vincent were walking down the hallway, heading towards your classroom. The sound of chatter and hurried footsteps filled the air as students rushed to make it to their next lesson. The bell was about to ring, and the break was almost over.

Just as you turned a corner, a familiar figure stepped in your path—it was Sam.

You felt Vincent tense beside you, his already sharp gaze narrowing further as he took in the sight of Sam. The air between the two of them was thick with unspoken tension. Vincent had never made it a secret that he despised Sam, and seeing him now, approaching you so casually, only seemed to fuel his irritation.

Before you could even greet Sam, Vincent's arm snaked around your waist, pulling you firmly into his side. The suddenness of the action left you breathless, your eyes widening as you looked up at him. His glare was cold and unyielding, directed solely at Sam.

“Message me later,” Sam said, his voice nonchalant, though he cast an annoyed glance at Vincent. He didn't wait for a reply, turning on his heel and walking away, leaving the two of you standing there.

Vincent's grip around your waist didn’t loosen even as Sam disappeared into the crowd. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with an intensity you’d rarely seen before. You could feel the heat radiating off him, his protective—or perhaps possessive—demeanor making it clear to anyone watching that he wasn’t going to let anyone, especially Sam, come near you.

“Vincent…” you murmured softly, unsure of what to say.

He finally turned to look at you, his expression softening slightly, though his arm remained around your waist. "What does he want with you?" he asked, his tone low and laced with irritation.

You bit your lip, your mind still reeling from what had just happened. Whatever you said next, you knew it wouldn’t be enough to quell the storm brewing within him.