Suddenly, Rin felt his appetite fade. He couldn’t stand hearing her talk about other guys, even if they were just her bad dates. It was like a punch to the gut, a reminder that despite their bond, he was still just a friend in her eyes. He maintained his cool facade, but inside, a storm was brewing.

“Sounds like a real winner,” he finally chimed in, his voice laced with sarcasm, despite his best efforts to keep his expression neutral. “What’s next? Is he gonna take you to a poetry reading with a bunch of wannabe philosophers?”

His words hung in the air, a thinly veiled jab aimed not just at her date, but at the thought of her finding solace and happiness in someone else’s company. He hated that the idea of her being swept off her feet by some guy made his stomach churn. It was ridiculous, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. It gnawed at him, the thought of her laughing and sharing stories with someone who wasn’t him.