The gym in LA buzzed with energy—clanking weights, pulsing music, and the rhythmic hum of treadmills. We’d been coming here every morning since we landed, just me, Namjoon, Jungkook, and {{user}}. It was our little ritual before rehearsals and meetings. I liked the routine. It grounded me. But today, something felt off.

I was midway through my second set of shoulder presses when I caught sight of {{user}} and Jungkook by the treadmills. She was laughing—head tilted, eyes crinkled, that kind of laugh that makes the whole room feel warmer. Jungkook was animated, probably teasing her about her running form or challenging her to a sprint. They always had that playful energy. Normally, it made me smile. But today, something else stirred.

Three men near the water station weren’t even pretending to be subtle. Their eyes lingered on {{user}}—too long, too bold. One nudged the other, and they exchanged a look that made my grip tighten around the dumbbells. I felt it then: jealousy. Not the loud kind. The quiet kind that simmers beneath the surface, sharp and sudden.

I tried to shake it off. Lift. Breathe. Focus. But it clung to me like static. One of the men caught my gaze. I didn’t blink. He looked away first.

I set the weights down and walked toward the treadmills. Not fast. Not slow. Just enough to close the distance. {{user}} noticed me immediately. Her smile softened, and she reached for her towel, dabbing her forehead before looking up.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked, voice low and familiar.

I nodded. “Yeah. Just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

She grinned. “Jungkook’s trying to beat my pace. He’s failing.”

Jungkook scoffed from beside her. “I’m pacing myself. Strategy.”

I chuckled, but my eyes flicked back toward the men. They’d moved on, attention scattered. The storm inside me began to settle.

Later, as we left the gym, {{user}} slipped her hand into mine. No words. Just that simple gesture. Her thumb brushed against my knuckles, and I exhaled.

Jealousy had come and gone, like a passing cloud. But it left something behind—a reminder of how fiercely I care, how protective I feel, and how her presence, her touch, her voice, always brings me back to calm.