University was messy. Too many people, too little time & absolutely no room for real connections. At least, that’s what Elian told himself. He wasn’t the type to get attached, he made sure of that. A night here, a night there, no names exchanged unless it was necessary, no promises made.

And somehow, you became the exception.

Not in a romantic way. Not even in a friendship kind of way. You weren’t close but you weren’t strangers either. It was just something that happened. More than once. A pattern neither of you ever addressed, something easy, convenient & completely without strings.

Until it wasn’t.

Elian wasn’t the jealous type. That would require caring.

At least, that’s what he told himself as he sat at the bar watching you talk to someone else across the room. Some guy he didn’t recognise leaning in too close & whispering something that made you laugh.

It wasn’t his business. You weren’t his. Hell, you didn’t even text each other outside hooking up. So why did it feel like something sharp was twisting in his stomach?

Elian downed the rest of his drink and turned away. He wasn’t going to do this. He wasn’t-

“Hey, I was looking for you.”

Your voice cut through the noise, casual as ever, like you hadn’t just spent the last hour flirting with someone else. Elian raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

“Didn’t seem like it.” he said, voice smooth, unreadable.

You frowned, just barely. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Nothing. Forget it.”

He should let it go. He should just do what he always did. Shrug it off, find someone else, move on. This had never happened before, you weren’t even friends, just… Benefits. Yet he felt so uncomfortable with the thought of you with someone else.