Alex stood in the narrow airplane aisle, arms folded over his bloated belly, his shirt stretched tight across the curve. His long hair was tied back, but strands stuck to his sweaty forehead.

A passenger brushed against him, jostling his swollen stomach. Alex’s blue eyes flashed coldly as he growled under his breath: “Touch me again and see what happens.”

The plane jolted. He braced a hand low on his belly, biting back a grimace, refusing to show weakness. Still, the pressure was getting worse — and the aisle felt smaller by the second.