Ping wasn't looking for Keng.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself as he walked across every faculty building, eyes drifting everywhere except the places he knew Keng would probably be.
The art building.
The courtyard near the vending machines.
That stupid chair beneath the trees where Keng always seemed to appear at the exact wrong time.
Ping absolutely was not searching for him.
Still- when he didn't spot him anywhere that morning, an uncomfortable itch settled beneath his chest.
'Annoying. He didn't even show up this morning...'
Ping frowned slightly at the thought and immediately clicked his tongue at himself.
"Why do I even care?"
He turned a corner- And stopped.
Keng was there.
Laughing.
Not the polite smile he gave professors or classmates.
Not the teasing smirk he always aimed at Ping.
This laugh was different.
Easy.
Relaxed.
Real.
The kind Ping knew too well.
And Keng wasn't alone.
A girl stood beside him, leaning comfortably against the railing while holding his phone.
She looked familiar with him. Comfortable enough to invade his space naturally. Too comfortable.
Ping slowed without realizing it. His footsteps faltered slightly as he watched from a distance.
"Be honest," the girl said dramatically while staring at Keng's phone screen.
"This is him?"
Keng folded his arms, pretending to look unaffected. But his eyes stayed fixed on the screen anyway.
Ping's picture filled it.
Mia gasped loudly.
"Oh my God, Keng," she said, sounding genuinely impressed.
"You have good taste."
"I know, right?" Keng replied immediately without hesitation.
Ping's breath caught slightly.
Mia zoomed in on the picture a little more.
"Make sure you get him," she continued.
"I already like him just from his picture."
Keng's brows knitted instantly.
"What do you mean you like him?" he frowned.
Then- without even thinking-
"He's mine." Keng said with a sassy voice.
Mia burst out laughing immediately.
"Relax, Hia," she teased.
"I mean as a future brother-in-law. Don't be so overprotective."
Keng huffed and snatched the phone back from her.
"Still," he muttered stubbornly, "he's mine."
Ping's chest tightened strangely.
Mine.
Out of everything said- that was the word his ears latched onto.
Mine.
It should've irritated him. And somehow- it did. But at the same time... warmth spread through his chest in a way he absolutely hated.
He didn't understand it. Didn't understand why seeing Keng laugh so freely with someone else made irritation crawl beneath his skin.
Didn't understand why hearing those words made his heartbeat feel uneven.
All he knew was- he suddenly didn't want to stand there anymore.
"So that's what you're busy with..."
Ping stepped backward before either of them noticed him.
Then quickly turned away. Pretending not to care. Pretending his chest wasn't tight for no reason.
Unfortunately- Keng noticed him anyway.
"Ping." Keng called out.
Ping kept walking.
"Ping," Keng called again, louder this time.
Ping stopped abruptly.
Slowly, he turned around.
"...What?."
Mia followed Keng's gaze and noticed Ping immediately. Her eyes widened slightly in realization before she smiled politely.
"Oh," she said knowingly.
"I'll leave you two alone."
Then she walked away casually, though she definitely glanced back once before disappearing.
Ping noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Keng slipped his hands into his pockets as he approached.
"You didn't say hi."
"I didn't see you," Ping replied flatly.
Keng raised an eyebrow slowly.
"Liar."
Ping scoffed instantly and adjusted the strap of his bag.
"Why would I lie?"
Keng stepped closer. Not enough to invade his space. Just enough to make Ping painfully aware of him.
"Because your ears are red," Keng said quietly.
Ping froze.
"They are not."
Keng reached out casually, brushing a finger lightly near Ping's ear.
"They are."
Ping slapped his hand away immediately.
"Don't touch me!"
Keng laughed softly.
"Relax," he teased.
"You're so jumpy today."
Ping turned away quickly and resumed walking.
"Shouldn't you go back to your fan club?"
Keng blinked once.
"...Fan club?"
"The girl from earlier," Ping replied too quickly.
"She seemed entertained."
A slow smile spread across Keng's face immediately.
Knowing.
Dangerous.
"Is that what this is about?" He asked.
Ping stopped walking again.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Then why," Keng asked calmly,
"do you look like you want to bite someone?"
Ping clenched his jaw.
"You talk too much."
This time, Keng stepped directly in front of him, blocking his path completely.
"You didn't eat this morning."
Ping frowned.
"How do you-"
Before he could finish, Keng lifted a neatly packed lunch bag.
"I brought you food."
Ping stared at it blankly.
"...Why?"
"Because you won't take care of yourself," Keng answered lightly.
"And because I like doing this."
Ping looked away immediately, tightening his grip on his bag.
"You don't have to."
"I know." Keng's answer came easily.
"I want to."
That somehow made everything worse.
Ping snatched the lunch bag from him quickly before his expression betrayed him.
"...You're unfair." he said turning his eyes away from Keng.
Keng tilted his head slightly.
"Unfair how?"
Ping frowned harder, frustration finally slipping through.
"You act like this," he muttered,
"and then talk to other people like nothing matters."
Keng's expression softened instantly.
"So you were watching."
Ping stiffened.
"I wasn't."
Keng leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice.
"Ping..." His tone alone made Ping nervous.
"If you're jealous," Keng murmured, "just say it."
"I'm not jealous!" The denial came too fast.
Too loud.
Keng looked painfully amused.
"Okay," he said easily. Then he leaned closer. Just enough. Enough for Ping to catch the clean scent of his cologne. Enough to make Ping's heartbeat lose control again.
"But for the record..." Keng whispered softly. His eyes stayed locked onto Ping's.
"-no one else matters."
Ping's heart skipped violently. He hated it. Absolutely hated it. Without another word, he shoved past Keng quickly.
"You're unbelievable."
Keng watched him walk away with a smile he clearly couldn't hide anymore.
Meanwhile, Ping continued down the hallway, ears burning so badly he felt like he might combust.
"Why does he say things like that so casually?!"
-
Keng didn't follow him this time.
Instead, he turned toward the nearby chair where Tao, Jinn, and Bank had clearly witnessed everything.
Tao whistled dramatically.
"So," he teased, "you're not even trying to hide it anymore?"
Keng leaned casually against the railing, still watching Ping's retreating figure.
"I want to make him mine already," he admitted quietly.
The look in his eyes darkened slightly afterward. Intense. Possessive. Focused entirely on Ping.
Bank immediately burst out laughing. "I thought someone said he'd be patient?"
Keng didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Ping as he disappeared into another building.
Then softly- almost to himself-
"Too cute."
Tao stared at him.
"...Yeah," he sighed dramatically.
"You're completely doomed."