Aira didn't recognize it at first.
Jealousy was supposed to be loud.
Obvious.
Messy.
This wasn't.
This was subtle.
It showed up when she least expected it—between breaths, between thoughts, in moments she didn't have time to prepare for.
Like now.
She was walking toward the notice board when she saw Reyhan laughing with someone she didn't recognize.
A girl.
Confident posture. Easy smile. The kind of laugh that sounded practiced, like it knew where it belonged.
The girl touched Reyhan's arm lightly when she spoke.
Aira stopped walking.
Her chest didn't hurt.
Her stomach didn't twist.
It was worse.
Everything went quiet.
Sia noticed immediately. "Okay. Don't look now, but—"
"I see it," Aira said calmly.
Her voice surprised even herself.
Reyhan glanced up then.
Saw her.
His smile didn't disappear—but it softened, shifted, like his attention had already moved.
He said something to the girl, nodded politely, and stepped away.
That should've been enough.
It wasn't.
He walked toward Aira. "Hey."
"Hey," she replied.
Too normal.
Too controlled.
Sia watched them like a referee sensing danger.
"I'm gonna… get water," she muttered, vanishing quickly.
Reyhan tilted his head. "You okay?"
"Yes," Aira said immediately.
Then paused.
"…I think so."
He didn't smile.
Didn't tease.
"That didn't sound convincing," he said quietly.
Aira crossed her arms—not defensively, but grounding herself.
"Who was she?" she asked.
Reyhan blinked. "A classmate. She needed help with notes."
That was it.
No excuse.
No justification.
Just information.
Aira nodded. "Okay."
Silence settled.
The uncomfortable kind.
Reyhan studied her face. "You're jealous."
Aira scoffed lightly. "I'm not—"
"You are," he said gently.
"And that's okay."
She frowned. "I don't want to be."
"I know," he replied.
"But wanting me to choose you doesn't mean you're losing yourself."
That hit harder than denial would have.
Aira exhaled slowly.
"I don't want to feel territorial," she admitted.
"I don't want to become someone who measures herself against everyone who talks to you."
Reyhan stepped closer—not invading, just present.
"You're not competing," he said firmly.
"You're choosing. There's a difference."
She looked up at him. "And what if I hate that I care?"
He smiled faintly.
"Then welcome to being human."
Aira laughed softly, shaking her head.
"I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does," he said.
"It just shows up."
She hesitated.
Then chose honesty again.
"I don't want to control you," she said.
"I just don't want to feel invisible."
Reyhan's expression softened completely.
"You're not," he said.
"And if you ever feel that way… tell me. Don't sit with it alone."
Aira nodded.
"I will," she said quietly.
"And I won't pretend I don't feel things just to seem unbothered."
He smiled.
"That's all I want."
They stood there for a moment longer.
Not awkward.
Not tense.
Just… aware.
Jealousy didn't need drama.
It just needed honesty before it turned into something ugly.
RULE #43: Don't get jealous… you already are.
Because feeling something doesn't make you weak—
pretending you don't is what breaks things.