The line stayed open.
Neither spoke.
Then Rhea muttered, "She's terrifying."
Ling's voice softened, just a fraction. "She likes you."
Rhea scoffed weakly. "She threatened me with great-grandchildren."
Ling said quietly, "She claims what she approves of."
Rhea's chest tightened.
"…Did you put her on speaker on purpose?"
Ling didn't answer immediately.
Then, honestly, "Yes."
Rhea swallowed. "Why?"
A pause.
"So you'd hear," Ling said, "that you're not temporary."
Rhea closed her eyes.
"You're unfair," she whispered.
Ling replied calmly, "Sleep."
Rhea hesitated. "…Good night, Ling."
Ling waited half a second—just long enough to make it count.
"Good night," she said.
The call ended.
Neither slept immediately.
But both lay still, knowing exactly where the other was—and that tonight, at least, no one was letting go.
Morning at the university arrived loud.
Too loud.
Ling walked in first—black jacket, hair tied back, expression neutral enough to scare freshmen out of her path. Rina flanked her on one side, Jian and Rowen behind, Zifa already leaning against a pillar with coffee.
Rhea arrived three minutes later.
Ling noticed instantly.
She always did.
Rhea walked like nothing had happened. Chin up. Phone in hand. Perfectly composed. If anyone looked close enough, they'd see the faint tension in her shoulders—but no one looked that close.
Except Ling.
Rina saw the look and grinned. "Oh. She's pretending."
Ling didn't answer.
Rhea reached them. Zifa raised an eyebrow the moment she took Rhea in—hair neat, lips too carefully neutral.
"Wow," Zifa said. "You look… rested."
Rhea shot her a warning look. "Mind your business."
"That's a no," Rowen said cheerfully.
Rhea's eyes flicked to Ling before she could stop herself.
Ling caught it.
Held it.
Then, deliberately, Ling stepped closer—just enough that Rhea had to lean back half an inch.
"Morning," Ling said, voice low.
Rhea folded her arms. "You're standing too close."
Ling tilted her head. "You moved toward me."
Rhea scoffed. "In your dreams."
Rina clapped once. "Oh this is good. We're doing denial today."
Rhea turned red. "I am not—"
Ling interrupted softly, "Your necklace is crooked."
Without waiting, Ling reached out and fixed it.
Her fingers brushed Rhea's collarbone.
Just once.
Rhea stiffened.
Ling's hand dropped immediately, expression unreadable.
Rhea forced a laugh. "Done? Or do you need to check my pulse too?"
Ling's mouth curved slightly. "I already know it."
Zifa nearly choked on her coffee.
"Disgusting," Rina said fondly. "Please continue."
Rhea glared at all of them. "Can you all stop staring?"
Rowen shrugged. "Hard when you look like you're trying not to smile."
"I'm not smiling."
Ling leaned down, voice pitched only for Rhea. "Your left dimple disagrees."
Rhea's lips pressed together instantly.
Too late.
Jian nodded approvingly. "Confirmed."
Rhea spun on Ling. "You enjoy this."
Ling didn't deny it.
Instead, she reached out and took Rhea's bag strap, tugging it lightly—possessive, casual.
"You walked in with Roin yesterday," Ling said calmly. "Today you walked alone."
Rhea bristled. "I don't need an escort."
"I know," Ling said. "I do."
Rhea opened her mouth, then shut it again.
Rina laughed. "She's going to combust."
Rhea snapped, "I'm perfectly calm."
Ling's gaze dropped briefly—to Rhea's hands, clenched too tight.
"You're shaking," Ling said quietly.
"I'm cold."
Ling shrugged out of her jacket without hesitation and draped it over Rhea's shoulders.
Public. Effortless.
Rhea froze.
"Ling," she hissed, trying to shrug it off. "Don't—"
Ling stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Relax. You're doing great pretending."
Rhea's cheeks burned.
She yanked the jacket tighter around herself instead.
Zifa smiled to herself. "There it is."
A group of students walked past, staring openly.
Someone whispered Ling's name.
Ling didn't look at them.
Her attention never left Rhea.
Rhea crossed her arms, chin lifted. "You're enjoying this too much."
Ling's eyes darkened just a fraction.
"You should see me when I try," she said.
Rhea scoffed, turning away. "Arrogant."
Ling followed easily, close enough that her shadow stayed aligned with Rhea's steps.
Rina leaned toward Zifa. "How long before she stops pretending?"
Zifa sipped her coffee. "She already did. She just hasn't noticed yet."
Ahead, Rhea glanced back—just once.
Ling was already there.
Waiting.
Unmoved.
Unhidden.
And smiling in that quiet way that meant she had already won, even if she never said it out loud.
The lecture hall was half full when they entered.
Morning light spilled through the tall windows, washing over rows of seats and low conversation. Ling took her place without hesitation. Authority by habit.
Rhea followed, sat beside her.
Too close.
On purpose.
Rina slid into the row behind them with Jian and Rowen, already grinning like she was settling in for a show. Zifa took the seat diagonally across, legs crossed, observant.
Ling placed her bag down neatly.
Rhea mimicked the movement a beat later.
Ling noticed.
She always did.
The professor hadn't arrived yet.
Ling leaned slightly toward Rhea, voice calm, teasing. "You're early."
Rhea didn't look at her. "I didn't want to walk in late with an audience."
Ling hummed. "You don't mind audiences."
"I mind yours."
Ling smiled faintly.
She reached over, tugged Rhea's pen out of her fingers, examined it.
"You chew these when you're irritated."
Rhea snatched it back. "Stop watching me."
Ling's voice lowered. "Then stop reacting."
Rhea's knee bounced once.
Ling's hand came down over it instantly.
Still.
Rhea inhaled sharply.
"Don't," she whispered.
Ling didn't move her hand.
"Relax," Ling murmured. "I won't do anything."
Rhea scoffed. "That's your favorite lie."
Ling's thumb pressed once—barely there—then withdrew.
From behind them, Rina stage-whispered, "We're in public."
Ling didn't turn.
Rhea muttered, "She's impossible."
Ling replied smoothly, "You like impossible."
Rhea shot her a look. "You're unbearable when you flirt."
Ling tilted her head. "You get jealous when I don't do it with you."
Rhea stiffened.
She turned fully toward Ling now, eyes sharp.
"Don't say that," Rhea said quietly. "You get jealous too. With Roin."
The name landed between them like something dropped.
Ling's face hardened instantly.
Her jaw set. Her eyes went flat—dark, unreadable.
The warmth vanished.
Rhea noticed immediately.
She always did.
"I didn't mean—" Rhea started.
Ling interrupted, voice level. "Don't."
Rhea swallowed. "I was just—"
Ling leaned back in her chair, creating distance for the first time that morning.
"That's not teasing," Ling said calmly. "That's crossing."
Rhea's fingers curled around the edge of her desk.
"You don't get to pretend he's nothing," Ling continued, eyes forward now. "And then accuse me of jealousy like it's a flaw."
Rhea's throat tightened. "I didn't accuse—"
"You did," Ling said. "Just now."
Silence settled heavy between them.
From behind, Jian leaned forward slightly. "Oh. That was the wrong word."
Rina nodded slowly. "Very wrong."
Zifa didn't look surprised. She looked thoughtful.
The professor walked in, clearing his throat.
"Good morning."
Ling straightened, attention forward, expression perfectly neutral.
Rhea remained tense, staring at her notes without seeing them.
The lecture began.
Ling didn't look at Rhea again.
Not once.
And somehow—that hurt more than anything she could have said.