Micaela found herself a seat in the back of the quiet classroom, her eyes on her phone screen. The screen was blank, aside from a cute picture of herself during Christmas. No new messages. She let out a frustrated sigh as she ran her fingers through her braids before she leaned into her palm.
Wei Lan still hadn't texted her.
Her finger tightened around the phone as she fought the urge to send a message. She hated how much it bothered her that she wasn't. Was the argument that serious that they weren't ever going to speak to each other or were they trying to hold out to see who would text first.
The quiet was suddenly interrupted when a familiar scent wafted past her nose—ash and incense. Her face scowled as she seen Cheong Jihai trailed in. He wore a black jacket over a plain white tee and black slacks with sneakers. Nothing on him probably cost less than $100.
"Did you follow me to class too?" she asked with her voice clipped as she narrowed her gray eyes at him.
"Does it excite you, thinking I did?" Jihai replied with an infuriating smirking that stretched across his face. Her eyes followed him until he finally slid in a seat next to her. The scent of him overpowering her nose as he placed her bag on the floor and began pulling out his notebook and pencil.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he settled in as he looked forward at the empty blackboard.
"Well, I am dating you, how could I sit so far away from you?" he said casually as he twirled his pencil between his fingers.
"Dating?" she asked confused, before she finally remembered the other night. "Oh! I forgot I said that, but why would I do that?"
Jihai leaned closer. "Yes, why would you do that? It's okay to tell me."
"Ah, that's because I liked you," she said clearly lying to him.
"I see you're not wearing any of my gifts," Jihai noted with a softening voice. "Do you not like them? Are there not enough gold, not enough diamonds. Even since you lost your necklace, seeing your skin so bare, it bothers me."
"Hmm," Micaela touched her neck. A little caught off guard by him asking. "You noticed. I lost it when I was really sick. When I woke up in the hospital, it was gone. It's crazy because it was welded around my neck so it wouldn't ever be taken off."
"Welded? I thought it was just clamped," he said tilting his head. "Was it that serious that it needed to not be removed?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I thought it was pretty so I never thought much about it. You haven't seen it, have you?"
"Nope," he replied as he leaned his chin into his palm as he stared at her neck. She felt completely naked as his eyes roamed over it. "If I did, I swear I'll make sure you never were to take it off for the rest of your life. So, is it my jewelry not as good? Is that it?
"Diamonds. Gold. Precious gems?" She said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's not enough."
Jihai hummed. "You don't trust my intentions."
"Not at all," Micaela shot back as she met his gaze. "For all I know you may have cursed them."
"You believe in that?" he said in a mocking tone.
She nodded her head. His mood seemed to have grown darker as she said that. It made her uneasy enough to move away from him a little bit.
"My intentions are simply. I want something from you—that is to have you by my side. Just for a while," he replied smoothly, though his tone became more playful than convincing. "Why not be a simple woman and do as I ask? Like wear the ring in your pocket."
Micaela stared at him, he wasn't lying about that, but she was aware it wasn't for romantic reasons. She froze for a moment as she thought about his words before she scowled then pulled the ring out of her pocket and placed it on the table in front of him. It was a delicate gold ring with a small diamond embedded in the middle of it. Jihai picked it up as he twirled it in his fingers.
"I thought this would be your style," he said to her.
"It is. And you got my ring size right too," she said staring at it. "How did you manage to do that?"
"Well, I didn't do much," he said smiling again. "Your best friend is quite talkative."
Her eyes widened as she snapped her head towards him. "Wei Lan? What all did you say to her?"
"Nothing," he muttered as his voice trailed as if he were savoring a secret. An amusement in her sudden distress came across his face. "Just your ring, wrist, and neck size. I find that even stranger you guys knew that about each other…are you two hiding a secret relationship?"
Micaela kissed her teeth as she looked at him. "No, we just brought each other gifts a lot," she muttered.
"How romantic," Jihai replied. "And she mentioned something quite amusing… She said in the U.S., people tend to get fatter, so your size might change when you go back."
"That bitch," Micaela hummed out almost amused by the insult. "I look quite attractive with weight. Ask her what she looks like when she stays in the US. Do you know the Michelin man?"
Jihai laughed aloud. "You two fell out, didn't you? It's fine. I'll be your friend too. Your brother, sister. Your father or mother, if you need me to be."
"It sounds like you're trying to make me quite dependent on you," she scoffed while she rolled her eyes. "You can be my dog first though, then maybe work your way up."
Jihai smirk faltered for a split second. He didn't seem amused by what she said.
"I don't find that funny. I'll never be below you," he said, his tone getting darker.
"Poor baby, you didn't like that joke," she cooed as she tickled under he chin.
He took my hand and bit my finger a little. "Ow," she said as he let her hand go.
"Behave. Also, you not trusting me to some extent? That's a problem for me," he said in a lower tone. "We should fix that. Start by wearing this ring. Even just for one day."
"It's pretty," she said being pulled into the trance of expensive jewelry. "I don't know, I feel like I'm giving up something if I do."
"Like what? Pride? That cost nothing to anyone," he said leaning in closer to her. His body nearly pressed against hers. "Diamonds, Gold, Money. I have enough of it to buy that worthess thing."
"My pride isn't worthless," she retorted. "Though, it does have a price you probably can afford."
Jihai chuckled against her ear. "If that's what you want."
Without warning, he reached for her hands with his finger brushing against hers as he slipped the ring onto it. Micaela tensed for a moment but didn't pull away.
"Let's call this down payment," he whispered as they both looked at it on her finger. A satisfied smirk on his finger that she noticed.
"You know, you're surprisingly comfortable with people touching you," she didn't notice his hand on her waist until he said it.
"Chinese people don't ask for permission when touching me. I guess I grew used to it," she replied flatly as she refused to meet his gaze.
Jihai leaned his head against her. She could hear his pulse through his ear, it was quite slow. "Letting your supposed stalker do so though? For some jewelry? Aren't you the weirdo?"
Micaela smirked, "More like it gets quite lonely being here without Wei Lan. Maybe I'm desperate for anything at this point. Even if it's obvious fake."
Jihai looked at her closely, before pulled away from her. "How weak," she said with a soft, mocking chuckle.
Micaela smiled to herself as she clenched her fist.
"Tell me about it," she said, having no one to confine in making her open to saying whatever. "Though, nobody asked you."
"Well…since you're my girlfriend. I'll protect you, so I don't mind," he teased.
"Girlfriend? Aren't you moving a little too fast, I said dating." she retorted.
Students began pouring into the classroom, some glancing curiously at the two of them. Jihai leaned back in his chair, clearly unfazed by the growing whispers. While Micaela didn't quite like them, especially if they were to get back to Wei Lan.
"I see why you don't bother with the public," he mused. "So many whispers. Is it that shocking I find interest in a foreigner as much as they do?"
"Well, you're Cheong Jihai. That means something to these people," she whispered without looking at him. "Though, I don't see anything that special."
"Funny." he said.
Micaela kept her head down, refusing to look like she is acknowledging him. The sound of her pen scratching against the paper was her only response.
A few minutes into class, the door opened and in stepped Zhang Bo. His tall, lean muscular frame filled the doorway as he strode in with hurry and his head down from the professor's glare. His tan skin contrasted sharply against the usual sea of pales faces in the room, except Micaela's, and his athletic build was evident underneath his casual black tre and sweatpants.
Zhang Bo's presence alone seemed to draw attention, much like Jihai, and Micaela attention was grabbed as her heart raced as he scanned the room. His eyes eventually landed on Cheong Jihai. Bo's smile widened as he made his way over to him.
Oh right? They are friends, she though in annoyance as Bo spoke to Jihai with a casual air. He found an empty seat next to Jihai as he greet him with a pat on Jihai's back.
It was strange, because she always had a sense that Jihai didn't like people like Bo. Very loud, high energy, and bigger and taller than him. To her Jihai didn't mind the skinship and the burst of warm energy coming from him. As if they were truly friends.
"Hey, Cheong Jihai, what's up?" Bo said, his voice rich and warm with a slight accent that's not quite like everyone else's. Then he whispered, though she can still hear him. "You've been missing meetings lately."
She assumed it was some rich kids club or something, so she didn't pay it any mind.
Jihai glanced at him as he offered a small nod of acknowledgment about what he said. The two of them continued exchanging low conversation that blended into the background as she started thinking about Wei Lan again. What is she going to do if she never speaks to her again? Maybe her pride isn't worth nothing when she finds something else more worthwhile? Especially her friendship.
It wasn't until Zhang Bo had finished his hushed conversation with Jihai that his attention shifted towards Micaela. His gaze mets hers with a kind, almost playful curiosity as he looked between her and Jihai, probably trying to figure out why he would be sitting beside her. Bo tilted his head slightly as an easygoing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
She bit her lips as her heart pounded quickly. He's so fine.
"You're the foreign girl who's always hanging with Wei Lan, right?" he asked with a friendly and warm voice. Much like he was making conversation with an old acquaintance, though they only had passing conversation a couple of times.
Micaela blinked, a little surprised by the directness, but she found herself smiling in return. There was something about his energy that put her at ease, even though it made her nervous at the same time because she had such a huge crush on him.
"Yes! She's my best friend," Micaela said, waving her hand in a casual, gesture as she attempted to match his energy. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized she was smiling hard in front of him. She couldn't help it—he had that effect on her that made her smile stupidly.
Zhang Bo's eyes drifted down to her hand, and Micaela suddenly became aware of the ring on her finger. Her breath caught in her throat, unsure of what he would say next. She regretted letting Jihai put it on her now.
Before she could respond, Jihai spoke up with his voice as cool and nonchalant as ever.
"Nice ring, right? I bought it for her," he said, glancing at Bo as if the conversation was no big deal.
Micaela's eyes darted towards Jihai as she became irritated. She wasn't sure what he meant by his comment—-was he proud of the fact he bought it and want to brag, or was he just stating a fact? Quickly, she interjected as she didn't want Zhang Bo to think she wasn't available or something.
"Yes, because he broke my other one when he bumped into me," she lied, her voice a little more rushed than she intended. It was clear she just wanted to clear up anything that would make it seem like her and Jihai were together.
Jihai barely seemed to acknowledge her, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"Yeah, I bought that one too. My girlfriend makes me quite clumsy," he added without any real emotion, as if it were a minor detail, his eyes never leaving Bo.
You son of a bitch. She said with her face as she looked at Jihai. She glared at him as her frustration were bubbling to the surface. He was cockblocking, and it was getting to her.
Zhang Bo seemed to notice the tension in the air as he gave Micaela an apologetic smile as he tried to smooth over the awkwardness.
"Ah, I didn't know…you two," he said, his tone genuine. "Sorry if I seemed too friendly." His attention quickly turned back to Jihai. "Sorry."
"No, it okay," she said as she became a little flustered by how cute he looked when he apologized. It took a moment to calm herself as her eyes flicked back to the ring on her finger. She knew she hadn't asked for it, but why had she agreed to wear it? And what did Jihai really want from her? She rather flirt with Zhang Bo then trying to figure out what Cheong Bo is up to, especially with Wei Lan having started hanging around his group.
"Are you going to the study group later?" Bo asked as he trned his focus back on Micaela. His voice was warm, and there was a sincerity to it that made her feel like she could trust him—even if she barely knew him.
Micaela blinked, surprised by the question. She hadn't expected to be asked about it. Usually she'll study on her own.
"Yeah, I think I will," she said, her voice softer, a bit uncertain, but she found herself nodding anyway.
Bo's smile grew even wider, his face lighting up.
"Great! I'll see you there," he said, clearly pleased with her response. Then he turned back to Jihai, Jihai didn't seem to like her answer of agreement, but she didn't care.
Micaela leaned back in her seat as her fingers absently traced the delicate curve of the ring. Every glance toward Bo seemed to send her thoughts into a spiral, and she couldn't shake the feeling of just wanting him. No wonder some people are posessive, it's not a bad feeling.
***
From Jihai's perspective, the moment he stood up and turned away from Micaela, he felt an odd satisfaction, as if putting some distance between them. As if Cheong Bo knowledge of Micaela would simply dissappear. He didn't look back at her, not even a glance. Instead, he focused on walking alongside Cheong Bo, the heavy silence between them thick with unspoken understanding.
"You seemed interested in that Micaela Sinclair," Jihai said casually, his voice low and smooth, the words hanging in the air like a delicate thread. He was sure what Bo felt, there was something about the way Bo had looked at her—so openly, so freely—that bothered him in ways he wasn't willing to admit. He definitely like her.
He didn't care about Micaela, not really. Her attaction to Cheong Bo was a non-issue. Seeing Bo's ease with her, the warmth in his eyes, felt strangely out of place. A mutual liking of each other would be a problem for him.
Bo's posture stiffened, a subtle shift that betrayed his unease. Jihai didn't miss it. He knew exactly how to get a reaction from Bo, and it was clear that this topic wasn't one Bo was eager to discuss.
"I'm sorry, Jihai," Bo said quickly, his voice a little more cautious than before. "I didn't know she was someone you were interested in."
Jihai's lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile, but his eyes remained unreadable. He chuckled softly, the sound cool and detached, as if the conversation meant nothing to him.
"Yes, she's my girlfriend," Jihai replied, his tone light. "Nothing special asides from the fact she's a convenient good fuck. She can't get enough of my dick."
He let the words hang in the air for a moment, not really the type for vulgarity but he savored the reaction he knew they would provoke. Though, he wouldn't actually know, there wasn't much desire to do anything with her. It was a seemin way to make Bo aware of his claim, but also maintain that air of emotional detachment from her. Though, of course there was way more to it than what he said.
He glanced over at Bo, his expression growing more serious, but still shrouded in the same cold detachment. "The ring was for other reasons," Jihai added, his voice turning slightly more pointed. "Don't get too involved with her though."
He didn't want Bo complicating things, didn't want anyone digging deeper into a situation that was far more delicate than it appeared. He had his reasons for gifting the ring, reasons that Bo didn't need to know about.
Bo seemed to absorb the words with his brows furrowing slightly, but he didn't argue or question Jihai's directive. His response was quick and unquestioning, almost as if it had become second nature to follow Jihai's lead without hesitation.
"Okay," Bo said, his tone subdued but respectful, his gaze briefly meeting Jihai's before they continued walking. The conversation had ended as swiftly as it had started, and Bo had accepted Jihai's words without challenge.
Jihai's mind drifted for a moment, not really focusing on the conversation anymore. It wasn't so much that he felt a possessive need to control who Bo interacted with; it was more the fact that Micaela—whether he liked it or not—had become something of an unspoken point of interest for him. But she didn't matter, not really. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. If only for his own peace of mind.
For now, Jihai let it go. Micaela was too compromised by Bo being around to even pick up on the fact Bo was attracted to her. Besides, he was sure she wasn't as confrontational with Bo as she is with him anyways.