Secret thrills and jealousy
It was noisier in the cafeteria that afternoon. Fah and Tawan ducked into the corner of a booth, pretending to be two classmates swapping notes. But the furtive touch of their hands under the table, fingers brushing but not connecting, made each glance around seem like a gamble.
Down the room, Fah noticed one of their friends, Narin, looking at them with a face that teetered on interest and annoyance. Narin had always been perceptive, always noticing things that other people didn't. Today, it was as if he was about to make leaps Fah wasn't prepared to discuss.
"Easy for you," Fah swallowed hard, his heart pounding.
Tawan smirked, brushing a hand over Fah's. "Careful, you're distracting me."
Distracting wasn't the half of it. Every subtle touch, every whispered word, made Fah's pulse spike. Tawan had perfected the art of making intimacy feel dangerous without leaving a trace. He leaned over, pressing a fleeting kiss to Fah's temple, just enough to make Fah shiver.
---
Narin's gaze didn't waver, and Fah panicked. "We can't—he's watching."
"Relax," Tawan said again, his lips almost touching Fah's jaw. "If he sees, he sees. Like it matters."
Fah's cheeks flushed. "It does matter!"
Tawan didn't have time to mock more before Narin suddenly stood and walked over to the booth. Fah was frozen. The world had become tiny.
But Tawan reacted first. With a smooth, quick move, he slid over, placing himself between Fah and Narin, smiling widely as Narin hesitated beside them.
Hey, you two," Narin said in a casual voice but a live look. "Collaborate on a project?"
Tawan nodded his head, always composed. "Just that. A joint effort."
Fah was gasping for air, watching Tawan deflect the question without averting his eyes, without any sign of their secret.
Narin lingered, looking at them, and shrugged. "Cool. Just don't create a mess."
As Narin walked away, Fah breathed again in relief. "You…you just—
Tawan pressed a finger to Fah's lips. "Shh. Not a word. That's our secret."
Fah's heartbeat didn't calm. "We almost got caught."
Tawan leaned closer, his lips brushing Fah's in a quick, daring kiss, just enough to make the danger feel thrilling. "We're fine," he whispered. "Better than fine."
Fah's knees weakened under the table. "You're insane."
"And utterly irresistible," Tawan replied, smirking. "Now, where were we?"
Their palms met hands under the table again, fingers intertwining. The world outside melted away—café chatter, curious glances, even the risk of being discovered—all was lost in their own private universe.
The danger made the intimacy more intense for Fah, more acute, sweeter, more potent. And as he leaned forward to brush his forehead against Tawan's shoulder, he knew he'd never sacrifice this deadly rush for anything.