The campus was quiet in the late arvo, the kind of lull that made every laugh and shuffle echo across the quad. Kylie and Iver sat near the fountain, books forgotten on the bench beside them, caught in one of those rare, unguarded moments. Kylie laughed at something Iver had said, a soft, melodic sound that made him grin wider than he expected.
Devon's footsteps slowed as he rounded the corner from the arts building. He stopped just far enough to watch them, heart twisting in ways he couldn't quite name. Iver's easy laughter, the way he leaned toward Kylie as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them to the extent it sparked something Devon hadn't anticipated: jealousy.
It wasn't fair. He trusted Iver, knew him well enough to call him his right-hand man on and off the court. Iver had always been there, steady, reliable. And now he was… more. More than just someone helping Kylie. More than Devon was ready to admit he could handle seeing.
Devon's jaw clenched. I can't just stand here. I should be there. I should… But the pull of watching them, the ache of realizing Kylie was laughing with someone else, kept him rooted.
"You see this, yeah?" Raya's voice cut through the tension before he could make a move. She leaned against the lamppost, arms crossed, mask half-dangled in her fingers.
Devon flinched, eyes snapping to her. "What d'you mean?"
"Look at ya," she said, nodding toward the fountain. "You're staring like a bleedin' hawk at Kylie and… him."
"I'm not staring," Devon muttered, though his gaze betrayed him.
"Oh, really?" Raya raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "'Cause it looks like you're proper jealous. Admit it."
Devon shook his head, frustration prickling at his skin. "I'm not jealous."
Raya laughed, low and knowing. "Sure, Romeo. Totally not jealous, mate."
He ignored her, eyes flicking back to Kylie. Iver had just nudged her shoulder in a teasing gesture, making her burst out laughing again. The sound made Devon's chest tighten, and for the first time, he felt the sting of being on the outside.
He swallowed, forcing himself to think. I can't let this eat me up. She's my… she's mine. I'm Devon. I don't just sit back and let someone else....
"You alright over there, bruv?" Raya's voice softened slightly, a rare trace of curiosity.
Devon shook his head. "Yeah. Just… didn't expect to see 'em like this."
Raya's smirk returned, sharper this time. "You mean you didn't expect to see yourself losing your grip on her."
Devon's hands curled into fists at his sides. He wanted to snap, to argue, but the words stuck in his throat. She wasn't wrong; he had been watching, silently, letting the image of Kylie laughing at Iver's jokes settle in his chest like a weight.
"I gotta move," he muttered, more to himself than to Raya. "Before I… lose it."
"Move where?" Raya asked, tilting her head, amused.
"Anywhere else. Somewhere I'm not gonna watch 'em."
Raya's eyes flicked to Kylie and Iver, then back to Devon. She nodded slowly. "You're acting like a proper volcano, mate. Better cool off."
Devon strode toward the campus gym, heart still tight in his chest, adrenaline running high. I can't let this go. I need… I need to remind myself I have a place here. That Kylie isn't slipping away because I froze.
Meanwhile, back at the fountain, Iver leaned back on the bench, still chuckling. "You're too easy to make laugh, innit."
Kylie smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I needed that. Honestly, didn't think anyone would actually get the joke."
Iver's expression softened. "I'm just glad I'm here, yeah."
And there it was again the quiet steadiness that made Devon's chest twist even more. He wanted to storm in, to tell them both to back off, but he paused. No shouting. No confrontation. Not yet.
Instead, Devon found himself wandering across campus, aimless, letting his mind replay every small gesture he'd just witnessed. Every laugh, every nudge, every casual touch. It wasn't that Kylie didn't care it was that Devon hadn't allowed himself to see her laughing so freely with someone else.
He clenched his fists. I can't be jealous of him. Iver's been nothing but solid. I owe him. I owe him for being there for Kylie when… when I wasn't.
The thought made him stop mid-step. Gratitude, combined with jealousy, created a knot he couldn't untangle. He leaned against a tree, taking deep breaths.
Later that evening, Devon found Kylie walking alone across the quad, Iver having left to grab a drink. Devon hurried to catch up, trying to calm the tightness in his chest.
"Kylie," he called softly, stepping alongside her.
She looked up, surprised but smiling faintly. "Hey, Dev."
"Mind if we walk a bit?" he asked, voice low.
She nodded. They moved in silence at first, letting the wind and the rustle of leaves fill the gaps. Devon finally spoke. "Look, I know Iver's been… good to you. Solid. I appreciate that. I want you to know I'm grateful. Proper grateful."
Kylie glanced at him, touched by the sincerity in his voice. "He's… a good mate. Helps when things got messy."
Devon's jaw tightened. "Yeah. And I get it. I just… hate seeing you with anyone else. Even if it's Iver."
Kylie chuckled softly, a little teasing. "You're jealous, ain't ya?"
Devon tried to shrug it off, but the heat rising to his ears betrayed him. "Maybe a bit," he admitted. "But it's not like I can help it. You matter, Kylie. Always have."
She smiled softly, resting her hand on his arm. "And you matter, Dev. Always."
The moment lingered, weighted and fragile. Devon knew he needed to sort through the swirl of feelings and gratitude for Iver, possessiveness over Kylie, guilt, and hope but for now, it was enough to simply walk together, side by side.
Later, as they reached the dorms, Devon glanced back across campus and saw Raya leaning casually against a wall, watching them with a knowing smirk. Devon felt a flicker of tension again jealousy now morphing into something more complicated. Raya raised an eyebrow as if reading his thoughts.
Devon shook his head. "Not now," he muttered under his breath.
Kylie squeezed his hand. "What's not now?"
"Just… nothing. Let's just keep walking," he said, forcing a grin.
And as they entered the dorm courtyard, Devon realized something: whatever tangled feelings, jealousies, or uncertainties lay ahead, he wasn't going to run. Not this time. He had Kylie, Iver had been there for her, and somehow, through the mess and the tension, the ties that held were starting to feel stronger than ever.
Together, even if awkward, messy, and jealous at times, they'd find a way through.