Sunday morning, Nana stumbled out of her room still half-asleep, hair damp from her shower, wearing her comfortable pajamas. She was mentally preparing for another week of classes and café shifts when Mina's shriek pierced through the apartment.
"NANA! NANA, GET OUT HERE!"
"What now?" Nana grabbed a towel to dry her hair. "Is it another spider? Because I told you, I'm not the spider removal person—"
"IT'S NOT A SPIDER!" Jisu called, sounding equally excited. "It's—you need to see this!"
Curious and slightly concerned, Nana padded to the front door where both her roommates stood staring at something in the hallway.
It was a box. But not just any box—a MASSIVE designer box, pristine white with elegant gold lettering, the kind that probably cost more than their monthly rent just for the packaging. It sat outside their door like a small luxury car.
"What is that?" Nana asked.
"Read the card!" Mina thrust a small envelope at her, practically vibrating with excitement.
The envelope was cream-colored, expensive paper, with her name written in precise, familiar handwriting:
Miss Angelina Wang.
Nana's heart did a little flip. She knew that handwriting. She'd seen it on breakfast notes, on prescriptions he'd written for her siblings, on the birthday card he'd sent Lili.
She opened it carefully:
Nana,
After consideration of yesterday's events, I've concluded that while you look beautiful in everything, certain styles attract more attention than I'm comfortable with from individuals who are not me.
Please accept these as an alternative wardrobe for future outings. All items selected with your comfort and my sanity in mind.
Wear whatever you prefer in private. But in public, I'd appreciate if we could avoid another situation where I contemplate assault charges for protective purposes.
Yours possessively,
Zayne
P.S. - The blue dress from yesterday is acceptable for private wear only. Emphasis on private. As in, only when I'm the only other person present.
Mina read over her shoulder and let out a sound like a dying whale. "HE BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES! BECAUSE HE GOT JEALOUS! THIS IS—THIS IS—"
"Territorial," Jisu supplied, grinning.
"Extremely territorial. I'm impressed."
"Let's open it!" Mina was already dragging the box inside, grunting at its weight.
"Holy—how much did he send you?!"
They wrestled the box into the living room and carefully removed the lid.
Nana's jaw dropped.
Dresses.So many dresses. All carefully folded in tissue paper, each one clearly expensive, clearly chosen with care. But the style—
"They're all long," she observed, pulling out the first one. A beautiful flowing dress in soft cream, with long sleeves and a modest neckline, hemline that would reach her ankles.
"And covered," Mina added, examining another—elegant navy blue with a high collar and full-length sleeves.
"He really meant it," Jisu laughed, holding up a gorgeous burgundy dress that was undeniably beautiful but also completely modest. "No exposed arms. No short hems. Nothing that shows anything."
There had to be at least fifteen dresses. Each one stunning, clearly designer, probably cost more than Nana's entire wardrobe combined.
And every single one was designed to cover maximum skin while still being elegant and feminine.Long sleeves. High necklines. Flowing skirts that reached ankles or calves.
Beautiful fabrics in colors that would suit her—soft pastels, deep jewel tones, elegant neutrals. But not an inch of unnecessary exposure.
"Oh my god," Nana said faintly, staring at the evidence of her boyfriend's jealousy-induced shopping spree. "He really—he actually—"
"Bought you an entire modest wardrobe because other men looked at you?"
Mina finished. "YES! Yes, he did! This is the most romantic territorial thing I've ever seen!"
"It's excessive—"
"It's AMAZING!" Mina was pulling out dress after dress. "These are designer! Look at this label! This ONE dress costs more than our three months' rent!"
Nana's hands trembled slightly as she pulled out a particularly beautiful dress—soft rose pink with delicate lace details at the collar and cuffs, long sleeves, modest but undeniably lovely. It was exactly her style, the kind of thing she'd admire in store windows but never dream of affording.
He known. Somehow, he'd known exactly what she'd like.
"I need to call him," Nana said, already reaching for her phone.
"PUT IT ON SPEAKER!" both girls demanded simultaneously.
Nana rolled her eyes but complied, dialing Zayne's number. He answered on the second ring.
"Good morning." His voice was professional, calm, like he hadn't just sent her a luxury clothing store's worth of merchandise.
"Did the delivery arrive?"
"Zayne." Nana tried to sound stern. "What did you do?"
"I provided you with appropriate attire for public outings."
"You sent me FIFTEEN DRESSES!"
"Sixteen, actually. There should be a coat at the bottom. For cooler weather."
Mina had to stuff her fist in her mouth to keep from screaming.
"Zayne, this is—this is too much—"
"It's not enough, actually. I was considering adding more business casual options, but the boutique was closing and I had surgery scheduled—"
"You went SHOPPING? You hate shopping!"
"I made an exception." His tone suggested this was completely reasonable. "After yesterday's experience, I determined that preventive measures were necessary."
"Preventive measures," Nana repeated flatly.
"Yes. Measures to prevent situations where I'm forced to contemplate violence against civilians whose only crime is having functional eyesight."
Jisu had collapsed on the floor, silently laughing.
"You can't just buy me an entire wardrobe because you got jealous—"
"I'm not jealous." He said it too quickly. "I was reasonably concerned about excessive attention from—"
"You BENT A FORK, Zayne."
Silence on the other end. Then:
"That was a manufacturing defect."
"The fork."
"Yes."
"The expensive restaurant fork."
"...Possibly."
Nana pressed her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. "You're ridiculous."
"I'm practical. Those dresses are beautiful and cover appropriate amounts of skin for public settings. Problem solved."
"And the note about wearing the blue dress only for you?"
He pause. "That dress is—the blue dress should only be—" He cleared his throat.
"I'd prefer if that particular style remained private."
"Because?"
"Because." His voice dropped slightly. "Because that dress is for my eyes only. I'm selfish enough to want to keep some things just for me."
Mina and Jisu clutched each other, swooning dramatically.
"You're impossible," Nana said, but her voice was soft, affectionate.
"I'm protective of what's mine." No hesitation, no embarrassment. Just simple fact. "And you're mine, Nana. I don't share well."
Her heart did complicated gymnastics in her chest. "I noticed."
"Good. Then we understand each other."
A pause. "Do you like them? The dresses? I tried to choose styles that would suit you. If they're not right, I can—"
"It's perfect." She ran her hand over the rose-pink dress. "They're absolutely perfect. You have really good taste."
"I consulted with the boutique owner. Described you in detail. She was very helpful." His voice warmed slightly. "She said if a man describes his girlfriend with that much specific detail, he's either dangerously obsessed or deeply in love."
"And which one are you?"
"Both, probably." She could hear the smile in his voice. "I should go. Morning rounds start in ten minutes. Wear whatever makes you comfortable. But if we're going out somewhere public—"
"I'll wear one of your approved dresses," Nana finished, laughing.
"Thank you." Relief was evident in his tone.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning? Your usual time?"
"I'll be there. With breakfast."
"I look forward to it. I love you."
"I love you too. Even when you're being territorial and ridiculous."
"Especially then," he corrected, and hung up.
Nana set down her phone and looked at her roommates, who immediately exploded:
"'YOU'RE MINE'?!"
"'I DON'T SHARE WELL'?!"
"GIRL, HE IS SO FAR GONE!"
"WE DIDN'T KNOW DOCTOR LI WAS SO POSSESSIVE!"
"THIS IS LIKE A DRAMA! A REAL LIFE DRAMA!"
"He bought you SIXTEEN pieces because men LOOKED at you!"
"That's not normal! That's EXTRA!"
"That's ROMANTIC!"
Nana buried her face in the rose-pink dress, equal parts embarrassed and delighted.
"He's crazy."
"He's crazy about YOU," Mina corrected, examining a gorgeous emerald-green dress with long sleeves and elegant buttons.
"This is—this is the kind of love people write books about. Territorial, protective, 'I will buy you an entire wardrobe so other men stop staring' love."
"Try them on!" Jisu insisted. "We need to see! Fashion show! Now!"
For the next hour, Nana became their live dress-up doll. Each dress fit perfectly—Zayne had somehow known her exact measurements. Each one was stunning in its own way, modest but beautiful, covering what he wanted covered while still making her feel feminine and elegant.
The rose-pink with lace details made her look soft and romantic.
The navy blue with the high collar made her look sophisticated and professional.
The burgundy with flowing skirt made her look like she'd stepped out of a period drama.
The emerald green made her look regal.
Each one was perfect. Each one was her.
"He really knows you," Jisu observed quietly, watching Nana twirl in a cream-colored dress with delicate embroidery. "Like, really knows you. Your style, your measurements, what you'd feel comfortable in. That's—that's rare."
Nana touched the soft fabric, thinking about Zayne spending his precious free time in a boutique, describing her to strangers, choosing each dress carefully. Imagining her in them. Making sure she'd feel beautiful but covered, confident but protected.
"He's special," Nana said softly. "I'm really lucky."
"He's the lucky one," Mina corrected firmly. "You wake up at five-thirty to make him breakfast. You work three jobs and still make time for him. You love him even when he's being an overprotective territorial weirdo. He's lucky you love him back."
"Were both lucky," Nana amended. "We're both lucky we found each other."
Her phone buzzed. A text from Zayne:
If the dresses don't fit properly, I kept the boutique owner's number. She does alterations. —Z
Then another:
Also, I may have purchased matching coats and shoes. They're being delivered tomorrow. —Z
And another:
This isn't jealousy. This is pragmatic relationship management. —Z
And finally:
Fine. It's jealousy. But justified jealousy. —Z
Nana laughed, typing back:
Thank you. For everything. For being crazy and territorial and buying me beautiful clothes. For caring so much. I love you.
The response was immediate:
I love you more. And I'm not sorry about the dresses. Or the jealousy. You're mine. —Z
Possessive much? —N
Extremely. Get used to it. —Z
Mina read over her shoulder and shrieked again. "MARRY HIM! MARRY HIM NOW!"
"He hasn't asked yet—"
"YET!" Jisu emphasized. "He said 'yet'! That man is planning something! I guarantee it!"
Nana looked at the dresses spread across their living room, at the evidence of Zayne's possessive affection, at the tangible proof that someone loved her so much they'd go shopping (which he hated) just to make sure other men couldn't admire what he considered his.
It was excessive. It was territorial. It was probably a little bit crazy.
It was also incredibly sweet.
And yeah,Nana thought, running her hand over the rose-pink dress—when he finally asked that question, whenever it happened, however it happened—
Her answer was already yes.
Had been yes for a while now.
She just had to wait for him to ask.
And knowing Zayne, when he did ask, it would be perfect. Planned. Precise. Everything she deserved.
Just like these dresses.
Just like him.
Possessive, territorial, and completely, utterly hers.
.
.
.
.
.
To be continued __