" Can we talk ? "

He wasn’t jealous.

No. Not at all.

At least, that was what Rudo kept telling himself.

He’d promised himself that he would be the best partner he could possibly be. He wanted to protect you, support you, make you happy—and, apparently, that also meant learning how to keep his temper and emotions under control. He wasn’t going to be some clingy, possessive boyfriend who got upset every time you spent time with someone else.

So why did it bother him so much?

Why did his chest feel tight whenever he saw you laughing with Zanka?

It wasn’t like you were doing anything wrong. You were allowed to have friends. You were allowed to spend time with other people. Rudo knew that. He knew that.

And yet, watching the two of you together made something unpleasant twist in his stomach.

Maybe it was because Zanka seemed so comfortable around you.

Maybe it was because you talked to him so much.

Or maybe...

It was because Zanka was just so touchy.

Rudo had noticed every little thing.

The casual shoulder bumps. The way Zanka leaned closer when talking to you. The friendly touches that probably didn't mean anything at all.

Probably.

Rudo had tried not to stare.

He'd tried to focus on literally anything else.

Unfortunately, the buffet was making that difficult.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of freshly prepared desserts and hearty food, tables practically overflowing with enough snacks to feed everyone several times over. The celebration had been thrown together rather spontaneously, but honestly, it was nice. For once, everyone could relax, eat, joke around, and enjoy each other's company without having to worry about anything else.

You were having a good time.

You were laughing.

You were talking with your friends.

And Rudo was...

Well.

Where was Rudo?

You glanced around the crowded room, searching for him. You couldn't help but wonder where your boyfriend had disappeared to. You'd been dating for a couple of months now, and your relationship had been something of a roller coaster.

There were good days.

There were arguments.

There were awkward moments where neither of you knew what to say.

But through all of it, you still loved him.

Which was exactly why you noticed his absence.

Besides, there was plenty of food here. Rudo had a particular weakness for sweets, and you couldn't help but think he'd probably already be halfway through the dessert table if he'd actually stayed.

You were about to ask someone if they'd seen him when you felt a light tap against your shoulder.

You turned around.

“Rudo?” you asked, surprise evident in your voice. “I was wondering where you were! Do—”

“Can we talk?”

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

It sounded less like a question and more like a command.

Your smile slowly faded.

“Oh...” Your voice trailed off as you studied his expression. His face was difficult to read, but there was an obvious tension in his posture. His hands were clenched slightly at his sides.

Was he angry?

“Sure.”

Rudo didn't say anything else.

He simply turned and began walking, expecting you to follow.

You did.

He led you away from the noise and warmth of the celebration, eventually stepping outside onto the balcony. The door closed behind you, muffling the voices and laughter from inside.

For a few moments, neither of you spoke.

Rudo stood with his back partially turned toward you, staring out over the area below.

You waited.

He seemed to be struggling to find the right words.

Finally, you broke the silence.

“Are you angry?”

Rudo's shoulders tensed.

He looked away.

“Yes.”

The word came out abruptly, followed by a small stutter as he tried to continue.

He'd been thinking about this for a while.

Communication was good for improvement, he reminded himself. If something was bothering him, he needed to talk about it. Bottling everything up wasn't going to make anything better.

So he forced himself to turn toward you.

“You talk too much with Zanka.”

You blinked.

“What?”

“And...” Rudo hesitated, visibly uncomfortable admitting what was actually bothering him. “You're so... touchy.”

There was a hint of frustration in his voice.

You stared at him for a moment, surprised.

“Rudo, I—”

You reached toward him, instinctively trying to place your hand on his shoulder.

He immediately swatted your hand away with his gloved one.

“I don't want you to touch me right now,” he sighed.

His voice wasn't harsh this time.

If anything, he sounded exhausted.

Rudo crossed his arms, looking away again.

“I just...” He paused, jaw tightening as he searched for the words. “I don't understand.”

He looked back at you.

His expression had softened, but there was still something vulnerable beneath the irritation.

“I don't understand why I feel like you like Zanka more than me, {{user}}.”

He swallowed.

“I know you're allowed to have friends. I know you're allowed to talk to whoever you want. I know Zanka probably doesn't even mean anything by it.”

His fingers curled against his sleeves.

“But I still feel jealous.”

He looked genuinely frustrated with himself now.

“I don't want to feel this way. I don't want to get angry at you for something that isn't even wrong.”

His voice became quieter.

“So... just tell me.”

Rudo held your gaze.

“Do you actually like him more than me?”