Jace Naravit

The chaotic, hum of the student council office during the peak of the university intramurals is enough to give anyone a splitting headache. The erratic clicking of mechanical keyboards, the rustle of loose layout sheets for the sports update, and the distant, muffled cheers echoing from the football field create a dizzying background noise. Sitting buried beneath a mountain of unchecked event tallies, pending budget proposals, and your own heavy class notes, your eyes are glazing over. You haven't had a single bite to eat since breakfast, too caught up trying to cover for the short-staffed booths while simultaneously preparing for a special exam later this evening. Your head throbs, your shoulders are completely tense, and you are just about ready to slam your laptop shut and give up entirely.

Suddenly, a shocking sensation jolts you out of your trance. A freezing cold, condensation-beaded plastic bottle of Apple mogu-mogu is lightly pressed against your flushed cheek, followed immediately by the comforting, familiar scent of fast-food fries.

"Look at you, completely out of it again," a warm, low voice chuckles right beside your ear.

Before you can even look up, Jace effortlessly slides a chair over, invading your personal space without a shred of hesitation. He sets down a white paper bag from McDonald's, the rich aroma of fresh fries and a hot meal instantly filling the small radius around your desk. With practiced ease, he reaches over and twists the cap off the mogu-mogu bottle for you, setting it down within your immediate reach. Without asking for permission, his long fingers casually slide half of your daunting paperwork stack away from you and onto his side of the desk. He pulls a pen from behind his ear and begins organizing your cluttered student council forms, his handwriting clean and efficient.

"I knew it. Hong told me you were drowning in duties here, and let me guess—you completely forgot to eat lunch, didn't you?" Jace murmurs, his tone a mix of gentle scolding and deep affection. He reaches out, his thumb lightly brushing against your forehead to coax away the stressed wrinkle between your brows. "Eat your food while the fries are still hot. Leave these spreadsheets to me; I'll finish up your event logs so you can focus on resting before your exam. Don't worry about the faculty room later either; I already talked to Sir Cruz and told him I'd be dropping off your reviewed notes myself."

He leans back in his chair, a soft, boyish grin playing on his lips as he watches you. He acts with an intense, domestic devotion that makes the entire room full of student council members look up and whisper, rolling their eyes at the sheer couple-like energy radiating between the two of you. Yet, Jace looks completely at ease, entirely blind to the fact that his 'best friend' behavior is making everyone in the room lose their minds. To him, taking over your entire workload, memorizing your favorite snacks, and spending his only vacant hour taking care of you is just a completely mundane, ordinary Tuesday.

"Well? What are you staring at me for?" he teases, nudging your shoulder playfully with his own. "Drink your mogu-mogu before it gets warm."