Chapter 3

I Don’t Like It

Everything felt normal again.

Or at least… that’s what Zara was trying to believe.

She had stopped thinking about what Arin said that day—

“It means I’m not the only one feeling something.”

But forgetting wasn’t easy.

Because he didn’t act like someone who meant nothing.

That afternoon, Zara was talking to a classmate.

It wasn’t anything special—just notes, a small doubt, normal conversation.

She didn’t even notice when Arin walked in.

But he noticed.

He stopped for a second… watching.

The way she smiled.

The way she leaned slightly forward while talking.

Something about it didn’t sit right with him.

Zara laughed softly at something the guy said.

And that was it.

Arin walked straight towards them.

“Zara,” he called.

She turned, a little surprised. “Oh, hey—”

Before she could finish, Arin looked at the guy and said,

“I need to talk to her.”

His tone wasn’t rude.

But it wasn’t casual either.

The guy nodded awkwardly and left.

Zara frowned slightly.

“What was that?”

“What?” Arin asked, acting normal.

“You didn’t have to interrupt like that.”

“I didn’t interrupt. I just called you.”

She crossed her arms. “Same thing.”

There was a small silence.

Then he said it.

“I don’t like it.”

Zara blinked. “Don’t like what?”

“When you talk to him like that.”

Her expression changed.

“Like what?”

“Like…” he paused, trying to find the right words,

“…like you were enjoying it.”

For a second, she didn’t understand.

Then she did.

And her heart reacted before her mind could.

“Why does it matter?” she asked quietly.

He didn’t answer immediately.

He just looked at her.

“Because it does,” he said finally.

That wasn’t enough.

“Arin, that’s not an answer.”

He stepped a little closer.

“Then listen carefully,” he said, his voice lower now.

“I don’t like seeing you with someone else.”

Silence.

Her heartbeat got louder.

“What does that even mean?” she whispered.

He held her gaze.

“It means… I notice things I shouldn’t care about.”

Zara didn’t know what to say.

This wasn’t teasing anymore.

This wasn’t light conversation.

This was something real.

Something she couldn’t ignore.

“You’re being weird,” she said softly, trying to lighten it.

But her voice didn’t sound normal.

He exhaled slightly, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah,” he said.

“I know.”

Another pause.

But this time… it felt heavy.

“I’m not saying you can’t talk to others,” he added quickly.

“I just…”

He stopped.

She waited.

“I just don’t like it,” he finished.

Zara looked at him… really looked at him.

This wasn’t anger.

This wasn’t control.

This was something else.

Something closer to…

jealousy.

And for some reason…

That didn’t push her away.

It made her feel something she wasn’t ready to admit.

“Okay,” she said softly.

He frowned. “Okay?”

“Yeah.”

She looked away for a second, then back at him.

“I’ll try not to… make you feel like that.”

Now it was his turn to be surprised.

“Why?” he asked.

Zara smiled a little.

Not teasing. Not shy.

Just honest.

“Because I don’t like it either.”

And just like that…

Everything changed again.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***