"Hello, my lovelies…" Jade sang as he strutted into the school premises, hips swaying, voice soft and sweet. "How are you all doing? Don't answer—I already know you're fine."
He stopped when he saw Peter and his friends near the gate, talking loudly as always.
"Hi to you too, gay," Paul called out.
Laughter exploded—ugly, loud, childish. Some of the boys even bent over, slapping each other as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
Jade blinked slowly, then smiled. The kind of smile that could burn a man alive.
"Hmm? Hi, babe," Jade said, walking closer. "So… you didn't come that day even after I invited you. Why? Are you scared your friends will call you names again?" His voice dropped, teasing and dangerous.
Paul's face tightened. "How dare you bring up that day? I decided not to bother you about it."
"Aww, babe… you're hurting me," Jade whispered dramatically, touching his own chest.
Then he turned to Peter, eyes softening immediately.
"My love… why are you quiet? You're watching your friends bully me? It's not nice. I'm fragile, you know. I feel pain." Jade brushed his fingers slowly along Peter's hand—soft, intimate, shameless.
"Jade—remove your hand. Now," Peter said through clenched teeth, snatching his hand away like Jade burned him.
Jade's expression cracked—just slightly.
"I don't understand why you're acting like this," he said in a trembling voice. "Especially when you're the one who sent me a love letter first. Now you're pretending? In front of them?" Tears gathered in his lashes, sparkling.
"Jade, stop." Peter wouldn't meet his eyes. "Don't make things up. I never sent you a love letter. I'm not gay. Don't put nonsense in my friends' heads."
Jade laughed—a broken, disbelieving laugh.
Oh, how did it get this far?
When Jade first joined École de Cuisine, he was the boy everyone admired. Strong. Confident. The perfect new student. Peter noticed him first—approached him first. They shared classes, secrets, late-night study sessions. They were inseparable.
Until the day Peter caught feelings.
He withdrew, avoided Jade, avoided even standing too close. Jade thought it was strange—until the letter came. A soft, folded confession. Peter's handwriting. Peter's heart spilled on paper. Vulnerable. Desperate.
From then, letters went back and forth like something out of an old romance. Even though phones existed, Peter insisted on letters—like he was scared reality would expose his feelings.
And then… Paul intercepted one.
A letter clearly addressed to Peter.
Clearly affectionate.
Clearly from Jade.
Paul thought Jade was the one crazily in love. And Jade never denied it.
But Peter twisted everything—said Jade was obsessed, disturbing him, chasing him.
The betrayal still stung.
"Those days were so sweet," Jade said softly. "I miss how you used to listen to everything I said because you loved me. Love and obsession… they're such beautiful things." He closed his eyes, inhaling dramatically.
Paul scoffed. "Jade, you're unbelievable. Do you remember what you told me when I confronted you about the letter?"
Jade tilted his head, smiling innocently.
Paul continued, mocking his tone:
"'Oh yes, I wrote the letter because Peter and I were dating at that time. He was so in love with me he even bought me this wristwatch.' Isn't that exactly what you told me?"
"Mm-hmm." Jade nodded. "There was no point lying, my love." He turned to Paul with a slow, seductive smile. "Besides… I'm not in love with Peter anymore." He leaned closer. "It's you I want now."
Paul's face dropped. His ears even turned red.
"I feel like beating you till your face changes shape," he muttered. "Your pretty face needs correction."
Jade's entire expression shifted—dark, sultry, wicked.
"My love… try it." He dragged a finger down his own neck. "Beat me. Kill me. Choke me. I'll moan your name."
He started moaning softly to prove it.
"Uh… uhh… babe…"
Paul turned away immediately. "Freak! You're a freak!" he barked, storming off with his friends.
But even as they walked away, Peter kept glancing back—just a little too long, a little too often.
Jade smiled.
Someone was definitely jealous.