third time's a charm

31

"Why is she here?" Win's voice was edged with frustration as he confronted Bright on the upper deck of the ship. The conversation that had been simmering beneath the surface finally erupted, and Win's unease was palpable.

Bright sighed, trying to keep his composure despite the tension between them. "Win, she's one of my good friends, and Off too," he explained, hoping to ease Win's concerns.

"But Off only knew her because you introduced them, right?" Win insisted, his tone becoming more insistent.

Bright let out another sigh, feeling the weight of Win's uneasiness bearing down on him. "I don't understand why this is an issue," he admitted, struggling to find the right words to soothe Win's anxieties.

"You're not answering my question though," Win pressed on, his frustration evident. "Why is she here?"

"Okay, what do you want me to do with her, huh? Tell her to go away?" Bright's own frustration began to bubble to the surface as he struggled to find a solution.

"Maybe you can start by answering my question first!" Win's voice rose, his emotions getting the better of him.

"Okay..." Bright approached Win with a calm demeanor, not wanting to escalate the situation. He reached out and held Win's hands, his thumbs drawing circles on his knuckles to help soothe him. "I told her this morning through texts," he admitted.

Win's astonishment was evident. "You were texting each other while you were with me?" he questioned, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"It's a group chat, baby. Nani and Dew could've brought it up too, I just happened to bring it up first," Bright continued to explain.

"But you did bring it up, didn't you?" Win persisted, his eyes searching for answers.

"Win..."

"Do you text each other too, not as a group, just the two of you?"

Bright blinked at the intensity of the questioning, feeling his own frustration mounting. "She's my childhood friend, Win. She's like a sister to me," he reiterated, hoping to reassure Win.

"Did you ask her if she feels the same? Does she treat you like a brother too?" Win's tone was accusatory, his insecurities laid bare.

"Win---" Bright tried to interject, but Win cut him off again.

"She told me before she likes you. That she likes you a lot. She built that pet-sitting business because both of you love pets," Win revealed, his jealousy fueling each word.

"She knows what I feel for you!" Bright exclaimed, his frustration evident as he tried to defend himself. "I told her everything about you."

But Win's jealousy only seemed to intensify as he pulled his hands away from Bright's grasp. "What did you tell her? Is that why she looks so confident that what we have now isn't going to last?"

The incredulity of Win's words reflected quickly on Bright's face. "How are you getting all these notions?! What the fuck...are you a mind reader or something?" Bright's frustration boiled over as he struggled to comprehend the accusations.

"Because I can see it when I looked at her, Bright!" Win's voice rose in frustration, causing the people on the cruise ship to cast curious glances their way. Bright felt a pang of embarrassment wash over him as he quickly echoed an apology.

"Baby, why are you acting like this now?" Bright attempted to bridge the distance between them, reaching out to Win. "You're the one wearing my ring. You have my heart, my soul, my everything. I don't see her that way."

Tears welled up in Win's eyes as he confessed, "I don't want her here. I don't know why, but I don't feel good when she's around..."

Bright was taken aback by Win's revelation. He had always thought that Win and Lilian got along well. When he had introduced Win to Lilian's pet-sitting business, Win had seemed to enjoy her company. However, Bright hadn't noticed any apprehension from Win back then, nor had Win ever mentioned Lilian in passing.