Nueng2 Oneshots (Maybe?)

Story 6: Kiss of Jealousy

The gallery was buzzing with energy, filled with the vibrant hum of conversation and the soft clinks of champagne glasses. It was the opening night of Nueng's latest exhibition, and the turnout was better than she'd expected. Artists, critics, and collectors filled the room, each drawn to the vibrant, intricate pieces on display.

Nueng should have been thrilled—this was the culmination of her hard work, countless hours of preparation, and a dream coming to life. She had meticulously organized every detail, and now, her gallery was the center of attention. Yet, despite the success, a slow burn of irritation gnawed at her, a feeling she couldn't quite place.

It started earlier that evening when Anueng arrived. As Anueng approached Nueng, her face lit up with a radiant smile. She greeted Nueng with a warm kiss on the cheek, a gesture that was both tender and thrillingly public. For a moment, Nueng felt a rush of relief and gratitude. The freedom to express their affection openly in front of so many people was a new and cherished luxury. They no longer had to hide their relationship, a reality that had once felt like an impossible dream.

"You look amazing, my love. I'm so proud of you tonight. Good luck with everything," Anueng said, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth.

Nueng returned her smile, feeling a profound sense of freedom and joy. "Thank you. I'm glad you're here."

Before they could share more of the moment, a gallery patron approached them, inquiring about the preparations and the exhibits. Nueng shifted her focus to answer the questions, her professional demeanor kicking in. Anueng, sensing the need to give Nueng some space, gave her a supportive smile and stepped away to mingle with the guests, allowing Nueng to handle the evening's demands.

Anueng, dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her in all the right places, looked effortlessly stunning. Her beauty and charm had always drawn people in, and tonight was no different. Normally, Nueng loved watching how Anueng lit up a room, but tonight, something about it unsettled her.

As Nueng moved around the gallery, greeting guests and answering questions about the art, her eyes kept wandering back to Anueng. At first, it was just harmless conversations—people complimenting her, asking about her thoughts on the exhibition. But then Nueng noticed a cute young artist lingering a little too close to Anueng, laughing at her every word, hanging onto her every gesture. Nueng's stomach twisted, though she tried to keep her expression neutral.

"Everything's fine," she muttered to herself, shaking off the creeping irritation.

She had work to do. Guests to entertain. Yet, despite her best efforts to focus, her attention kept being pulled back to Anueng and the artist. The woman's hand brushed lightly against Anueng's arm, and Anueng smiled, seemingly unaware of how flirtatious it all looked. Nueng's grip tightened around the champagne flute she was holding, but she didn't let it show. She couldn't. Not here, not tonight.

"Khun Nueng?" a familiar voice broke through her thoughts. It was one of the gallery's regular patrons, a kind older woman with an eye for detail. "You look a little distracted. Is everything alright?"

Nueng forced a smile, even though her mind was elsewhere. "Oh, yes. Just a busy night."

But as she answered, her eyes flicked again toward Anueng, who was laughing at something the artist had said. The woman was standing too close, looking too interested. Nueng's jaw clenched slightly, but she quickly regained her composure before anyone else could notice.

As the night wore on, Nueng found herself growing quieter, more withdrawn. She moved through the room with mechanical grace, greeting guests, answering their questions, but her heart wasn't in it. Her mind was fixated on the image of Anueng chatting with the artist. What made it worse was that Anueng seemed completely oblivious to it all. She hadn't even glanced in Nueng's direction since she started talking to the woman.