Viridescent Flares

16

I almost laughed when she said Kinsley's name, but refrained from it when I noticed the serious look on her face.

"But why are you jealous of her? She's just a friend to me," I said, subconsciously resting my hand on her thigh.

"So is Brad," she countered, shrugging and pulling her arm away from me.

"Hey, put it back," I told her, referring to her arm—to which she quickly obliged after laughing. "You don't have to be jealous, you know?"

"How can I not? You literally talk to her every break time we get," she replied, tensing up as I started rubbing her leg slowly. "You barely give yourself a rest because of her."

"I get the rest I need, Lo," I said, chuckling lightly and reaching up to play with the hand hanging loosely by my shoulder. "Besides, I promised her that I will give her time and put her as one of my priorities. But don't think that she's something more than a friend because she isn't. You don't have to be jealous, okay?"

"As long as you don't get jealous with Brad," she inquired, trying to compromise.

"I can't promise anything especially if I always see the both of you interacting everywhere," I retorted, putting up a sad smile.

"Then I can't do what you want when I exactly know how you say goodbye to Kinsley when she calls because I've memorized everything you're talking about."

"What?" I asked surprisingly, slightly pulling away from her. "You can hear us when we're talking?"

"Idiot," she said, laughing at me as she pinched my side playfully. "You're bunk is across mine—how can I not hear the way you flirt with her?"

"Hey, I don't flirt with her," I replied, pouting my lips and furrowing my brows.

"Lately you've been calling her names and honestly, I'm starting to wish that I was Kinsley," she said boldly, which I assume she didn't plan because of the reddening of her cheeks.

"Aw, my little burrito is jealous!" I cooed, wrapping my arm around her head and pulling her for a hug, crashing her face against my chest. I heard her giggle and I retracted myself from her, laughing when I noticed that I messed her hair up.

"Okay, how about this," she started, pushing away the strands of hair from her face. "I'll only interact with Brad if it's necessary so you wouldn't be too jealous. I'm gonna lowkey avoid him."

"Then what would I do to ease your jealousy with Kinsley?"

"I won't tell you to stay away from her because that's too much and I don't want you to ruin the friendship you have with her. Just try to balance your time with us."

"Okay. I think I can do that." I smiled at her, and she reciprocated the action.