Chapter 16 Jealousy??
Oom Eisaya did not expect jealousy to enter the situation.
She already had enough problems.
She was in love with two versions of the same person, being emotionally kidnapped at night, ignored during the day, and now apparently under surveillance by a childhood friend with a warning label.
That should have been the limit.
That should have been enough chaos for one person.
But no.
Because now—
She was jealous.
“…this is embarrassing,” Oom muttered, pressing her face into her folded arms on the studio table.
“Say that louder,” Yada said, not even pretending to be subtle. “For the people in the back.”
“I will not.”
“You look like you just realized you have emotions.”
“I’ve always had emotions.”
“You’ve never handled them well.”
“That is not relevant.”
“It’s extremely relevant.”
Oom groaned, lifting her head just enough to glare at her cousin.
“I’m not jealous.”
Yada didn’t even hesitate.
“You are absolutely jealous.”
“I am not.”
“You’re sulking.”
“I’m thinking.”
“You’re pouting.”
“I am reflecting.”
“You’re emotionally compromised.”
“I am—”
Oom stopped.
Because across the room—
Bam Saralee was talking to Mint Cho.
Again.
And this time—
They were standing closer.
Too close.
Close enough that whatever they were saying wasn’t meant for anyone else to hear.
Oom’s chest tightened.
She didn’t like it.
Didn’t like the way Bam’s expression softened slightly—not the vulnerable softness she saw at night, but something familiar. Comfortable. Safe.
Didn’t like the way Mint leaned in slightly, her voice low, her presence steady and unwavering.
Didn’t like the way Bam stayed.
“…I hate this,” Oom whispered.
Yada followed her gaze and hummed.
“Oh. Yeah. That’s bad.”
“I said I’m not jealous.”
“You’re glaring.”
“I am observing.”
“You’re observing aggressively.”
Oom looked away immediately.
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Oom pressed her hands to her face.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Jealousy usually is.”
“I shouldn’t feel like this.”
“Why not?”
Oom froze.
“Because… because—”
She faltered.
Because she didn’t have a good reason.
Because technically—
She wasn’t in a relationship with Bam.
Not officially.
Not openly.
Not… consciously, at least.
And yet—
Her heart didn’t care about technicalities.
It just reacted.
Raw.
Immediate.
Unfair.
“…I don’t have the right,” Oom admitted quietly.
Yada tilted her head.
“That’s not how feelings work.”
“That’s how they should work.”
“Too bad they don’t.”
Oom exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting back despite herself.
Bam was still there.
Still talking.
Still—
Close.
And something about that closeness felt wrong.
Not because it was wrong.
But because—
Oom wanted that space.
She wanted to be the one standing there.
The one Bam leaned toward.
The one Bam trusted enough to lower her guard around.
“…this is pathetic,” Oom muttered.
“No,” Yada said softly. “This is normal.”
Oom didn’t respond.
Because normal—
Didn’t feel this intense.
---
The worst part came later.
Because Bam approached her.
Casually.
Like nothing had happened.
Like Oom hadn’t spent the last hour fighting the urge to drag her away from someone else.
“Oom.”
Oom looked up.
“…senpai.”
Bam stood there, her expression calm, unreadable as ever.
But there was something else.
Something subtle.
Her gaze lingered just a second too long.
“You’re distracted.”
Oom blinked.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m thinking.”
“You’re not working.”
Oom glanced at her untouched project.
“…that’s unrelated.”
Bam studied her for a moment.
Then—
“…did something happen?”
Oom almost laughed.
Yes. Everything happened. I fell in love with you and now I’m jealous of your entire existence.
Instead, she said—
“No.”
Bam didn’t look convinced.
But she didn’t push.
Instead, she stepped closer.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Enough to make Oom’s heart stutter.
Enough to make her hyper-aware of the distance—or lack of it—between them.
“…you should focus,” Bam said quietly.
Oom swallowed.
“Okay.”
But she didn’t move.
Didn’t look away.
Didn’t break the moment.
Because something about this felt—
Different.
Bam’s gaze didn’t leave her.
Not immediately.
It lingered.
Searching.
As if trying to understand something she couldn’t quite grasp.
Then—
“…don’t stay too late tonight.”
Oom froze.
“…why.”
Bam hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then—
“…you’ll get tired.”
That wasn’t it.
Oom knew that wasn’t it.
But before she could say anything—
Bam stepped back.
Distance restored.
Mask back on.
And just like that—
The moment was gone.
“…I hate this,” Oom whispered.
“Still jealous?” Yada asked from behind her.
Oom didn’t answer.
---
That night—
Everything changed.
Oom stepped into the club room like she always did, her heart heavy, her thoughts tangled, her emotions still lingering from the day.
But the moment she walked in—
She felt it.
That shift.
That pull.
Stronger than before.
Bam was already there.
Already waiting.
And the moment she sensed Oom—
She moved.
Faster than usual.
Her hand caught Oom’s wrist, pulling her forward with more urgency than Oom had ever felt from her before.
“Okay—!”
Oom barely had time to react before she was pulled down, her balance lost, her body caught, her space invaded completely.
Bam’s arms wrapped around her tightly.
Too tightly.
“…you’re here…”
Her voice was softer than usual.
But there was something else beneath it.
Something sharp.
Something possessive.
Oom’s breath hitched.
“I am.”
Bam didn’t relax.
Didn’t settle.
Her grip stayed firm, her body pressed closer, her face buried into Oom’s neck like she was claiming space that already belonged to her.
“…you smell different…”
Oom blinked.
“…what.”
Bam’s fingers tightened slightly.
“…other people…”
Oom’s brain froze.
Oh.
“Oh.”
That was—
Not subtle.
At all.
“…I was in class,” Oom said weakly.
Bam didn’t respond.
Instead—
She pulled her closer.
Even closer.
Until there was absolutely no space left between them.
“…don’t like it…”
Oom’s heart pounded.
“Senpai—”
“…stay here…”
The words were softer.
But heavier.
More intentional.
Oom swallowed.
Because this—
This felt different.
Not just clingy.
Not just needy.
Something deeper.
Something—
Possessive.
Bam shifted slightly, her hands moving—one resting firmly against Oom’s waist, the other sliding up to her shoulder, anchoring her in place.
Like she wasn’t just holding her.
She was keeping her.
“…don’t go to them…”
Oom’s breath caught.
“…them?”
No answer.
Only silence.
And then—
Bam pulled back just enough.
Their faces close.
Too close.
Her expression soft—
But her grip still firm.
Still grounding.
Still—
Unyielding.
And then—
She kissed her.
Not soft.
Not hesitant.
Not testing.
But deeper.
More certain.
More emotional.
Oom gasped softly, her hands instinctively gripping Bam’s shirt as she was pulled into it, her body reacting before her brain could catch up.
Because this—
This wasn’t accidental anymore.
This wasn’t uncertain.
This was—
Intentional.
Bam’s hand tightened at her waist, holding her in place as the kiss deepened, as if she didn’t want Oom to pull away, didn’t want to give her the option.
And Oom—
Didn’t want to.
Her heart raced, her thoughts scattering, her body responding instinctively, her grip tightening as she leaned into it, matching the intensity without even realizing it.
Because she understood.
She felt it.
That shift.
That emotion.
That quiet, unspoken mine.
When Bam finally pulled back, her forehead resting lightly against Oom’s, her breathing uneven, her grip still firm—
Oom knew.
This wasn’t just affection anymore.
This wasn’t just comfort.
This was—
Something deeper.
Something dangerous.
“…you’re not fair,” Oom whispered.
Bam didn’t respond.
She just held her tighter.
And Oom—
Didn’t pull away.