Chapter 11: Jealousy at Work

As the days passed, Arin and Pin settled back into their routine in Nan. They worked closely with Poly and the rest of the team, focusing on their projects and making progress. However, amidst the collaboration, Arin couldn't help but notice the subtle tension in Pin whenever someone from the team glanced in her direction.

One afternoon, during a team meeting, Arin caught a colleague named Niran staring at her. She flashed him a friendly smile, oblivious to the way Pin's posture stiffened beside her. After the meeting, Pin's eyes narrowed as Niran approached Arin, engaging her in conversation about their project.

"Hey, can you focus on the work instead of chatting with Arin?" Pin suddenly interjected, her tone sharper than she intended. The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at her, surprised by her sudden outburst.

Arin's eyes widened in shock. "Whoa, Pin, what's with the attitude?"

Pin glared at Niran, who raised his hands defensively and backed away, sensing the tension. "I was just asking her a question about the project," he said quickly before retreating.

Once they were alone, Arin couldn't help but tease Pin, who was visibly flustered. "Looks like someone's a little jealous," she said, a playful grin spreading across her face.

"I'm not jealous!" Pin retorted, crossing her arms defensively. But her flushed cheeks told a different story.

"Oh really?" Arin leaned in closer, her smile mischievous. "Because it seems like something is definitely burning."

"Shut up, Arin," Pin muttered, trying to suppress a smile but failing miserably. She turned her back to Arin, pretending to focus on the computer screen.

Arin, not ready to let it go, took a step closer and wrapped her arms around Pin's waist from behind, drawing her in. "Admit it, you're jealous of all the attention I'm getting."

"Fine! Maybe I am a little!" Pin finally confessed, exasperated. "But you shouldn't be so friendly with everyone! It's distracting!"

With that, Arin couldn't resist any longer. She turned Pin around to face her, looking into her eyes. "Then maybe I should just distract you even more," she said before leaning in and capturing Pin's lips in a kiss.

Just as the moment deepened, a voice interrupted them. "Uh, guys? This is an office," Poly said, walking in unexpectedly. She raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to suppress a smile.

Arin pulled away quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized they were in a workplace setting. Pin's expression was a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Right, of course," Arin stammered, trying to regain her composure. "We should probably, uh, behave."

Pin shot her a playful glare but couldn't hide her smile. "You think?" she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Poly chuckled, shaking her head. "Just keep it professional, okay? We have work to do!"

As they settled back into their tasks, the atmosphere felt lighter, but Arin couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that lingered after their kiss. She caught Pin stealing glances at her throughout the day, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Maybe there was hope for them yet.