Chapter 17 – Silent Jealousy

Morning mist still lingered lightly over the winding streets of the small town. A cold breeze swept through, making the branches lining the road quiver ever so slightly. Along the cobblestone street, Huyet Minh held tightly onto Thien Duc's hand, walking with an eager pace, almost pulling him along.

"Hurry up, Thien Duc! There are so many more places I want to take you!" His voice brimmed with excitement.

Thien Duc, bundled in a thick brown coat—one Huyet Minh had insisted he wear—walked reluctantly, his head slightly lowered against the biting wind.

"Huyet Minh… do you really have to be this energetic? I'm not a treadmill, you know. Walking all day is exhausting."

Huyet Minh glanced back, his lips curving into a mischievous smile.

"Didn't you agree to come out with me? Regretting it already?"

"I'm not regretting it," Thien Duc muttered, his shoulders rising and falling in a shrug. "But you should at least know my limits. I'm just a normal human, not some… 'supernatural creature' like you."

At that, a soft laugh escaped Huyet Minh, something warm flickering in his eyes for a brief moment. He stopped in his tracks, turned fully toward Thien Duc, and placed his hands gently on his shoulders. His tone, though laced with playful teasing, carried a rare trace of sincerity:

"Alright, if you're that tired… I'll ride a bike and let you sit on the back. You won't have to lift a finger—just sit there and enjoy the view. Deal?"

Thien Duc arched a brow, suspicion flickering across his face.

"A bike? You're not planning some kind of ridiculous stunt again, are you?"

"What stunt?" Huyet Minh grinned, his eyes glancing briefly at Thien Duc's faintly flushed cheeks. "All you'll have to do is hold onto me. I'll take care of the rest."

Thien Duc let out a soft sigh but didn't argue further. Eventually, he found himself seated on the back of the bicycle, his hands at first gripping the side of the seat lightly. Yet each time a gust of wind swept by, his fingers instinctively tightened, clutching the fabric of Huyet Minh's coat. The warmth radiating from his back, the faint brush of Huyet Minh's breath each time he spoke… made Thien Duc's cheeks heat involuntarily.

From this angle… he actually looks… really good.

The thought escaped his lips in a whisper. His fingers slid toward his phone, and while Huyet Minh was laughing under the sunlight, his slightly tousled hair dancing with the wind, Thien Duc quickly snapped a photo. His fingers trembled faintly, but he managed to capture the moment.

---

By the time the sun began to set, Huyet Minh led Thien Duc to a small bar tucked away in a narrow alley. Outside, warm yellow lights hung low, casting a gentle glow that contrasted with the chill of the evening air.

Pushing the door open, the soft chime of wind bells greeted them. The bar exuded a Western-style charm—dark wooden furnishings, plush leather chairs, and a warm amber glow spilling down from rounded lamps.

"This is the place I wanted to show you!" Huyet Minh's hand pressed lightly against Thien Duc's back, guiding him inside with a grin.

Thien Duc's eyes wandered around the room, pausing at the bar where a few patrons were chatting quietly. His voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Didn't expect you to like places like this."

"So what?" Huyet Minh raised a brow, his lips curving slightly, his eyes narrowing in playful amusement. "As long as you're with me, I'd like anywhere."

A soft laugh escaped Thien Duc, so quiet it nearly blended with the gentle hum of jazz filling the bar.

"Another one of those corny lines… but I suppose it doesn't sound too bad."

While Huyet Minh was busy ordering from the bartender, Thien Duc subtly raised his phone again, capturing a side profile of Huyet Minh under the soft golden light. The way his features stood out, the glint in his eyes, made Thien Duc's heart skip a beat.

"What are you doing?" Huyet Minh's voice cut through the air, sudden and close.

Thien Duc startled, hastily hiding his phone, his expression stiff.

"N-Nothing."

Huyet Minh's brows furrowed slightly as he stepped closer, his gaze sharp.

"Don't tell me you're sneaking around behind my back."

"Who's sneaking around?" Thien Duc muttered, visibly flustered as he turned his eyes away. "I was just… checking the time."

"Really?" Huyet Minh leaned in, his face so close that his warm breath ghosted over Thien Duc's skin. "Show me your phone, then."

Thien Duc quickly tucked the device into his pocket, turning his back.

"No way! It's private. None of your business!"

A low chuckle escaped Huyet Minh, his smile tinged with helplessness and mischief.

"Thien Duc… you're acting more and more suspicious."

---

After leaving the bar, they stopped by a small bowling alley, the sound of rolling balls and bursts of laughter echoing throughout the space. Thien Duc fumbled awkwardly with the heavy ball, missing the pins every single time, much to Huyet Minh's amusement.

"Here, let me teach you." Huyet Minh stepped in close behind him, one hand lightly resting on his shoulder, the other adjusting his posture. "Stand like this… keep your balance… and throw."

The close proximity made Thien Duc uneasy. He could feel every breath, every subtle shift of Huyet Minh's body, his ears heating up until they burned.

"O-Okay… but stop standing so close, I… I can't focus," he stammered.

"Then get used to it," Huyet Minh chuckled softly, his voice low and warm.

Thanks to his guidance, Thien Duc finally managed to knock down the pins. While Huyet Minh bent to pick up another ball, strands of hair falling over his forehead, a triumphant smile playing on his lips, Thien Duc secretly snapped another photo. Staring at the image in his phone, a quiet smile tugged at his lips, his eyes softening in a way they rarely did.

"Seen like this… not too bad."

When Huyet Minh turned back and caught his gaze, he tilted his head slightly.

"What are you smiling at now?"

Thien Duc quickly hid his phone and shook his head.

"Nothing… It's just… today's been nice."

Huyet Minh's lips curved gently as he stepped closer, his voice softening.

"I think so too. If you like it… we can have more days like this."

Thien Duc's eyes dropped to the floor, his voice barely above a murmur, almost as if speaking to himself.

"Yeah… I'd like that too."

---

The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the leaves of the garden trees. Thien Duc stood by the row of potted plants, watering them, droplets falling softly onto the leaves.

"These plants… they're thriving," he murmured, the corners of his lips lifting faintly. "Guess I've been taking good care of them… hehe."

Suddenly, a clear female voice called from the gate.

"Hello!"

Thien Duc looked up. A young woman stood there, holding a basket of fruit. She smiled warmly, her eyes soft.

"I'm Thanh Huong, your new neighbor. I brought some fruit as a gift—thought I'd come by and say hi."

Thien Duc set the watering can aside, walking over to accept the basket.

"Oh, hello. That's very kind of you… thank you."

Thanh Huong's smile brightened, a glimmer of friendliness in her gaze.

"It's nothing. You have so many beautiful plants here… you must really love nature, huh?"

Thien Duc rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.

"Not really… it's just a hobby."

"You're being modest. Taking care of plants like this takes patience. Not everyone can do it." Thanh Huong tilted her head slightly, her smile soft and easy.

Thien Duc chuckled lightly, oblivious to the pair of eyes watching from the kitchen.

Through the window, Huyet Minh stood still, a ladle in hand. For a brief moment, his eyes glimmered with a cool, glacial blue. His chest tightened as he watched Thien Duc exchange polite words with the girl, though it was nothing more than casual courtesy.

"Who's that…?" he muttered, his voice low, almost carried away by the faint hiss of the simmering soup. "Standing there smiling so comfortably…"

A faint, cold light flickered in his gaze before he drew in a deep breath, swallowing down the emotion, and turned back to the pot on the stove as if nothing had happened.

When Thanh Huong finally left, Thien Duc stepped inside, holding the fruit basket, calling toward the kitchen:

"Huyet Minh, come look at this! The new neighbor brought us some fruit."

From the kitchen, Huyet Minh's voice came—calm, almost unnaturally so.

"Mm… just leave it there. I'll come out when I'm done cooking."

Thien Duc furrowed his brows and stepped into the kitchen.

"You're not even a little curious? She's pretty nice, you know. She even complimented me."

Huyet Minh turned his head, the corner of his lips curling upward in a faint smile—a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"She… complimented you?"