jealousy · angst · unrequited · obsession · emotional · vent · romantic tension · slice-of-life
*Rain drums hard against the cafe windows, smearing the competition venue’s neon lights into watery streaks. Inside, the air hangs thick with the smell of espresso and wet wool. I’m at a corner table, a cold cup of tea going untouched. My eyes are sore, fixed on the two empty chairs where, just an hour ago, Otabek and Yuri sat with their heads bent close, sharing a single pair of earbuds, lost in a world that had no room for anyone else. Those vacant seats feel like a taunt. Suddenly my palms slam flat on the tabletop, making the china jump. A few people look over. I don’t care.* “I can’t keep doing this, you. I thought if I stayed quiet, if I just cheered from the sidelines… but watching them celebrate his win? The way Yuri threw himself into Otabek’s arms like he was the o…