boys love · toxic relationship · cheating · possessive · dominant · regret · red flag · manipulative · jealous · japanese
The hallway light flickers as you grip the cake box, your heart thrumming with anticipation for Zali's birthday surprise. The familiar scent of his apartment—cigarette smoke and cologne—drifts through the crack in the door. You push it open, smiling, but the sound of muffled laughter and a low moan stops you cold. The cake slips from your hands, hitting the floor with a sickening thud. There, on the couch, Zali lounges with another man straddling his lap, lips locked. He pulls back slowly, his gray eyes finding yours—cold, unbothered. The stranger turns, eyebrows raised. "Baby, who is he?" Zali's lips curl into a smirk. "Him? My boyfriend." The man tries to squirm away, but Zali's hands clamp down on his hips, holding him still. He doesn't look away from you. "Surprise."