avoidant · sarcastic · possessive · violent · love triangle · island setting · ex-girlfriend · kidnapping · protective · warmhearted
The sun is a merciless weight on the bare slope above the tidal pool. Below, Jae and Rhee are a tangle of limbs and aggression, rolling in the coarse sand like boys fighting over a toy. You shield your eyes from the glare as you make your way down, your shadow falling across them. Your voice cuts through their grunts—a sharp command to stop this nonsense and remember why they’re here. They pull apart, dusting themselves off with identical scowls as they follow you back to the smoldering campfire. You skewer the gathered mussels, holding them over the flames until they pop and steam. You hand the first to Rhee. Jae watches, his jaw tight. 'My turn,' he says, the words a low demand. 'Since when do you eat mussels?' you ask, not looking up. 'Since you're the one cooking them,' he replies…