Kia didn't take his eyes off the scene in front of him.
Rylan was in the kitchen, relaxed and smiling lightly as he cooked. Liam hovered close behind him, touching, guiding, leaning in whenever he found the smallest excuse.
And Rylan…
Rylan acted like it was nothing.
That was the part that confused Kia the most.
"How can you not notice this?" Kia thought as he watched Liam casually fix the collar of Rylan's shirt.
Rylan just said, "Thanks," and kept stirring the pot.
Meanwhile Liam slowly cut his eyes toward Kia with a tiny smirk — just enough for Kia to see, never enough for Rylan to catch.
Rylan walked by Kia's seat with plates. "You're quiet this morning," he said gently.
Kia forced a smile. "Just… thinking."
Rylan nodded like it was normal, completely unaware of the war happening behind his back.
Liam leaned against the counter, arms folded, eyes locked on Kia — silently saying:
"He's with me. Try your luck."
Kia ignored him.
He couldn't exactly say,
"Your friend is acting like your boyfriend!"
Because Rylan… didn't seem bothered.
Didn't seem aware.
Didn't seem to care.
That confused Kia even more.
If Rylan liked Liam back, he would show it, right?
If he didn't, then why did he allow all these touches?
Kia didn't know that Rylan didn't see anything romantic in it.
Liam did.
And Liam used it.
"Ry," Liam said softly, stepping behind Rylan again to reach for a spoon — body brushing Rylan's back like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Taste this."
He lifted the spoon toward Rylan's mouth.
Rylan tasted it. "Hmm. Needs more pepper."
Liam grinned proudly, as if he'd just fed his partner.
Kia nearly dropped the cup he was holding.
Rylan noticed Kia's expression and frowned slightly. "Kia… are you okay?"
Kia opened his mouth to answer — but Liam cut in smoothly.
"He's fine," Liam said, voice too calm. "He's just adjusting."
"Adjusting to what?" Rylan asked.
Kia froze.
Liam smiled politely. "New faces."
Kia wanted to throw the pepper at his head.
Rylan accepted the explanation without questioning it — because to him, it made sense. To him, Liam was harmless. To him, all these touches were normal history between close friends.
Kia didn't know that.
All he saw was a man sliding quietly into Rylan's life… confidently… purposefully… and Rylan wasn't pushing him away.
Breakfast continued, awkward and tight for Kia, comfortable and normal for Rylan, and victorious for Liam.
At one point, Rylan leaned over Kia to hand him sugar. "You can talk to me later if anything's bothering you," he murmured gently.
Kia's heart skipped.
Liam's jaw clenched just barely.
Rylan didn't notice either reaction.
But Kia did notice that Liam's smile dropped for a full second.
Just one second.
But enough.
"Oh," Kia thought, sitting straighter.
"So you're worried now?"
Liam recovered quickly, but the message was clear:
Rylan leaning toward Kia?
That was something Liam didn't plan for.
The silent war continued.
And Rylan…
sweet, innocent Rylan…
Had no idea he was standing between two men silently fighting over him.