"A Spark of Jealousy"

The days blended together in a blur of monotony, Esther making Jaekyung's meals, and him responding with a mixture of indifference and hostility. But one afternoon, as Esther was busy in the living room, Jaekyung suddenly appeared beside her, his eyes fixed on her with an unnerving intensity. "What's going on with you?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "You always follow me around, making my meals, leaving notes... what's the point of all this?" Esther felt a flutter in her chest as she met his gaze. "I just want to take care of you," she said, trying to sound calm. Jaekyung snorted. "You don't have to. I can take care of myself." Esther nodded, trying not to show her hurt. "I know, but... I just want to help." Jaekyung raised an eyebrow. "Help? You think I need your help?" Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Jaekyung's phone buzzing. He glanced at the screen and his expression darkened. "I need to go to the store, but I don't see why I have to take you with me." Esther's heart skipped a beat. "I'm going with you?" Jaekyung shrugged. "You always make my meals, but you never actually help me with anything else. Why don't you stay here and rest or something?" Esther felt a surge of determination. "I'd like to go with you," she said, her voice firm. Jaekyung's eyes narrowed. "Fine. But don't expect me to carry your bags or anything." As they walked to the store, Jaekyung's behavior was a stark contrast to his usual coldness. He was irritable, making snide comments about Esther's shopping habits and questioning her choices. Esther tried to ignore him, focusing on the task at hand, but she couldn't help but feel a spark of frustration. At the store, Jaekyung's attitude only intensified. He would occasionally brush against her, his arm grazing hers, sending shivers down her spine. Esther began to feel like she was walking on eggshells, never knowing when Jaekyung's mood would shift. As they wandered down the aisles, Esther noticed a young woman watching Jaekyung with a flirtatious smile. Jaekyung, oblivious to the attention, continued to argue with Esther about the merits of different brands of coffee. The woman, emboldened by Jaekyung's apparent disinterest in Esther, approached him. "Hey, aren't you Jaekyung, the famous athlete?" she asked, batting her eyelashes. Jaekyung's expression turned cold, and he barely acknowledged her presence. "Yeah, I'm Jaekyung." The woman giggled. "I've been a huge fan of yours for years. Can I get a selfie with you?" Esther watched, her heart sinking, as Jaekyung hesitated for a moment before agreeing. As the woman wrapped her arm around his waist, Esther felt a pang of jealousy. She didn't realize she was standing there, her eyes fixed on Jaekyung, until he caught her gaze. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Esther saw a flicker of something in Jaekyung's expression – a spark of jealousy that he quickly extinguished. But it was enough to make Esther's heart skip a beat. Maybe, just maybe, Jaekyung was starting to feel something for her after all.