"Oh," Dorian said again, looking far too pleased with himself. "Now I have ideas."

They were back at their table at this point. Qinny sat down slowly.

"That sentence has never improved any situation."

"It's about to improve mine."

"Our mine?"

"Collective mine."

He slid her phone toward himself.

She snatched it back instantly.

"Hands off."

"You trust me with your tears but not your passcode?"

"Yes."

"Healthy."

He leaned across the plastic table, lowering his voice like they were discussing insider trading.

"Text him back."

"No."

"Yes."

"I'd rather drink bleach."

"Strong reaction. Still yes."

Qinny folded her arms.

"What exactly am I texting?"

Dorian grinned. The grin should have been illegal in public.

"Something affectionate."

"Ew, hell no."

"That's not good enough."

She glared so hard a lesser man might have apologized. Dorian only looked entertained.

"Listen carefully," he said. "Men doing wrong hate one thing most."

"Accountability?"

"Almost. Uncertainty."

He tapped the table.

"If Brennen thinks you're suspicious, he'll become careful."

"That's bad."

"Correct."

"If Brennen thinks everything is normal..."

He spread his hands.

"He relaxes."

Qinny considered this.

Then hated that it made sense.

"You've thought about this too much."

"I was raised by television and disappointment."

She bit back a smile.

"What do I say?"

Dorian leaned closer to read the last message.

He looked offended on her behalf.

"First of all, disgusting."

"Focus."

"Reply: Miss you 🤍 Rest well, athlete."

Qinny stared.

"No."

"Why?"

"I have self-respect."

"You're trying to win."

"I'd rather lose."

Dorian sighed dramatically.

"Fine. Adjust to your emotional range."

She typed:

Miss you. Rest well.

Then stopped.

No emoji.

"No heart?" he asked.

"You're lucky I didn't send a thumbs up."

"Cold woman."

She hit send.

Immediately regretted existing.

The three dots appeared almost instantly.

Typing.

Stopped.

Typing again.

Qinny stared at the screen like it might explode.

"Why is he typing like he's writing a thesis," she muttered.

"Because he's thinking," Dorian said calmly. "That's good."

"That's terrifying."

"Relax. If he was guilty and smart, he'd reply immediately."

"...And if he's guilty and dumb?"

Dorian tilted his head.

"Then you dated him for six years."

Qinny kicked his leg under the table. He didn't even flinch.

Her phone buzzed within seconds.

Brennen ❤️
Can't wait to see you tomorrow babe~

Dorian whistled.

"See? Tail wagging already."

"You're revolting."

"You're welcome."

He opened his own chat with Yris.

Qinny leaned in despite herself.

Hui Yi
Wish u were hereee 😘

Dorian typed without emotion.

Same here. Sleep early

"That's cold. No emoji?" Qinny asked.

"She gets punctuation if lucky."

"You're petty."

"I'm healing."

They looked at each other. Then both laughed.

The drive back to campus was warm and breezy, the city lights soft in the distance. Neither commented. The silence between them had changed.

Less awkward.

More aware.

Qinny leaned her head slightly against the window. City lights blurred past in soft streaks.

She could still feel it.

His hand.

Earlier.

The way it lingered just a fraction too long. She shifted slightly in her seat.

"This is weird," she said suddenly.

Dorian kept his eyes on the road.

"You've said that before."

"No, I mean this specifically."

"Define this."

She gestured vaguely between them.

"You. Me. This whole..." she paused, searching, "...team-up situation."

He hummed.

"Efficient?"

"Dangerous."

That got a small reaction.

Barely there. But she saw it.

"Everything is dangerous if you think about it long enough," he said.

"That's not comforting."

"It's not meant to be."

Reaching Qinny's hostel block, Dorian stops nearby.

"My room's on the first floor. Just there."

"Alright. I'm staying off campus at Elemen Utara."

"Wow, someone's loaded."

"Parent's. Nothing to brag about."

"So humble."

Neither moved.

This was ridiculous.

She had known him two days.

He had watched her cry twice.

They had kissed once due to emotional recklessness.

Dorian breaks the silence, clearing his throat.

"We need rules."

"We already made rules."

"Better rules."

Qinny raised a brow.

"Proceed, committee chairman."

He began counting on his fingers.

"No meeting in suspicious places."

"The library was academic."

"You nearly laughed us out of federal property."

"Fair."

"No alley hugs."

She coughed.

"Specific."

"No drunk kissing."

"Also specific."

"No getting emotionally attached."

Qinny held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.

"Right," she said.

Too quickly.

Too lightly.

Dorian nodded once. Also too quickly. Neither of them looked convinced.

"Good," he said.

"Good," she echoed.

The word sat between them.

Unstable.

The air shifted.

Qinny looked at him. He was already looking straight at her.

Too casual.

Too careful.

She forced lightness into her tone.

"Bit late to add that one after the trauma embrace."

"That was first aid."

"Mm."

"And," he continued, still not looking at her, "if one of us wants out of this revenge nonsense, we stop."

That one was sincere. She heard it immediately.

"Okay," she said softly.

Something unreadable in his expression, but quickly it disappeared.

"Great," he said. "Shake on it."

He extended a hand. She took it.

Big mistake.

Big hands, she thought.

His palm was warm.

His grip firm, brief, steady.

Way too normal for how aware she became of every nerve in her body.

His thumb shifted slightly. 

Barely.

But enough.

Qinny's breath caught before she could stop it. Dorian let go immediately.

Too immediately. Like he noticed too. They both looked away at the same time.

"Okay," she said, a little too fast. "That was unnecessary."

"Very."

Neither sounded convincing.

They both let go a touch too late.

Qinny cleared her throat.

"Well."

"Well."

She opened the car door to leave.

"Oh, and Qinny."

She stopped and looked back.

Dorian stared at her, expression annoyingly calm, handing his phone.

"Could i get your number?"

"Why?"

"Business purposes."

She snorts, but quick dialled it on his phone anyway, ending the call after hearing her ringtone went off, then returned the phone back.

"One more thing." He said.

"What??" 

"You still have my handkerchief."

She blinked.

"The one from the club?"

"Yes."

"It has mascara trauma on it."

"I want it back."

"Why?"

"Sentimental value."

"You liar."

"Tomorrow," he said. "Bring it."

"Or?"

"I'll invoice you."

She laughed despite herself and walked away.

Halfway to her room, she checked her phone.

One new message.

Unknown Number. But obviously Dorian.

She saved his contact then opened the text.

Dorian
Also, you smiled five times tonight.

Record since betrayal.

She stopped walking, smiling.

Then typed:

Stalker. 

Reply came instantly.

Dorian
Observer. Sleep. Those swollen eyes need rest.

Qinny stared at the screen smiling like an idiot.

Then immediately stopped smiling.

Then smiled again.

Inside her room, Maya was lying on the bed scrolling.

"You're glowing," Maya said without looking up.

"I am not."

"You smell like outside and poor decisions."

Qinny threw a pillow at her.

Maya sat up.

"Wait." Narrowed eyes. "Your eyes... They're getting better. So you didn't cry any extra today?"

"What- my swell on my eyes are not even measurable."

"It is to me."

Qinny changed into pajamas quickly.

Maya gasped.

"OH MY GOD."

"What now?"

"You're blushing."

"I am warm."

"You met someone."

"I met carbohydrates."

Maya launched off the bed dramatically.

"WHO IS HE?"

"There is no he."

"There is ALWAYS a he."

Qinny threw herself onto the bed dramatically.

"There is no he. There is only chaos."

Maya gasped.

"OH MY GOD IT'S WORSE."

"What is worse?"

"You're calling him chaos."

"I'm not calling him anything."

"That means you're thinking about him."

"I am not."

"You literally just said chaos."

"That's a concept."

"That's a man."

Qinny grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.

"He's annoying."

Maya froze.

"Oh no."

"What?"

"That tone means hot."

Qinny buried her face in the pillow.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again.

Dorian
Forgot one rule. No smiling at my texts.

Qinny stared at the message. Then at her reflection in the dark screen. Then back at the message.

Her lips twitched.

Just slightly.

She pressed them together immediately.

"No," she muttered.

Then typed anyway.

Qinny
As if. Goodnight, Flu Boy.

The reply came almost immediately.

Dorian

Goodnight, Qinnara. Reminder: Handkerchief.

Qinny turned off her phone.

But sleep took a long time to arrive.

________________________________________________________________________________

And there you have it, the first 5 chapters for The Cheating's Mutual. 
Pls look forward to new updates soon 🥰 Mae xx