Chi Cheng had been in one of his brighter moods that morning. A fresh shipment of snakes had arrived, and the moment the delivery came, he disappeared downstairs with the giddy excitement of a child unwrapping presents. His laughter still echoed faintly in the hallway, a sound that always seemed warmer on days like this.
That left you alone in the apartment. Alone with it.
The little white snake lay curled lazily in its glass terrarium, the faint shimmer of its scales catching the muted light from the window. You’d never minded Chi Cheng’s odd hobby, in fact, you often found yourself amused by his passion for the creatures. Watching him speak softly to them, as though they could understand, was entertaining in its own way. But there was something different about this one. This snake wasn’t just another pet. It was special to him. You had noticed how his hands lingered longer when he held it, how his usually dry voice softened when he spoke near it. The snake, in return, seemed to respond sliding into his palm without hesitation, pressing its small head against his skin as if it recognized him.
With you, though… it was different. The moment your fingers brushed its pale body, it recoiled. Every time. As if you were a threat. As if you were unworthy. You leaned against the table, watching it shift, scales glinting faintly like polished porcelain. A strange twist of jealousy prickled in your chest. It was ridiculous, you knew. To be envious of a snake? And yet, the thought nagged at you: why could Chi Cheng earn its trust so easily, while you couldn’t even hold it for a second?
Today would be different.
Today, you promised yourself, you would coax it into your hands no matter how many times it turned away.
You slid the glass lid open with careful fingers, the faint scrape loud in the quiet apartment. The snake lifted its head at once, tongue flickering as if it could taste your hesitation in the air.
“Easy,” you whispered, though you weren’t sure if you were speaking to the snake or to yourself.
It swayed slightly, watching you with its lidless, unblinking eyes. You reached out, every movement deliberate, rehearsed. The cool air brushed against your skin as you extended your hand closer, closer…
For a breathless moment, the world shrank to just the sound of your pulse and the gleam of those white scales.
Would it recoil again? Would it accept you this time?
You didn’t know. All you knew was that you needed to try.
Your hand hovered just above its coiled body, and the snake’s tongue flicked out again, quick and testing. You stilled, hardly daring to breathe.
This time, it didn’t immediately retreat. Instead, its narrow head tilted ever so slightly, as though considering you.
“See? I’m not so bad,” you murmured, your voice soft. You weren’t sure why you felt the need to speak to it, but maybe that was Chi Cheng’s influence rubbing off on you.
The snake shifted, scales rippling like liquid light as it uncoiled. Slowly, impossibly, it slid forward, closer to your hand. The cool touch of its body brushed your skin, delicate as falling silk.
A thrill ran through you. You’d done it. It hadn’t rejected you this time.
But just as quickly, the moment broke. The snake tensed, its slender body tightening as though remembering something. With sudden speed, it pulled back, slipping into the shadowed corner of the terrarium.
You exhaled, your heart pounding faster than you’d realized.
So close.
You sat back, torn between triumph and frustration. It hadn’t completely recoiled… but it hadn’t welcomed you either. Somewhere in between, a thin line remained.
Your thoughts drifted to Chi Cheng again—his easy smile, the way his hand could cradle the snake without hesitation. How he could hold its trust so fully when you struggled to earn even a touch.
Jealousy. Curiosity. Something sharper, unnamed.
Your gaze lingered on the pale coils hidden in the corner of the terrarium. “One day,” you whispered, almost like a vow, “you’ll come to me just as you do to him.”
And for a fleeting second, you thought you saw its eyes glint, catching the light—like it understood.
You tightened your grip around the snake, more out of frustration than intent. Its smooth body writhed in your hands, hissing angrily as it twisted and fought to escape.
“What are you doing?”
Chi Cheng’s voice cut sharp from behind you. You startled, nearly dropping the snake as you turned. He stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of alarm and exasperation.
“I’m… trying to befriend it,” you said defensively.
“By choking it?” His brow arched, unimpressed, as he strode forward. Gently, he slipped the snake from your grip with practiced ease, checking it over with a tenderness that made your chest ache. The snake immediately calmed in his hands, coiling loosely around his wrist as though nothing had happened.
You huffed, folding your arms. “She doesn’t like me at all. Every time I try to hold her, she just runs away.”
Chi Cheng glanced at you, his mouth quirking faintly. “No, she doesn’t.” He lifted the snake toward you, but as you reached out, the little creature retreated further, slithering up his arm until it nestled against his shoulder, deliberately avoiding you.
“See?” You pointed in defeat. “I told you so. She loves you and hates me.”
Instead of scolding, he chuckled softly, setting the snake back into her enclosure. “Why are you so mad at her? She’s just a snake.”
“Because,” you blurted, more heated than you’d meant to sound, “I want to know why she’s so special to you. And—” you hesitated, the words tumbling out clumsy and raw, “I want her to like me too. I get jealous that she only loves you.”
The confession hung in the air, heavier than you expected. To cover the warmth rising in your cheeks, you threw yourself onto the couch with dramatic flair, burying your face in the cushions.
“No one loves me,” you groaned, your voice muffled but loud enough for him to hear.
For a moment, there was silence. Then you heard him laugh quiet but genuine as his footsteps crossed the room toward you.
You were still sulking on the couch when suddenly, Chi Cheng was right there so close you could feel the brush of his sleeve as he leaned over. His arm caged you in against the cushions, trapping you without touching, his dark eyes fixed on you.
“No one loves you?” he murmured, his lips tugging into a smirk. “You wound me, dear.”
You glared up at him, your pout stubborn. “Shut up.”
“Oh, I’m devastated,” he said with exaggerated despair, then leaned down to tap your nose with his finger. “What shall I do to prove to my princess that I like her?”
For a second you almost softened but then an idea sparked in your eyes. He caught the look immediately and cut you off with a knowing laugh.
“Don’t tell me,” he said, wagging a finger. “You want me to get rid of the snake.”
You shook your head quickly. “Why would I? …I like the jealous look she gives me.” You hesitated, your voice dropping a little lower. “Actually… I want you to……”
Your gaze slipped downward, lingering on his hands. The message was clear enough.
Chi Cheng’s smirk deepened. Without another word, he climbed onto the couch, shifting you effortlessly until you ended up straddled on his lap. His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Go on,” he said smoothly. “I’m listening.”
“I’m not done yet,” you warned, though a smile betrayed you.
“Whatever it is, speak, princess.”
“You’ll regret saying that.”
“Trust me,” he murmured, leaning closer, “I won’t.”
You only smiled wider, tugging the soft scarf from around your neck. He raised an eyebrow as you looped it around his eyes, blindfolding him with deliberate care. His smirk didn’t falter once.
“Remember,” you whispered against his ear, “you said you’d do anything for me.”
And though he couldn’t see you, you could feel his grin stretch even wider.
“Baby, what’s this?” Chi Cheng asked, voice muffled behind the scarf you’d tied around his eyes.
“This,” you whispered against his ear, “is something I’ve wanted to do for weeks. And now… we’re here.”
Your lips brushed his neck, feather-light kisses trailing down as your fingers toyed with the buttons of his shirt. He tensed, then laughed low in his chest.
“Don’t you dare touch that blindfold,” he warned, voice playful but firm.
“Okay,” you teased, “I’ll try to be fair.”
His hands slid around your waist, pulling you flush against him. One hand wandered, exploring, making you gasp softly before you pushed at his chest.
“No…” you said, a smile tugging at your lips.
“No?” he echoed, tilting his head. “Then what are you doing?”
You tugged him by the hand, guiding him toward the bedroom. His chuckle followed you down the hall, smooth and sing-song. “Well, well, I suppose I’ll make myself comfortable then.”
He sprawled onto the bed with practiced ease, smirking even without sight. You hovered above him, triumphant, the air between you charged and heavy. His shirt hung loose now, his chest exposed, his smile daring you to continue.
This time, you were in control.
And he knew it.
You sat over him, straddling his lap. His shirt came loose beneath your hands, and soon you had worked the buttons of his pants open as well. His touch was teasing, deliberate, enough to make you shiver. He always knew how to unravel you with the softest caress, but today you promised yourself things would be different. Today, you would be the one in control.
When his hand brushed higher, you caught your breath. That wouldn’t do, not yet. You slipped off him in one swift move. Chi Cheng’s fingers almost caught your wrist, trying to pull you back, but you only smirked and walked away.
When you returned moments later, your suspicion was confirmed. He’d shed more than just his shirt and worse, the blindfold you’d tied so carefully had been nudged just enough to let him see from beneath.
You narrowed your eyes at the innocent way he sat waiting for you.
A slow smile spread across your lips. You crossed the room to the bedside drawer, pulled out another mask, and climbed back onto the bed. His hand immediately found you, tugging you closer with a low laugh.
“Baby,” he murmured in your ear, “I caught you cheating… and now you’ll have to pay the price.
She pulled the blindfold again to cover his eyes completely. He was still smiling, so you pulled the night mask over his eyes and your scarf blindfold.
“Well,” you said, “you cheated, get punished,” and tightened the sleeping mask.
“Really?” he said with a smirk and flipped you over.
“You really never learn, do you?” you said, and flipped him over with ease, catching his hand to tie it lightly on the headboard.
“Kinky,” he said with a whistle. Your hand slid over his chest, down to his stomach, and you tickled him. He laughed and wiggled.
“Stop, that’s—”
You refused.
“No, no, I said stop. That’s not the right way to punish,” he said.
“Oh really?” you said with a drawl. “What should I do then?”
“Well, maybe suffocate me with your thighs,” he said.
You grabbed his clothes tighter and said, “Oh boy, don’t think I will listen to you today.” Then you lowered your lips to his ear and whispered, “But you’ll listen to me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, I will,” he said, already breathing heavily. You smirked, you’d only just begun. You rubbed his clothed groin softly. You could see the look of a satisfied cat on his face. You hooked your fingers on the waistband of his boxers and slid it with ease. He was already quite hard.
“All that, just from a little teasing,” you thought.
You thought about doing it right then and there, but you had planned it out carefully. You had been thinking about it for weeks, and now was your chance. You wouldn’t ruin it by being impatient. You climbed off the bed.
Chi Cheng waited for a moment, then began grumbling. “Impatient baby, where are you?” he asked.
“Here,” you said, standing at the edge. “Remember, you’re being punished, didn’t you?”
“Oh, you f— baby,” he began.
“You got him off?” “No, it’s all you,” you said.
“You’re manipulative,” he said.
“Yes,” you said with a smirk. Then you bent over him, ruffling his hair and said, “Wait for me, baby. Be patient.”
please tell me you're team bonrad btw, jere is ragebaiting atp
🍁
everything is going over here in bokkieville.
i haven’t watched the newest season yet of tsitp bc i don’t have an amazon prime account anymore 😭 (it was getting too expensive and i barely used it)
but i will tell you, i never liked bellie with jeremy. he gave me the ick since season one for whatever reason and i’ve heard he’s worse this season. this is the first time in my entire life that i might have chosen the right guy from the love triangle to ship with the mc. jere can suck a toe for all i care
