The entire school field was glowing.
Lanterns hung, fairy lights wrapped around the stage poles, and booths were crowded with students yelling, laughing, and waving glow sticks like their lives depended on it.
And right in the center of the chaos.
The stage.
The banner above it read:
BATTLE OF THE BANDS — FESTIVAL DAY 4
I stood near the front of the crowd with Ci-N, trying to act normal, but my heart was doing backflips.
Because on that stage…
Freya called out, "Ugh, next up... we have Section.. E (with that disgusting accent). They call themselves the... Jay's warriors."
It was Section E's band.
WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. What did she say? Jay's warriors? As in Jayjay, me? My warriors?
My gaze fell on Ci-N. What the hell?
"Heheheheh", he was laughing.
Laughing as if I had told a joke. Idiot.
"You'll pay for this."
"OH THEY'RE COMING!" Ci-N suddenly yelled beside me.
The crowd roared as six familiar idiots walked onto the stage.
First came Felix, adjusting the keyboard like a professional, even though I knew he practised while eating chips.
Then Edrix, casually spun his drumstick before sitting behind the drums.
Rory slung his bass guitar over his shoulder and waved like he was already famous.
Then.
April.
She stepped forward with her guitar, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. Her hair was left open, strands falling across her face as she tested the strings. Her outfit was... kinda cool?
And when she strummed once,
The sound echoed clean through the speakers.
Beside her, Yuri leaned close and murmured something.
April rolled her eyes.
But a small smile still appeared.
Typical YuRil behaviour.
And then.
The crowd got louder.
Because the last one walked forward.
Keifer.
Hands in his pockets. Calm. Completely unbothered by the screaming crowd.
His outfit was perfect. Perfect as he is. I spotted it. The tiny smirk on his mouth.
He stepped to the microphone stand like this was just another normal Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I was down here fighting for my life.
Ci-N elbowed me.
"Jayjay."
"Hmm?"
"You're staring."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You look like you're about to faint."
"Shut up."
On stage, Keifer adjusted the mic.
His eyes scanned the crowd lazily.
Then.
They stopped.
On me.
My brain immediately stopped functioning.
Why is he looking here?
WHY IS HE STILL LOOKING HERE.
Edrix tapped his sticks together.
"Alright!" he shouted into his mic. "Section E presenting-"
"JAY'S WARRIORS!"
The crowd cheered as if their life depended on it.
Yuri counted the beat.
"1… 2… 3…"
Edrix started the drums.
Felix joined with the keyboard.
Rory's bass slid in smoothly.
Yuri began strumming his guitar.
And then—
Keifer started singing.
His voice was deep and smooth, filling the entire field like it owned the air itself.
People in the crowd started swaying.
But I wasn't paying attention to them.
Because I recognised the song.
Wait.
No way.
No. Way.
My eyes widened.
On stage, April's voice joined the chorus.
Soft harmonies layered under Keifer's vocals, guitar ringing through the speakers.
It sounded ridiculously good.
Yuri watched her with a proud grin, occasionally leaning toward her mic for backing lines.
The band was perfectly in sync.
But Keifer…
He kept glancing toward the crowd.
Toward me.
Every time the chorus hit, his eyes found mine again.
Like he was checking if I noticed.
My ears were burning.
Ci-N leaned toward me again.
"Jayjay."
"What."
"He's literally singing to you."
"He is not."
"He absolutely is."
I crossed my arms.
"He's singing to the crowd."
Ci-N snorted.
"The crowd isn't blushing like a tomato."
I was not blushing.
I was absolutely blushing.
The glue on my seat, the day I threw the jacket on his face, the festival night. All memories came rushing into my mind.
If I had to give awards to important people in my life? Pretty sure Keifer would win it first.
He chose my song. My favourite song. And told me he'd win the competition for me.
For me.
On stage, April suddenly leaned into the mic for a harmony line, her voice soaring perfectly over Keifer's.
The crowd screamed.
Rory leaned toward the edge of the stage like a rock star.
Felix was fully locked into the music.
Edrix looked like he was having the time of his life behind the drums.
And Keifer-
During the final chorus,
Looked directly at me again.
Not a casual glance.
A real one.
Soft.
Intent.
My stomach flipped.
The song ended with a final guitar chord from Yuri and a drum crash from Edrix.
For a second.
There was silence.
Then the entire field exploded with cheers.
"JAY'S WARRIORS!"
"SECTION E!"
"AGAIN!"
Ci-N screamed louder than everyone.
I was still standing there, brain buffering.
Because Keifer stepped away from the mic…
Looked toward the crowd again…
And gave the smallest smile.
Right in my direction.
Ci-N grabbed my shoulders.
"OH, MY GOD."
"WHAT."
"He smiled at you."
"He did not."
"He did!"
I buried my face in my hands.
Somewhere on stage, April noticed the situation and started grinning like a menace.
Great.
Now she knows too.