Chapter: Festival Day Two – Loud Crowd, Quiet Heart
(Jay's POV)
Festival Day Two felt different.
Yesterday was chaos.
Ghost screaming.
Nose kissing.
Public embarrassment.
Today?
It felt slower.
Calmer.
Too calm.
The campus was full of couples.
Section B's Mica was literally glued to Calix's arm.
Rakki from Section C was feeding Ci n fries.
Grace was fixing Denzel's hair every five minutes.
Even Drew was pretending he had someone to text.
Section E — the loudest, most unserious boys on campus — were suddenly soft.
Soft.
It was disturbing.
I sat on the low ledge near our booth, sipping juice quietly.
Watching.
Laughing when needed.
But inside?
Something felt off.
Because I wasn't part of the "pair" energy today.
I was just…
There.
Yuri was showing something on his phone to Mayo while saying, "If I ever get a girlfriend—"
Blaster was dramatically third-wheeling everyone.
And I?
I pretended to scroll my phone.
I don't know why it bothered me.
It shouldn't.
Keifer and I weren't official.
Aries was busy with student council.
Everyone had their person to stand next to.
And I had…
Festival banners.
I forced a smile when Denzel yelled, "Jay! Why are you so quiet?"
"I'm conserving energy," I replied.
Ci n narrowed his eyes. "That's suspicious."
"I can be calm."
"No you can't."
Before I could respond—
I felt it.
Warmth.
A sudden presence behind me.
And then—
An arm wrapped around my waist from behind.
Firm.
Secure.
Familiar.
My breath hitched.
Keifer.
He leaned down slightly, his chin near my shoulder.
"What's with the long face?" he murmured softly near my ear.
My heart completely betrayed me.
"I don't have a long face," I muttered.
His grip tightened slightly.
"You do."
Before I could argue—
He moved closer.
And pressed a soft kiss against the side of my neck.
Not playful like the nose kiss.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Slow.
Deliberate.
The world froze for exactly two seconds.
Then—
Section E exploded.
"WHAT."
"DAYLIGHT ATTACK."
"HE WENT FOR THE NECK."
"IS THIS LEGAL."
I jumped slightly in shock. "KEIFER."
He didn't move away immediately.
His voice stayed low. "You looked lonely."
My face burned instantly.
"I was not lonely."
"Hmm."
He finally loosened his hold but didn't step away fully.
Ci n dropped the juice cup he was holding.
Blaster started clapping loudly. "MAKE IT OFFICIAL."
Mayo screamed, "WE NEED POPCORN."
Calix shouted from afar, "FESTIVAL DAY TWO PEAK."
I tried to step away, but Keifer's hand was still lightly around my waist.
"Let go," I whispered harshly.
"You were cold," he replied calmly.
"It's 32 degrees."
"Emotionally cold."
The boys started fake crying sounds.
Denzel wiped imaginary tears. "So romantic."
I turned around finally to face him.
"Why would you do that in front of everyone?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Would you prefer I do it when no one's watching?"
That sentence made my brain stop functioning.
Section E reacted like someone dropped fireworks.
"OH."
"PRIVATE TOO?"
"THIS MAN."
I pushed his chest lightly. "You're impossible."
He leaned closer again, voice only for me.
"You really felt alone?"
I looked away.
That was answer enough.
His expression softened slightly.
And that scared me more than the teasing.
Because playful Keifer? I can handle.
Gentle Keifer? Dangerous.
Behind us, someone whistled loudly.
"Jay is blushing."
"I AM NOT."
"You're red."
"I'M SUNBURNED."
"There's no sun here."
I glared at everyone.
Then I noticed something.
Aries was standing a little distance away.
Watching.
He wasn't laughing.
He wasn't teasing.
He was just observing.
Our eyes met briefly.
He gave a small nod.
Not disapproving.
Not angry.
Just… acknowledging.
And then he turned back to talking with Ella.
I didn't know why that made my chest feel heavy for a second.
Keifer's fingers lightly squeezed my waist again.
"Don't drift."
I looked back at him.
"I wasn't."
He studied my face like he didn't believe me.
"Next time," he said quietly, "tell me if you feel alone."
"You're not my therapist."
"No."
His eyes didn't leave mine.
"I'm worse."
My heart thudded.
The class started chanting again.
"KISS AGAIN."
"ROUND TWO."
I grabbed the nearest decoration ribbon and threw it at Blaster. "Focus on work!"
Keifer laughed softly.
And instead of stepping away—
He casually kept his arm around my shoulders this time.
Not dramatic.
Not possessive.
Just… there.
And for the first time that day—
I didn't feel alone anymore.
Festival Day Two.
Section E was loud.
Couples were everywhere.
But when his hand stayed wrapped around me like that?
It didn't matter who was official.
Because somehow…
In the middle of all that chaos—
I knew exactly where I belonged.