Jay's POV
The next day, I tried my best to act normal. I really did. Walked into Section E like nothing could touch me. But then… I saw him. Keifer. Sitting at his desk like the universe had arranged it perfectly just to torment me. Calm, smiling, with that impossible smirk that could make me simultaneously melt and want to throttle him.
I froze. My chest tightened. My stomach did flips I didn't even know were physically possible. I wanted to look away. I wanted to ignore him. I tried. I really did.
But as soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up. A slow, teasing smile spreading across his face. My blood boiled. Jealousy hit me like a punch to the chest.
I pretended not to notice him. Walked past his desk, clutching my bag like my life depended on it.
"Jay?" he called softly.
I ignored him.
"Jay!" louder this time.
I kept walking, faster.
"You're ignoring me," he said, casually, as if ignoring him was impossible.
I gritted my teeth and didn't answer.
Big mistake.
Before I could think, he was there. Hand on my waist. Strong, firm, inescapable. I froze completely.
"You're not walking away," he whispered, low and teasing.
And then… he kissed me. Right there. In the middle of Section E.
I froze. The world blurred. Ci N, Mayo, Kit, Blaster, Rory, Erdix, Felix, Calix, Denzel, Drew, Josh… every single one of them staring like I had lost my mind.
I wanted to push him away, wanted to scream, wanted to act annoyed. But my brain refused to cooperate.
He pulled back briefly, and I could see the devilish glint in his eyes. Then he kissed me again. Harder. More demanding. My hands flew up instinctively, pressing against his chest. He leaned closer, like he owned the air around me.
"You're mine," he whispered, voice dangerously calm.
Before I could react, he kissed me a third time.
Three times. In front of the whole section. No hesitation, no apology, just bold audacity.
Ci N groaned dramatically.
Mayo's jaw dropped.
Kit whispered something under her breath.
Even Blaster looked like he was trying not to faint.
And me? I was frozen. Angry. Flustered. Helplessly him.
Keifer rested his forehead against mine, his thumb brushing lightly against my waist.
"See?" he murmured. "No one can stop us."
I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting.
"But…" I started, trying to sound stern.
He smirked. "But nothing. You can't ignore me, Jay. Not today."
I glared at him. "You—"
"Relax," he interrupted, voice low and teasing, "Yuri's absent. No one's here to threaten us. So we're allowed to do this."
The audacity. The confidence. The balls on him.
"You can't just—"
"Oh, but I just did," he said calmly.
I groaned, my face heating.
"You—" I tried again.
"Me?" he said, tilting his head. "I'm just… being me. The guy you supposedly love but try to fight with constantly."
I felt my jaw drop.
"Supposedly?" I shouted. "Mark Keifer Watson, I know what I feel. And you—"
"Me again?" he said, leaning in so close I could feel his lips brushing my ear.
"Stop!" I shouted, waving my hands. "You can't just—kiss me like this! In front of everyone!"
"I already did," he said calmly.
I groaned, face heating.
"You—ugh! You're insane!" I snapped.
"And you love it," he whispered, brushing his thumb against my cheek.
I froze.
"Yes, yes I do!" I screamed internally.
"Jay?" Keifer's voice, soft and teasing, "You're quiet. You finally give in?"
"Never," I shot back, even though my knees betrayed me.
"And yet," he said, leaning in one last time, "I still get you."
I opened my mouth to retort, but the words got caught in my throat. Because despite my anger, despite my jealousy, despite the chaos and embarrassment… I couldn't deny it. I didn't want him to stop. Not completely.
I crossed my arms again, trying to appear defiant.
"Keifer Watson," I said finally, voice dripping with exasperation. "You are impossible. You—ugh! You just—ugh!"
He grinned, tilting his head. "You're flustered, Jay."
"I'm not flustered," I snapped. "I'm furious! Furious! And embarrassed! And you—"
"Me?" he interrupted. "I'm just being me. The guy you supposedly love but try to fight constantly."
I felt my jaw drop.
"Supposedly?" I shouted. "Mark Keifer Watson, I know what I feel. And you—"
"Me again?" he said, leaning in so close I could feel his lips brushing my ear.
"Stop!" I shouted, waving my hands. "You can't just—kiss me like this! In front of everyone!"
"I already did," he said calmly.
I groaned, face heating.
"You—ugh! You're insane!" I snapped.
"And you love it," he whispered, brushing his thumb against my cheek.
I froze.
"Yes, yes I do!" I screamed internally.
"Jay?" Keifer's voice, soft and teasing, "You're quiet. You finally give in?"
"Never," I shot back, even though my knees betrayed me.
"And yet," he said, leaning in one last time, "I still get you."
I opened my mouth to retort, but the words got caught in my throat. Because despite my anger, despite my jealousy, despite the chaos and embarrassment… I couldn't deny it. I didn't want him to stop. Not completely.
I crossed my arms again, trying to appear defiant.
"Keifer Watson," I said finally, voice dripping with exasperation. "You are impossible. You—ugh! You just—ugh!"
He grinned, tilting his head. "You're flustered, Jay."
"I'm not flustered," I snapped. "I'm furious! Furious! And embarrassed! And you—"
"Me?" he interrupted. "I'm just being me. The guy you supposedly love but try to fight constantly."
I felt my jaw drop.
"Supposedly?" I shouted. "Mark Keifer Watson, I know what I feel. And you—"
"Me again?" he said, leaning in so close I could feel his lips brushing my ear.
"Stop!" I shouted, waving my hands. "You can't just—kiss me like this! In front of everyone!"
"I already did," he said calmly.
I groaned, face heating.
"You—ugh! You're insane!" I snapped.
"And you love it," he whispered, brushing his thumb against my cheek.
I froze.
"Yes, yes I do!" I screamed internally.