Chapter: The Line You Crossed
Jay's POV
My head was still spinning.
The fire was still burning in the center of the field, but the warmth from it wasn't reaching me anymore. My chest felt tight, my eyes still burning from crying.
I was sitting beside Keifer on the wooden bench, clutching the front of his hoodie like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.
And honestly…
It was.
Keifer's arm was wrapped around my shoulders, holding me close, his fingers slowly rubbing circles on my arm to calm me down.
Section E was still around us like a protective wall.
Ci-N sat on the ground right in front of me, glaring at Yuri like he wanted to throw a shoe at him.
Blaster had his arms crossed.
Rory and Erdix were whispering angrily to each other.
Kit looked like he was calculating ten different ways to insult someone.
Mayo was still holding a marshmallow but wasn't even eating it.
Everyone was tense.
And Yuri…
He was standing a few feet away from us.
Watching.
Then suddenly—
"JAY!"
A familiar voice shouted from behind.
I looked up.
Aries.
He was running across the field toward us.
Apparently someone had already told him what happened.
His hair was messy like he had rushed out of somewhere, and his expression was already dark with worry.
The moment he reached us, his eyes went straight to my face.
"Jay…" he said quietly.
That was all it took.
My throat tightened again.
"I'm okay," I said weakly.
"You don't look okay."
He crouched in front of me immediately.
His eyes scanned my face like he was checking if I was hurt.
"What happened?" he asked.
Ci-N pointed dramatically behind him.
"That psycho happened."
Yuri's jaw tightened.
Aries slowly stood up.
His expression changed.
The softness disappeared.
Now he looked angry.
Very angry.
He turned toward Yuri.
"What did you do?" Aries asked coldly.
Yuri sighed.
"I just wanted to talk to her—"
Ci-N cut him off loudly.
"YOU FORCED A KISS!"
Blaster added, "In front of everyone."
Kit shook his head. "Not cool, man."
Rory muttered, "Seriously not cool."
Aries' eyes darkened even more.
He stepped closer to Yuri.
"You did what?"
Yuri tried to defend himself.
"She's my fiancée."
That sentence alone made the entire Section E react at once.
"By papers!" Ci-N shouted.
"Not by heart," Kit added.
"Exactly," Blaster said.
Aries didn't even look at them.
His eyes stayed locked on Yuri.
Then—
Yuri slowly started walking toward me.
My stomach twisted immediately.
Keifer felt it.
His arm around me tightened slightly.
Yuri stopped a few steps away.
He looked… conflicted.
"I came to apologize," he said.
The words hung in the air.
But before I could even react—
Keifer suddenly turned my face toward him.
And kissed me.
Right there.
Right in front of Yuri.
Right in front of Aries.
Right in front of everyone.
It wasn't rough.
It wasn't desperate.
It was slow.
Firm.
Like a statement.
Like he was drawing a line.
My heart skipped.
And for a moment…
Everything else disappeared again.
When he pulled away, I was staring at him with wide eyes.
Ci-N immediately clapped loudly.
"YES KEIFER!"
Blaster laughed. "Bro said 'apology rejected.'"
Mayo nodded seriously. "Perfect timing."
Yuri's face darkened instantly.
Aries watched the entire thing quietly.
Then he walked over and stood beside Keifer.
And that's when I knew whose side he was on.
Aries crossed his arms.
"You deserved that," he told Yuri calmly.
Yuri looked at him sharply.
"You're encouraging this?"
Aries raised an eyebrow.
"You forced yourself on my cousin."
Silence.
Aries stepped slightly closer.
"If you ever touch her like that again," he said coldly, "I won't stay this calm."
Even Ci-N looked impressed.
"Whoa cousin mode activated," he whispered to Mayo.
Mayo nodded. "Danger level rising."
Yuri exhaled slowly.
"I said I'm sorry."
But the apology sounded empty.
Aries shook his head.
"You don't apologize after crossing boundaries like that and expect everything to be normal."
Then he looked at me.
His expression softened instantly.
"Jay."
That was it.
The tears came back.
I stood up quickly and hugged Keifer again.
Tightly.
My face buried in his chest.
"I hate this," I whispered, crying again.
Keifer immediately held me.
"I know."
My shoulders shook.
"I hate him."
"I know."
Aries walked over and gently placed a hand on my head.
"Hey hey," he said softly. "Don't cry again."
Ci-N stood up too.
"Yeah stop crying or I'll cry too and that will be embarrassing."
Blaster laughed. "That would be hilarious actually."
"Shut up."
Aries looked at Yuri again.
"Give her space," he said firmly.
Yuri stared at all of us.
At me hugging Keifer.
At Section E standing around us like guards.
His expression hardened.
Then finally—
He turned.
And walked away.
No one stopped him.
The moment he left, Ci-N dramatically wiped fake sweat from his forehead.
"Wow tension level: 1000."
Rory nodded. "For real."
Kit stretched his arms. "Good riddance."
Blaster grinned. "Campfire drama."
Mayo held up another marshmallow.
"Anyone still hungry?"
Aries sighed and sat beside us.
He nudged Keifer slightly.
"Take care of her."
Keifer nodded without hesitation.
"I will."
I sniffed and wiped my face again.
Ci-N crouched down in front of me dramatically.
"Jay."
"What."
"If anyone ever tries to kiss you without permission again…"
"Yes?"
He cracked his knuckles.
"I volunteer as emotional support violence."
Blaster burst out laughing.
"Emotional support violence?!"
"That's a new category," Kit said.
Despite everything—
I laughed weakly.
Aries smiled slightly.
Keifer looked down at me.
"You okay now?"
I nodded slowly.
"A little."
The fire crackled again behind us.
The night air felt calmer.
And for the first time since Yuri grabbed me…
I finally felt safe again.