Chapter: One Last Kiss
(Keif's POV)
After talking to Aries and Percy, the hallway felt heavier than before.
Neither of them said much after that.
Just that quiet "okay".
But I knew what it meant.
They were thinking.
Planning.
Trying to protect Jay.
Just like I was.
Aries looked at me before leaving.
"Act normal."
Percy added quietly,
"And don't let her notice anything."
I nodded.
But the problem was…
I didn't know if I could.
Because the moment I walked back toward Section E, my chest felt tighter with every step.
Yuri's words kept repeating in my head.
If you don't say it…
I'll kill Jay.
I clenched my jaw.
No.
That wasn't happening.
Not while I was still breathing.
I stopped at the classroom door for a moment.
Inside, everyone was loud again.
Ci n was arguing with Drew.
Eren and Josh were laughing about something.
Jay was sitting at her desk, leaning back slightly while talking to Felix.
She looked normal.
Happy.
Completely unaware of what was happening outside that door.
For a second I just stood there.
Watching her.
Trying to memorize the moment.
Then I pushed the door open.
Immediately Ci n looked over.
"There he is!"
Josh smirked.
"Where'd you disappear to, lover boy?"
Felix added,
"Bro went to write poetry."
The teasing started again.
But I barely heard it.
My eyes were only on Jay.
She noticed.
Her expression changed slightly.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?"
I walked toward her desk slowly.
Everyone around us went quiet.
Probably expecting another joke.
Another roast.
Another reaction.
But I didn't say anything.
I stopped in front of her.
Jay looked confused now.
"Keif?"
I gently took her hand and helped her stand up.
Now the whole class was staring.
Ci n whispered loudly,
"Oh something serious is happening."
Jay frowned slightly.
"What's going on?"
I didn't answer.
I just looked at her for a second.
Her eyes.
Her face.
Everything about her.
And for a moment my chest hurt.
Because Yuri's threat echoed in my mind again.
Tomorrow.
I leaned down slightly.
Jay blinked.
"…Keif—"
And then I kissed her.
The classroom exploded instantly.
"OOOOOOOHHHH!"
Ci n slammed his hand on the desk.
"BRO DID IT IN CLASS!"
Josh laughed loudly.
"IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?!"
Felix whistled.
But I didn't hear any of them.
For a second everything went quiet again.
Just me and Jay.
Her hands grabbed my shirt slightly in surprise.
Then after a moment she relaxed.
When I pulled away, she was staring at me.
Completely confused.
"…What was that for?"
I forced a small smile.
"Nothing."
"That didn't look like nothing."
Ci n shouted from behind us.
"BRO JUST NEEDED A LUNCH BREAK KISS!"
The class laughed again.
Jay elbowed Ci n without even looking.
"Shut up."
Then she looked back at me.
Still confused.
"You're acting weird."
I stepped back slightly.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"You disappeared earlier."
"Just needed air."
Jay studied my face like she was trying to read something.
"You sure?"
My chest tightened.
But I nodded.
"Yeah."
She didn't look fully convinced.
But before she could say anything else—
I grabbed my bag.
Ci n frowned.
"Where are you going?"
I walked toward the door.
"Somewhere."
Jay's voice followed me.
"Keif?"
I stopped for half a second.
But I didn't turn around.
Because if I did…
I might not leave.
And right now leaving felt like the only way to protect her.
So I opened the door and walked out.
Behind me I heard Ci n whisper loudly,
"…That was dramatic."
Jay didn't say anything.
And somehow that silence hurt more.
But I kept walking.
Because if Yuri thought he could threaten Jay and win—
He was about to learn something.
No one messes with her.
Not while I'm still here.