Chapter: The Words That Broke Me
(Jay's POV)
Something felt wrong the moment I woke up.
I didn't know why.
There was no reason.
Nothing had happened yet.
But there was this strange heaviness in my chest that wouldn't go away.
Maybe it was the way Keif acted yesterday.
Maybe it was the way he kissed me in class and then suddenly left without explaining anything.
Maybe it was the way he didn't text me at all last night.
Keif never did that.
Not once.
I tried to ignore the feeling while getting ready for school, but it stayed there… quiet and uncomfortable.
By the time I walked into school, my stomach was already in knots.
Section E was loud as always.
Eren and Josh were arguing over something stupid.
Felix and Drew were laughing.
Ci n was throwing a paper ball at someone.
Everything looked normal.
But the one person I was looking for wasn't laughing.
Keif was sitting at his desk.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
He wasn't joking with Ci n.
He wasn't teasing anyone.
He wasn't even looking at me.
I slowly walked to my seat.
"Good morning," I said casually.
He didn't answer.
Just nodded slightly.
My chest tightened a little.
"…You're still weird."
Nothing.
No reaction.
Ci n noticed the tension immediately.
"Bro why do you look like someone stole your food?"
Keif ignored him.
That wasn't normal.
Not for him.
The bell rang and class started, but I barely listened to anything the teacher said.
Every few seconds I looked at Keif.
He still hadn't looked at me once.
By the time lunch break came, the strange feeling in my chest had grown heavier.
I stood up and walked to his desk.
"Keif."
He finally looked up.
His expression was… blank.
I frowned.
"Can we talk?"
For a moment he didn't say anything.
Then he stood up.
"Sure."
The hallway outside the classroom was quieter than usual.
Students were already heading toward the cafeteria.
For a few seconds we just stood there.
I crossed my arms.
"You've been acting strange since yesterday."
No answer.
"First you disappear. Then you randomly kiss me in class. Then you leave without saying anything."
Still nothing.
My patience started to disappear.
"Keif."
He finally spoke.
"I need to tell you something."
Something about his voice made my stomach twist.
"What."
He looked at the floor for a second.
Then at me.
And the next words felt like they came out of nowhere.
"I used you."
For a moment I didn't understand what he said.
"…What?"
"I used you."
The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.
I stared at him.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
My heart started beating faster.
"What do you mean you used me?"
He looked away slightly.
"Everything between us."
My chest tightened.
"…What about it?"
"It was part of a plan."
The words felt like someone punched the air out of my lungs.
"A plan."
"Yes."
My voice came out smaller.
"Was everything… the plan of yours?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The world felt like it stopped for a second.
I stared at him, trying to see any sign that he was lying.
Any sign that this was some stupid joke.
But his face looked completely serious.
Cold.
Distant.
I felt my throat tighten.
"…So you never cared about me."
"No."
My hands started shaking.
"Not even a little?"
"No."
The answer came too fast.
Too easily.
It felt like something cracked inside my chest.
"What about everything we did together?"
"Just part of the plan."
"What about the times you said you liked me?"
"Lies."
Each word felt heavier than the last.
I felt tears building in my eyes.
"…You're lying."
"I'm not."
My voice broke slightly.
"So when you kissed me yesterday…"
He didn't even blink.
"It didn't mean anything."
That was it.
That was the moment something inside me shattered completely.
Because the way he said it sounded so calm.
So easy.
Like none of it mattered.
Like I never mattered.
I couldn't breathe properly anymore.
"…I hate you."
He didn't react.
I couldn't stay there another second.
If I did, I felt like I might completely fall apart.
So I turned around and ran.
I heard someone call my name behind me.
But I didn't stop.
I ran past the classrooms.
Past the students.
Past everything.
Until I finally reached the staircase where I knew someone would be.
"Aries…"
My voice cracked the moment I saw him.
Aries turned around immediately.
"Jay?"
The moment he saw my face, his expression changed.
"What happened?"
I tried to speak.
But the words wouldn't come out.
Instead the tears started falling.
I hated crying.
I hated it more than anything.
But right now I couldn't stop.
"He… he…"
Aries stepped closer.
"Hey, hey… calm down."
I grabbed his shirt tightly.
"He said he used me."
Aries froze for a moment.
"He said everything was a plan."
My voice broke again.
"He said he never loved me… not before… not now."
The words felt even worse saying them out loud.
Aries pulled me into a hug.
And that was when I completely broke down.
The tears wouldn't stop.
I buried my face against his shoulder while my chest hurt with every breath.
Aries gently held the back of my head.
"It's okay."
But it wasn't.
Nothing about this felt okay.
I trusted him.
I believed him.
I let myself care about him.
And now he was saying it was all fake.
All of it.
Every moment.
Aries didn't say anything else.
He didn't defend Keif.
He didn't explain anything.
He just stayed there quietly.
Letting me cry.
His hand slowly rubbed my back.
"It's okay," he repeated softly.
But the truth was…
It didn't feel okay at all.
It felt like my heart had just been torn apart.
And the worst part?
The person who broke it…
Was the one I trusted the most.