Jay's POV — Dinner, Flirting, and Silent Pain
The dinner table was buzzing. Laughter, clinking glasses, and chatter about the upcoming engagement filled the room.
I cleared my throat.
"There's something I want to tell everyone."
All eyes turned to me.
"My studies in Oslo are finished," I said. "I've decided to stay in London… but I'll still go to Norway sometimes—for projects, friends, memories."
My mom smiled brightly. "Really? That's wonderful, Jay."
Adrian leaned back, thoughtful. "If Norway's that important, maybe we could all go on a trip after the engagement. Jay can show us around."
Everyone started talking excitedly about the idea—places to see, what to pack, which streets she loved…
Except one person.
Keifer.
He stayed quiet, shoulders stiff, eyes flicking toward me whenever I laughed with Noel.
Noel leaned closer, joking, putting a hand lightly on my shoulder. "You're too talented, Jay. Seriously."
I laughed, but the movement caught my attention.
Keifer's jaw tightened. His hands clenched under the table. His eyes darkened for a moment, just slightly, just enough that I noticed.
He wasn't angry, not loudly. But the weight of him watching, the jealousy, the struggle—it hit me.
I didn't move. Didn't speak. Just noticed, quietly, as he pressed his hands against his face, trying to hold himself together.
Later, after everyone had left the room and the apartment was quiet, I heard it.
Soft, broken sobs coming from down the hallway.
Keifer.
I walked slowly, silently, to his room. The door was slightly ajar.
He sat on the edge of the bed, head buried in his hands. Trembling. Silent tears streaking down his cheeks.
" it hurts so badly , seeing her with him,,"
His voice was choked, broken, raw.
I stayed in the doorway, watching him. Not moving forward. Not touching him.
Just… noticing.
The boy who had once been my everything… now quietly falling apart.
I didn't say a word. Didn't try to comfort. Didn't forgive.
I simply stood there, letting him cry.
Letting him struggle.
And somehow… seeing him like this, broken and jealous, made my chest ache.
Because I realized… even though I wasn't ready to forgive, I still cared.
I left the room quietly after a while, letting him have his moment.
Jay's POV — Breakfast and Quiet Jealousy
Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains, warm and soft across the kitchen.
I was sitting at the breakfast table with my friends—Hannah, Liam, and Noel. Plates of croissants and fruit were scattered across the table, and the smell of fresh coffee filled the air
Noel leaned a little closer, laughing as he teased me about one of my sketches.
"You're way too talented, Jay. I swear I'd live in one of your buildings if I could."
I laughed, brushing my hair back. "You'd probably just get lost inside one of my designs anyway."
He grinned, leaning just a little closer, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
Then I noticed him.
Keifer.
He stood near the doorway, arms crossed, jaw tight. Eyes flicking toward me every few seconds, stopping every time Noel laughed or leaned toward me.
His chest rose and fell unevenly, like he was holding back more than just words.
I couldn't look away.
The jealousy was quiet, restrained—but it was there. The subtle tension in the set of his shoulders, the way he shifted from foot to foot.
I caught his gaze for a moment. He quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in nothing, but I saw him bite his lip.
A pang hit me in the chest.
The boy who had hurt me,
the one I wasn't ready to forgive, was hurting himself quietly over something as small as a laugh, a playful touch, a glance from another boy.
Noel didn't notice. Hannah and Liam were busy with their breakfast and their chatter.
I took a slow breath.
I wasn't forgiving him yet. Not today. Not now.
But seeing him struggle like this… the jealousy, the quiet pain… I realized I cared about him.
A piece of my heart, still soft, still aware.
And as the breakfast chatter continued around me, I stole another glance at him.
He was standing there, trying to stay strong, trying not to let anyone see… but failing.
And I wondered… how long could he keep this up?
Jay's POV — Between Them
After breakfast, everyone started getting ready to go out.
Hannah was already by the door, grabbing her jacket.
Liam was arguing with Noel about which café we should go to.
"Jay, hurry up," Noel called from the hallway. "We're starving."
I laughed softly and reached for my coat.
Behind me, I noticed Keifer standing near the window again.
Quiet. Watching everyone but not really joining in.
For a moment he looked like he was about to leave the room.
"You can come with us," I said suddenly.
He looked up, surprised.
"With you guys?"
"Yes," I replied simply.
He hesitated.
"I don't think your friends want me there."
"They'll survive," I said.
After a second, he nodded quietly.
"…Okay."
few minutes later we were walking through the busy London streets.
Hannah and Liam walked ahead, still debating where to eat. Noel walked beside me, talking about a café he liked nearby.
Keifer followed slightly behind us, hands in his pockets, quiet like always.
Every now and then I could feel his gaze.
Watching.
Not saying anything.
When we reached the café, Hannah quickly grabbed a table by the window.
Noel pulled out a chair beside him.
"Jay, sit here."
I slid into the seat.
Before I could even think about it, Keifer sat down too.
Right on my other side.
I blinked slightly.
Noel on my left.
Keifer on my right.
And me… stuck in the middle.
Hannah noticed immediately and smirked across the table.
I ignored her.
Noel leaned closer, pointing at the menu.
"You have to try the chocolate croissant."
"I'll think about it," I said.
As I reached for the menu, my arm brushed Keifer's.
He pulled his arm back quickly.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's fine."
But the tension beside me was obvious.
Noel kept joking and leaning closer while we talked. I laughed at something he said, and he nudged my shoulder playfully.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Keifer's hand tighten slightly on the table.
He stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
Finally Noel rested his arm lightly along the back of my chair while laughing.
That's when Keifer pushed his chair back.
"I'll be right back," he muttered.
Before anyone could react, he walked out of the café.
I watched the door close behind him.
Something in my chest twisted.
"I'll be back," I told the others quickly.
Noel frowned. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I said softly, already heading for the door.
Outside, the air was colder.
I spotted Keifer down the street, standing near the corner with his back turned.
"Keifer."
He stiffened.
When he turned around, I saw it immediately.
His eyes were red.
He had been crying.
"I'm fine," he said quickly, wiping his face.
"You don't look fine."
He laughed quietly, but it sounded empty
"I shouldn't have come," he muttered.
"Why?"
"Because sitting there watching some guy flirt with you like I have any right to care is… pathetic."
His voice cracked slightly.
"I lost that right a long time ago."
The words hung heavily in the air.
He looked down, fists clenched.
"I hate that it still hurts," he whispered.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then I stepped a little closer.
"Hey."
"I'm trying not to be like this, Jay," he said quietly.
"But seeing you with someone else…"
He stopped talking.
His hands were trembling slightly.
Without thinking too much,
I reached out and gently held his arm.
"Breathe," I said softly.
He froze for a second.
Then his shoulders dropped a little, like the tension finally cracked.
He covered his face with his hands.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm making this awkward again."
"You're not."
We stood there quietly for a moment.
I didn't hug him.
I didn't say anything big.
I just stayed there beside
him until his breathing steadied.
After a while he lowered his hands.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
I nodded.
Then I turned back toward the café.
"Come on."
He blinked.
"Back there?"
"Yes."
He hesitated.
But after a moment… he followed me.
And somehow, walking back beside him didn't feel as impossible as it used to.