Keifer's POV — The Engagement Night
The hall was already full of people when I walked in.
Soft lights hung from the ceiling, reflecting off the crystal decorations and making the entire place glow warmly.
Families. Friends. Laughter everywhere.
Because the moment she walked in… everything else disappeared.
Jay.
She stepped into the hall beside her parents, and for a moment I actually forgot how to breathe.
Her dress was a deep burgundy color, rich and dark like wine under candlelight. The bodice hugged her perfectly, delicate sparkles scattered across the fabric like tiny stars.
Thin straps rested on her shoulders while small crystal chains draped elegantly along her arms.
The skirt flowed out in layers of soft tulle, each layer shimmering with faint glitter as she moved.
It was long, dramatic, almost royal.
She looked like she had stepped out of a dream
Or maybe a nightmare for someone like me.
Because she looked… untouchable.
My chest tightened.
She had always been beautiful.
But tonight she looked like someone the entire room would fall for.
And they did.
I noticed the way people turned to stare when she passed.
Whispers.
Compliments.
And then Noel appeared beside her, leaning down to say something that made her laugh softly.
Something ugly twisted in my chest.
Jealousy.
I hated it.
But I couldn't stop it.
My hands clenched slightly as I watched him stand too close to her, talking like he belonged there.
Like he had the right.
Jay smiled politely, but when she glanced across the room…
Her eyes found mine.
And everything else faded again.
Then Noel said something again, making her turn toward him.
My jaw tightened.
Adrian suddenly clapped a hand on my shoulder.
"You look like you're about to start a war."
"I'm not."
"Oh."
"What?"
"You're jealous."
I scoffed.
"I'm not jealous."
"Sure," Adrian said dryly. "You're just staring at Jay like Noel committed a crime."
I didn't answer.
Because maybe he had
Noel leaned closer again, and Jay smiled politely.
Something snapped inside my chest.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I started walking across the room.
Adrian called after me.
"Keifer—"
Too late.
I stopped beside them.
Jay looked up first.
Her expression shifted slightly when she saw me standing there.
For a second neither of us spoke.
Then Noel glanced between us.
"Well, this is awkward."
Jay shot him a look.
I ignored him completely.
My eyes stayed on her.
"You look…" I paused,
searching for the right word.
But none of them were enough.
"…beautiful."
Her cheeks turned faintly pink.
"Thank you."
Noel cleared his throat dramatically.
"I feel very third-wheeled right now."
Jay rolled her eyes.
But I could see the small smile she tried to hide
.
And suddenly the jealousy burning in my chest didn't feel quite as unbearable.
Because even after everything…
Her eyes still softened when she looked at me.
Jay's POV — Engagement Night
The hall was glowing with warm golden lights when we arrived.
Music floated softly in the background, people talking and laughing as they gathered around the decorated stage where the engagement ceremony would happen.
But I barely noticed any of it.
Because the moment I stepped inside…
My eyes found him.
Keifer.
He stood across the room near Adrian, and for a second my breath caught.
He was dressed completely in black. A fitted black shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled, the top button undone just enough to make him look effortlessly elegant.
His black trousers were perfectly tailored, the belt sitting neatly at his waist.
A long dark coat rested casually over his arm, and the silver watch on his wrist caught the light every time he moved.
Simple.
But somehow… he looked unfairly attractive.
My heart skipped.
Why does he look like that tonight…
I forced myself to look away, pretending to listen to Hannah talking beside me.
But it didn't work.
Because someone else was already standing next to him.
Clara.
She was smiling brightly while talking to him, her hand lightly touching his arm as she laughed.
My chest tightened.
Seriously?
I crossed my arms slightly, trying to ignore the strange twist of jealousy rising inside me.
They looked… comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Clara leaned closer to him, saying something that made him smile faintly.
And I hated how my heart reacted to that.
Before I could stop myself, my feet were already moving.
Hannah noticed immediately.
"Where are you going?"
I didn't answer.
I walked straight across the room until I stopped beside them.
Keifer looked up
His expression changed the moment he saw me.
For a second, he just stared
His eyes slowly moved over my dress, from the burgundy bodice down to the flowing glittering skirt.
And the way he looked at me made my cheeks warm.
Clara noticed me next.
"Oh, Jay! You look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you," I said politely.
Then I turned to Keifer.
"And you clean up pretty well too."
His lips twitched slightly.
"You noticed?"
"It was hard not to."
Clara glanced between us, clearly sensing something in the air.
I stepped a little closer to Keifer without even realizing it, standing just beside him.
Close enough that our shoulders almost touched.
Clara said something else, but honestly…
I wasn't listening anymore.
Because suddenly I was very aware of two things.
The warmth coming from Keifer standing next to me.
And the way his gaze kept drifting back to my dress.
Then he leaned slightly closer and said quietly,
"You look… incredible tonight."
My heart did something stupid inside my chest.
I looked away quickly, trying to act calm.
"Thank you."
Clara suddenly spoke again.
"You two are standing very close."
Neither of us moved.
Keifer just shrugged lightly.
And somehow…
That tiny moment made the jealousy in my chest fade a little.
Because even with Clara standing there…
His attention was still on me.
Jay's POV — The Balcony
The engagement ceremony ended with applause and laughter filling the hall.
Music started playing softly, couples slowly moving toward the dance floor.
I stood near the table, pretending to focus on my drink.
But I could feel his eyes.
Keifer.
Every time I glanced up, he was somewhere across the room, watching.
Trying not to make it obvious.
"Jay."
I turned.
Noel stood beside me, holding out his hand with a playful smile.
"Dance with me."
I blinked.
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now," he said.
"Everyone's dancing."
I glanced toward the dance floor.
Then… toward Keifer.
He was standing near Adrian, his arms crossed, pretending to listen to something Adrian was saying.
But the moment our eyes met, he went completely still.
I looked back at Noel.
"Sorry," I said softly. "Not tonight."
Noel frowned dramatically.
"You're rejecting me at a romantic engagement party?"
"Yes."
"Heartbreaking."
I laughed slightly.
"Dance with Hannah instead."
He sighed but walked away.
And for some reason…
I felt Keifer's gaze on me even stronger now.
The room suddenly felt too warm.
Too loud.
Too full.
So I slipped away quietly, walking through the glass doors toward the balcony.
Cool night air brushed against my skin immediately.
London's lights stretched across the city, glowing in the distance.
I leaned lightly against the railing, taking a slow breath.
"You disappeared."
His voice came from behind me.
Of course it was him.
I turned slowly.
Keifer stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, the soft light from inside outlining his dark figure.
"I needed air," I said.
He stepped out onto the balcony.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
Just… heavy.
Then he said quietly,
"Noel asked you to dance."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You noticed?"
He looked away slightly.
"Hard not to."
I watched him for a moment.
"Are you jealous?"
His jaw tightened slightly.
"No."
"You're a terrible liar."
That made him let out a small laugh.
"Maybe."
The wind moved slightly, brushing the layers of my dress.
His eyes drifted down to it again.
"You really look beautiful tonight," he said softly.
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.
"Thank you."
Then he looked up again.
"And you didn't dance."
"I didn't want to."
"With Noel?"
"With anyone."
For a moment we just stood there under the quiet night sky.
Then he stepped a little closer.
Not too close.
But closer than before.
"You know…" he said quietly, "everyone inside thinks we hate each other."
I smiled faintly.
"Maybe we do."
He studied my face for a moment.
Then shook his head slowly.
"No," he said softly.
"We definitely don't."
My heart skipped slightly.
"I kept thinking you'd dance with him," he said after a moment.
"With Noel?"
He nodded.
"I didn't want to."
He looked at me then, his expression careful.
"Because of me?"
I hesitated.
"I don't know."
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did," he said quietly. "After everything I said to you… everything I did."
His voice lowered.
"I know I hurt you."
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said softly,
"I'm not forgiving you yet."
He nodded immediately.
"I know."
"I'm still angry," I continued. "And maybe I will be for a long time."
"That's fair."
"But…" I paused.
The words felt heavy in my chest.
"You should also know something."
He waited.
I took a breath.
"A part of me never stopped loving you."
The silence between us became deeper.
Keifer froze.
His eyes widened slightly, like he wasn't sure he heard me right.
"But that doesn't mean everything is okay now," I said quickly. "It doesn't erase what happened."
He nodded slowly, still looking at me like the world had just shifted.
"I understand," he said quietly.
"But that part of me… it's still there," I admitted softly.
"And that's why this is so hard."
Keifer looked down for a moment, his jaw tight.
Then he whispered,
"That's more hope than I thought I'd ever get."
He just stared at me like the world had suddenly shifted under his feet.
The confident Keifer everyone knew inside the hall… wasn't here right now.
Right now he looked stunned.
"You…" he started, then stopped.
His hand lifted slightly from the railing, like he wanted to reach for me.
But he didn't.
Instead he lowered it again.
"You shouldn't say things like that if you don't mean them," he said softly.
"I mean it."
The words came out before I could stop them.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"And you're still not forgiving me."
"No."
He nodded slowly.
"That's fair."
For a moment neither of us spoke again.
Then Keifer said quietly,
"Do you know how many nights I thought about you?"
I didn't answer.
"I kept thinking… if I could go back and undo that day, I would."
His voice dropped lower.
"I would choose you every time."
My chest tightened.
"Keifer—"
"No," he said gently. "You don't have to say anything.
I know I don't deserve another chance."
He looked at me again.
"But if there's even a small part of you that still loves me…"
He hesitated.
"…then let me try to be someone worthy of it."
My heart started beating faster.
Because the way he said it wasn't desperate.
It was honest.
And somehow that made it harder.
Hey loves , made this chapter long because I couldn't post yesterday
( check comment section for outfits )