JAY'S POV
The alarm felt louder than usual.
Too loud.
Too early.
I groaned softly, turning slightly as I buried my face deeper into the pillow, not ready to move. My body still felt heavy from yesterday, from everything—running, laughing, the chaos, the teasing…
Him.
I froze for a second.
Then slowly turned my head.
Keifer was still there.
Right beside me.
Asleep.
His arm rested loosely near me, his breathing calm, his expression softer than usual. For a moment, I just stayed there, watching him.
Too peaceful.
Too normal.
It didn't match everything that had been happening between us.
I reached out without thinking, lightly poking his arm.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
I leaned a little closer.
"Keifer… wake up."
He didn't move.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"We have school."
That did it.
He shifted slightly, letting out a low breath as his eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light.
"Five more minutes."
I sat up immediately.
"No."
Getting ready felt rushed.
Back to uniforms. Back to routine. Back to acting normal.
Except nothing felt normal anymore.
Not when every time I looked at him, I remembered the couch… the section e… the closet… everything.
I avoided looking at him too much.
Didn't work.
Because he wasn't avoiding me.
At all.
KEIFER'S POV
She was avoiding me again.
Not fully.
But enough.
The way she moved faster. The way she looked away too quickly. The way she kept distance like yesterday didn't happen.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her fix her hair.
She could pretend all she wanted.
Didn't change anything.
I stepped closer.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
But she didn't turn.
I stopped right behind her, close enough that she could feel it.
My hand moved slightly, brushing against her waist.
She froze.
"You're doing it again."
She finally turned.
"Doing what?"
I leaned in slightly, my voice lower.
"Pretending nothing happened."
JAY'S POV
My heart started racing instantly.
"We're going to be late."
Weak.
That was a weak response.
He didn't move.
Didn't step back.
If anything, he leaned closer.
"That's not what I said."
I swallowed slightly, grabbing my bag quickly and stepping away before I could say something worse.
"Let's just go."
The school gates felt… normal.
Too normal.
Students walking in, talking, laughing, complaining about homework like nothing had changed.
But everything had.
At least for me.
And apparently—
For everyone else too.
Because the moment we walked in—
Section E saw us.
"OH LOOK WHO DECIDED TO SHOW UP TOGETHER."
I froze.
Ci-N.
Of course.
Felix leaned against the wall, smirking.
"Couch couple is here."
Blaster gasped dramatically.
"Don't forget cloak room couple."
My face burned instantly.
"Can you all stop?"
Keiren grinned.
"No."
Kegain nodded.
"Never."
KEIFER'S POV
They were annoying.
Loud.
Unnecessary.
But I didn't stop them.
Because she was reacting.
Flustered.
Avoiding.
And I could see it.
I stepped slightly closer to her, my hand resting casually at her waist.
She stiffened immediately.
I didn't move it.
JAY'S POV
My brain stopped working.
His hand—
Right there.
In front of everyone.
I looked at him quickly.
"Keifer—"
He didn't even look at me.
Just stayed calm.
Unbothered.
Like this was normal.
KEIFER'S POV
I finally glanced down at her.
"What?"
JAY'S POV
I couldn't even answer.
Because everyone was staring.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
I looked away quickly.
But I didn't move his hand.
Didn't push him away.
Didn't say anything else.
And that was the problem.
Because now—
Everyone knew.
And there was no going back.