Ang Mutya ng Section E – Book 3: The Unwritten Destinies
Chapter 8: The Word That Still Hurt
(Jay's POV)
The university café was louder than usual that afternoon.
Students filled almost every table, talking, laughing, complaining about assignments and professors. The smell of coffee and baked bread floated in the air while sunlight streamed through the large glass windows.
I sat across from Stella, watching her scroll through something on her phone while she complained dramatically.
"I swear Professor Allen enjoys torturing students," she groaned.
I laughed softly.
"You've said that about three professors already."
"Because it's true!" she protested.
Before I could reply, someone suddenly dropped into the chair beside me.
"Talking about me again?"
Christian.
He placed two iced coffees on the table and stretched his arms lazily.
Stella rolled her eyes.
"Relax. You're not important enough for that."
Christian smirked.
"Ouch. That hurts."
I shook my head, smiling faintly.
Over the past few weeks, these two had become my closest friends on campus. Stella was loud, dramatic, and energetic. Christian was sarcastic but surprisingly kind.
Being around them made things easier.
It made New York feel less lonely.
Christian pushed one of the drinks toward me.
"Here."
"You didn't have to buy me coffee," I said.
"Too late," he replied casually. "Already paid for it."
Stella suddenly leaned closer to me with a mischievous grin.
"Careful, Jay."
Christian raised an eyebrow.
"What does that mean?"
Stella pointed between us dramatically.
"You're buying her coffee now."
"And?"
"And girls usually misunderstand things like that."
Christian burst out laughing.
"Oh please."
Then he casually wrapped an arm around Stella's shoulders.
"Relax. I already have a girlfriend."
Stella blinked.
"What?"
Christian grinned proudly.
"You."
For a second, Stella just stared at him.
Then her face turned red.
"YOU IDIOT! You scared me!"
She smacked his arm while Christian laughed loudly.
I watched them quietly.
"You never told me you two were dating," I said.
Stella crossed her arms.
"Because we're not!"
Christian leaned back in his chair.
"Yes we are."
"NO WE'RE NOT!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes."
I couldn't help laughing as they continued arguing like children.
But as I watched them…
Something inside my chest tightened.
The way Stella tried to hide her smile.
The way Christian looked at her when she wasn't paying attention.
The way they argued but still stayed close.
It reminded me of something.
Of someone.
Keifer.
My smile slowly faded.
I remembered the way he used to tease me.
The way he would annoy me on purpose just to see my reaction.
The way he looked at me like…
Like I was important.
I quickly looked down at my coffee.
No.
Stop.
I told myself I wouldn't think about him anymore.
Stella finally noticed my sudden silence.
"Jay?"
I looked up.
"You okay?"
Christian also looked at me.
"You look like you just remembered something painful."
I forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
But Stella didn't look convinced.
"You sure?"
I nodded quickly.
"Yeah."
Christian leaned forward slightly.
"You know… if someone hurt you before…"
His voice softened.
"You don't have to carry it alone."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe properly.
Because the memories came back all at once.
Keifer's voice.
His smile.
The day he looked at me and said things that made my heart believe him.
And then the day everything fell apart.
The day I believed he had used me.
I tightened my grip on the coffee cup.
"I'm okay," I repeated quietly.
Stella studied me for a moment but didn't push further.
Instead, she stood up suddenly.
"Alright! Enough emotional drama."
She grabbed Christian's arm.
"Come on. We have class in ten minutes."
Christian groaned.
"Why do responsibilities exist?"
"MOVE."
He stood up reluctantly.
Before leaving, he glanced at me.
"Don't sit here too long thinking about the past."
Then he and Stella walked away, still arguing like always.
I remained sitting at the table.
The café noise continued around me.
But my thoughts were far away.
Across the ocean.
In another country.
With someone I was trying so hard to forget.
I stared at the surface of my coffee quietly.
And whispered something I hadn't said in weeks.
"…Keifer."
Even after everything.
Even after the lies.
Even after the distance.
My heart still reacted to his name.
And that was the part that scared me the most.