Chapter 28: Possession Without Permission
(Jay-jay's POV)
We should've stayed in the hallway.
Just a little longer.
Just one more second like he asked.
Because the moment we walked back into the classroom—
Everything came rushing back.
Noise. Chaos. Eyes.
Section E.
Felix: "THEY'RE BACK!"
Calix: "AND THEY LOOK DIFFERENT!"
Mayo: "SUSPICIOUSLY DIFFERENT!"
Kit: "GLOWING DIFFERENT!"
Blaster: "THIS IS POST-MOMENT ENERGY!"
Edrix: "Confirmed. Something happened."
Rory: "DETAILS!"
Drew: "WE DEMAND DETAILS!"
David (calm): "…we will not get details."
I walked past them.
Composed.
Controlled.
Like nothing just happened.
Like my heart wasn't still racing.
Like his hand hadn't just been on my waist five seconds ago.
Like I didn't still feel it.
Keifer followed behind me.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Which was worse.
Because when he was quiet—
It meant he was thinking.
And when he was thinking—
It meant trouble.
I sat down.
Opened a book.
Pretended to read.
Didn't read a single word.
Then—
The classroom door opened again.
And everything shifted.
(Keifer's POV)
I noticed him first.
Of course I did.
Because I remembered him.
From the award show.
The way he looked at her.
The way he stood too close.
The way he smiled like he had a right.
Adrian Cole.
What was he doing here?
Wrong place.
Wrong time.
Wrong person to approach.
(Jay-jay's POV)
I looked up.
And froze.
Jay-jay: "…what are you doing here?"
Adrian smiled like this was normal.
Like walking into Section E wasn't a dangerous decision.
Adrian: "I told you I'd reach out."
Felix (whispering loudly): "WHO IS THIS?"
Calix: "HE LOOKS RICH!"
Mayo: "HE LOOKS CONFIDENT!"
Kit: "I DON'T TRUST HIM!"
Blaster: "SAME!"
Edrix: "Searching his entire life right now."
David: "…of course you are."
Adrian stepped closer.
Too close.
Again.
Adrian: "I figured a formal meeting wasn't necessary for a quick conversation."
I stood up.
Keeping it professional.
Jay-jay: "This isn't the right place."
Adrian: "It works for me."
I didn't respond immediately.
Because I felt it.
Behind me.
That shift.
That presence.
That silence that wasn't calm anymore.
(Keifer's POV)
He was standing too close.
Again.
Talking too casually.
Again.
Ignoring me.
Again.
And she—
She was handling it.
Of course she was.
Calm.
Professional.
Polite.
Like she always is.
But I wasn't.
Not this time.
Not again.
I stood up.
Slowly.
Every movement controlled.
Every step measured.
Until I was right behind her.
Close enough that he had to notice.
Close enough that she had to feel it.
(Jay-jay's POV)
Oh no.
I didn't turn.
I didn't need to.
I already knew.
Keifer.
Right behind me.
Too close.
Too quiet.
Too dangerous.
Adrian noticed him now.
Finally.
Adrian: "…I see you're not alone."
Keifer didn't smile.
Didn't greet.
Didn't pretend.
Keifer: "You noticed."
The tone—
Calm.
But sharp.
Very sharp.
Adrian didn't move.
Adrian: "We were in the middle of a conversation."
Keifer stepped closer.
Closer than necessary.
Keifer: "You're done."
The entire class went silent.
Dead silent.
Even Section E.
That never happened.
(Jay-jay's POV)
I turned quickly.
Jay-jay: "Keifer."
Warning.
Clear warning.
But he didn't look at me.
Didn't react.
Didn't step back.
His eyes were still on Adrian.
And I realized—
He wasn't just jealous.
He was furious.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
Adrian: "Excuse me?"
Keifer: "You heard me."
Adrian: "I don't think you get to decide that."
Keifer smiled.
But it wasn't nice.
Not even close.
Keifer: "I do."
My heart dropped slightly.
Jay-jay: "Keifer, stop."
But he didn't.
(Keifer's POV)
He wasn't leaving.
He wasn't backing off.
And I didn't like that.
Not one bit.
Not after last night.
Not after today.
Not after she—
I stepped even closer.
Now there was no space left.
Between me and him.
Between me and her.
My hand moved—
Without thinking.
Resting at her waist.
Firm.
Certain.
Not asking this time.
Claiming.
(Jay-jay's POV)
My breath caught.
That—
That was different.
Not like before.
Not gentle.
Not questioning.
This was…
Clear.
Visible.
Intentional.
The entire class LOST IT internally but stayed quiet.
Because even they knew—
This wasn't just drama anymore.
This was something else.
Adrian's expression changed.
Finally.
Adrian: "…I see."
Keifer didn't look away.
Keifer: "Good."
Adrian: "I wasn't aware—"
Keifer cut him off.
Keifer: "Now you are."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
(Jay-jay's POV)
I grabbed Keifer's wrist.
Not harsh.
But enough.
Jay-jay: "That's enough."
He didn't move immediately.
Then slowly—
His grip softened slightly.
But his hand didn't leave.
Adrian straightened.
Adrian: "I didn't mean to interrupt anything."
Keifer: "You did."
Adrian looked at me.
Adrian: "We'll talk another time."
Jay-jay: "…through my office."
Adrian nodded once.
Then left.
The door closed.
And the second it did—
Section E EXPLODED.
Felix: "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Calix: "HE WAS ABOUT TO FIGHT!"
Mayo: "THIS IS CRAZY!"
Kit: "I FELT THAT TENSION!"
Blaster: "I WAS SCARED!"
Edrix: "BEST DAY EVER!"
Rory: "HE SAID 'YOU'RE DONE'?!"
Drew: "ICONIC!"
David: "…that was unnecessary."
(Jay-jay's POV)
I turned to Keifer.
Slowly.
Jay-jay: "…what was that?"
He finally looked at me.
And there it was.
That intensity.
Still there.
Still burning.
Keifer: "I didn't like him."
Jay-jay: "That doesn't give you the right to act like that."
Keifer: "He was standing too close."
Jay-jay: "I can handle that."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay-jay: "Then why—"
Keifer: "Because I didn't want to watch it again."
Silence.
Jay-jay: "…watch what?"
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Real.
Keifer: "Someone else thinking they have a chance with you."
My breath caught.
Again.
Jay-jay: "…you don't trust me?"
Keifer: "I don't trust them."
Jay-jay: "…that's not the same thing."
Keifer: "It is for me."
I stared at him.
Trying to stay calm.
Trying to stay logical.
Jay-jay: "You don't get to decide who talks to me."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay-jay: "Then act like it."
Silence.
Then—
He stepped closer again.
Of course he did.
Keifer: "I'm trying."
Jay-jay: "…try harder."
(Keifer's POV)
She was right.
Again.
She always is.
But—
That didn't change how I felt.
Keifer: "I didn't like it."
Jay-jay: "You've said that."
Keifer: "I'll keep saying it."
Jay-jay: "…you're impossible."
Keifer: "And you're still here."
Jay-jay: "Stop saying that."
Keifer: "Make me."
Silence.
Then—
She stepped closer.
Not away.
Closer.
Jay-jay (quiet): "…you're jealous."
Keifer: "Yes."
Jay-jay: "…a lot."
Keifer: "Yes."
Jay-jay: "…unreasonably."
Keifer: "Probably."
A pause.
Then—
She looked at me.
Soft.
But dangerous.
Jay-jay: "…good."
That—
That caught me off guard.
Jay-jay: "Because at least you're not pretending anymore."
My chest tightened.
Because she was right.
I wasn't.
Not even a little.
(Jay-jay's POV)
I sighed softly.
Then—
Without thinking too much—
I reached for his hand.
Just for a second.
Just enough.
Jay-jay (low): "…but don't do that again."
Keifer: "…what?"
Jay-jay: "Act like you own me."
Silence.
Then—
He nodded.
Once.
Keifer: "I won't."
A pause.
Then quieter—
Keifer: "But I'm not going to pretend I don't want you."
My heart skipped again.
And I hated that it did.
End of Chapter
Jealousy isn't always loud.
Sometimes—
It's quiet.
Controlled.
Sharp.
But when it breaks—
When it shows—
It reveals something deeper.
Something harder to ignore.
Because this time—
Keifer didn't hide it.
Not even a little.
And Jay-jay?
She didn't walk away.
Not even when she should have. ✨