JAY-JAY POV
I was not talking to him.
Not even looking at him.
Not even pretending he existed.
Because I was angry.
Properly angry.
The kind that makes you walk faster just to avoid hearing his voice again.
Keifer… or whatever I felt like calling him right now… didn't understand distance.
Or silence.
Or my mood.
Lunch break ended, and students started pouring out of the cafeteria.
I grabbed my bag and walked away without a single glance back.
No hesitation.
No stopping.
Just gone.
Behind me, I heard his chair move.
I didn't turn.
I didn't care.
Or I acted like I didn't.
The hallway was crowded, noisy, full of movement.
I blended into it, trying to disappear into the crowd.
Trying to disappear from him.
Then—
"Kwanan."
I kept walking.
"Kwanan."
Still walking.
"Okay… so we're doing nicknames now?"
I stopped near the lockers.
Still not turning around.
"What do you want?"
A pause.
Then he stepped closer behind me.
Too close.
As always.
"I want you to stop calling me that."
I finally turned slightly, eyes sharp.
"Why?"
He frowned a little, confused but amused at the same time.
"Because my name is Keifer."
I scoffed immediately.
"I know your name."
"Then why Kwanan?"
I crossed my arms.
"Because I don't feel like calling you Keifer right now."
That made him pause.
Just a second.
Then he smiled like he found it interesting instead of offensive.
"So you're mad enough to rename me now?"
"I'm not mad."
He leaned slightly against the lockers beside me.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I said I'm not."
A small silence.
Then he tilted his head.
"Did I do something… or are you just enjoying ignoring me today?"
I looked at him properly now.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You know exactly what you did."
His smile faded a little.
Not completely.
Just softened.
"I told you something in lunch," he said.
"And I told you I don't believe you."
That hit the air between us.
He stared at me for a moment.
Then quietly—
"So you really don't trust me anymore?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was annoying.
Then I finally said it.
"Not right now."
Silence.
He exhaled slowly, like that answer actually mattered.
Then he nodded.
"Okay."
That "okay" wasn't playful this time.
It was calmer.
Strangely calm.
I grabbed my bag tighter.
"I'm done talking."
I turned to leave.
But then—
"Kwanan."
I stopped again.
I hated that I still stopped.
I didn't turn.
"What?"
His voice came softer now.
Not teasing.
Not loud.
Just him.
"If you don't trust me…"
Pause.
"Why do you still react when I call your name?"
That question hit harder than it should've.
I didn't answer.
I just walked away.
Faster this time.
And behind me…
He didn't laugh.
He didn't follow immediately.
But I could still feel him watching.
Like he already knew I wasn't as unaffected as I wanted to be.
END OF CHAPTER 25