JAY-JAY POV
I was done.
Completely done.
No talking. No looking. No reacting.
Keifer was officially in my "ignore like he doesn't exist" category.
Permanent.
At least that was the plan.
Until he decided to ruin it in the most annoying way possible.
I was walking through the hallway, still ignoring him completely, when I suddenly noticed people slowing down.
Whispers again.
Laughter again.
Phones out again.
I frowned.
"What now…" I muttered to myself.
Then I saw it.
A small crowd near the notice board.
Students gathered, laughing, pointing at something pinned there.
And in the middle of it—
a printed paper.
I walked closer slowly.
Something felt wrong.
And then I saw my name.
My name.
And his name.
Together.
On the SAME paper.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…What is this."
I pushed through the crowd.
And read it.
It was a fake "school announcement board" paper.
But someone had printed THIS:
"OFFICIAL: MOST DRAMATIC COUPLE ENERGY — JAY-JAY & KEIFER"
Below it:
"Daily arguments: 10/10 entertainment"
"Mutual obsession level: suspicious"
"Denial level: extreme"
"Public tension: undeniable"
I stood completely still.
Silence.
Then—
"WHO DID THIS."
My voice came out sharp.
Too sharp.
Students started laughing harder.
Someone whispered, "It's so accurate though…"
I turned slowly.
Deadly slow.
And I already knew.
Because leaning against the wall nearby—
was Keifer.
Watching me.
Smiling.
Like he was enjoying every second of it.
I walked straight toward him.
He didn't move.
Didn't panic.
Didn't even pretend innocence.
I stopped right in front of him.
"…Did you do this?"
Keifer shrugged.
"So what if I did?"
My eyes narrowed. "Are you insane?"
He leaned slightly closer.
Voice calm.
Flirty.
Dangerously unbothered.
"It's just a paper."
"It has my NAME on it!"
"I noticed."
"You PRINTED this!"
"Maybe."
I stared at him like I was seconds away from exploding.
Behind him, his friends were laughing.
Drew was literally filming.
"THIS IS CINEMA."
Rakki and Mica weren't even there, but somehow I felt like they would've screamed too.
Keifer tilted his head.
"You don't like it?"
"No!"
He smiled.
"Why? It's cute."
I almost choked.
"CUTE?!"
He nodded.
"Yeah."
Then casually added:
"You look good next to my name."
Silence.
My brain actually paused.
Then I snapped back instantly.
"I'm going to kill you."
Keifer leaned in slightly.
Lower voice.
Smirk back again.
"You'll have to stand closer then."
That did it.
I grabbed the paper off the board and crumpled it.
Hard.
"You are so irritating!"
Keifer laughed.
Not loud.
Just amused.
Like I was entertaining him.
Then he stepped closer.
Again.
Always closer.
"You're still reacting," he said softly.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
I glared. "Stop saying that."
He tilted his head.
"Make me."
I froze.
Because that line again.
And before I could respond—
the bell rang.
Students started rushing.
Chaos moved on.
But he didn't.
Keifer stayed right there.
Looking at me.
Still smiling.
Still calm.
Still winning somehow.
And then he said it quietly—
"You're going to talk to me again."
I frowned. "No I'm not."
He nodded like he didn't believe me for a second.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"But you will."
And this time…
I didn't answer.
Because for the first time today…
I wasn't sure I liked how confident he sounded.
END OF CHAPTER 25