Jay's POV...
They all left...
I didn't expect him to be waiting.
When the door clicked open that evening, I thought it would be quiet again.
Empty.
But he was there.
Leaning against the wall.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
"You're back," I said, trying to sound normal.
"You're late," he replied.
I frowned. "I live here."
"And?"
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Same calm expression.
Same unreadable eyes.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"With my friends."
A pause.
"All of them?" he asked.
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then—
"Good."
That caught me off guard.
"…good?"
"You smiled," he said simply.
My heart skipped.
"You saw?"
"I know."
That was so him.
Not explaining.
Just… knowing.
Before I could say anything—
"Come."
There it was again.
That one-word command.
"Where?" I asked.
"You'll see."
"That's not an answer."
"It's enough."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…you're annoying."
A small smirk appeared.
"Careful."
My mouth snapped shut instantly.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
That smirk deepened.
"I didn't even say it," I muttered.
"You were going to."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
I looked away.
Because he was right.
"Come," he said again, softer this time.
And like always—
I followed.
It wasn't anything fancy.
No expensive place.
No big setup.
Just—
A quiet street.
A small roadside café.
Warm lights.
Soft noise of people talking.
I blinked.
"This is it?" I asked.
"Yes."
I looked at him.
"…seriously?"
He pulled a chair out for me.
"Sit."
I sat.
Still confused.
"You don't like it?" he asked.
"It's not that…"
I looked around again.
Simple.
Peaceful.
Real.
"I thought you'd take me somewhere… bigger."
"I didn't want bigger."
He sat across from me.
Eyes on me.
"I wanted this."
Something about the way he said it—
Made my chest feel tight.
"Why?" I asked quietly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Because you wouldn't pretend here."
I froze.
"What?"
"In big places," he said, leaning back slightly, "people act different."
His gaze didn't leave mine.
"You wouldn't."
I didn't know what to say.
So I didn't.
The waiter came, breaking the moment.
He ordered.
Without asking me.
"You didn't even ask what I want," I said.
"I know what you like."
"…you don't."
"I do."
I stared at him.
"Hot chocolate," he said.
"Less sugar."
"Extra foam."
I blinked.
"…okay, that was lucky."
"It wasn't."
I looked away quickly.
Why does he notice everything?
We talked.
Not about big things.
Not about drama.
Just…
Small things.
School.
Friends.
Random memories.
And somehow—
Those felt more important.
At one point—
I laughed.
Properly laughed.
And he just…
Watched.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"That's not nothing."
A pause.
"You look better like this."
My heart did that thing again.
"You're weird," I muttered.
He leaned slightly forward.
"Say that again."
My breath caught.
"No."
"Why?"
"You know why."
A quiet chuckle left him.
"Good."
Later—
We walked back.
Slowly.
The street was quieter now.
Lights softer.
Air cooler.
Our hands brushed.
Just slightly.
But neither of us moved away.
Then—
He stopped.
I turned.
"What?"
He stepped closer.
Too close.
My heart started racing instantly.
"Jay."
His voice was lower now.
"…what?"
"You're thinking too much again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I swallowed.
He lifted his hand—
And gently moved a strand of hair away from my face.
My breath hitched.
"Stop overthinking," he said softly.
I couldn't look away.
"I'm not overthinking," I whispered.
He leaned closer.
"Liar."
My heart was going insane now.
I tried to say something—
Anything—
"You're—"
I stopped.
Too late.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"There it is," he murmured.
I stepped back instantly.
"No."
"Yes."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to."
"That doesn't count!"
"It does."
I turned to leave quickly—
But he caught my wrist.
Not harsh.
Just enough.
"Keifer—"
"Profanity rule," he said quietly.
"I didn't even—"
He pulled me slightly closer.
And before I could finish—
He kissed me.
Soft.
Quick.
But enough to make my brain stop working.
When he pulled back—
I couldn't even look at him.
"You're unfair," I muttered.
"Maybe."
There was no regret in his voice.
Only that calm certainty.
He let go of my wrist.
"Let's go," he said.
Like nothing happened.
But everything had.
And as we walked back—
I realized something.
This wasn't just a day.
It was—
Ours.