April's POV:
Just as Yuri and I were walking to the mall, we saw Keifer and Jayjay sitting at a café.
Wow, they're fast walkers. Dayumm.
I waved at Keifer. I was over the awkwardness, just getting used to moments like these again.
"KEIFER!!" I grinned sheepishly.
He smiled at me, and Jayjay waved back.
"You were about to say something to me back at the store?" Keifer asked.
"Nah! I just wanted to talk," I replied.
Yuri complimented Jayjay's outfit. She really is pretty in it.
Ah. I see… Keifer was smirking at her. Very Boyfriend energy. YAS!
For some reason, happy tears were lining up at the edge of my eyes, ready to spill. Stop! Too emotional, April!
They're official.
Fangirl mode? ON!
KEIFER X JAYJAY!
KEIJAY?…No. That sounds wrong. Not catchy..
JAYFER.
Yes.That's it.
JAYFER FOREVER!!
I was internally screaming when the word slipped out of my mouth.
"Jayfer."
Silence.
Jayjay slowly turned to look at me, completely deadpan.
Oh no.This is it.This is where I die.
Keifer, on the other hand, looked pleased. Way too pleased and mumbled, "Perfect," for no absolute reason (yes, there is a reason, because he is cocky in front of people!)
I cleared my throat quickly, trying to save myself. "Uh.. anyway! Do you wanna join us? You know… maybe shop for clothes?"
Before Jayjay could even open her mouth-
"No," Keifer said flatly.
"Yes!" Jayjay said at the same time, her face lighting up.
With her excitement, I somehow lit up too.
Yes.
YES.
Keifer stood up, like he was about to fight a battle.
We walked into a nearby clothing store named "COMFORTXCLOTHES- Your go-to clothing store!"
And the first thing I noticed?
Barely any people.
Wide spaces.
Soft and audible music.
PERFECT.
As we stepped in, Jayjay went to a rack of blue-toned clothes.
Soft clothes, I love them! Wow, she has the same taste as mine.
I tapped on Jayjay's arm, "Do I stink?"
I really said it? Stupid April, stupid April.
"nope..." She said, looking at me with a cheeky look, "..why?"
...
Um.. what do I say now? I don't know what to answer.
"Eh, nothing! It's just really sunny today, so yes. You know.."
Yuri cut in, "I could smell the perfume on top of a stinky person today."
I glared at him.
Just as I was about to scold Yuri for saying random things at random times, Jayjay took a t-shirt out and held it up. "This suits you!"
I blinked, staring at the t-shirt in Jayjay's hands. It was simple, soft-looking, and very… me-coded.
"Really?" I asked, taking it from her.
She nodded. "Yeah. Trust me."
Keifer leaned over her shoulder. "She's right. Shockingly. Meddler meddles again."
Jayjay hit his arm. BREAKING NEWS! KEIFER DOESN'T LET ANYONE HIT HIS ARM. HE EITHER HITS THEM BACK! BUT NOW.. WORLD RECORD.
"Don't act surprised," Jayjay said.
I laughed quietly and looked down at the shirt again. Blue. Comfortable. Not too loud.Why did it feel weirdly nice that she picked it?
"Try it," Yuri said beside me, voice calm as ever.
I glanced at him, then at the fitting rooms, then back at the shirt.
"…Okay."
I stepped into the fitting room and closed the door. I put it on.
When I looked at my reflection, I paused.
Oh.
It actually did suit me.
I took a deep breath and stepped back out.
Jayjay's face immediately lit up. "See? I told you."
Keifer let out a low whistle. "Wow. Okay, rude."
I felt my cheeks warm. "Shut up."
Yuri smiled.. small, quiet, like he didn't need to say anything for it to mean something.
But, he spoke anyway.
"Do you like it?" he asked, low enough that only I could hear.
I nodded, still staring at the shirt like it had personally changed my life. Maybe it has? "Yeah… I do."
He looked at me with a smirk. COCKY BESTFRIENDS! KEIFER AND YURI. Maybe I should start shipping YuFer now!
"You look more like yourself in it." he said.
I frowned. "What does that mean?"
He shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Comfortable. Not trying too hard."
I glanced up at him. "Are you saying I try too hard?"
"No," he said quickly, then paused. "I'm saying you don't have to."
That made my chest tighten a little.
Keifer and Jayjay had wandered off to another rack, arguing about colours.
For once, the noise faded into the background.
"It's nice," I admitted softly. "Being here. Like this."
Yuri hummed in agreement. "You seem lighter."
I laughed under my breath. "You make it sound like I was carrying around emotional luggage."
"Maybe you were," he said gently. "And maybe you're allowed to put it down."
I didn't reply right away. I just looked at him.
He wasn't smiling. Not frowning either. Just… there. Steady. Like he always was.
"Thanks," I said finally.
"For what?"
"For walking with me," I said. "Not ahead. Not behind."
His eyes softened at that.
"Anywhere you go," he replied simply.
My heart did a very stupid thing in my chest.
I looked away before he could notice.
Yeah.This was definitely an "ApRi or YuRil, whatever you name it.." moment.