This Is What Loving You Feels Like
Jay didn't expect much when Keifer texted her:
"No school. No drama. Just us. Be ready at 5."
She stood in front of her mirror for way too long.
Eventually landed on a soft blue dress — simple, but flattering — hair down, mascara light, lips glossy enough to make her feel something.
When Keifer showed up, he actually forgot to speak.
"Wow," he managed. "You look…"
"Like someone who waited thirty minutes for you to pick her up?"
He laughed. "No. Like someone I might accidentally fall in love with again."
"Again?"
"Shut up," he muttered, ears red.
They didn't go anywhere fancy.
Just a corner café that smelled like fresh waffles and vanilla candles.
Jay ordered a ridiculous layered strawberry parfait.
Keifer got three slices of cheesecake. "Don't judge me."
She grinned. "You stress-eat sugar."
"You exist. It's stressful."
They sat across from each other, knees knocking under the table, hands brushing between bites.
They talked about nothing — stupid memes, random classmates, how Yuki might be secretly evil — but every time she laughed, Keifer just looked at her.
Not stared.
Looked.
Like she was a story he was scared to stop reading.
At one point, Jay caught him.
"What?" she asked.
He leaned his chin on his hand. "Just… memorizing."
"Me?"
"This. You. This moment."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Cheesy."
He nodded. "Yep. But true."
Later, they walked through the quiet part of town — dusk fading into evening, the world soft around the edges.
Jay's hand found his without even thinking.
"Hey," she said.
Keifer glanced at her.
"I'm happy."
He squeezed her hand. "Me too."
"But like… quiet happy. Not the loud kind. The kind where your heart doesn't feel like it's sprinting anymore. Just breathing."
Keifer slowed their pace.
Then: "I want more days like this."
Jay looked at him.
He was staring at the sky when he said it.
"I want stupid dessert dates. And you laughing at my terrible jokes. And falling asleep next to you without thinking I'll lose you tomorrow."
Jay's chest ached.
She didn't say anything.
Just leaned her head on his shoulder.
And he kissed the top of her hair, murmuring, "This isn't temporary. Not for me."
She closed her eyes.
Not because she didn't believe him — but because she did.
And that scared her in the best way.
End of Chapter