JAY-JAY POV
"I need to head home," I said, already turning toward my car.
"Already?" he asked, his fingers tightening around mine like he wasn't ready to let go.
"Gago, it's literally eight," I shot back.
He didn't argue.
He just leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.
My whole body went still for a second, caught off guard all over again.
When we finally separated, I was still trying to remember how to breathe.
He flashed me a playful grin. "If you wanted another kiss, you could've just said so. No need for the swearing."
He ended it with a wink that made my heart do something stupid.
I stared at him, completely thrown off by the way he said it—like kissing me was some kind of reward system he controlled.
"Keifer," I said, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably because my voice came out way too soft.
He just grinned, smug and satisfied, like he'd just won a game I didn't even know we were playing.
"You're unbelievable," I muttered, pulling my hand back so I could actually breathe.
He didn't let go.
Of course he didn't.
Instead, he laced our fingers tighter, leaning in just enough to make my heart panic again.
"You keep saying that," he murmured, "but you never walk away."
I glared at him, even though my face was burning. "I'm literally trying to go home."
"And I'm literally trying to keep you here," he said, completely unbothered.
I scoffed. "Why?"
He shrugged, stepping closer like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Because I like being with you. And because you look cute when you're pretending to be mad."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he gently tapped my chin with his finger, stopping the words before they formed.
"Go home," he said softly, eyes warm in a way that made my chest tighten. "Before I find another excuse to kiss you again."
My breath caught.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
I pulled my hand free—finally—and took a step back. "Goodnight, Keifer."
He smirked. "Night, Jay."
I turned toward my car, trying to calm my heartbeat.
But before I could open the door, he called out:
"Oh, and Jay?"
I looked back.
He was still standing there, hands in his pockets, that stupid soft smile on his face.
"Text me when you get home," he said. "I'll worry."
And just like that, my heart did another somersault.
"You don't even have my number," I shot back. "I changed my phone and my number because somebody liked to track me."
His eyebrows lifted, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Somebody, huh?"
"You," I clarified, pointing at him like he was the world's most obvious suspect.
Keifer didn't even pretend to be offended.
He just stepped closer, that infuriating half‑smile tugging at his lips.
"Then give it to me again," he said softly. "This time, willingly."
My breath caught.
He held out his hand, palm open, waiting — not demanding, not pushing, just… there.
"Jay," he added, voice dropping, "I don't need to track you. If I want to find you, I'll come to you."
My heart did a full backflip.
I shoved my phone into his hand before my brain could stop me. "Fine. Save it."
He typed something quickly, then handed it back with a smug grin. "Done."
I glanced at the screen.
Keifer 💖😘💞
Don't ignore me.
My face heated instantly. "You added the heart?"
He shrugged, completely unbothered. "It felt accurate."
I turned away before he could see how red I was. "You're impossible."
"And you're adorable when you pretend you don't like it," he said, voice warm behind me.
I tried to walk away before he could see how flustered I was, but of course he followed, steps matching mine like he'd memorized my pace.
"Stop doing that," I muttered.
"Doing what?" he asked, sounding way too innocent.
"That thing where you act like you know everything."
He chuckled softly. "Jay, I don't know everything. Just you."
I nearly tripped.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Keifer stepped in front of me, blocking my path with that annoyingly calm confidence. "You really think I added those emojis by accident?"
I glared at him, even though my face was burning. "You didn't have to put three."
He leaned in slightly, eyes glinting. "I held back. Be grateful."
I shoved his shoulder, but he only laughed, catching my wrist before I could pull away.
"Jay," he said quietly, thumb brushing the back of my hand, "I'm not joking about wanting you in my life."
My breath caught.
He softened, just a little. "So yeah… I'm keeping the hearts."
I looked away, trying to hide the smile threatening to escape. "Do whatever you want."
"I will," he said, voice low, warm, and entirely too confident. "Starting with texting you the second you get home."
The moment I got into my car, my brain decided to betray me.
The steering wheel wasn't even warm yet and I was already replaying everything.
His hand in mine.
His stupid wink.
That kiss.
Those emojis.
Why did he put emojis.
Why did I let him put emojis.
I groaned, leaning my forehead against the wheel. "I'm losing it."
I started driving, but my thoughts were louder than the engine.
Why did he look at me like that?
Why did I let him kiss me twice?
Why did I kiss him back for ten minutes—
I slapped my own cheek lightly. "Stop thinking."
The stoplight turned red, and I exhaled, gripping the wheel tighter.
My phone buzzed.
I shouldn't have looked.
I really shouldn't have looked.
But I did.
Keifer 💖😘💞
Are you home yet? Or did you miss me already.
My soul left my body.
"What do you mean miss you," I muttered, even though my heart was doing cartwheels.
I didn't reply.
I refused to reply.
I had dignity.
My phone buzzed again.
Keifer 💖😘💞
If you're ignoring me, that means you're blushing.
I choked on my own saliva.
"How does he KNOW," I hissed at the empty car.
The light turned green. I drove.
Another buzz.
Keifer 💖😘💞
Jay, don't make me call you. I will.
My entire spine straightened like I'd been electrocuted.
"No. No you won't. Don't you dare."
Buzz.
Keifer 💖😘💞
I'm dialing.
"KEIFER, STOP," I yelled at my phone like it could hear me.
I pulled over into a parking lot because I could not drive like this.
My hands were shaking, my heart was sprinting, and my brain was melting.
Another message popped up.
Keifer 💖😘💞
You look cute when you panic.
I stared at the screen, speechless.
"How—HOW DOES HE KNOW I'M PANICKING."
My phone buzzed again.
Keifer 💖😘💞
Jay, breathe. I'm not there to kiss you again if you faint.
I slapped the steering wheel. "I hate him. I hate him so much."
My phone buzzed one more time.
Keifer 💖😘💞
Actually… no. I'd catch you. Obviously.
My heart gave up.
I threw my head back against the seat, covering my face with both hands.
"This man is going to be the death of me."
I muttered it the whole drive home, and honestly, I was still muttering it when I parked.
The second I stepped inside, Felix and Ci‑N both popped up from the couch like meerkats sensing drama.
"Jay—"
"Where did you go—"
"Why are you red—"
"Did you kiss—"
I walked straight past them.
Not today.
Not with my heart still doing gymnastics.
I marched up the stairs, shut my door, and face‑planted onto my bed.
Then I rolled.
And rolled.
And rolled.
Like a rotisserie chicken of emotional instability.
I buried my face in my pillow and let out a muffled scream. "WHY IS HE LIKE THIS."
My phone buzzed on the mattress beside me.
I froze.
I didn't even have to look to know who it was.
Keifer.
Of course it was Keifer.
Because why would my heart get a break.
I grabbed the pillow and smacked my own face with it. "Get a grip, Jay."
But my hand was already reaching for the phone.
My phone buzzed again.
I stared at it like it was a bomb I wasn't trained to defuse.
Slowly… very slowly… I picked it up.
One new message.
From Keifer 💖😘💞.
I opened it.
And immediately regretted having eyes.
Keifer 💖😘💞:
You looked happy today. I missed that version of you.
My heart stopped.
No teasing.
No winking emojis.
No smug comments.
Just that.
Soft.
Honest.
Dangerous.
I sat up on my bed so fast I almost launched myself into orbit.
"What does he MEAN by that," I whispered to no one, clutching my pillow like it was a life vest.
Another buzz.
Keifer 💖😘💞:
I hope I get to see that smile again. Preferably because of me.
I threw myself back onto the bed and kicked my legs like a dying cockroach.
"NO. NO. NO. He can't just SAY THINGS LIKE THAT."
My face was on fire.
My heart was malfunctioning.
My brain was melting into soup.
I buried my face in my pillow and screamed into it.
Buzz.
I peeked at the screen.
Keifer 💖😘💞:
Sweet dreams… or wet dreams about me.
I stopped breathing.
Actually stopped.
My soul packed its bags and LEFT.
"NO. NO. NO. He did NOT just—" I slapped a hand over my mouth, rolling across my bed like a malfunctioning robot.
My face was on fire.
My brain was melting.
My dignity? Gone. Vanished. Evaporated.
I typed, deleted, typed again, deleted again, screamed into my pillow, and finally sent:
Me:
KEIFER WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then his reply hit like a truck.
Keifer 💖😘💞:
Nothing. I just like knowing you're thinking about me.
I threw my phone across the bed.
"THIS MAN IS A MENACE," I yelled into my blanket.
Another buzz.
I froze.
Slowly… painfully… I reached for the phone.
Keifer 💖😘💞:
Goodnight, Jay. Don't overthink it.
Too late.
Way too late.
I buried my face in my pillow again. "I'm never sleeping again."
"Jay, come down and eat dinner!" Percy yelled from downstairs.
He was back from work already?
Great. Just what my fragile, Keifer‑ruined heart needed.
I dragged myself down the stairs, trying to act normal.
Keyword: trying.
Percy took one look at my face and raised an eyebrow so high it nearly left his forehead.
"So," he said, scooping rice onto his plate like this was casual conversation, "I heard you went on a date with Keifer."
I almost choked on air.
"It wasn't a date," I snapped, grabbing a glass of water to hide my face. "We were just talking."
Percy stared at me.
Then his eyes dropped to my cheeks.
Then he smirked.
"You're blushing."
"I'm not," I said immediately, which would've been more convincing if my entire face wasn't the color of a tomato.
Percy leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms like he was settling in for a show. "Jay… you look like someone microwaved you."
I glared at him. "Shut up."
He grinned wider. "So you were with him."
"I said we were talking!"
"Talking with your lips?"
I slammed my spoon down. "PERCY!"
He burst out laughing, nearly falling off his chair.
"Oh my god, you DID," he wheezed. "Jay-Jay, you kissed him!"
"I DID NOT—"
I paused.
Okay, I did.
Multiple times.
For… an embarrassing amount of time.
Percy's eyes widened. "Oh my god, you DID."
I covered my face with both hands. "Please stop talking."
Percy's eyes widened like I'd just confessed to a crime. "So you DO like him."
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I do… okay? I do. But I'm not telling him that yet."
Percy blinked. "Why not?"
I dropped my hands and glared at him. "Because he left me for a month, Percy. A whole month. No explanation. No warning. Nothing. He can suffer a little."
Percy gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd been stabbed. "Jay-Jay! You're evil."
"I'm not evil," I snapped. "I'm fair."
He leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly like he was analyzing a case file. "So you're saying… you want him to work for it."
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "He doesn't get to walk back into my life and act like nothing happened."
Percy smirked. "But you kissed him."
I threw a spoon at him.
He dodged it, laughing. "I'm just saying! You're giving him mixed signals."
"I'm giving him consequences," I corrected, crossing my arms.
Percy pointed at me like he'd discovered a new species. "You're in love."
"I'm in denial," I corrected again.
He shook his head, smiling like the annoying older brother he is. "Jay… you can make him struggle. You can make him earn it. But don't pretend you don't want him."
My cheeks burned.
I looked away. "I hate you."
Percy grinned. "You love me. And you love him."
I groaned into my hands again. "Percy, please stop talking."
He laughed, patting my head like I was five. "Fine. But Jay?"
I looked up.
"Don't make him suffer too long," he said softly. "Just enough to remind him you're worth fighting for."
My heart squeezed.
Of course Percy had to end it with emotional wisdom.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
💙🔥 Author's Note 🔥💙
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