JAY'S POV — WHEN HE CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE
"Hey—!"
The door of an empty room slammed shut behind us.
I spun, ready to fight—
And his lips crashed into mine.
No warning. No pause. No restraint.
It wasn't aggressive.
It was aching.
Like he'd been holding his breath since the moment he let go of me.
My mind screamed his name even as my body answered him.
Keifer.
I gasped against his mouth, hands fisting in his shirt before I could stop myself.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing hard, I shoved him lightly in the chest.
"What are you doing?" I hissed. "We literally met yesterday."
He stared at me like that sentence personally offended him.
"Incorrect," he said immediately, dead serious. "That was twenty-two hours ago."
I blinked.
He lifted his wrist dramatically, tapping an imaginary watch.
"Twenty-two hours," he repeated. "Which means I have gone nearly an entire day without seeing my girlfriend."
My heart tripped.
"Your—" I started, then narrowed my eyes. "You are unbelievable."
He grinned. Soft. Relieved. A little unhinged.
"I missed you," he said simply. "Also, I was not emotionally prepared to function without you for that long."
I crossed my arms, trying—and failing—to hide my smile. "You left."
His grin faded just enough to turn sincere.
"I know," he said quietly. "And I hated it. I thought you needed space. Turns out I needed you more."
I swallowed, suddenly aware of how close we still were.
"So you thought kidnapping me before class was the solution?"
"Yes," he replied instantly. "Zero regrets."
I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. "We're going to get caught."
"Worth it," he said, leaning in again.
I pressed a hand to his chest, stopping him. "Nope. Not here."
He groaned. "You're cruel."
"I'm smart," I corrected. "We just survived enough drama. I'm not adding 'public scandal' to the list."
He studied me, then nodded. "Okay. Secret for now."
"For now," I agreed.
I stepped back, smoothing my jacket, reclaiming my composure like nothing had happened.
Before opening the door, I glanced back at him.
"Twenty-two hours, huh?"
He smiled. "Longest of my life."
I rolled my eyes, then leaned in and kissed him quickly—soft, teasing, just for us.
"For the record," I murmured, "I missed you too."
I slipped out first, blending back into the hallway like I hadn't just rearranged my heart in an empty classroom.
I counted to ten.
Then—
The door opened again.
Keifer stepped out separately, hands in his pockets, expression calm, unreadable to anyone who didn't know him.
As he passed me, he leaned just enough to whisper—
"Remember,you're mine."
I didn't look at him.
Didn't need to.
I smiled anyway...
By the time I slid into my seat, Section E was already loud.
Too loud.
Felix was halfway through a dramatic retelling of something that definitely didn't happen. Cin was stealing snacks like it was an Olympic sport. Someone was arguing about playlists.
Normal chaos.
The kind that usually grounded me.
Today, it felt like noise pressing against a bruise.
Keifer took his seat across the room a minute later—separate, casual, perfect. Not a single glance in my direction. If I didn't know better, I would've believed nothing had happened.
I knew better.
I felt it still—his mouth, his certainty, the quiet claim whispered in passing.
You're mine.
I kept my eyes forward.
That's when I felt it.
The stare.
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
Yuri.
When I finally glanced sideways, I caught him mid-breath, shoulders tight, fingers clenched around his pen like it might snap. His eyes met mine—hesitant, anxious, full of words he wanted to say.
Don't.
I gave him nothing.
No acknowledgment. No comfort. No opening.
Just calm indifference.
His jaw tightened.
Good.
The bell hadn't even finished ringing when Sir Alvin walked in, clapping his hands once—sharp, commanding.
"Alright, settle down."
Groans followed, chairs scraping, conversations dying reluctantly.
Sir Alvin smiled in that way teachers do when they're about to ruin lives.
"Announcements," he said. "And before anyone asks—yes, attendance counts."
More groans.
He flipped open his file. "As part of the fourth-year curriculum, the annual retreat has been moved up."
That got attention.
"Two weeks from today," he continued. "All fourth-year students. Mandatory."
A ripple of excitement broke out.
"Location?" blaster called.
Sir Alvin glanced up.
"Outskirts of Manila," he said. "Province of—"
The name left his mouth.
And my body froze.
Not visibly.
Not dramatically.
Internally.
Like something ancient had reached up and wrapped its hand around my spine.
That place.
The dust. The stares. The whispers that followed me like shadows. The years where my name meant trouble before it ever meant anything else.
A province that remembered me for all the wrong reasons.
My fingers curled slowly against my notebook.
Around me, reactions exploded.
"Wait, that place?" "No way, that's far." "I heard it's intense."
I didn't hear them.
I was already there—barefoot memories, cracked walls, eyes that judged too fast.
Control it.
I inhaled.
Then exhaled.
And locked it all back inside.
When I lifted my head again, my expression was neutral. Bored, even. Like the announcement meant nothing more than a scheduling inconvenience.
Keifer glanced up then.
Just once.
His eyes flicked to my face—searching, instinctive.
I gave him nothing.
Not because I didn't trust him.
Because I couldn't afford to let anyone see the crack.
Sir Alvin continued talking, details blurring past.
Forms. Permissions. Logistics.
All I heard was the echo of that place calling my name like it had been waiting.
Yuri shifted in his seat again, restless.
I didn't look at him.
I wouldn't.
Because if I did—
He might see it.
And I refused to let my past walk into this room before I was ready to face it.
During the last class.....
Ms. Carly was halfway through explaining something about post-war literature when my phone vibrated softly against my thigh.
I ignored it.
It buzzed again.
I sighed, slid it out just enough to glance down.
Percy:
baby sistah I'm here in Manila rn
I'll pick you up after school
see ya soon 😏
My breath hitched.
Then—
I smiled.
Not the controlled kind. Not the polite kind.
The real one.
I tilted the phone, thumbs flying.
Me:
WHAT
You didn't tell me you were coming
Did you at least bring a gift?
A beat.
Then—
Percy:
Yeah
Me.
I bit my lip.
Failed not to giggle.
Me:
That's not a gift that's an ego.
Percy:
Careful, baby sistah.
This "ego" flew across countries for you.
I laughed quietly, shoulders shaking.
Across the room, Felix squinted at me.
Cin nudged him.
Yuri glanced over, confused.
I didn't notice.
I was already typing.
Me:
Fine. I'll allow it.
Where are you?
Percy:
Outside your school.Black car.
Behave until then.
I looked up.
Ms. Carly had stopped talking.
Oh no.
She was staring at me.
"Ms.Mariano," she said pointedly, "would you like to share whatever is clearly more interesting than my lecture?"
The class went silent.
Heat rushed to my face.
"No, ma'am," I said quickly, locking my phone. "Sorry."
A few snickers.
Ms. Carly sighed. "Please try to contain your joy until after class."
"Yes, ma'am."
But it was too late.
The smile wouldn't leave.
By the time the bell rang, people were already whispering.
"Who is she texting?"
"Have you ever seen her smile like that?"
"Did she just giggle?"
I packed my bag calmly, stood, and slipped out before anyone could stop me.
Or ask.
Or follow.
Except—
They did.
The hallway spilled outside in a rush of students.
And there he was.
Leaning casually against a sleek black car.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Sunglasses on. That stupid, familiar grin already forming when he saw me.
"Baby sistah," Percy said, opening his arms.
I didn't hesitate.
I walked straight into him.
He lifted me slightly off the ground, spinning me once before setting me down.
"Missed you," he murmured.
"Idiot," I said, smiling into his shoulder. "You didn't warn me."
"Where's the fun in that?"
Around us, heads turned.
Phones paused mid-scroll.
Whispers ignited.
Before I could process it, Percy opened the passenger door for me with a mock bow.
"Your ride, madam."
I rolled my eyes and got in.
The door shut.
The engine started.
And just like that—
I was gone.
Across the street, Section E stood frozen.
Felix's mouth was actually open.
Cin blinked. "Who the hell was that?"
Yuri looked pale.
And Keifer—
Keifer was staring at the retreating car like it had personally betrayed him.
His jaw was clenched. Hands curled tight at his sides.
"WHO," he said slowly, dangerously, "WAS THAT?"
Felix shrugged. "Rich dude energy?"
Keifer didn't laugh.
Didn't blink.
Didn't look away.
"Get in," he said suddenly.
Cin frowned. "What?"
"We're following her."
Cin's eyes widened. "Dude—"
"I said," Keifer repeated, already moving toward his bike, "we're following her."
Because whoever just made Jay smile like that—
Keifer wanted answers.
And he wanted them now....