The apartment was warm, the hum of the evening quiet, broken only by the soft clatter of dishes Jay had forgotten to put away. Keifer leaned casually against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, smirk tugging at his lips as he watched her fumble with a stack of papers.
"You know," he said slowly, voice low, teasing, "for someone who just broke my record, you sure look stressed over simple notes."
Jay rolled her eyes, though a small grin betrayed her. "And for someone who's supposed to be the genius of the college, you sure don't know how to keep your mouth shut."
He stepped closer, hands brushing her sides lightly as he leaned in, smirk widening. "Oh, I think I know exactly how to get you flustered," he murmured, voice dipping, eyes darkening with mischief.
Jay shivered, trying to focus on her papers, but it was useless. His nearness, the teasing tone, the way his gaze lingered… it was distracting in the best, most dangerous way.
Before she could respond, he pressed a hand to the small of her back, tilting her gently toward him. "I could kiss you right now," he said, voice low, promising, possessive.
Jay let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes but stepping closer without resistance. "You would, wouldn't you?"
"Every chance I get," he said simply, and without another word, he claimed her lips in a deep, heated kiss. Hands roamed her back, pulling her impossibly close, teeth and tongue teasing, lips exploring. Jay gasped softly into him, fingers tangling in his hair, heart racing.
They broke apart briefly, just enough for Jay to catch her breath, but Keifer wasn't done. He trailed kisses down her jawline, teasing bites along her neck, lips pressing harder over her collarbone, leaving marks, hickeys—possessive declarations of mine that made her shiver.
Jay's back arched against him, gasping as he nipped and kissed, hands firm on her hips, holding her steady. "Keifer…" she moaned, breathless, the teasing building into fire.
And then—
Ding-dong.
The bell rang sharply. Both of them froze, foreheads pressed together, bodies still close, heat lingering. Keifer shot her a dark glance, almost playful. "Don't move," he murmured.
Jay groaned softly, pulling her hair out of the way of his lips just enough to reach the door. She opened it—and froze.
Ella.
She froze mid-step, umbrella dripping, eyes widening in horror. Then she looked down. Her gaze fell, and instantly, she saw the marks—faint but unmistakable hickeys trailing along Jay's neck and collarbone.
"No…" Ella whispered, voice breaking, tears welling immediately. She stepped back, shaking, hands clutching the doorway. "No… no, this can't—"
Jay's voice softened, hesitant. "Ella… it's not—"
But Ella couldn't listen. She stumbled inside despite herself, crying, anger flaring, heartbreak burning her chest. "You—you made her yours?!" she cried, pointing shakily at Jay, then at Keifer. "You can't just—! I won't let this happen!"
Keifer's jaw tightened slightly, hands instinctively moving toward Jay again. "Ella—" he began, but she cut him off.
"No! I won't give up! I won't! I don't care! I—" Her voice broke, tears streaming freely, "I won't give up on you, Keifer! Not ever! You can't… you can't just take her and—she can't have you! I… I'm not giving up!"
Jay stepped forward, hands raised, voice calm but firm. "Ella, stop. Please. I don't want this to—"
But Ella couldn't hear reason. She was trapped in the storm of her own heartbreak, seeing the intimacy, the marks, the physical proof of what Keifer had claimed. She shook her head violently, sobbing, "I don't care what you say! I… I'll fight for you! I will never—never let her have you!"
Keifer, finally moving, placed his hands lightly but firmly on Ella's shoulders, trying to meet her gaze. "Ella… you're hurting yourself. I care about you, sure… but I am with her. Jay is mine. Always has been, always will be. There's nothing to fight for here. I won't lie to you—she's the one I love."
Ella shook violently, sobbing harder, but the words hit her in waves. She realized, slowly, painfully, that no amount of hope would change the reality of what she was seeing. Keifer's possessive eyes, his hands still on Jay, the marks… everything screamed that Jay had already won.
Jay, still holding Keifer's hand, stepped closer to him, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. "Ella… I'm sorry," she said softly, voice gentle, almost maternal in calm. "I don't want to hurt you, but Keifer… is mine. And there's nothing you can do about it."
Ella sank to the floor, tears falling freely, shaking her head as the weight of heartbreak crashed over her. "I… I can't… I won't give up," she whispered between sobs, gripping her knees, "not ever… I won't… I—"
Keifer looked down at her, expression pained but resolute. "I won't let you hurt yourself. But my heart isn't yours to take. You have to accept it… I'm with Jay. Always will be."
The apartment was thick with tension, grief, and desire—Jay pressed against him, safe and claimed, Keifer's possessive grip firm, and Ella crying in the corner, her heartbreak raw and undeniable.
The storm outside matched the storm inside—a clash of love, obsession, desire, and heartbreak, with no easy resolution. And for the first time, Ella realized just how impossible it would be to win him… not against the woman he had chosen, not against the fire of their love.