Yuri leaned closer to her, voice low and irritated. "You really need to stop talking to Keifer so much."
Jay blinked. "Why…?"
"Because it's annoying," he said simply. "And honestly, it makes you look desperate. Always running to him."
Her chest tightened. "He's just my best fr—"
Yuri cut in. "No. He's his own problem. You're with me."
Silence fell between them.
Then he added, lightly… cruelly, "If you care about this relationship, you'll ignore him."
Jay didn't answer.
She just nodded.
—
Later, in the hallway, Keifer caught up to her.
"Jay."
She stopped.
But she didn't turn.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked quietly.
Jay's fingers curled into her sleeve.
"No."
"Then why are you avoiding me?"
Her heart started racing.
She could hear Yuri's voice in her head.
If you care about this relationship, you'll ignore him.
So she finally faced Keifer.
And for the first time—
She looked at him like a stranger.
"We shouldn't talk like before anymore."
Keifer froze.
"What?"
Jay swallowed hard. "Yuri doesn't like it."
The words came out flat.
Practiced.
Keifer stared at her, disbelief breaking slowly into hurt.
"…Since when does he decide who you're allowed to talk to?"
Jay's voice shook, but she forced it steady.
"Please don't make this difficult."
That sentence destroyed him.
Keifer whispered, "Jay… I'm not trying to take you away from anyone. I just—"
She interrupted him.
Soft.
Final.
"Keifer… stop."
One word.
That was all.
He nodded slowly.
Not because he understood.
But because he respected her too much to push.
Jay turned away before he could see her eyes filling.
And Keifer stood there, completely shut out—
By the same girl who once trusted him more than anyone.