Chapter: Breathing Space
For once, the world slowed down.
Keifer and I sat on the front steps after the meeting, the night air cool, his shoulder warm against mine. Neither of us spoke at first, just… existing, our hands tangled like we couldn't let go.
"You know," he murmured eventually, "you scare me sometimes."
I blinked up at him. "Excuse me?"
He smirked faintly, eyes on me instead of the stars. "The way you carry everything alone. Like you're made of steel. But then you cry in my arms and I realize… you're still human. And I never want you to carry that weight alone again."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I nudged him with my shoulder. "Since when did you get so cheesy?"
"Since you said yes," he said simply, and leaned down to kiss me.
Soft. Lingering. Like the whole world could fall apart and he'd still choose me.
For a second, I forgot about everything else—the list, Yuri, the danger. For a second, it was just me and Keifer, hopelessly tangled in each other.
Until, of course, Aries yelled from inside the house, "HEY LOVEBIRDS, KEEP IT PG-13, LOLA IS STILL AWAKE!"
I groaned, burying my face in Keifer's chest. He only laughed, kissing the top of my head.
Chapter: Watching Yuri
The next day at school, the mission began.
Section E had never been subtle. Which meant when we all collectively decided to "keep an eye on Yuri," it looked less like a secret operation and more like a badly written spy movie.
David sat two seats behind Yuri in every class, scribbling nonsense in his notebook while pretending to "observe." Percy pretended to help him with notes, though really he was just glaring every time Yuri shifted in his chair. And wait why's even at school he doesn't even go here.Aries shadowed him in the hallways like an angry bodyguard.
And Keifer? Keifer never let me out of his sight. Not for a second. His arm found my waist at lunch, his eyes scanned the cafeteria like he was waiting for a war, and every time Yuri so much as glanced my way, Keifer's hand tightened.
I whispered, "You're being obvious."
He muttered back, "Good."
Of course, Section E couldn't keep their mouths shut.
"Operation Spy-Yuri is a go," David whispered loudly, sliding his notebook across the table.
Aries smacked him upside the head. "You're going to get us caught, idiot."
"Relax," David said, rubbing his skull. "He's too busy staring at his food to notice."
But I noticed.
Yuri sat at the edge of the table, silent, shoulders tense. His fork never moved. And when he finally looked up, his eyes flicked to mine, unreadable.
I looked away first.
Keifer's hand found mine under the table. Squeezing once. Steady.
And even though the fear still twisted inside me, I couldn't help but think:
At least I wasn't facing it alone anymore.