Chapter 34
Steady Steps Toward Forever
The semester was winding down, and campus felt softer somehow — the frantic pace of deadlines easing into quiet anticipation.
Jay sat on the grassy hill just beyond the library, her head resting on Keifer's shoulder. The sun was low, painting everything gold, and the world felt paused — just for them.
"You know," Jay said after a moment, "I used to think life was about big moments. Grand declarations. Huge changes."
Keifer turned to her, eyes curious.
"Now?"
"But now… I think it's the small things. The steady steps. Like this." She squeezed his hand. "Like being here, right now."
He smiled, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her palm.
"Yeah," he said softly. "Steady steps. Together."
They sat there, watching the sky blush with sunset, the future uncertain but somehow less scary — because they'd found each other again.
Classes were wrapping up, and with them came decisions — university projects, summer plans, dreams about what came next. But for once, those thoughts didn't feel overwhelming.
Jay and Keifer had learned to face everything side by side — with laughter, with honesty, with patience.
And their friends — Fatima and Yuri — were still a whirlwind of chaos and support, always pushing, always teasing, always reminding them that love could be messy and beautiful all at once.
As Jay packed her bag that evening, she glanced at the two roses pinned side by side on her corkboard — one pressed and worn from years ago, one fresh and vibrant, a symbol of their past and their present.
She smiled, thinking of all the moments that had led here — the heartbreak, the confusion, the slow healing, and now this steady, warm kind of love.
She didn't know exactly what the future held. Maybe there would be challenges, maybe surprises. But one thing was clear:
This time, they'd walk through it together.
"Ready for the next chapter?" Keifer's voice was quiet behind her.
Jay turned, meeting his eyes.
"Always."