Chapter 8
Jayjay's POV
I woke up with the sun in my eyes and dread in my chest.
My alarm hadn't even gone off yet — and still, I dragged myself out of bed like the ground would swallow me whole if I stayed.
Three hours of sleep. Not ideal.
But enough to function. Barely.
I grabbed my flashcards and started memorizing marketing case studies, mouth moving, eyes glazed over. Again. Again. Again.
I didn't stop until my temples throbbed and the words on the page blurred.
Still not enough. Never enough.
Because if I wasn't perfect, then what was I?
Class that morning was too bright, too loud, too everything.
Miss Reyes strolled in with a small, mysterious smile — the kind that made everyone sit straighter and silently panic.
"I have an announcement," she said. "Midterm project pairs will now be taking part in our annual off-campus learning program."
I blinked.
She continued, "You'll be traveling to meet and interview selected CEOs across multiple industries — real-world applications, networking, and evaluation under pressure."
The class collectively buzzed.
Then she dropped the bomb.
"You'll be away for one week. Travel, accommodation, and food will be provided. You'll share a room with your assigned partner."
My stomach dropped to the floor.
A room.
With Keifer Watson.
For an entire week.
I whipped around to glare at him — and of course, he was already smirking like the villain in a teen movie.
"You have got to be joking," I muttered.
He leaned on his palm lazily. "Aw, come on, Jay. Think of the memories we'll make."
"The only memory I want to make is you sleeping on the floor."
He gave a dramatic gasp. "Harsh. What if I snore like a gentleman?"
"Then I'll smother you with a pillow like a lady."
We met later to review our trip itinerary — the school was sending us to (insert business-heavy city — maybe Makati, Metro Manila) for company visits and interviews.
I had already color-coded the schedule and drafted ten potential interview questions when Keifer strolled in late.
"You're overdoing it," he said, scanning the document.
I didn't look up. "No such thing."
"I mean… it's impressive you do all this. Just…" He paused. "It doesn't make you smarter."
I froze.
He realized it the moment it left his mouth. His smile faded instantly.
My pen slipped from my fingers.
I didn't say anything.
I just sat there, trying to breathe, trying to ignore how my hands trembled ever so slightly in my lap.
Keifer opened his mouth to say something — anything — but I stood up fast.
"I have to go."
I didn't make it five steps out of the building before Ci-n and Edrix cornered him.
"Really, man?" Edrix snapped. "That's what you said to her?"
"I didn't mean it like that," Keifer said quickly. "I— It came out wrong."
Ci-n narrowed his eyes. "You know how hard she works. She doesn't get to coast like you do. She doesn't sleep. She bleeds for this."
Keifer looked genuinely wrecked. "I know. I know. I was trying to— I don't even know. She just... gets under my skin."
"She's allowed to," Edrix said. "But that doesn't mean you get to hurt her for it."
That night, I didn't write in my story.
I didn't study.
I just sat by the window with my laptop open and stared at a blank document.
I thought about Keifer's words.
About how it felt to work until my bones ached and still hear I wasn't smart enough.
But mostly… I thought about how his face fell when he realized what he said.
The regret in it.
And I hated that part of me believed it.
And hated even more that a smaller part of me didn't.