It happened on an ordinary afternoon.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing obvious.
Ivy found Keifer near the library steps, sitting with a coffee and flipping through his notes.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound casual.
Keifer looked up and smiled. "Hey, Ivy. What's up?"
That smile alone made her heart leap.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I just… thought I'd say hi."
He nodded, shifting a little to make space. "Sit. You look like you're running from assignments."
She laughed softly and sat beside him.
Their conversation was simple.
Classes. Professors. Complaints about deadlines.
Normal. Friendly. Easy.
But for Ivy, it felt like the world had paused just for her.
Every time he laughed, her chest felt lighter.
Every time he looked at her, she felt seen.
"So," Keifer said, sipping his coffee, "Jay and you are close, right?"
Ivy smiled. "Yeah. She's my person."
He nodded. "I figured. She talks about you a lot."
That sentence alone sent Ivy's happiness soaring.
They talked for ten more minutes—nothing special, nothing deep.
Yet when they stood up to leave, Ivy felt like she was floating.
"See you around?" she asked, hopeful.
"Of course," Keifer said warmly. "Take care."
She walked away with a smile she couldn't control.
For Ivy, it meant everything.
For Keifer, it was just a normal conversation.
And that difference mattered more than anyone realized.
Later that evening, Jay found Keifer sprawled on the bed in their usual hangout spot.
He looked relaxed. Too relaxed.
"Hey," she said, dropping her bag. "You disappeared today."
He glanced up. "Yeah. I ran into Ivy."
Jay froze for half a second. "Oh?"
"She's cool," he said casually. "We talked near the library."
Jay's fingers curled slightly. "About?"
"Nothing much," he shrugged. "Classes, random stuff."
He sat up, completely unaware of the storm quietly forming inside her.
"She seemed happy," he added. "Like… really happy."
Jay forced a smile. "That's nice."
"She's your best friend," he continued. "I thought you should know. I don't want things to feel weird."
That honesty—
That trust—
It should have comforted her.
Instead, something dark and unfamiliar stirred in her chest.
"You told her a lot?" Jay asked, voice calm but tight.
"No," he said quickly. "I mostly listened."
Jay nodded slowly.
Listened.
Her mind replayed it without permission—
Ivy smiling.
Ivy sitting beside him.
Ivy laughing at his jokes.
And suddenly, Jay didn't like the image at all.
"I don't like that," she said quietly.
Keifer blinked. "Don't like what?"
"The idea of someone else being that happy with you."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The room went silent.
Keifer studied her face. "Jay… are you okay?"
She crossed her arms, looking away. "I'm fine."
But she wasn't.
Possessiveness crept in slowly, wrapping around her thoughts like vines.
He's mine.
He's always been mine.
Why should someone else get that part of him?
Keifer moved closer. "You're acting strange lately."
She laughed sharply. "Maybe you're just noticing."
He frowned. "I don't want you uncomfortable."
Jay looked at him then—really looked.
The familiar face.
The boy who had always chosen her first.
"I don't want to share you," she admitted softly.
Keifer's breath hitched. "As a friend?"
Jay didn't answer.
Because for the first time, the truth was terrifyingly clear.
This wasn't about Ivy.
This wasn't about friendship.
This was about fear.
Fear of losing him.
Fear of realizing she already had.
Keifer reached out, gently touching her hand. "Jay… I'm here."
Her fingers tightened around his.
And in that moment, she knew.
Whatever this was growing inside her—
It wasn't innocent anymore.
And it wasn't going to stay quiet for long.