Chapter: "Hoyy, Mark Keifer Watson!"
(Jay's POV)
I was perfectly fine.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Emotionally stable.
Until I saw him.
Keifer was standing in the corridor.
Talking to a girl.
Not just talking.
Smiling.
SMILING.
And not his usual sarcastic smirk.
No.
It was that soft smile.
The one he rarely gives.
The girl from Section B was laughing at something he said, lightly touching his arm.
Touching. His. Arm.
Why is she touching his arm?
Why is he allowing it?
Why am I noticing this?
I felt something weird in my chest.
Annoying.
Hot.
Sharp.
Before my brain could stop me—
"HOYY! MARK KEIFER WATSON!"
The entire corridor went silent.
Including him.
He slowly turned his head toward me.
The girl blinked in confusion.
Section E, who were standing a little far away, froze like they were watching a live drama episode.
I marched toward them.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "Talking?"
"With who?" I snapped.
The girl looked at me. "Uh… me?"
I forced a smile. "Yes, I can see that."
Keifer's lips twitched.
He was enjoying this.
"You need something?" he asked calmly.
"Yes."
"What?"
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Why did I come here?
What was my reason?
Think, Jay. Think.
"… Cin is looking for you."
From behind me, Cin shouted, "NO I'M NOT—"
Felix slapped his mouth shut.
Keifer tilted his head slightly.
"Cin is looking for me?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"… Important thing."
"Very important," Felix added dramatically.
The girl looked between us. "I'll talk to you later?"
Keifer glanced at me before replying.
"Yeah. Later."
Later?
LATER?
I grabbed his sleeve without thinking.
"Now."
He looked down at my hand holding him.
Then at me.
And that slow smirk appeared.
"Jealous?" he asked softly.
My heart skipped aggressively.
"Excuse me?" I scoffed. "As if."
He leaned slightly closer. "Then why did you scream my full name like my mother?"
Section E burst out laughing behind us.
David shouted, "She even added Watson!"
Emman added, "Government name activated!"
I quickly let go of his sleeve.
"I just don't like people touching what belongs to Section E."
Silence.
Everyone stared at me.
Keifer's expression changed slightly.
"What belongs to Section E?" he repeated slowly.
I realized what I just said.
My brain disconnected from my mouth again.
"I meant— you're from Section E! So act like it!"
"Ah," Felix whispered loudly. "She said belongs."
Cin dramatically wiped tears. "She's claiming territory."
"I AM NOT!" I yelled.
Keifer stepped closer.
Lowered his voice.
"So… I belong to Section E?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And behave properly."
"And if I don't?"
I swallowed.
"Then I'll shout your full name again."
He chuckled softly.
"Say it again."
"Mark Keifer Watson."
He leaned even closer.
"You sound good saying it."
My brain stopped functioning.
Behind us, Section E started chanting:
"JEALOUS! JEALOUS! JEALOUS!"
I turned around angrily. "I am NOT jealous!"
Felix grinned. "Then why were you glaring at that girl like she committed a crime?"
Cin added, "Bro, she was ready to file a case."
Keifer crossed his arms, still watching me carefully.
"You sure you're not jealous?"
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I don't care who you talk to."
Silence.
He stared at me for a few seconds.
Then smiled slightly.
"Good."
Why did that hurt a little?
Why did I expect something else?
He walked past me casually.
But as he passed, he whispered just loud enough—
"You don't have to warn me, Jay. I wasn't going anywhere."
My heart did that stupid skipping thing again.
And Section E?
They were already planning tomorrow's teasing.