JAYJAY'S POV
The final bell rang, and just like that, the noise in Section E exploded again.
Chairs scraped, bags zipped, voices overlapped—everything felt normal.
Too normal.
I glanced beside me, but Levi was already standing.
"See you tomorrow," he said casually, like he didn't just drop something life-changing on me during lunch.
"Yeah," I replied, just as casually.
Like it didn't matter.
But we both knew better.
Without another word, Levi left the room. A few of the boys watched him go, probably still curious, but no one stopped him. He moved like he didn't belong to anyone here anyway.
And just like that—
he was gone.
I exhaled quietly and reached for my phone.
A message from Aries lit up the screen.
💬From: Horoscope
Already home. Don't wait for me.
I blinked.
"Wow," I muttered under my breath. "So helpful."
"Well?" Keifer's voice came from behind me. "You still waiting for your ride?"
I turned around.
"…No," I said, slipping my phone into my pocket. "Looks like I'm stuck with you."
Keifer smirked slightly. "Stuck? That hurts."
"Don't get used to it," I shot back, grabbing my bag.
But I still followed him.
—
The car ride started off quiet.
Not awkward.
Just… quiet.
Keifer rested one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against it, like he was thinking about something.
I already knew what it was.
"You're going to ask, aren't you?" I said, looking out the window.
"Ask what?" he replied, playing dumb.
I gave him a look.
He sighed. "Fine. Who is he?"
There it is.
"Levi?" I said.
Keifer didn't answer.
But he didn't have to.
I leaned back in my seat. "He's my childhood best friend."
Silence.
Then—
"That's it?" Keifer asked.
I shrugged. "What else do you want me to say?"
He glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road. "You didn't mention him before."
"Didn't come up," I said simply.
Another pause filled the car.
"He seems like he knows you well," Keifer added, quieter this time.
I looked down at my hands.
"…He does."
That answer lingered longer than I expected.
Keifer tightened his grip on the wheel slightly.
"I didn't like it," he admitted.
I blinked. "Didn't like what?"
"The way you two were talking," he said. "Like there was something I wasn't supposed to understand."
I didn't answer right away.
Because he wasn't wrong.
And that was the problem.
"I'm still the same Jayjay," I said instead.
Keifer laughed softly—but there was no humor in it.
"Yeah," he said. "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
That made me turn to him.
"What does that mean?"
He finally looked at me fully for a second.
"It means…" he hesitated, then exhaled, "I don't want to suddenly feel like I don't know you anymore."
Something about that made my chest tighten.
Keifer wasn't the type to say things like that.
Not directly.
"…You won't," I said quietly.
I wasn't sure if that was true.
But I said it anyway.
The car slowed as we reached my street.
Before I could open the door, Keifer spoke again.
"Jay."
I paused.
"…What?"
He hesitated for a second.
Then—
"Go out with me tomorrow."
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"A date," he said, more clearly this time. "Just… us."
For once, Keifer looked unsure.
And that alone made this feel real.
I looked away, trying to hide the small smile forming on my lips.
"…You're bad at timing," I muttered.
"Is that a yes or a no?" he asked.
I opened the door slightly, then glanced back at him.
"…It's a yes."
That was all I said before stepping out.
But the way his expression changed—
that was enough.
"Text me," he called out as I walked toward the house.
I waved without turning back.
—
The moment I stepped inside—
"Jay."
Too late.
Kuya Angelo grabbed my ear and twisted it.
"Aray! Kuya!" I protested, trying to pull away. "What was that for?!"
"Why did Keifer drop you off?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
I rubbed my ear. "Aries came home early, okay? I didn't have a ride."
Angelo didn't look convinced.
"Hmm," he hummed. "So you rode with him.
"Kuya…" I warned.
He smirked slightly but let go. "Just asking."
"Ang sakit kaya," I muttered, walking past him.
"Be careful," he added casually. "I don't like surprises."
I paused for a second.
Then continued upstairs.
—
By the time I got to my room, it was already night.
I dropped my bag on the chair and lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
A date.
With Keifer.
Tomorrow.
A small smile crept onto my face before I could stop it.
But it didn't last long.
Because another thought quickly replaced it.
The Head wants to see you.
My expression faded.
I turned to my side, staring at nothing.
Why now?
Why call me now of all times?
And why did it feel like…
something big was about to happen?
I closed my eyes.
But sleep didn't come easily.
Not when my mind was stuck between two things—
A promise for tomorrow.
And a responsibility I could never run away from.