KEIFER'S POV
Something changed after lunch.
I couldn't explain it.
Not exactly.
But I felt it the moment Jayjay and Levi walked back into the classroom.
They looked normal.
Too normal.
Jayjay sat down like nothing happened. Levi followed right after, calm as ever, like he had already settled into Section E in just a few hours.
But I knew better.
People don't disappear at the same time… and come back like nothing happened.
Not unless something did happen.
I leaned back in my chair, watching them without making it obvious.
Jayjay didn't look at him much.
Levi didn't talk much.
But that didn't make it better.
It made it worse.
Because it felt controlled.
Like whatever was between them—it wasn't new.
It wasn't random.
It was something already built.
I kept thinking that it was nothing.
Nothing.
Except it wasn't nothing.
Ci-N kept glancing at them too. Even David looked a little more focused than usual. The whole room felt off, like everyone noticed something but didn't know what to call it.
I clicked my tongue softly.
I didn't like it.
I didn't like him.
Levi.
The way he walked in like he owned the place.
The way he talked to Jayjay like he already had a place in her life.
Like I was the one who didn't belong.
My jaw tightened.
Who even are you?
The rest of the class went on, but I barely paid attention. Every time Jayjay shifted, every time Levi leaned slightly closer—I noticed.
And I hated that I did.
Because it meant it mattered.
And I didn't want it to.
—
When the final bell rang, I didn't move right away.
I watched him.
Levi stood up first.
Of course he did.
"See you tomorrow," he said to Jayjay like it was nothing.
Like tomorrow was already guaranteed.
"Yeah," she replied.
Simple.
Casual.
But it wasn't supposed to feel like that.
Not to me.
Levi left without looking back.
Some of the guys watched him go, but I stayed quiet.
I didn't care about him leaving.
I cared about what he left behind.
Jayjay.
She checked her phone right after.
I took that chance.
"Well?" I asked. "You still waiting for your ride?"
She looked at me, then shook her head.
"No. Looks like I'm stuck with you."
I smirked slightly. "Stuck? That hurts."
"Don't get used to it."
Same Jayjay.
Same tone.
Same attitude.
And somehow… that made me feel a little better.
—
The drive was quiet at first.
I didn't rush it.
I wanted to ask.
"You're going to ask, aren't you?" she said.
I scoffed lightly. "Ask what?"
She gave me a look.
Yeah.
She already knew.
"Fine," I said. "Who is he?"
She didn't pretend not to understand.
"Levi?"
I didn't answer.
She leaned back. "He's my childhood best friend."
Childhood.
That word didn't sit right.
"You didn't mention him before," I said.
"Didn't come up."
That was too simple.
Too easy.
"He seems like he knows you well," I added.
"…He does."
I tightened my grip on the wheel.
I didn't like it.
Didn't like how sure she sounded.
Didn't like how I wasn't part of that.
"I didn't like it," I said before I could stop myself.
"Didn't like what?"
"The way you two were talking," I admitted. "Like there was something I wasn't supposed to understand."
She went quiet.
And that silence told me everything.
"I'm still the same Jayjay," she said.
I let out a short laugh.
"Yeah," I replied. "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Because if she was the same—
then maybe I was the one who didn't really know her.
And that thought…
I didn't like that at all.
"I don't want to suddenly feel like I don't know you anymore," I said.
That was probably the most honest thing I'd said all day.
She looked at me then.
"…You won't."
I wanted to believe that.
I really did.
—
When we reached her house, I almost let her go.
Almost.
But something in me didn't want the day to end like that.
"Jay."
She paused.
"…What?"
I hesitated.
Then I just said it.
"Go out with me tomorrow."
There.
No taking it back.
She blinked. "What?"
"A date," I clarified. "Just us."
For once, I wasn't sure.
And I hated that feeling.
She looked away slightly, like she was hiding something.
"…You're bad at timing," she muttered.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
A second passed.
Then—
"…It's a yes."
That was all she said before getting out of the car.
But that was enough.
More than enough.
I leaned back in my seat, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
A small smile slipped through.
"Text me," I called out.
She waved without turning back.
Same Jayjay.
But not entirely.
I watched until she disappeared inside.
Then I looked away, gripping the steering wheel again.
Levi.
Childhood best friend.
Yeah.
I'm not ignoring that.
Not anymore.
Because whoever that guy was—
he wasn't just some random transfer student.
And I wasn't about to let him become something more without understanding why.