Keifer's POV
The house was quiet when I got home.
Too quiet.
Usually that was something I liked.
Peace.
No noise.
No Felix shouting nonsense.
No David laughing like a maniac.
No Yuri singing random songs.
Just silence.
But tonight…
My mind refused to stay quiet.
I walked into my room and dropped my jacket on the chair.
Then I sat on the edge of the bed.
And immediately leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
"…What is wrong with me?"
My brain replayed the entire afternoon.
The storage room.
The storm.
Jay's hands covering my ears.
The way she looked when lightning lit the room.
Then—
That moment.
My hand slowly moved to my cheek.
Right where she had kissed me.
I stared at the floor.
"…That was just a distraction."
I muttered it like I was trying to convince myself.
But the memory refused to disappear.
Then another memory appeared.
The fall.
The mat.
Her face close to mine.
Too close.
My fingers slowly moved to my lips.
"…And that…"
I groaned and leaned back on the bed.
"What is this?"
My heart had been acting weird all evening.
Faster.
Louder.
Annoyingly noticeable.
I stared at the ceiling.
Then suddenly a terrifying thought appeared in my head.
"…No."
I sat up immediately.
"No way."
There was no way.
Absolutely impossible.
Me?
Falling for someone?
Especially someone like Jay Marino?
I rubbed my face with both hands.
"…This is ridiculous."
Then—
A voice suddenly sang behind me.
🎵 "Our president is in looove~ your president is in looove~" 🎵
I froze.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
I turned around.
Yuri was sitting comfortably on the chair near the window.
Arms crossed.
Grinning like he had just discovered the funniest thing in the world.
"…How long have you been there?"
Yuri tilted his head.
"Oh you know."
"Just long enough to see you touching your cheek like a shy bride."
I threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up."
He dodged it easily.
🎵 "He touches his lips~ remembers the kiss~ your cold president is in looove~" 🎵
"Yuri."
🎵 "He stares at the ceiling~ like a romantic fool~ thinking about JayJay~" 🎵
"Yuri."
🎵 "Our Keifer has finally fallen—"
"YURI!"
He burst out laughing.
I crossed my arms.
"…Stop."
Yuri wiped tears from his eyes.
"Sorry sorry."
Then he looked at me again.
But his grin returned immediately.
"You like her."
I frowned.
"…Who?"
He stared at me like I was the dumbest person alive.
"The Chinese princess."
I blinked.
"…What?"
Yuri slapped his forehead dramatically.
"JayJay you fool."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Who are you calling a fool?"
Yuri leaned back lazily.
"You."
My voice dropped colder.
"You do realize you're talking to the school president."
Yuri waved his hand dismissively.
"You can't scare me with your cold tone."
"…It's pointless."
I sighed.
This rooster was impossible.
Yuri leaned forward again.
"So."
"When did it start?"
"It didn't."
"Oh come on."
"It didn't."
"You literally just stared at your lips for thirty seconds."
"…I was thinking."
"About kissing her."
I glared at him.
Yuri grinned.
"See?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
I rubbed my forehead.
"This conversation is stupid."
Yuri shrugged.
"Your feelings are stupid."
I looked at him.
"…What if I don't like her?"
Yuri immediately replied,
"Then why were you smiling earlier?"
I blinked.
"…I wasn't smiling."
"You were."
"I was not."
"You were."
I groaned.
"Why are you even here?"
Yuri leaned back in the chair comfortably.
"To accompany you."
"…I didn't ask for company."
"You looked like you were having a mental breakdown."
"That's called thinking."
"No."
"That's called love."
I threw another pillow at him.
This one hit his face.
He laughed again.
Then after a moment he stood up.
"Alright alright."
"I'll leave you to your romantic suffering."
I glared.
"Leave."
He walked toward the door.
But before leaving he turned around.
One last smirk on his face.
"You like her."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You really do."
"Yuri."
"Okay okay."
He raised both hands.
"I'm leaving."
He opened the door.
But just before stepping out he said one last thing.
"You should ask me about love .I will always be available ."
Then he disappeared down the stairs.
Leaving me alone again.
The room went quiet.
I leaned back on the bed.
Staring at the ceiling again.
My hand slowly moved to my cheek once more.
"…This is ridiculous."
But no matter how many times I said that…
Jay's face kept appearing in my mind.
And somehow…
That only made my heart beat faster.
End of Chapter 29 ❤️