JayJay's pov
For a second, I really thought this is it.
This is the moment where everything finally fits.
Section E together.
Drew smiling.
Laughter instead of tension.
Complete.
And then I noticed the empty seat.
Yuri wasn't there.
The thought slipped in quietly and then refused to leave. I hadn't seen him since yesterday.After he left drew house saying he have some important work.
What is he doing?
Did something happen?
My stomach twisted when I remembered the flash of metal in his hand yesterday.
A knife.
Why did he have it?
I shook my head, pressing my lips together.
Stop it, Jay. You're spiraling again.
The bell rang before I could sink any deeper.
Sir Alvin walked in, calm as ever, like he hadn't been in my house just hours ago. I still felt weird about it having your teacher see your living room should be illegal.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning, sir," we replied, chairs scraping softly as everyone sat.
And then of course.
That menace.That little brat.
He dropped into the seat beside me like it was destiny.
I turned slowly. "Why are you sitting here?"
He clasped his hands dramatically. "How can I survive a single class without my bestttt frienddd?"
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain, but I didn't say anything. Not worth the energy.
Classes passed quicker than I expected.
When the lunch bell rang, Section E moved as one unit, rushing toward the canteen like we'd all planned it telepathically. No awkward gaps. No whispered blame. Drew was right there with uslaughing, talking, included.
It felt... right.
This was how it was supposed to be.
But as I scanned the crowded canteen, my chest tightened.
Keifer wasn't there.
I tried to ignore it, tried to tell myself it meant nothing but the empty space he usually filled felt louder than the noise around me.
And for the first time since morning, that fragile sense of completeness cracked.
Just a little.
Enough to remind me
peace never stays quiet for long.
After we were heading back to class after lunch. Everyone was talking, laughing, shoving each other lightly. Somehow, I ended up walking last.
That's when someone suddenly grabbed me from behind and dragged me into a room.
Dark. Narrow. Store room.
My body reacted before my brain did.
I twisted and kicked hard in the d***.
The grip loosened instantly.
I shoved myself free, heart hammering, ready to attack again
"Fuck, Jay."
The voice hit me.
Keifer.
My brain froze for half a second as my thoughts exploded all at once.
Keifer. Of course it's Keifer. And of course I kicked him.
Do you seriously want the Watcher and Caretaker to never exist?
What if that kick just erased them from the universe?
What if you just ruined fate itself?
HOLY SHIT, Jay, what is wrong with you?
What the fuck are you thinking?
"If you use that much violence, how can Watcher and Caretaker come into this world?" he said, with that ridiculous half-smirk that made my brain short-circuit.
I froze.
"What... what the fuck are you saying?" I managed, my voice barely steady.
He leaned slightly closer, eyes glinting.
"Don't be shy, wifey. I know exactly what you were thinking about."
Heat crawled up my neck.
"Shut... up," I hissed, because seriously, how was he always this infuriating?
I wanted to punch him. But also... I had no idea if I was supposed to scream, run, or just die of embarrassment right here.
Keifer smirked like he'd won a war I didn't know I was fighting.
"I'm leaving," I said, turning toward the door.
I had barely taken a step when I felt it.
The air shifted.
"Jay please. Listen to me."
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned back.
His face wasn't teasing anymore. No smirk. No sarcasm. Just raw seriousness and something dangerously close to regret.
I laughed bitterly.
"Aren't you the same one who said explanations are 'damn fucking things'?"
The words hit him.
Hard.
Keifer swallowed. His jaw tightened not with anger this time, but restraint.
"I was wrong," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have said that."
"That's not what I meant," he added quickly, stepping closer, then stopping halfway, like he was afraid I'd pull away. "But that's what I did."
My voice cracked despite myself.
"And that's what hurt."
"I was scared," he admitted, eyes dark. "And when I'm scared, I say stupid things. Hurtful things."
I looked at him then.
Really looked.
And for the first time, I didn't see anger.
I saw fear.
Before I could turn away again, I felt it
Strong hands gripping my knees, forcing me to stop.
"Keifer!" I gasped, trying to jerk free. "Let go! What are you doing?!"
"No," he said, voice low, breaking. "Not until you listen to me."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Keifer you're the heir of the Watson Empire. And you're on your knees, gripping my legs just to make me listen?"
He looked up at me, eyes burning.
"I'll do whatever I need to," he said. "Even if I have to grip your legs in front of the whole world. Even if I have to beg for forgiveness in front of the whole world."
This guy.
How does any girl not fall for him?
Then I felt it.
Something warm.
Wet.
My breath caught as I looked down.
Tears.
Rolling down Keifer's face silent, heavy, uncontrollable falling against my knees.
"Hey," I whispered, panic rushing in. "Keifer... stand up."
"No," he said, forcing his voice steady, failing miserably.
"Keifer," I said softly, my heart twisting. "Stand up. I'll listen. I promise."
He hesitated.
"...Really?"
I nodded.
"Hmm. Now stand up."
He slowly let go and stood.
The second he did, I wrapped my arms around him.
He froze shocked for half a second.
Then he hugged me back.
Tight.
Desperate.
Like I might vanish if he loosened his grip even a little.
"Jay..." His voice trembled.
"After my mom, you're the only person who has ever loved me."
He swallowed hard, like the words were cutting on the way out.
"Everyone I've ever loved... they never loved me back. Not the way I loved them."
His grip tightened slightly, not hurting just desperate.
"You're the only one," he whispered. "I can wait. I don't care how long it takes for you to forgive me."
His forehead dropped against mine, breath shaking.
"But please," he said softly, breaking,
"Don't shut me out."
I froze for a second.
Not because I didn't know what to say
but because I knew if I opened my mouth, my heart would spill out.
I lifted my hands slowly and cupped his face, thumbs brushing away the tears he clearly hated letting fall.
"Keifer..." my voice came out quiet. Real. "You don't get to decide that you're unlovable."
He stiffened slightly, like he was bracing for rejection.
"I'm not shutting you down," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "I'm just... trying not to drown."
His breath hitched.
"You scare me sometimes," I admitted. "Not because you're cruel but because you feel too much and don't know where to put it."
I rested my forehead against his.
"But I never stopped caring," I whispered. "Not for one second."
His hands trembled as they held me.
"I don't need you perfect," I continued. "I don't need you fearless. I just need you to talk to me before the anger talks for you."
I pulled him closer, hugging him tight.
"And don't you ever say no one loves you," I said softly.
"Because I'm right here."
He let out a broken breath and held me like that sentence was the only thing keeping him standing.
For the first time in a long while,
it didn't feel like we were fighting each other.
It felt like we were fighting for us.💖