Jay's POV
The room was dim, shadows stretching across the walls from the faint glow of the beach house lights outside. I closed the door quietly, hoping for peace, but Keifer was already there, leaning against the window frame, his eyes fixed on me.
"Jay," he said, voice low, almost trembling, "I can't stand watching him look at you like that."
Before I could answer, he crossed the room in two strides. His hands pressed against the wall on either side of me, trapping me in place. My breath caught as his body leaned closer, his eyes burning with something raw. Then his lips crashed onto mine.
I gasped, pushing lightly against his chest, but he didn't let go. His kiss was rough, desperate, like he was afraid I'd vanish. I tried to resist, but the warmth of him, the way his lips moved against mine, melted me. My hands faltered, sliding from his chest to his shoulders, and I kissed him back.
He kissed me again, softer this time, then deeper, then again, each kiss pulling me further into him. Seven times his lips found mine, each one different—urgent, tender, playful, hungry, teasing, lingering, and finally, one that left me breathless. By the seventh, I wasn't resisting anymore. I was his.
We stumbled toward the bed, laughter breaking through the tension. He kissed me lying down, kissed me sitting up, kissed me when I whispered his name. Every kiss felt like a promise, like a vow that no matter what happened outside this room, we were unshakable.
Hours seemed to pass in moments. His lips brushed mine between words, between silences, between laughter. Sometimes he kissed me fiercely, sometimes gently, sometimes just to remind me he was there. I kissed him back every time, unable to stop myself, unable to resist the way he made me feel whole even as Section E was breaking apart.
But then, the knock came.
David's voice cut through the night, sharp and demanding. "Jay!" His tone trembled with anger, fists clenched outside the door. "You have to choose. Him or me."
I froze, breath caught in my throat. Keifer stiffened beside me, his arm tightening protectively around my waist.
The door creaked open, and suddenly the whole group was there—Ci-n, Felix, Calix, Eman—faces pale, eyes wide. Ci-n muttered, "Bro… this is it."
My chest tightened. Both of them staring at me, waiting. Section E watching, silent.
I opened my mouth, ready to speak, but the words tangled in my throat. My heart raced, torn between the boy who had just kissed me like I was his entire world and the boy who had confessed his feelings in front of everyone.
Felix's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then gasped. "Guys… you need to see this."
Everyone crowded around. A message glowed on the screen—something urgent, something that made Felix's hands shake.
Keifer pulled me closer, pressing his lips to mine once more, a kiss that was both defiance and comfort. I kissed him back, even as my heart pounded with fear.
David's eyes darkened, his voice breaking coldly . "Jay…"
The waves outside crashed louder, as if echoing the chaos inside me.
And just like that, the sunrise of our friendship turned into the dawn of something unknown.