Chapter 6 – The Meeting That Wasn't Quiet
Jay's pov
So apparently, "meeting at a café" was supposed to mean peaceful, quiet, professional.
But when you belong to Section E? Forget it.
I sat at the corner table, notebook open, already typing the outline. Focus, Jay. Just focus. This is for the project.
The bell rang and in walked Keifer.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Straight to the point.
"You're early," I blurted.
"You're earlier," he answered, that small smirk tugging at his lips.
I tried not to roll my eyes, flipping a page. "We'll divide the work. You take methodology, I'll take data analysis. Done."
He leaned forward, shoulders almost brushing mine. "Fair enough."
My heart: ??!??!
My brain: professionalism only please.
And then—
"PSSTTTT! Operation Jayfer begins now!"
I nearly jumped out of my seat.
Through the café window, I spotted the most ridiculous sight: half of Section E hiding behind a bush across the street.
Binoculars. Sunglasses. Snacks. Oh, and Kit was holding a giant sketchpad with a doodle of me and Keifer inside a heart.
"…" I blinked. "They didn't…"
Keifer followed my gaze, then let out the softest laugh. "They did."
---
Ten minutes later, Josh strolled in, fake whistling.
"Ohhh wow! What a coincidence seeing you two HERE! Alone! Together!" 😏
I slammed my notebook shut. "Josh. Out."
He leaned closer. "Are we working on a project… or a proposal?"
"OUT!!" I shouted, throwing a tissue at him.
Of course, outside, I could see Mayo and Rory high-fiving Josh like he just won an Olympic medal. 🙄
---
Back to work. I typed furiously, ignoring the way Keifer kept watching me quietly.
"You're really not going to yell at them?" I muttered.
He shrugged. "That's Section E. They'll never change."
I rolled my eyes. "They're insufferable."
"…But you'd miss them if they weren't," he said calmly.
I froze for a second, because—ugh. He wasn't wrong.
---
Just when I thought maybe, maybe, we'd actually get some work done—
"SECTION E, ATTACK!"
The café doors BURST open. Mayo charged in, followed by Blaster, Felix, Calix, Ci-n, David, Kit, Drew, Yuri, Josh, Eman, Rory, and even Grace from Section A.
"ARE YOU FINISHED WITH THE PROJECT OR WITH YOUR CONFESSION?!" Rory yelled.
"We brought snacks, in case this turned into a date," Felix added, dumping chips on the table.
Kit proudly held up his sketch. "Fanart of your first meeting!"
Grace sighed, "I should not be part of this chaos," but she was definitely laughing too.
I wanted the ground to swallow me.
"WHY. ARE. YOU. LIKE. THIS?!" I groaned, hiding my face.
The barista shouted at them to keep quiet, but Section E? Impossible.
And then, as if it was some official announcement, Blaster raised his fist and shouted:
"LONG LIVE JAYFER!"
The entire café cheered. Customers clapped. Someone even whistled.
Keifer just shook his head, amused. "Told you—they won't let us live it down."
I groaned louder. "I hate all of you."
…And yet, deep down, maybe a tiny part of me didn't.