JAY-JAY POV
We went to our classes and it was normal —
which means it was boring enough to make me question my life choices.
Then the lunch bell rang.
Finally.
I stood up and started walking toward the cafeteria, already thinking about food, when suddenly—
Keifer was behind me.
And he grabbed my hand.
Just like that.
I started swinging our hands without even thinking, like some happy little kid.
He chuckled under his breath.
"You look happy today."
I nodded, still swinging our hands.
"After almost three years, I finally met Grandpa and Grandma."
Keifer's steps slowed a little.
He looked at me — really looked — like he was memorizing the smile on my face.
"That makes sense," he said softly. "You've been glowing since morning."
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks warmed anyway.
"Shut up."
He squeezed my hand gently.
"I'm glad you're happy," he said. "Especially when you're with me."
My chest did that stupid warm flip again, and I couldn't help but smile.
To distract myself from melting into the floor, I asked:
"How is Keigan doing?"
Keifer's expression softened instantly — the kind of soft that only shows up when he talks about the people he loves.
"Believe it or not," he said, a real smile forming, "he decided to go to therapy. And I'm really happy about it."
His eyes brightened, proud and relieved all at once.
"He's improving," he added, voice warm.
I smiled too — partly because I was genuinely happy for Keigan…
…but mostly because seeing Keifer smile like that did something to me.
He looked lighter.
Hopeful.
Like a weight he'd been carrying for years finally shifted.
"You look proud," I said softly.
He glanced at me, still smiling. "I am."
Then he tilted his head a little, studying me.
"Did you talk to Keigan or something?"
I blinked at him, confused.
How did he know?
Keifer's eyes softened, like he'd already pieced everything together.
"That day in the ice‑cream shop," he said quietly, "he suddenly called you Ate. And after that evening, he wanted to go to a psychiatrist."
My steps slowed.
He noticed that?
"Maybe I motivated him a little bit," I said, shrugging like it wasn't a big deal.
But it was.
And Keifer knew it.
He stopped walking completely.
Then he pulled me into a hug — not a casual one, not a teasing one, but a full, warm, grateful hug that wrapped around my whole chest.
"Thank you, Jay," he murmured, nuzzling into my neck like he couldn't help it.
My breath caught.
His arms tightened around me, like he was holding something precious.
I hugged him back, my hands sliding up his back, my cheek resting against his shoulder.
For one perfect second, it was just us.
Then—
"Please get a room, guys."
Rory's voice cut through the moment like a knife.
I froze.
We both turned our heads at the same time.
And there he was.
Rory.
I pulled away from Keifer so fast I almost tripped.
And that's when I realized—
Everyone was looking at us.
Not just Rory.
Section E.
The entire hallway.
Random students.
Teachers.
Probably the janitor.
Damn it.
Can we have some privacy, please?
Keifer didn't even look embarrassed.
He just slipped his hand back into mine like nothing happened.
"What are you guys doing here?" Keifer asked them, already annoyed.
Yuri scoffed, arms crossed. "Well, you don't own the school. And you two were hugging each other like it was the end of the universe in the middle of the cafeteria."
"Let's go grab something. I'm hungry."
I tugged his hand.
He followed instantly.
Then he just pulled me straight to the front of the line.
"Keifer, there is a line," I hissed, trying not to die of embarrassment.
Keifer didn't respond.
He just walked up to the very front and gave the boy standing there a light push to the side.
The boy spun around.
"What the hell—?"
Then he saw Keifer.
His entire soul left his body.
He stepped aside so fast he almost tripped.
"N‑No problem, bro. Go ahead."
Keifer didn't even thank him.
He just looked at the lunch lady and said, in that calm, dangerous voice:
"Give her what she wants."
The lunch lady blinked at him, then at me, then back at him.
"Sure," she finally said, like she'd just accepted her fate.
I told her what I wanted, she handed it to me immediately, and I walked away before the entire cafeteria could burn holes into my back with their stares.
I sat down at one of the tables, trying to pretend I wasn't mortified.
Keifer sat right next to me — not across, not diagonally, right next to me, thigh touching mine like it was intentional.
I opened my food and started eating, trying to act normal.
Keifer watched me for a second.
Just watched.
Like I was the meal.
Then he leaned his elbow on the table, chin resting on his hand.
"You eat like a cute hamster," he said casually.
I choked on my food.
I glared at Keifer. "Stop saying weird things."
He smirked, leaning closer.
"I'm just telling the truth."
I shoved a spoonful of food into my mouth to avoid responding.
He nudged my shoulder lightly.
"Jay."
"Jay."
Still ignored.
He leaned even closer, voice low.
"Jay… look at me."
I was finally eating in peace — or as close to peace as possible with Keifer stealing my fries every five seconds — when a shadow fell over our table.
A girl.
Pretty.
Confident.
Lip gloss shining like she practiced this in the mirror.
She leaned on the table, way too close to Keifer.
"Hi, Keifer," she said, twirling her hair. "I didn't know you were eating here today."
Keifer didn't respond.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't even blink.
"I'm Lila, by the way," she added, voice dripping with flirt.
That little—
How dare she?
Keifer finally looked up.
Not at her.
At me.
Just a quick glance…
and then he smirked.
Then he turned to her, voice calm and annoyingly smooth.
"Hi. I think you know my name."
Lila giggled like he'd just proposed.
I wanted to throw my tray at her.
Lila giggled. "Of course I do. Everyone knows you."
She tucked her hair behind her ear. "So… I was wondering if maybe you wanted to sit with me and my friends? We have space."
I stabbed my food a little too aggressively.
Keifer didn't answer.
So she kept going.
"I mean, you don't have to sit here. It's kind of… crowded."
Her eyes flicked to me like I was a piece of gum stuck to the table.
I smiled sweetly.
"Crowded? Really? Looks pretty spacious to me."
Lila blinked at me, surprised I spoke.
"Oh… you're Jay, right?" she asked, fake‑friendly.
"I've heard about you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Good things, I hope."
She shrugged. "Depends who you ask."
That bitch.
Keifer was about to say something, but I beat him to it.
I leaned forward, smiling sweetly — the kind of sweet that could kill someone.
"What was your name again?" I asked her.
Lila blinked, clearly not expecting me to speak.
"It's Lila," she said, flipping her hair like she was in a commercial.
"Ohhh," I said, nodding slowly. "Right. Lila."
I tilted my head. "Sorry, I just… forget irrelevant things sometimes."
Her smile twitched.
Lila tried to recover. "Well, I was just saying hi to Keifer. We're… familiar."
I raised an eyebrow. "Familiar? Really? Because he didn't seem to recognize you."
Keifer smirked, leaning back in his chair like he was watching premium entertainment.
Lila's face tightened. "We've talked before."
"When?" I asked, genuinely curious.
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"…once," she muttered.
I smiled. "Wow. One whole conversation. You guys must be so close."
Keifer actually laughed under his breath.
Lila glared at me. "You don't have to be rude."
I shrugged. "You don't have to flirt with someone who's clearly not interested."
Keifer's smirk grew.
"Keifer, who is she?" she asked, pointing at me like I was a stain on the table.
"She doesn't suit next to you."
Oh.
Oh hell no.
I was this close to punching her straight into next week, but Keifer stood up so fast his chair scraped across the floor.
"Shut up."
His voice BOOMED across the cafeteria.
I flinched.
She flinched.
The entire cafeteria went silent.
Even Section E froze mid‑chew.
Keifer didn't look away from Lila.
His jaw was tight, eyes sharp, posture screaming don't test me.
Then he turned to me.
And gently — gently — pulled me up from my seat.
He kept one hand on my waist, the other holding my hand, like he was presenting me to the entire world.
"Everyone," he said loudly, "this is Jasper Jean Mariano—"
He paused.
Looked at me.
And then said it.
"Watson."
I froze.
My brain short‑circuited.
The cafeteria collectively gasped.
Keifer wasn't done.
"Jasper Jean Mariano Watson," he repeated, voice steady.
"My wife."
I stepped on his foot so hard he almost died.
He winced but didn't let go of me.
"I mean—" he corrected quickly, "my future wife."
I covered my face with my hands.
He tightened his arm around my waist.
"She is my girlfriend," he said, glaring at Lila, "so watch how you talk to her from now on."
Lila's face drained of color.
"So from now on, talk to her and respect her as if she is me," Keifer said, voice sharp enough to cut steel.
"And don't try to flirt with her."
He wasn't even subtle about it — he glared at every boy in the cafeteria like he was choosing who to fight first.
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain.
I slipped out of his grip and walked out of the cafeteria before he could say anything else The hallway felt quieter, calmer… until the speakers crackled.
"Hello everyone, this is the principal," she said.
"Due to a teachers' meeting, we have a half day today. You are all free to go. Have a great day."
Thank. God.
I wasn't in the mood to sit through another boring class pretending to care about equations or history dates.
I headed toward my classroom to grab my bag, finally thinking I'd get a moment of peace.
Then suddenly—
A hand wrapped around my wrist.
Firm.
Warm.
Familiar.
Before I could react, I was pulled down the hallway, past the lockers, past the empty classrooms, straight toward the music room.
I didn't even need to look.
I knew exactly who it was.
Keifer.
The one and only.
Because honestly?
He's the only one brave enough — or stupid enough — to drag me around like this.
He pushed open the music room door with his shoulder, pulled me inside, and shut it behind us with a soft click.
He pinned me to the door.
Not roughly — just firmly enough that I couldn't slip away again.
"Jay," he said, voice low.
I ignored him and looked away, staring at the wall like it suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world.
His breath hitched a little, like my silence actually bothered him.
He lifted one hand and gently cupped my jaw, turning my face toward him.
Not forcing.
Just guiding.
"Don't look away from me," he murmured.
I kept my eyes stubbornly on the floor.
He let out a frustrated breath — the kind he only ever uses with me.
"Jay," he said, voice low and tight. "Look at me."
I didn't.
I kept staring at the wall like it was the most fascinating thing on earth.
He leaned closer, breath brushing my cheek.
"Look at me," he warned, "or else I will kiss you."
My head snapped toward him instantly.
He smirked.
Of course he did.
"Go kiss that Lila," I snapped, crossing my arms.
His smirk deepened — slow, dangerous, amused.
He stepped closer, pinning me even more firmly against the door, his hands braced on either side of me.
"Why would I kiss her," he murmured, leaning in until our noses almost touched, "when you're the one I want?"
My breath hitched.
He noticed.
His eyes flicked down to my lips, then back up to my eyes, and he tilted his head slightly, voice dropping even lower.
"You're jealous," he said, like it was the best thing he'd ever discovered.
"I'm not," I muttered.
He chuckled — soft, warm, infuriating.
"You are," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "And I like it."
I rolled my eyes.
And then I grabbed his collar and kissed him — hard.
So hard he actually stumbled.
His back hit the wall with a soft thud, and for the first time today, he was the one caught off‑guard.
His hands froze for a second, like his brain short‑circuited.
Good.
I kept kissing him, fierce and unhesitating, pouring every bit of jealousy, irritation, and whatever‑the‑hell‑he‑makes‑me‑feel into it.
Keifer finally reacted — a sharp inhale, his fingers gripping my waist like he needed something to hold onto.
But I didn't let him take control.
Not this time.
I pressed him harder against the wall, my hands on his chest, keeping him exactly where I wanted him.
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💙🔥 AUTHOR'S NOTE — QUICK UPDATE 🔥💙
Hey everyone! I know I didn't post yesterday — I had a really bad headache 😭💀 But I'm feeling better now
NOW LISTEN. Who watched Ep 7 of Section E and cried AND blushed because SAME 😭🤭🔥
OMG JAYFER DID THE FRENCH KISS And I was sitting there blushing like an idiot 😭💙🔥
And PLEASE… Who else wanted to fight the rooster guys 😭💀✨ Like hello??? My poor Jayfer finally had an passionate kissed and then YURI RUINED IT
Did anyone else notice how NOBODY is rooting for Jayri anymore or am I just losing my mind 😭🔥
Also… hot take but I stand by it: David is the REAL second lead, not that rooster (no hate to Rabin 😭💀) I just hate Yuri at this point 😭🔥
And ONE more thing… Who else felt BAD for Aries 😭🔥 Like OMG, Ella confessed to Yuri and I was just sitting there CRYING for Aries. My poor boy did NOT deserve that emotional damage 😭💔
And honestly? I don't think Keifer should've punched Aries… BUT at the same time, Keifer is actually taking a stand for Yuri — unlike that rooster 😭💀✨
Those who knows what Yuri has in book 3 💀☠️