Jay Jay's POv
It started with whispers.
I noticed them before I noticed him.
"Why is Keifer always there?"
"Since when does he smile like that?"
"Isn't he scary? Why is he so… soft with her?"
I tried to ignore it.
But it was hard to pretend when Keifer made it impossible not to notice him.
He waited for me outside my classroom every morning. Not leaning on the wall like he owned the place—just standing there, hands in his pockets, eyes lifting the moment I stepped out.
"Good morning, Jay Jay," he said, like it was the most important part of his day.
When I forgot my notebook, he already had a spare pen ready.
When I skipped lunch, food appeared on my desk.
When someone spoke too harshly to me, Keifer didn't raise his voice.
He just stepped closer.
And suddenly, no one else mattered.
"Are you two dating?" someone finally asked during lunch.
I nearly choked on my drink. "What? No!"
Keifer didn't say anything. He just glanced at me, calm as ever.
"She didn't say yes," he replied simply.
The table went silent.
That was when it hit me.
He wasn't hiding it.
He wasn't denying it.
He wasn't forcing it either.
He was waiting.
During practice, when I tripped and scraped my knee, Keifer was already there before the coach even noticed.
"I'm okay," I insisted.
"I know," he said, crouching anyway. "Let me check.
His hands were steady. Careful. Like I was something precious, not fragile—but worth protecting.
Someone whistled. "Bro, you're whipped.
Keifer didn't even look up.
"If caring makes me whipped," he said calmly, "then I am.
My face burned.
By the end of the day, even the teachers noticed. Even strangers noticed.
Keifer followed me out of campus, stopping only when I stopped.
"You don't have to walk me home," I told him.
"I know," he replied.
"But you are.
"Yes.
There was no hesitation in his voice. No expectation in his eyes.
Just certainty.
And that's when I realized—
Keifer wasn't trying to make me his by words.
He was doing it by being there.
Every time.
In front of everyone.