Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Recorded Evidence

(Jay's POV)

🌙 The Night Before

He called.

Of course he did.

I stared at his name before answering.

"…Hello."

"You hung up on me yesterday."

"You spelled profanity."

"That's not illegal."

I rolled onto my stomach, heart beating too fast.

"I keep replaying it," he said quietly.

"The rain?" I asked.

"You crying. Me apologizing. You forgiving me halfway."

"I did not forgive you."

"Probation counts."

I pressed my face into my pillow.

"Go to sleep, Keifer."

"Say goodnight properly."

"…Goodnight."

Pause.

"Jay."

"What."

"I meant what I said."

"…I know."

And I didn't sleep after that.

 The Next Morning

I couldn't focus in school.

Every few seconds, my brain replayed:

I'll work for your forgiveness.

I'm not leaving again.

I was walking past the music wing when—

A hand grabbed mine.

I barely had time to react before I was pulled inside the music room.

Door shut.

Click.

My back touched the wall gently.

Keifer stood in front of me.

"Where are you going, wifey?"

My brain malfunctioned.

"Gago!" I pushed him lightly.

His eyebrow lifted slowly.

"Profanity."

"W-what do you mean?!"

"You swore."

"That doesn't even—"

He stepped closer.

Close enough that my breath got uneven.

"Profanity," he whispered near my ear.

My knees actually weakened.

He tilted my chin up gently.

"You missed me."

"I saw you yesterday."

"That's not what I meant."

My heart was not stable.

He smiled softly.

Then kissed me.

Not hesitant.

Not rushed.

Confident.

His hand settled at my waist.

Mine gripped his collar.

Time blurred.

When I pulled back to breathe—

He looked wounded.

"You know," he said dramatically, "that was my first proper kiss in days."

I blinked.

"And you still pulled away."

He sulked.

Actually sulked.

I burst out laughing.

"You're impossible."

And I slipped past him toward the door.

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬

I walked in trying to act normal.

Cin stared at me.

"…Why are your lips swollen?"

I choked.

Before I could answer—

Keifer walked in behind me.

The class went silent.

Then—

"OHHHHHHHHHH."

I wanted to evaporate.

I rushed to my seat.

Cin crossed her arms. "I'm not letting him sit here again."

I shoved a chocolate into his hand.

"He's not coming here."

From behind me—

"What?"

I froze.

Keifer stood there.

"Why isn't Kairo here?" he asked calmly.

Cin answered, "He only came yesterday."

Everyone looked at me.

"Why?" Felix asked.

I blinked.

"Uhm… I… uh…"

Cin gasped.

"She did that to make you jealous" Cin said with a teasing smile

I slapped my hand over his mouth.

"CIN!"

Too late.

The class exploded.

"NO WAY.""She planned it?!""She's evil."

Keifer stared at me like I'd just confessed to a crime.

"Jay," he said slowly, "you used another guy to make me jealous?"

I avoided his eyes.

"Well… I mean… it worked?"

The class SCREAMED.

He looked betrayed. Dramatically betrayed.

"You're unbelievable."

But he was fighting a smile.

The bell rang.

Class began.

But nobody focused.

When the bell rang again, the noise doubled.

I escaped toward the washroom.

Or at least, I tried.

A hand grabbed me again.

Music room.

Again.

The door shut.

Keifer turned to face me.

"So."

I crossed my arms. "So."

"You used another guy to make me jealous?"

"You left me in the rain emotionally first."

"That's not the point."

"You were jealous though."

He went quiet.

"…Yes."

That answer hit harder than teasing.

I softened slightly.

"I didn't like seeing you unaffected," I admitted. "I wanted you to feel something."

He stepped closer.

"You could've just asked."

"I didn't know how."

He stared at me for a second.

Then sighed.

"You're dangerous."

"Why?"

"Because I would've lost my mind if he touched you."

My heart skipped.

"But you didn't," I whispered.

He leaned closer.

"I almost did."

The tension shifted.

Again.

"Jay," he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"If you ever try that again…"

I swallowed.

"…I'll make sure you regret it."

My eyes widened.

"In what way?"

His smirk returned.

"Profanity."

I shoved him lightly.

"Idiot."

He caught my wrist gently.

"And you still keep swearing."

And this time—

He didn't kiss me.

He just rested his forehead against mine.

Slow.

Intentional.

"I'm not jealous anymore," he said quietly.

"Why?"

"Because you chose to come to me."

And that—

That made my stomach flip in a completely different way.

Then...

A loud thud outside the door.

Voices.

"…Is that them?""Shut up.""Open it.""Don't open it."

My blood ran cold.

Keifer's eyes widened slightly.

The door swung open.

Section E.

All of them.

Yuri. Rory. Felix. David. Cin. Even two randoms who had no business being there.

And they weren't just standing there.

They were crouched.

Near the door.

Phones out.

Recording.

Cin slowly stood up.

"…Continue. This is award-winning."

My soul left my body.

"YOU WERE RECORDING?" I shrieked.

Felix held up his phone proudly. "For historical purposes."

Cin gasped dramatically. "She admitted it! We have proof!"

Drew whispered, "Zoom in."

I wanted to disappear.

Keifer ran a hand down his face.

"How long have you been there?"

Rory checked his screen. 'Because I would've lost my mind if he touched you' Good audio too."

I lunged forward. "Delete it."

 Rory stepped back. "No, no, this is educational."

"Educational for WHAT."

"How not to weaponize jealousy."

Keifer stepped slightly in front of me instinctively.

Not aggressive.

Protective.

"Delete it," he said calmly.

 David smirked. "Say please."

The class behind them gasped dramatically.

I slapped my hand over my face.

"This is humiliating."

Cin walked closer and stage-whispered loudly:

"Jay admitted she made Kairo come to make Keifer jealous."

The hallway exploded.

"NO WAY.""She planned it?!""That's insane."

Keifer looked at me slowly.

"Jay."

I avoided his eyes.

"You really did that."

I shrugged weakly. "…It worked?"

The hallway SCREAMED.

Edrix clutched his chest. "She said IT WORKED."

Felix zoomed the camera toward Keifer's face. "Sir, how do you feel about being manipulated emotionally?"

"Give me that," Keifer muttered.

Too late.

Someone from behind shouted:

"PROBATION COUPLE!"

Cin yelled, "WIFEY!"

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

Keifer looked at me again.

"You're dangerous."

"You left first," I whispered back.

He stared at me.

Then — unbelievably — he smiled.

"Delete it," he said again, calmer.

Rory looked between us.

"…Fine. But we're keeping the audio."

"RORY."

He laughed and finally hit delete.

Probably.

Hopefully.

The bell rang suddenly.

Everyone scrambled.

But the teasing didn't stop.

"Profanity!""Jealous king!""Strategic queen!"

Keifer leaned closer to me as the hallway cleared.

"You realize they're never letting this go."

"I hate all of you," I muttered.

He smirked.

"You started it."

I glared at him.

"You're still on probation."

He leaned slightly toward my ear.

"Then I'll just have to behave."

My heart betrayed me again.

And behind us—

Section E was already planning the sequel.