(Keifer's POV)
The bell rang.
Section E exploded.
Chairs scraping.
People shouting.
Someone threw a paper ball across the room.
Cin yelled, "WHO STOLE MY SNACKS?!"
David sighed. "You ate them."
"No I didn't!"
"Yes. You did."
I leaned back in my chair.
Half listening.
Half not.
My eyes drifted across the room.
Jay was packing her bag slowly.
Quiet.
Too quiet for Section E.
Cin leaned over her desk.
"You coming to lunch or are you planning to starve today?"
She smiled a little.
"I'm coming."
But her eyes flicked toward me for a second.
Then away.
My chest tightened.
I stood up.
"Where are you going?" David asked.
"Out."
Cin smirked.
"Oooo mysterious."
I ignored him.
Walked out of the classroom.
Down the hallway.
Past the stairs.
Up one flight.
Then another.
The rooftop door creaked open.
Cold air rushed in.
I stepped outside.
The city stretched in front of me.
Wind brushing against my face.
Quiet.
For the first time all day.
I leaned against the railing.
Hands in my pockets.
A minute passed.
Maybe two.
Then—
The door opened again.
I didn't turn.
"…I knew you'd be here."
Jay's voice.
Soft.
Careful.
I looked over my shoulder.
She stepped outside slowly.
The wind pushed a few strands of her hair across her face.
She walked closer.
Stopping a few steps away.
Neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
Just heavy.
Full of things we hadn't said yet.
Finally she asked quietly,
"Are you still mad?"
I looked away toward the city again.
"…I don't know."
She nodded slightly.
Like she expected that answer.
Another pause.
Then she stepped closer.
Closer.
Until she was beside me at the railing.
The wind blew again.
Her shoulder brushed mine slightly.
Neither of us moved away.
"You scared me yesterday," she said softly.
My chest tightened.
"…I know."
Her fingers curled around the metal railing.
"I thought you hated me."
I turned my head toward her.
"I could never hate you."
The words came out before I could stop them.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she looked down.
"…You sounded like you did."
I exhaled slowly.
Ran a hand through my hair.
"I was angry."
"Why?"
I looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"…Because I care too much."
Her breath caught slightly.
Silence again.
But this time it felt different.
Closer.
She turned toward me slowly.
"Keifer…"
"Yeah."
"…Why do you look like you didn't sleep?"
I huffed quietly.
"Because I didn't."
Her eyebrows pulled together.
"Did something happen?"
I hesitated.
Then shook my head.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
I looked at her for a long moment.
Then said quietly,
"You."
Her cheeks turned slightly pink.
She looked away quickly.
"That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
The wind moved again.
Stronger this time.
She tucked her hair behind her ear.
"…You're weird."
I smirked faintly.
"You already knew that."
She laughed softly.
The sound was small.
But it made something in my chest relax.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Just stood there.
Side by side.
Watching the city.
Then she said quietly,
"…I missed you."
My heart skipped.
"…You saw me yesterday."
"That's not what I meant."
I looked at her again.
Her eyes were soft.
Honest.
The kind of look that made it hard to breathe.
I stepped closer.
Just a little.
"Jay."
"Hmm?"
"…Look at me."
She did.
And for a second the world went completely quiet.
No wind.
No noise.
Just us.
My hand lifted slowly.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Her breath caught.
"You overthink too much," I murmured.
She blinked.
"So do you."
"…Probably."
My thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.
Warm.
Soft.
Her eyes closed for a second.
Then opened again.
"Keifer…"
"Yeah."
"…What are you doing?"
I leaned a little closer.
Close enough to feel her breath.
"…Something I should've done yesterday."
She didn't move.
Didn't step back.
So I closed the distance.
Our lips met softly.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just warm.
Careful.
Like both of us were afraid the moment would break.
Her fingers lightly grabbed the front of my shirt.
And for a second—
Everything felt right again.