Chapter: What Was That Feeling? (Keifer's POV)
I woke up irritated.
Not because of homework.
Not because of school.
But because I dreamed about Jay.
Again.
She was arguing with me in the dream too.
Even in my sleep she doesn't shut up.
Unbelievable.
Next morning.
I walked into school like usual— confident, calm, superior.
Section E was already noisy.
But she wasn't there yet.
Why am I looking for her?
I sat down.
Yuri noticed immediately. "Waiting for someone?"
"No."
"For Jay?"
"I said no."
Felix leaned back in his chair. "You look like a lost husband."
"Say one more word," I warned.
They grinned.
Then the door opened.
And there she was.
Jay.
Hair slightly messy. Bag hanging on one shoulder. That annoyed expression she carries like it's part of her uniform.
She didn't even look at me.
She went straight to her seat.
Why does that bother me?
Break time.
I was talking to Eren when I saw someone unfamiliar near our classroom door.
Section D uniform.
Tall.
Confident.
Smiling.
He leaned on the door frame.
"Hey," he said.
Jay looked up. "Yes?"
"I'm Michel. Section D."
Michel.
Why is he smiling like that?
Why is he standing so close?
"I've seen you around," he continued. "You're new, right?"
Jay nodded casually. "Unfortunately."
He laughed. "You're funny."
No.
She's not funny.
She's annoying.
Why is he laughing like she's special?
I don't like this.
He stepped closer.
"I was wondering if you'd like to hang out during lunch?"
Hang out?
Hang out?
Section E went quiet.
Everyone slowly looked at me.
Why are they looking at me?
This has nothing to do with me.
Absolutely nothing.
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Michel smiled. "Because you seem interesting."
My jaw tightened.
Interesting?
What does that even mean?
I stood up without realizing it.
Yuri whispered, "Oh no…"
I walked toward them.
Calmly.
Very calmly.
Too calmly.
Jay noticed me first.
"Oh look," she said dryly. "The ego king has arrived."
Michel glanced at me. "Friend of yours?"
Jay smirked. "Unfortunately."
I forced a smile.
"Can I help you?" I asked Michel.
He looked at me up and down. "Just talking."
Talking.
That word irritated me more than it should.
"To her?" I asked.
He blinked. "Yeah?"
I stepped slightly in front of Jay.
Not fully.
But enough.
"She's busy."
Jay hit my shoulder. "Excuse me? I can speak."
Michel raised his brows. "Relax, man. I'm just asking her to lunch."
Lunch.
LUNCH.
Why does that sound illegal?
Jay looked between us.
Then she crossed her arms.
"I'll think about it," she told Michel casually.
Think about it?
Think about it?!
Michel smiled. "Cool. I'll wait."
He left.
And suddenly I felt—
Hot.
Not temperature hot.
Angry hot.
Why am I angry?
Jay looked at me.
"Why are you standing like a bodyguard?"
"I'm not."
"You looked like you were about to punch him."
"I wasn't."
She leaned closer.
"You jealous?"
My heart stopped.
"No."
She smirked. "You are."
"I'm not."
She tilted her head. "Then why did your jaw tighten?"
It did?
"You notice too much," I muttered.
She smiled.
And walked away.
Leaving me standing there like an idiot.
Felix approached slowly.
"So…"
"Don't."
"He was just talking."
"I know."
"You looked like you wanted to kill him."
"I didn't."
Yuri crossed his arms. "Bro."
"What?"
"That was jealousy."
I scoffed. "I don't get jealous."
Cin raised a brow. "Then why are your hands still clenched?"
I looked down.
My fists were tight.
I slowly relaxed them.
What was that?
Why did I feel like something was mine?
Mine?
She's not mine.
She's my enemy.
She insults me daily.
She threatens my existence.
So why did it feel wrong seeing another guy smile at her like that?
Why did it feel worse when she said she'd "think about it"?
Why did my chest feel tight?
I leaned back in my chair.
This doesn't make sense.
I don't like her.
I don't.
Then why…
Why did I imagine punching Michel for just saying her name?
Yuri leaned closer and whispered—
"You fell hard."
I stared at the ceiling.
No.
This isn't falling.
This is…
This is…
I don't even know what this is.
But one thing is clear.
If Michel from Section D thinks he can just walk in and talk to Jay like that—
He's wrong.
Very wrong.
And I don't even know why that bothers me so much.