The Silent Treatment (Keifer's POV)
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And I realized it the moment Jay walked into class…
And didn't look at me.
Not even once.
No sarcastic "move."
No eye roll.
No "ego king."
Nothing.
She just walked past my desk.
Sat down.
Started talking to Cin and Felix like I didn't exist.
That's illegal.
I leaned back in my chair casually.
She'll look.
She always looks.
Five minutes passed.
Nothing.
Ten minutes.
Still nothing.
Yuri noticed first.
"Bro," he whispered. "Why do you look stressed?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm just bored."
Cin suddenly laughed loudly at something Jay said.
She laughed too.
Not fake.
Real.
And she didn't even glance at me.
My jaw tightened slightly.
Why is she ignoring me?
Did I say something yesterday?
Was it the "because it's you" line?
Was that too much?
I tried something simple.
"Jay."
No response.
Maybe she didn't hear.
"Jay."
She turned.
But not to me.
To Felix.
"Yes?"
Felix blinked. "I didn't call you."
Oh.
So she heard me.
She just chose not to answer.
Interesting.
Break time.
She stood up and walked out.
I followed.
Not obviously.
Just… casually.
She stopped near the water cooler.
I stood beside her.
Silence.
Usually she'd say something.
Anything.
Today?
Nothing.
"You're quiet," I said.
She drank water calmly.
"I always am."
"No, you're not."
She capped the bottle.
Still didn't look at me.
"Did I do something?" I asked.
She finally glanced at me.
Neutral expression.
"What would you have done?"
That tone.
Flat.
Dangerous.
"I don't know," I admitted.
She shrugged.
"Then relax."
And she walked away.
That shouldn't bother me.
But it did.
A lot.
Back in class, the teasing started again.
Felix said, "Jay your husband is calling."
She didn't react.
Just ignored it.
Yuri whispered loudly, "Fight happened."
She didn't deny it.
She didn't glare.
She didn't threaten anyone.
She just stayed calm.
And that calm?
It was worse than her anger.
I leaned closer.
"You're really not going to talk?"
She flipped a page in her notebook.
"I'm talking."
"Not to me."
She looked at me finally.
And smiled.
Polite.
Cold.
"That's intentional."
That hit.
Harder than any insult she's ever thrown.
Why is this bothering me so much?
It's just one day.
Right?
But every time she laughs with someone else—
It feels louder.
Every time she doesn't respond to me—
It feels heavier.
During lunch, she left with Mica.
Didn't even ask if I'm coming.
Not that she ever asks.
But still.
It feels different.
Yuri leaned back beside me.
"She's punishing you."
"For what?"
"Maybe for noticing too much."
Cin added, "Or maybe she realized something."
Realized what?
That I like her?
Does she know?
Did I make it obvious?
I replayed yesterday in my head.
The walking together.
The teasing.
Me saying I don't mind it.
Me saying it's because it's her.
…Idiot.
Last period.
She was packing her bag.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"Jay."
She paused.
Slowly looked at me.
"Yes, Keifer?"
Why does she sound formal?
"I don't like this."
"Like what?"
"This… distance."
She zipped her bag calmly.
"Distance is healthy."
"For who?"
"For people who get ahead of themselves."
That was directed at me.
Definitely.
I stood up.
"So what, you're just going to ignore me now?"
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder.
"I'm not ignoring you."
"You are."
She looked at me for a long second.
Then said quietly—
"If I don't react… you don't win."
Win?
Is that what she thinks this is?
A game?
She walked past me.
But before leaving—
She stopped near the door.
Without turning.
"And stop waiting outside for me."
My heart dropped slightly.
She noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Then she left.
The classroom felt empty.
Even though everyone was still there.
Felix looked at me.
"Bro… you messed up."
"I didn't do anything."
"That's the problem."
Yuri crossed his arms.
"You're panicking."
"I'm not panicking."
"You look like someone stole your WiFi."
I ran a hand through my hair.
Why does one day of silence feel worse than all her insults combined?
Why do I miss her arguing with me?
Why do I miss her threatening me?
Why does it feel like I'm losing something important—
And I don't even know how to fix it?
I don't like this.
I don't like her ignoring me.
I don't like not being able to read her.
And I definitely don't like that I care this much.
Because if one day without her attention does this to me…
Then I'm in deeper than I thought.