Days kept passing.
The distance between Jay and Keifer only grew bigger.
What used to be laughter…
Turned into silence.
One afternoon Keifer saw Jay again near the college garden.
She was standing alone under a tree.
Looking at her phone.
For a moment he hesitated.
His friends had already told him to stop trying.
Ella had said,
"Keifer… if she wants to ignore you, let her."
But Keifer still wasn't satisfied.
He needed one last answer.
Just one.
So he walked towards her.
Slowly.
Jay noticed him coming.
Her body stiffened.
She already knew what was about to happen.
Keifer stopped a few steps away from her.
His voice was calm.
Much calmer than before.
"Jay."
Jay looked at the ground.
Keifer took a deep breath.
"I'll ask you one last time."
Jay stayed silent.
Keifer continued.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Jay's fingers tightened around her phone.
But she didn't answer.
Keifer smiled faintly.
Not a happy smile.
A tired one.
"Okay."
He nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Jay's heart felt uneasy hearing his tone.
It was different.
Very different.
Keifer put his hands in his pockets.
"You don't want to talk to me."
Jay whispered quietly,
"It's not like that."
Keifer chuckled softly.
"It is exactly like that."
Silence surrounded them.
For a moment the wind rustled the leaves above them.
Keifer looked at her for a few seconds.
Then he spoke again.
"This is the last time I'll come to you like this."
Jay looked up slightly.
Keifer's eyes were calm.
But distant.
"If you don't want me in your life…"
"Then fine."
Jay felt her chest tighten.
Keifer shrugged casually.
"I won't bother you anymore."
Jay's lips parted slightly.
But no words came out.
Keifer gave a small nod.
"Take care of yourself, Jay."
Then he turned around.
And walked away.
This time…
He didn't look back.
After that day…
Keifer completely stopped trying.
If Jay walked into a room…
He acted like she wasn't there.
If she passed him in the corridor…
He continued his conversation like nothing happened.
If their eyes accidentally met…
He simply looked away.
No teasing.
No jokes.
No arguments.
Nothing.
It was as if Jay had become invisible to him.
Their friends noticed the change immediately.
Ella whispered to Freya one day,
"This is worse."
Freya nodded.
"Before at least he cared."
Grace looked at Keifer from afar.
"But now…"
"He doesn't even react."
One evening Jay entered the park where their friends were sitting.
Keifer was there too.
Laughing with Rakki.
Jay stopped at the entrance.
Usually Keifer would immediately shout,
"Jay!"
And start teasing her.
But today…
He didn't even look at her.
Not once.
It felt strange.
Painful.
Jay slowly walked closer to the group.
No one spoke about it.
But everyone felt the awkward tension.
Keifer continued talking normally.
Completely ignoring her presence.
As if she didn't exist.
Jay quietly sat on the bench.
Her chest felt heavy.
For the first time…
She realized something.
Ignoring Keifer had been difficult.
But this…
This was worse.
Much worse.
Because now…
Keifer truly didn't care whether she existed or not. 💔