After that day…
Jay slowly started spending time with the group again.
Ella.
Freya.
Grace.
Rakki.
They welcomed her like nothing had changed.
They laughed together.
Shared food again.
Sat under the same old tree.
Slowly…
The group started feeling whole again.
But one thing was still wrong.
Very wrong.
Keifer.
Every time Jay came…
Keifer left.
Not angrily.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
If Jay walked toward the bench…
Keifer would suddenly stand up.
Stretch casually.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
Rakki would groan.
"You just came!"
Keifer would shrug.
"Got stuff to do."
And he would walk away.
Every time.
One afternoon the group was laughing loudly.
Freya was telling a stupid story about Rakki falling off a bike.
Everyone was laughing.
Keifer was laughing the loudest.
His smile wide.
His eyes bright.
Then Jay walked toward them.
The moment Keifer saw her…
His smile vanished.
Instantly.
Like someone had switched it off.
His face turned blank.
Cold.
Jay noticed it immediately.
Her steps slowed.
But she still walked to the bench.
"Hi."
Ella smiled warmly.
"Jay!"
Grace moved slightly.
"Sit."
Jay sat quietly beside them.
For a few seconds nobody spoke.
Then Keifer suddenly stood up.
"I'll go get water."
Rakki frowned.
"There's water here."
Keifer avoided looking at Jay.
"I need to make a call."
And he walked away.
Another day…
Jay arrived earlier than everyone.
She sat under the tree alone.
After a few minutes Keifer came.
He didn't notice her at first.
He sat down on the bench.
Relaxing.
Then he turned his head.
And saw her.
For a moment…
Both of them froze.
Jay gave a small smile.
"Hey."
Keifer's face immediately hardened.
He stood up.
"I forgot something."
Jay quickly spoke.
"Keifer wait—"
But he was already walking away.
It kept happening again.
And again.
And again.
Jay tried not to show it.
But every time it hurt.
Because the way Keifer ignored her now…
Was worse than anger.
It was distance.
Cold distance.
One evening Ella finally spoke.
"Okay this is getting ridiculous."
Freya nodded.
"He leaves every time Jay comes."
Rakki sighed.
"He's still hurt."
Jay looked down quietly.
Her voice was soft.
"I deserve it."
Ella immediately shook her head.
"No."
Jay whispered,
"I hurt him."
Grace spoke gently.
"But he also cared about you more than anyone."
Jay's chest tightened hearing that.
She looked toward the empty path where Keifer had walked away again.
Her eyes filled with quiet sadness.
Because she realized something.
Keifer didn't shout at her.
He didn't argue with her.
He didn't blame her.
Instead…
He simply erased her from his world.
And that silence…
Hurt far more than any anger ever could. 💔