Chapter 8
"Yes… But No One Will Know"
I kept saying it.
"We're just friends."
Again.
And again.
And again.
Until one day…
even I almost believed it.
Almost.
Because the truth?
I waited for him.
Every message.
Every call.
Every glance.
And that day…
everything changed.
It was evening.
The campus was quieter than usual.
Most people had already left.
I was walking alone…
lost in my thoughts…
When—
"Jay."
I stopped.
I knew that voice.
I turned slowly.
He was there.
Standing a few steps away.
Hands in his pockets.
But something was different.
He wasn't relaxed.
He looked…
serious.
"Why are you here?" I asked softly.
"Waiting."
"For?"
"You."
My heart skipped.
Silence.
The air felt heavy.
"Jay…"
"Hmm?"
"Stop lying."
I frowned.
"What?"
"To them."
Pause.
"And to yourself."
My breath caught.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
He stepped closer.
Each step making it harder to breathe.
"This 'just friends' thing…"
he said quietly.
"…I don't like it."
I looked away.
"It's easier."
"For who?"
"For everyone."
"And us?"
I didn't answer.
Because there was no answer.
He stood in front of me now.
Close.
Too close.
"Look at me."
I didn't want to.
But I did.
And that was my mistake.
Because his eyes…
weren't teasing anymore.
They were real.
"Do you like me?"
My heart stopped.
That question again.
But this time…
I couldn't lie.
"…yes."
A whisper.
Barely there.
But enough.
He exhaled slowly.
Like he was holding that breath for a long time.
Then—
"Then be mine."
I froze.
"What?"
"Be with me."
My heart started racing.
"Keifer…"
"I'm serious."
"I know but—"
"No 'but'."
His voice softened.
"I don't want half of this."
Silence.
"I don't want hidden feelings…"
Another step closer.
"I want you."
My eyes filled.
This was real.
Too real.
"And if I say no?"
He smiled slightly.
"You won't."
"Confident."
"I know you."
My heart melted a little.
Dangerous.
"So?"
He waited.
No jokes.
No teasing.
Just him.
And me.
And the truth between us.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
"…yes."
His expression changed instantly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just…
soft.
Like something finally settled inside him.
He stepped even closer.
"So… you're mine now?"
My cheeks heated up.
"Don't say it like that."
"Why?"
"Because…"
I couldn't finish.
He smirked slightly.
"Say it."
"No."
"Say it."
I looked away.
"…I'm yours."
Silence.
Then—
a soft laugh.
"Good."
I hit his arm lightly.
"Shut up."
"Make me."
That line again.
And again…
my heart fluttered.
But then—
I stepped back.
His smile faded slightly.
"What?"
"No one should know."
He frowned.
"Jay—"
"Please."
My voice softened.
"I'm not ready."
"For what?"
"For everything that comes with this."
Silence.
"I don't want questions…"
"I don't want pressure…"
"I just want… us."
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
Relief washed over me.
"But—"
I looked at him.
"In front of everyone…"
"We're just friends."
My heart tightened slightly.
But I nodded.
"Yes."
He stepped back.
Distance.
Just like that.
The same distance we always had in public.
But this time…
it felt different.
Because now…
we both knew the truth.
And only we did.
A secret.
A love.
Hidden from the world.
Safe.
Or maybe…
just waiting to be broken.
To be continued… 😏💔