Evening.
The trip ended.
Bags unpacked.
Rooms quiet again.
Life… back to normal.
But something wasn't normal.
Jay.
She wasn't the same.
Not anymore.
She sat in her room.
Phone in hand.
Scrolling.
But not really looking.
Her mind… somewhere else.
With him.
Every moment replaying.
His smile.
His voice.
The way he looked at her.
The way he stayed.
Her lips curved slowly.
Without her realizing.
"Idiot…"
She whispered.
But there was no annoyance.
Only warmth.
Only softness.
Her phone buzzed.
Message.
Keifer.
"You reached?"
Jay smiled instantly.
Typing fast.
"Yes."
"You?"
Reply came quickly.
"Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"House feels boring."
Jay's heart skipped.
She typed…
"Same."
Then deleted it.
Typed again.
"Good."
Sent.
She stared at the screen.
"…why did I send that?"
She groaned softly.
Her phone buzzed again.
"Come out."
Jay froze.
"What?"
She rushed to the window.
Pulled the curtain slightly.
And there he was.
Leaning on his car.
Looking up.
Waiting.
Jay's heart raced.
"Idiot…"
But she was already running.
Downstairs.
Fast.
Jeena noticed.
"Where are you going?"
Jay didn't stop.
"Outside!"
Door opened.
Then closed.
Jay walked toward him.
Trying to act normal.
Failing badly.
"You just came?"
Keifer nodded.
"Yeah."
Jay crossed her arms.
"Why?"
Keifer shrugged.
"Felt like seeing you."
Silence.
Jay looked away.
Hiding her smile.
"You saw me for three days."
Keifer smirked.
"Not enough."
That…
Did something to her.
Something deep.
Jay looked at him.
Really looked.
And for the first time…
She felt it clearly.
Not confusion.
Not curiosity.
Not just liking.
Something stronger.
Something deeper.
She stepped closer.
Without thinking.
Keifer noticed.
Didn't move.
Just watched her.
Jay spoke softly.
"You came just for that?"
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then gently…
"Is that wrong?"
Jay shook her head slowly.
"No…"
Her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not."
Silence wrapped around them.
Soft.
Comfortable.
But heavy…
With feelings.
Jay's fingers moved slightly.
Like she wanted to hold him.
But stopped.
Keifer noticed.
He stepped closer instead.
Closing the gap.
Natural.
Easy.
Jay's breath hitched.
Her heart racing faster now.
She looked down.
Then up again.
"I think…"
She stopped.
Keifer waited.
"What?"
Jay swallowed.
"I think I missed you."
Keifer smiled softly.
"I know."
Jay frowned slightly.
"How?"
Keifer leaned closer.
"Because I did too."
Jay's eyes softened completely.
And that was it.
That moment.
That feeling.
It hit her fully.
She wasn't just liking him anymore.
She wasn't just getting used to him.
She had fallen.
Hard.
Deep.
Without even noticing when it happened.
And now…
There was no going back.
Because this time…
It wasn't arranged.
It wasn't planned.
It wasn't forced.
It was real.
And she was completely…
Lost in him.