Jay Jay's POV
The air is illegal. Too heavy, too warm, too everything. His face is right there. His eyes locked on mine like he's daring me to breathe wrong.
I gulp, because of course I do, and instantly regret it.
"Y-you're too close," I whisper, even though I already betrayed myself last chapter by saying no don't move.
Keifer doesn't flinch. Doesn't blink. Just smirks like the criminal he is. "Am I?"
HELLO??? YES SIR. MY PERSONAL SPACE IS CRYING.
I should shove him. I should yell. I should throw another pillow. But my hands… are frozen on the couch cushion, knuckles white, because if I move even a centimeter, we'll actually—
"Jay?" he says softly. Too softly. His voice dips, calm but dangerous. "Why are you shaking?"
"I'm not!" I squeak. Totally squeak. Oh my god, someone end me.
He tilts his head, eyes scanning my face like he can see every secret I've ever had written there. And then, like it's the most natural thing in the world, his hand slides from the back of the couch—landing right beside my hip.
Oh.
OH NO.
Every neuron in my brain explodes. His hand isn't touching me. Not really. Just close. Too close. My whole body goes haywire like I'm a busted Wi-Fi router.
"I'm not shaking," I repeat, voice cracking like glass.
"Liar," he says softly.
Excuse me??? HOW DARE YOU.
And then—
SLAM.
The front door bursts open.
"Kuyaaa, where's the—" Keiren's voice cuts off.
I YEET MYSELF OFF THE COUCH LIKE A LAUNCHING MISSILE.
"WELCOME BACK!!" I scream, way too loud. "HOW WAS SCHOOL?? DID YOU LEARN MATH?? WOW LOVE THAT FOR YOU."
OMG thank you so much Keiren!!
Keifer leans back casually, totally unbothered. Meanwhile I'm redder than Yuri's rooster hair.
Keigen squints at us suspiciously. Keiren just blinks, holding a bag of chips. "You guys look… weird."
"WE'RE NOT WEIRD YOU'RE WEIRD!" I yell, practically tripping over the rug as I escape to the kitchen.
Behind me, I hear Keifer chuckle low. The sound follows me like a curse.
I slam myself into the kitchen counter like it's a safe zone in tag. My chest is thumping, my cheeks are on fire, and my brain is screaming: what. was. that.
Behind me, the living room fills with voices again—Keigen arguing with Keiren over chips, footsteps, bags dropping. Normal. Totally normal.
Except it's not.
Because when I glance back—he's there.
Leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, smirk tugging at his lips like nothing happened. Like he didn't just almost—OH MY GOD I can't even finish that thought without combusting.
I yank open a cabinet for no reason. "Hungry! Yep. Starving! Gotta eat something, anything—rice, air, woodchips—"
"Jay."
My knees almost buckle. That voice. Calm. Soft. Dangerous.
I spin around too fast. "W-what?"
His eyes lock on mine. Not playful this time. Not sharp. Just… steady. "Relax. I wasn't going to do anything."
EXCUSE ME SIR, THEN WHY DID YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE ABOUT TO—
I choke on my words. "I—I know that!"
"Do you?" His eyebrow arches.
OH MY GOD SOMEONE THROW ME OUT THE WINDOW.
Before I can combust further, Keigen shouts from the living room, "Kuya, Angelo's calling!"
Keifer straightens, eyes still on me. "Stay here."
Then he walks off, calm as ever, leaving me clinging to the counter like a ghost just possessed me.
Relax. I wasn't going to do anything.
Then why did it feel like he almost did?
Why does it feel like next time… he might?
SHUT UP BRAIN!
Useless!
I flop onto my side, smacking the pillow like it's personally responsible for the chaos in my head. No use. My brain refuses to shut up.
Relax, Jay. Sleep. School tomorrow. Big day. Algebra test. Totally normal things.
Except no.
Because every time I close my eyes, I see him. The way his eyes pinned me like I was cornered prey. The way his voice dipped so low it felt like gravity. The way he said relax—like I actually could with him standing three inches away.
I yank the blanket over my face. "Ughhhhhh."
This is fine. Totally fine.
Except—NOT fine.
Because Yuri hasn't replied. Because Keifer's watching me like I'm hiding nuclear codes. Because Section E's chaos is only a distraction for exactly five seconds before the quiet sets in and the questions crawl back.
What was in that paper?Why is Yuri avoiding me?And why does it feel like I'm balancing on the edge of something sharp every time Keifer's around?
My phone buzzes. My heart leaps so fast I almost drop it.
From: Unknown Number.Don't get involved.
My blood turns to ice.
Unknown number?? No profile picture. No name. Just those three words glowing on the screen like a curse.
Don't get involved.
I sit upon the couch. My hands shake as I clutch the phone, staring at it like it might bite me.
Is it Yuri? Is it the hoodie guy? Is it… someone else entirely?
I type back before my brain can stop me.
To: Unknown NumberWho is this??
Three dots appear. Typing. Stop. Typing. Stop.
Then—
Stay away from Yuri.
My chest caves in.
I slam the phone face down, heart thudding like a drumline in my ribcage.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FLIP.
From: Unknown NumberStop. Now.
My stomach drops. I drop the phone back on the counter like it's a hot coal.
What is happening? Who even—? I glance toward the living room. Keifer hasn't moved. He's just… watching. My panic? My meltdown? My life crumbling?
I try to steady my breathing. "Okay, Jay Jay," I whisper to myself. "Focus. You're not going to… oh god, what do I even do?!"
Footsteps. Slow, deliberate. My stomach knots.
Keifer appears behind me. Not touching. Just… there. Looming. Smirking. That damn smirk. "What's wrong?" His voice is soft, but it carries the weight of a thousand questions.
I clutch the counter like it's my last tether to reality. "I… I got a message," I stammer. My voice is a squeak, I know it. My cheeks burn hotter than the stove behind me.
He leans closer, eyes scanning the phone like he can read it without me showing him. "From who?"
"I—I don't know," I whisper. "It just… says… 'Don't get involved.'"
Keifer's expression sharpens. Alert. Dangerous. My chest tightens.
"Did it say anything else?" His voice is low. Controlled.
"No. Just… don't get involved," I repeat, words stumbling over themselves.
He exhales slowly, leaning against the counter beside me, still not touching. His presence is… oppressive, but somehow grounding. I hate that.
"Jay," he murmurs. "You need to be careful. Whoever this is—they're serious."
"I—I know!" I squeak. "I just… I don't understand! Who—why—how—"
Keifer tilts his head. "Yuri?"
I flinch. "M-maybe! I don't—he hasn't replied!" My voice cracks. "I've been texting him nonstop—nothing! And now this—"
Keifer's gaze softens for just a second. "Then you need to stop. Stay put. Don't chase answers alone."
I look up at him, blinking rapidly. "Stay put? I'm not a toddler! I can—"
"No," he interrupts firmly, tone leaving no room for argument. "Not this time. Trust me. Just… stay here."
I swallow hard. "Okay…"
The weight of his words, the intensity in his eyes, makes my stomach flip. Stay here. Don't chase. Don't get involved.
I glance toward the living room again. Keigen's still glaring at nothing in particular. Keiren is munching on chips, blissfully unaware. Normal. Totally normal. Totally not what's going on in my head.
I sink onto the couch, hugging a pillow like it's a shield. Keifer doesn't sit, just stands there, watching over me like a sentinel, silent and unyielding.
Minutes pass. The quiet in the house becomes unbearable. My phone buzzes again. I glance at it. Unknown Number.
I nearly throw it across the room.
From: Unknown Number:
If you value your life, Jay Jay, stay away from him.
My hands shake. My chest burns. My mind races.
Keifer crouches slightly to meet my eye level. "Who is this?"
"I—I don't know!" I squeak. "It just… it keeps telling me to stay away from Yuri. From everything!"
His jaw tightens. "Then we need to figure this out. Together."
I stare at him, wide-eyed. Together? With him? Oh god. Oh no.
He leans back, standing upright, gaze never leaving mine. "I won't let anyone touch you, Jay. Not him. Not anyone."
My heart thuds violently. My cheeks burn hotter than the stove. I don't even try to hide it anymore.
The doorbell rings.