The dorm room was unusually quiet.
Jay was sitting at the desk, papers spread everywhere, laptop open, notes neatly color-coded. Keifer was supposed to be helping… but instead, he was leaning back in his chair, spinning a pen and watching her like she was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Keifer," Jay said without looking up, "if you don't stop staring and actually read the financial report, I swear—"
"You get cuter when you're mad," he interrupted.
She finally looked at him. "This is why we're going to fail."
He stood up slowly, walking toward her. "Relax. We won't."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're distracting."
"That's my job."
Before she could argue, he leaned down slightly. Jay hesitated — just for a second — then sighed in defeat.
"This is a bad idea," she murmured.
"I know," he said softly.
Still, neither of them moved away.
The moment was quiet, warm, familiar. No teasing. No sarcasm. Just them.
Keifer brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Jay's breath hitched.
And then — they kissed.
It was gentle and brief, but it made her heart race anyway.
Unfortunately…
That was the exact moment the dorm door swung open.
"Ahem."
Jay and Keifer froze.
Slowly — painfully slowly — they turned.
Standing in the doorway were Mr. and Mrs. Watson… and Mr. and Mrs. Mariano.
Four parents.
Four shocked expressions.
One very awkward silence.
Jay jumped back like she'd been electrocuted. "THIS IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!"
Keifer blinked. "Actually… it kind of is."
"KEIFER!" Jay hissed.
Mrs. Mariano covered her mouth, eyes sparkling.
"Oh my goodness."
Mr. Watson crossed his arms — but he was smiling. "Well. Took you long enough."
Jay's brain short-circuited. "I— wait— what?"
Mrs. Watson stepped forward, clearly trying not to laugh. "You two have been terrible at hiding this."
Mr. Mariano nodded. "The hoodie. The jet. The way you look at each other."
Jay groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I want to disappear."
Keifer rubbed the back of his neck. "In our defense… we did try."
Mrs. Mariano raised an eyebrow. "Did you?"
Keifer paused. "…Not very hard."
Jay shot him a look of betrayal.
Then, to Jay's complete horror, their parents all exchanged knowing looks.
Mr. Watson cleared his throat. "So. Since this is out in the open now—"
Jay panicked. "We're still professional! This won't affect the internship!"
Mrs. Mariano smiled warmly. "Sweetheart, we're not upset."
Jay blinked. "You're… not?"
"Of course not," her mother said. "We've been hoping for this for years."
Keifer's eyes widened. "YEARS?"
Mr. Mariano laughed. "You two were inseparable as kids. This was inevitable."
Jay muttered, "I hate all of you."
Keifer leaned toward her and whispered, "At least they're not grounding us."
She elbowed him quietly.
Mrs. Watson clapped her hands once. "Alright. Enough embarrassing them."
Then she added, smiling, "But for the record… you make a very cute couple."
Jay's face turned bright red.
Keifer, however, grinned proudly.
"See?" he whispered. "Even our parents ship us."
Jay sighed, but this time… she didn't pull away when he stood a little closer