Chapter 33
The Quiet Moments Between
The campus was quieter now, late spring settling in with soft breezes and blooming flowers.
Jay sat beneath their favorite tree near the library, her head resting on Keifer's shoulder. Around them, students hurried past, caught in last-minute cramming and preparations for finals, but here - in this small bubble - time felt still.
"I used to think love was supposed to be loud," Jay whispered, tracing lazy circles on Keifer's hand.
Keifer chuckled softly. "You mean like fireworks?"
"Yeah. Big, explosive, unforgettable moments," she said. "But now I think it's the quiet stuff that means more."
He squeezed her hand. "Like this."
They sat together in comfortable silence, letting the soft rustle of leaves and distant chatter be the soundtrack to their peace.
Classes were ending soon, and the future stretched ahead - uncertain, but no longer frightening. Jay had learned to trust that no matter what came next, she wouldn't face it alone.
Their friends, Fatima and Yuri, were still their loud, hilarious anchors - always poking fun, always making sure the romance never got too serious without a joke or two.
But Jay didn't mind. She liked it that way.
Later that evening, Jay pinned the fresh rose Keifer had given her to her corkboard, right next to the old pressed one - a quiet reminder of how far they'd come.
She smiled, thinking about the journey - the mistakes, the heartbreaks, the healing - and how it all led to this steady, slow-burning love that felt like home.
"Whatever comes next," she murmured to herself, "we'll face it together."
Keifer appeared behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Ready for the next chapter?" he asked, voice warm.
Jay looked up, meeting his eyes.
"Always."