Jay's POV
The next morning after confession felt unreal.
I woke up smiling like a fool, hugging my pillow like it was him.
Keifer's voice from last night still echoed in my ears-
"I love you. Official. No running."
I had never wanted to run less in my life.
School went by in a blur.
Every time we passed each other in the hallway, he'd brush his hand against mine.
Not holding yet.
Just promising.
And every time, I'd look away first, cheeks burning.
At the final bell, before I could leave, his hand wrapped around my wrist gently.
"Come with me," he said.
No explanation. No hint.
Just his eyes.
And that was enough.
He drove us across town, stopping in front of a fancy building I had only seen from the bus window.
A hotel? A restaurant? A palace?
I didn't know.
Inside, he led me to an elevator and then to a room on the 21st floor.
There, a woman waited-mid 40s, elegant, smiling like she already knew me.
"She'll help you get ready," Keifer said.
My heart nearly jumped out of me.
"Ready for what? Are we going to a wedding? Are we getting married? Did I skip half my life?"
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
"I'm not letting you marry anyone until you're addicted to me."
I threw a pillow at him.
The woman caught it gracefully like she was trained for nonsense.
For the next hour, I was lost in mirrors and brushes, hairpins and fabric.
A soft champagne dress, embroidery like constellations.
My hair styled in waves, smoky eyes, a little gloss.
When I looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself.
I looked... loved.
When I stepped out, Keifer froze.
His breath visibly caught.
He didn't need to say anything-
the way he looked at me was enough to make my knees weaken.
"You're beautiful," he said quietly, stepping closer.
"Like the kind of beautiful you don't forget even if you go blind."
I slapped his arm.
"Why would you go blind? Don't say stupid things."
He took my hand.
"Come on, glutton. We'll feed you before you cry again."
He was right.
I was already emotional.
We reached a grand restaurant-crystal lights, violin music, waiters dressed like they had no right to breathe near normal humans.
He pulled my chair out for me like a gentleman, and I nearly combusted.
Food arrived.
And that's when my brain betrayed me.
He was talking about us. About the future.
About being official. About dates.
About how he wanted to show me off, how he'd protect me, how he'd earn me again and again-
And I was busy eating mashed potatoes like I was auditioning for a potato commercial.
He stared at me.
I chewed.
He stared harder.
I swallowed.
"What? They taste good," I muttered.
"You're supposed to be focusing on me," he said, leaning forward.
"You'll be here after I swallow."
"I might leave."
"Then I'll follow. Now let me enjoy carbs."
He groaned, a hand dragging down his face.
"Why do I love you?"
I grinned.
"Because God cursed you."
We spent almost two hours like that.
Talking. Teasing.
Him confessing.
Me pretending I didn't want to faint every time his thumb brushed my fingers.
Then the music changed-slow, soft.
He stood, offering his hand.
"Dance with me."
"Here? In front of people? What if I step on your toes? What if I kick you-"
"Jay."
My mouth shut.
He held my waist, gentle.
I placed my hands on his shoulders.
Our foreheads almost touched.
He swayed us lightly, like we were gliding.
"You make everything terrifying," I whispered.
"And safe," he replied.
We stopped moving.
I didn't know who leaned in first.
Maybe him.
Maybe me.
But our breaths mingled, his lips inches away, eyes closing-
"WOOOOHOOO! SECTION E HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING!"
I jumped so violently I nearly headbutted him.
Drew was waving napkins like flags.
David had food in his hand already.
Eren was recording like it was a nature documentary.
Rory posed like a model in front of the chandelier.
Keifer turned slowly.
Very slowly.
"What. Are. You. Doing. Here," he said, voice flat like a murder documentary narrator.
David grinned.
"You said we could come when you call!"
"I HAVEN'T CALLED!"
"Oh."
They all looked at one another.
"We thought you will call," Drew said.
I choked on air.
Keifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
I choked on air.
Keifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
We tried to continue the date.
They sat.
At our table.
Ordered food.
Stole my bread.
Keifer looked like he was calculating how many years in jail murder would cost.
Finally, he stood.
The laughter faded.
He didn't look angry-
just serious enough to silence all of us.
"I'm leaving soon," he said.
"For London. A few days."
My heart dropped.
He squeezed my hand once.
I felt it in my bones.
"Before I go... I need your help."
Everyone straightened.
"There's something off about Elara."
Silence.
"I saw her today. With Dylan."
A chill rippled through me.
Dylan.
Kaizer's shadow.
The hitman people pretend doesn't exist.
David cursed under his breath.
Ci en sat up.
Rory stopped chewing.
I swallowed.
"She said he was asking for an address. And her name. And she just talked like she knew him. Calm. Not confused. Not scared."
Keifer's voice sharpened.
"She could be innocent. So we don't attack. We observe."
He pointed at Edrix first.
"Hack everything. Quiet. No trace."
Edrix nodded, smirk already forming.
Then Rory.
"Everything about her past. Schools. Addresses. Family. I want to know who she is when no one is looking."
Rory nodded.
Then me and David.
"You two. Get close to her. Friendly. If she slips, you'll see it first."
My chest tightened.
I nodded anyway.
Finally, Yuri.
"You're shadowing her. Everywhere she goes. Whoever she meets."
A beat of silence.
"And listen," Keifer's voice dropped, eyes searching all of ours.
"No one acts unless I say so. If she's innocent, she doesn't deserve to be hunted. If she's not..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
He turned to me, palms cupping my face.
Not caring who was watching.
"I'll be back before you miss me," he whispered.
"I miss you after five seconds," I whispered back.
His forehead pressed to mine.
"Stay safe," he murmured.
"You too," I breathed.
He pulled away.
Then, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"While I'm gone... Jay is your priority."
Section E nodded, serious.
And something inside me settled.
For the first time in my life...
I wasn't alone.