Jay's POV
Lunch was chaos as usual.
Felix was arguing about stealing fries.
Calix was pretending to conduct the cafeteria like an orchestra.
Yuri kept staring at me with that suspicious smile.
Keifer sat beside me.
Too calm.
Too quiet.
Which meant he was planning something.
I stood up. "I'm going to the washroom."
He didn't even look up. "Okay."
Too casual.
Suspicious.
When I walked back down the hallway, the school felt quieter. Afternoon sun spilled through the windows like warm honey. My shoes echoed lightly on the floor.
And then—
A hand grabbed my wrist.
I barely had time to react before I was gently pulled into the music room.
The door clicked shut.
I turned.
Keifer.
Leaning against the door like this was perfectly normal behavior.
I crossed my arms. "Kidnapping again?"
He smiled. "Tradition."
"You could've just called my name."
"Less dramatic."
The music room was empty. Instruments lined the walls. A piano sat in the corner like it was minding its own business.
I stepped closer to him.
"What do you want?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he moved forward slowly.
And before I could make another sarcastic comment—
He gently pinned me against the wall.
Not harsh.
Not forceful.
Just close.
His hand rested around my waist.
Warm.
Steady.
My heart betrayed me immediately.
"Keifer," I said quietly, trying to sound calm. "This is a school."
"Yes."
"People study here."
"Not in this room."
I tried not to smile.
"You planned this."
"I might have."
His face was closer now. Close enough that I could see the tiny scar near his eyebrow. Close enough that I could feel his breath.
"You've been avoiding something," he said softly.
"I have not."
"You have."
I tilted my head slightly. "And what would that be?"
He leaned in just a little more.
"This."
My stomach flipped.
"Keifer…"
"You like me."
"That's bold."
"You do."
"And what if I don't?"
He smirked slightly. "Then you wouldn't be blushing."
I hated that he was right.
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"So let's stop pretending."
"Pretending what?"
"That this is temporary."
Silence.
My heart was loud.
The hallway outside was quiet.
His hand tightened slightly around my waist.
Not possessive.
Protective.
"Jay," he said softer now. "Be official with me."
The word hung there.
Official.
No teasing.
No jokes.
Just honest.
I looked at him properly.
"You're sure?"
"I don't pull people into music rooms for fun."
"You kind of do."
"Not like this."
That made me smile.
He leaned in.
I didn't move away.
Our foreheads touched first.
Soft.
Then his lips brushed mine.
Gentle.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Just warm.
I felt his hand shift slightly at my waist as he kissed me again, a little longer this time.
Butterflies. Everywhere.
When we pulled apart, I realized I was holding onto his shirt.
He looked way too pleased.
"So?" he asked quietly.
"So what?"
"Am I still kidnapping you or am I your boyfriend?"
I pretended to think.
"You're very dramatic."
"I know."
"You're stubborn."
"Yes."
"You're annoying."
"Probably."
I reached up and lightly pulled him down by his collar.
And kissed him first this time.
Short.
Sweet.
Deliberate.
When I pulled back, I said softly,
"Congratulations."
His eyebrows lifted. "On?"
"You're official."
The smile that spread across his face was unfair.
"Say it properly."
I narrowed my eyes. "Don't push it."
"Say it."
I sighed dramatically.
"You're my boyfriend."
He looked like he just won something important.
He leaned in and kissed me again, slightly deeper but still gentle, his thumb brushing lightly against my waist.
When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine.
"About time," he murmured.
I laughed softly.
"You pulled me into a music room to confess."
"It worked."
I looked toward the door.
"We should go before someone notices."
He didn't move.
"Five more seconds."
"You're counting?"
"No."
His hand slid slightly at my waist, steady and warm.
"Okay," he said finally, stepping back but still holding my hand. "We walk out normally."
"Define normally."
"Like two students."
"Who just kissed in the music room."
He grinned. "Exactly."
Before opening the door, he leaned in one more time and gave me a quick peck.
"For luck," he said.
"For what?"
"For surviving our friends."
I groaned.
When we stepped back into the hallway, the world looked exactly the same.
But it felt different.
And when we walked back toward the cafeteria—
His hand found mine.
And this time…
I didn't let go.
End of Chapter. 💙✨