Five Steps Too Close (Jay's POV)
I thought it ended at the door.
I was wrong.
I had just stepped into Section E when I heard footsteps behind me.
Of course.
Keifer.
"Why are you walking behind me?" I asked without turning.
"Who said I'm behind you?" he replied lazily.
I stopped.
He almost bumped into me.
"You're following me."
"I'm going to my seat."
"Which is?"
"Inside this classroom."
I narrowed my eyes. "Suspicious."
He smirked. "Paranoid."
We walked in together.
Big mistake.
Huge mistake.
Because the moment we entered—
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Then slowly…
Keifer.
Yuri.
Cin.
David.
Emman.
Eren.
Rory.
Wrdix.
Mayo.
Kit.
Blaster.
Calix.
Felix.
All eyes on us.
Felix leaned forward dramatically.
"Well, well."
Yuri clutched his heart. "They're walking together."
Cin whispered loudly, "Marriage registration office opens at 10."
Rory started clapping slowly.
"Power couple entering the building."
I dropped my bag aggressively. "Say one more word and I will rearrange your future."
Mayo grinned. "She's blushing."
"I AM NOT."
Keifer leaned against the desk beside me.
"She is."
I turned to him sharply. "Why are you encouraging them?"
He shrugged. "I enjoy chaos."
"You are chaos."
"Only when you're around."
The class screamed.
Blaster stood up dramatically. "CONFESS ALREADY."
Calix shook his head. "At least I admitted my feelings."
I pointed at him. "Sit down, baby."
The class exploded again.
Keifer laughed softly beside me.
And that laugh?
Why does it sound different lately?
Felix pointed at us. "You walked in together."
"We happened to enter at the same time," I snapped.
Yuri shook his head. "He was waiting outside."
Traitor.
I slowly turned to Keifer.
"You told them?"
He looked innocent. "I didn't have to."
I glared.
Wrdix smirked. "Bro, you look proud."
Keifer leaned closer to me slightly.
"Should I be?"
My brain froze for half a second.
I hate when he does that.
I crossed my arms to hide it.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
He lowered his voice so only I could hear.
"Too late."
My heart betrayed me again.
Why does it beat louder when he stands this close?
Cin suddenly stood up and announced, "New seating arrangement. Jay and Keif together."
"NO," I said instantly.
"Yes," the class shouted.
Emman dragged a chair dramatically.
David started playing fake wedding music on his phone.
Eren threw paper confetti.
Absolute circus.
Keifer didn't even resist.
He just casually sat in the seat beside mine.
And looked at me.
That stupid smirk again.
"You can move," I said.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
He tilted his head. "Are you nervous?"
"I don't get nervous."
"Your hand is shaking."
I looked down.
It wasn't.
He was lying.
I hit his arm lightly. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he said quietly, "you're still here."
The teasing didn't stop the whole period.
Felix kept whispering "husband-wife."
Yuri kept asking when the wedding is.
Rory said he'd be best man.
Calix just smirked like he knows something.
And through all of it—
Keifer didn't move away.
Didn't deny it loudly.
Didn't push the joke too hard either.
He just stayed beside me.
Close.
Comfortably close.
And that's what scared me.
Because for the first time—
I didn't move away either.
When the bell rang, everyone rushed out dramatically.
Keifer stood up slowly.
Then looked at me.
"You survived."
"Barely."
He smiled softly.
"I don't mind it."
"Mind what?"
"They teasing us."
I looked at him carefully.
"Why?"
He held my gaze.
"Because it's you."
Silence.
My heart did that thing again.
And before I could reply—
Yuri screamed from outside, "LOVE BIRDS LET'S GO."
Ruined.
Again.