Chapter: "Yes. I Was Jealous." (Jay's POV)
Let's clear something first.
Keifer is 18.
I'm 17.
So no, I cannot use the "I'm older" card on him.
Unfortunately.
Which makes this worse.
Because yesterday I literally fought him in the corridor like a dramatic 5-year-old… and today he looks way too calm.
That's suspicious.
I walked into Section E pretending nothing happened.
Sat down.
Opened my book.
Did not look at him.
Did. Not. Look.
"Good morning, jealous girl."
I froze.
Slowly turned my head.
He was leaning back in his chair, smirking like he just won an award.
"I am not jealous."
Felix gasped. "Round two."
David whispered, "Place your bets."
Keifer rested his chin on his hand and stared at me.
"You glared at Ella like she stole your oxygen."
"I glare at everyone."
"You walked past us twice."
"That corridor has two directions."
"You slowed down."
"It's called walking."
"You stared."
"I observe."
He tilted his head. "You were jealous."
"I was not."
"Yes, you were."
"No."
"Yes."
"Keifer."
"Jay."
"Stop."
"Admit it."
The class was fully invested now.
Ci N literally turned his chair around.
Blaster whispered loudly, "Confession arc."
I stood up dramatically.
"Why are you enjoying this so much?"
"Because you're terrible at hiding it."
"I hide things very well."
"You don't. Your face exposes you."
"My face does not betray me."
He leaned forward slightly.
"It does when you care."
That sentence hit harder than it should have.
I crossed my arms.
"I don't care."
"Then why did you fight me?"
"Because you were smiling too much."
He blinked once.
"Smiling?"
"Yes."
"So I can't smile now?"
"Not like that."
"Like what?"
"Comfortable."
He stared at me like he just solved a math problem.
"You didn't like that I was comfortable with her."
I opened my mouth to argue.
Nothing came out.
The silence stretched.
Section E went unusually quiet.
He stood up now.
Walked closer.
Not too close.
Just enough that I could feel the tension.
"Look at me and say you weren't jealous."
I looked at him.
Big mistake.
His eyes weren't teasing anymore.
They were steady.
Waiting.
My pride was screaming at me.
But my heart?
My heart was tired of pretending.
I exhaled sharply.
"Fine."
The class leaned in.
"Yes," I snapped. "I was fucking jealous when you talked to Ella. Happy?"
Dead silence.
Felix's mouth fell open.
David whispered, "She said it."
Ci N covered his face dramatically.
Keifer didn't laugh.
Didn't tease.
He just looked at me for a second.
And then he smiled.
Not the annoying smirk.
A soft one.
"You could've just said that."
I rolled my eyes aggressively to hide the fact that my cheeks were burning.
"Don't make it dramatic."
"You made it dramatic."
"You started it."
"You glared first."
"I didn't glare."
"You did."
"I squinted."
"It was indoors."
Silence.
I hate him.
He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.
"You don't have to act like it doesn't bother you."
"It shouldn't bother me."
"But it did."
"…Yes."
That "yes" was quieter.
Only he heard it.
He nodded slightly.
"Okay."
"Okay what?"
"I won't give you reasons to feel that way."
My heart skipped again.
"I didn't say you had to stop talking to people."
"You don't like her."
"I don't."
"Good."
I blinked. "Good?"
"I don't want you to like her."
The class behind us started whispering loudly.
Blaster: "They forgot we exist."
Ci N: "This is uncomfortable."
Keifer ignored them.
He looked at me again.
"Next time," he said softly, "just tell me."
"I just did."
He smirked lightly. "After fighting me for two days."
"I like fighting."
"I noticed."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You're cute when you're jealous."
"I am not cute."
"You are."
"I'm literally threatening you."
"And I'm still here."
I tried not to smile.
Failed.
Section E exploded.
Felix shouted, "THEY'RE SMILING!"
David clapped like a proud parent.
I sat down quickly.
"This conversation never happened."
Keifer sat too, still looking way too satisfied.
"It definitely happened."
I muttered under my breath,
"I hate that you figured it out."
He replied softly,
"I like that you care."
And that…
That shut me up completely.