Chapter 3
The Tease That Meant Nothing… Or Everything
Jays pov
I didn't think about him again.
At least…
that's what I told myself.
It was just a random boy.
Rude.
Annoying.
Full of attitude.
"Idiot…"
I muttered again the next day.
But college life didn't stay quiet for long.
Within a week…
I wasn't alone anymore.
I found people.
Or maybe…
they found me.
Laughter.
Noise.
Group talks.
Endless conversations.
And in the middle of all that chaos…
I found my circle.
Ella.
The loudest.
The boldest.
The most dangerous when it came to teasing.
"Jayyyy…"
she dragged my name dramatically.
I looked at her suspiciously.
"What?"
She leaned closer…
eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Your guy is here."
I frowned.
"My what?"
She pointed behind me casually.
I turned.
And there he was.
That same boy.
Hands in pockets.
Talking to someone.
Unbothered as always.
My heart did something weird.
I turned back instantly.
"He's not my guy."
Ella gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god, denial already?!"
"Ella, shut up."
"No no listen," she grabbed my arm, pulling me slightly closer.
"He looks at you."
"What?"
"Yes!"
She nodded like it was breaking news.
"Not always… but sometimes."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're imagining things."
"I'm not!"
"Ella…"
"Okay fine," she smirked.
"Then why are you not looking at him again?"
I froze.
"I just… don't want to."
"Exactly."
She leaned closer to my ear.
"That's called interest."
"IT'S NOT."
She burst out laughing.
My cheeks felt warm.
And I hated it.
Why was I even reacting?
"He's just some rude guy."
"Hmm…" Ella hummed.
"Rude guys are always interesting."
I groaned.
"You're impossible."
"And you're blushing."
"I AM NOT."
But I was.
Before I could say anything else—
"Who's blushing?"
A voice.
Right behind me.
My heart skipped.
I turned slowly.
And there he was.
Too close.
Way too close.
His eyes shifted between me and Ella.
Suspicious.
Curious.
Amused.
Ella's grin widened.
Oh no.
"This is him," she said proudly.
I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.
"Him?" he asked.
Raising an eyebrow.
Ella nodded.
"Yeah. Jay's guy."
"ELLA!"
He looked at me.
Directly.
That same calm expression.
But this time…
there was something else.
Interest.
"Is that so?" he said.
I shook my head quickly.
"No. She's lying."
Ella leaned back, enjoying every second.
He didn't look at her.
Only me.
"Good," he said.
I blinked.
"Why?"
A slight pause.
Then—
"I don't like being claimed."
Excuse me?!
"Trust me," I crossed my arms.
"I wouldn't claim you even by mistake."
For a second…
there was silence.
Then—
He smiled.
A real one this time.
Not a smirk.
And for some reason…
my heart reacted again.
"Good," he repeated softly.
And just like that…
he walked away.
Again.
I stood there.
Confused.
Annoyed.
Ella squealed.
"OH MY GOD DID YOU SEE THAT?!"
"See what?!"
"The tension!"
"There is NO tension!"
"There IS!"
I groaned loudly.
But deep inside…
something had already started.
Something small.
Something unnoticeable.
A look.
A moment.
A reaction.
And maybe…
Ella wasn't completely wrong.
Because from that day…
he wasn't just
"that rude guy" anymore.
He became…
someone I started noticing.
And that was the beginning of a story…
that teasing turned into love.
A love that would one day…
become impossible.
To be continued… 😏💔