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✦ CHAPTER — CAUGHT ✦
Jayjay's POV
I didn't realize when I leaned into him.
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It just… happened.
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Maybe because I was tired.
Maybe because I was comfortable.
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Or maybe—
because it was him.
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My head rested lightly against his shoulder.
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His arm was behind me.
Not tight.
Just there.
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And his fingers—
kept brushing gently through my hair.
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Slow.
Careful.
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Like he didn't even realize he was doing it.
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I closed my eyes for a second.
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This felt…
too easy.
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Too soft.
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"…you're quiet," he murmured.
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"…I'm tired."
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A small pause.
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"Sleep."
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I almost laughed.
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"Here?"
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His fingers didn't stop.
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"…why not."
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My lips curved slightly.
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I shifted just a little closer.
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And he didn't stop me.
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Didn't even hesitate.
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His hand slid slightly lower.
Resting more securely against my side.
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Holding me there.
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And I let him.
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I actually let him.
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Keifer's POV
She leaned into me like it was natural.
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Like she belonged there.
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And I didn't move.
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Didn't even think about moving.
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My fingers stayed in her hair.
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Brushing the same strand over and over.
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Because I liked it.
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Because she stayed.
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Because she didn't pull away.
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That alone—
was enough to keep me exactly like this.
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Then—
footsteps.
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Voices.
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Familiar.
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I didn't react immediately.
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But she did.
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Jayjay's POV
"…wait—"
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I lifted my head slightly.
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Voices.
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More than one.
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Coming closer.
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My eyes widened.
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"…Keifer."
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Too late.
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The door opened.
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And everything froze.
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Serina stood there.
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Keizer behind her.
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Ciel peeking from the side.
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And—
my family.
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All of them.
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My breath stopped.
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Because—
they saw everything.
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Me.
Leaning on him.
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His hand still in my hair.
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His arm still around me.
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Too close.
Way too close.
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Silence.
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Then—
Ciel gasped.
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"OH MY GOD—"
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"Ciel," Serina tried to stop her—
but it was too late.
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My face burned instantly.
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I pulled back quickly.
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Too quickly.
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"…we didn't—"
I stopped.
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Because I didn't even know what I was denying.
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Jare would've said something.
Thank God he wasn't here.
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But Aries—
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Aries crossed his arms.
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"…interesting."
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Oh no.
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Keifer's POV
She moved away too fast.
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That annoyed me more than it should've.
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My hand stayed where it was for a second longer—
before I let it drop.
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Slow.
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Everyone was staring.
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At us.
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At her.
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At me.
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Ciel was practically vibrating.
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"I knew it— I KNEW IT—"
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"Ciel," Keizer said calmly.
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But even he—
was watching closely.
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Serina smiled slightly.
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Not surprised.
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Just… pleased.
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Jayjay's POV
I didn't know where to look.
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At them?
At him?
At the floor?
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"…you're early," I managed.
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Reycee smiled gently.
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"We wanted to surprise you."
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Mission accomplished.
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I glanced at Keifer.
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Big mistake.
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He was already looking at me.
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Calm.
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Unbothered.
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Like nothing happened.
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Like I wasn't just dying inside.
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And then—
he did something worse.
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His hand lifted.
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My breath caught.
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And he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
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Right in front of everyone.
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Slow.
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Careful.
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Intentional.
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My heart stopped.
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"…Keifer," I whispered.
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Too late.
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Ciel squealed.
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"THIS IS SO CUTE—"
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"Ciel," Serina laughed softly.
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Even Aries looked slightly shocked now.
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Jasfher raised a brow.
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"…so this is how it is."
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I wanted to disappear.
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Actually disappear.
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But Keifer—
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Keifer didn't move away.
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Didn't step back.
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If anything—
he stepped closer.
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Just slightly.
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Close enough for me to feel it.
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Close enough for everyone to notice.
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"…she was tired," he said calmly.
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Like that explained everything.
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It didn't.
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Not at all.
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But no one argued.
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Because the way he said it—
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left no room to question.
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And somehow—
that made my heart beat even faster.
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Because this time—
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he didn't hide it. 🥹🤍
✦ CHAPTER — IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
Jayjay's POV
I couldn't look at anyone.
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Not after that.
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Not after they saw us like that.
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I sat at the table quietly.
Trying to act normal.
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But nothing felt normal.
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Not when—
he sat right next to me.
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Too close.
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Again.
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My breath hitched slightly when I felt it.
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His hand.
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Resting at my waist.
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Under the table.
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"…Keifer," I whispered.
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A soft hum beside me.
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"You can—"
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"No."
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My words stopped.
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I turned slightly.
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He didn't even look at me.
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Just… kept eating.
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Like this—
was normal.
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His thumb brushed lightly against my side.
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Slow.
Absent-minded.
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But intentional.
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My heart started racing again.
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"Eat, baby."
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My breath caught.
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I froze.
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"…don't call me that here," I whispered quickly.
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Too many people.
Too many eyes.
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A pause.
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Then—
his hand tightened slightly.
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"Why?"
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I swallowed.
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"…they're watching."
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That made him glance up.
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At them.
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Then back at me.
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And instead of stopping—
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he leaned slightly closer.
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"They can watch."
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My heart skipped.
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I looked down quickly.
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Ciel was already staring.
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Wide grin.
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"Oh my God—"
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"Ciel," Serina warned gently.
But she was smiling too.
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I wanted to disappear.
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Actually disappear.
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Keifer's POV
She kept trying to move away.
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Not physically.
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But I could feel it.
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That hesitation.
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That distance.
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Even now.
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My hand stayed at her waist.
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Holding her there.
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Not letting her slip back into that space again.
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"Eat," I murmured again.
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She nodded slightly.
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Took a bite.
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Good.
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But her shoulders were still tense.
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Still aware of everyone watching.
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That irritated me.
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Because she shouldn't feel like that.
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Not next to me.
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Jayjay's POV
I tried to focus on the food.
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On anything but him.
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But it wasn't working.
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Not when his hand wouldn't leave.
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Not when he kept leaning closer.
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Not when I could feel his presence like this.
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"…so," Aries spoke.
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My head lifted slightly.
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His eyes moved between us.
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"…since when did this start?"
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Silence.
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My breath caught.
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I knew what he meant.
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Everyone did.
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I didn't look at Keifer.
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I couldn't.
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Because I didn't know what he'd say.
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Didn't know if he'd—
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"I always cared."
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My heart stopped.
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The words came from him.
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Calm.
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Steady.
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Like it wasn't a big deal.
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But it was.
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Everything went quiet.
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I turned slowly.
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Looked at him.
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He wasn't looking at anyone else.
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Just… eating.
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Like he didn't just say something that changed everything.
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My chest tightened.
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Because—
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that wasn't true.
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Or maybe…
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it was.
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Just hidden.
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I didn't know.
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And that confused me more.
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My hand moved slightly on the table.
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Pulling back a little.
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Just a little.
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But—
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his hand caught mine instantly.
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Under the table.
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My breath hitched.
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His fingers intertwined with mine.
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Tight.
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Not letting go.
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I stilled.
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"…Keifer."
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No response.
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Just his grip tightening slightly.
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Like a warning.
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Like a promise.
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Don't pull away.
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And this time—
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I didn't.
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Keifer's POV
She tried to pull away.
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Again.
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Even after everything.
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My jaw tightened slightly.
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I caught her hand immediately.
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Held it.
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Firm.
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Because I meant what I said.
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Even if I didn't understand it fully before—
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I wasn't letting her go now.
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Not in front of them.
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Not at all.
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Jayjay's POV
Dinner felt longer than it should've.
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But somehow—
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his hand never left mine.
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Not once.
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And when it ended—
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I stood up quickly.
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"…I'll be back."
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I didn't wait.
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Just walked away.
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My heart racing again.
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I didn't stop until I reached my room.
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Closing the door behind me.
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Silence.
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I leaned back against it.
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Breathing uneven.
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Why did that affect me so much?
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Why did he affect me so much?
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A soft knock.
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I didn't move.
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Then—
the door opened anyway.
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Keifer.
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Of course.
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He stepped inside.
Closed the door behind him.
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"…why did you leave?"
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I swallowed.
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"…I needed air."
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A pause.
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He walked closer.
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Slow.
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"You pulled away."
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My breath caught.
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"I didn't—"
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"You did."
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Softer this time.
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Not accusing.
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Just… noticing.
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I looked at him.
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"…did you mean it?"
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Silence.
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"…what you said."
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My heart was racing again.
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"I always cared."
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His gaze didn't move.
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A pause.
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Then—
he stepped closer.
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Too close.
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"I didn't know how to show it."
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My chest tightened.
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Because that—
that felt real.
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More real than anything else.
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His hand lifted.
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Brushing a strand of my hair back.
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Gentle.
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"…but I do now."
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My breath hitched.
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And for the first time—
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I didn't question it.
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I just stood there.
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Close to him.
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Letting it settle.
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Letting him in.
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Even if it scared me a little. 😭🤍