✦ CHAPTER — PART OF EVERYTHING ✦
Jayjay's POV
Mornings with Keifer had become dangerous.
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Not because of arguments.
Not because of tension.
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But because somehow—
the smallest moments affected me too much now.
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Like this morning.
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Keifer stood in front of the mirror adjusting his watch calmly.
Sleeves rolled slightly.
Tie hanging loose around his neck.
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Meanwhile—
I was trying very hard not to stare.
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Failed immediately.
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Because honestly?
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Professor Keifer Watson should've been illegal.
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"You're staring again."
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I nearly choked.
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"I wasn't."
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A quiet hum left him.
Clearly not believing me.
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Then he picked up his bag—
and paused.
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"…Jay."
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"Hm?"
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"My tie."
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I blinked.
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"What about it?"
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"It's crooked."
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I looked at it carefully.
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It actually was.
Barely.
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"You can fix it yourself."
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"Can I?"
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That tone already sounded suspicious.
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Before I could answer—
he stepped closer.
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Too close.
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And suddenly—
my heart forgot how to function again.
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"Fix it for me."
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My breath caught slightly.
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Because now—
he was looking down at me with that soft quiet expression again.
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The one that completely ruined my ability to think.
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"…you're capable of doing it alone."
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"And yet," he said calmly,
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"I'm asking you."
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RUDE.
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My cheeks warmed immediately.
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But slowly—
I reached for the tie anyway.
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The second my fingers touched the fabric—
Keifer's hands settled slowly against my waist.
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Warm.
Steady.
Dangerous for my concentration.
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I swallowed softly and tried focusing on fixing the tie properly.
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Tried.
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Because Keifer kept looking at me like I was the only thing in the room worth paying attention to.
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"You're doing that on purpose."
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"Doing what?"
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"Looking at me like that."
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A tiny almost-smile appeared on his face.
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"Like what?"
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I hated when he copied my words.
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Especially because he sounded smug about it.
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I adjusted the tie carefully.
Trying very hard to ignore:
how close he was
how warm his hands felt against my waist
how unfairly good he smelled
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Then suddenly—
I felt him lean closer.
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My breath hitched softly when his lips brushed near the side of my neck.
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The movement was brief.
Gentle.
But enough to completely destroy my concentration.
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"…Keifer."
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"Hm?"
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"That's distracting."
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"Is it?"
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His voice sounded far too calm for someone currently ruining my ability to think.
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Another soft lingering kiss near my jaw this time.
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My fingers tightened slightly against the tie immediately.
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"You're doing this on purpose."
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"Probably."
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RUDE.
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Meanwhile—
Keifer looked entirely unaffected.
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Which was unfair.
Completely unfair.
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I finally fixed the tie properly and looked up triumphantly.
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"Done."
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But before I could step away—
his hand caught my wrist lightly.
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My breath caught again.
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"You missed a part."
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"…where?"
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Instead of answering—
he leaned down slightly.
Close enough for his forehead to brush mine softly.
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"There."
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My heart completely betrayed me.
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"…you're impossible."
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"And you like me anyway."
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That stupid line again.
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The worst part?
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He wasn't wrong.
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Later That Night
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Rain tapped softly against the balcony railing.
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The city lights below blurred slightly through the mist.
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And somehow—
everything felt quieter tonight.
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Softer.
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I sat beside Keifer wrapped in his hoodie again.
One of his arms resting behind me lazily.
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Comfortable silence filled the space between us.
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The kind that no longer felt awkward.
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Only safe.
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I rested my head lightly against his shoulder.
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And instantly—
his hand brushed through my hair absentmindedly.
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Like touching me had become instinct now.
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The thought made my chest ache softly.
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"…Keifer?"
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"Hm?"
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I stared out at the rain quietly for a moment.
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Then softly—
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"When did you start caring about me this much?"
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Silence.
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Long silence.
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His hand paused slightly in my hair.
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And for a second—
I wondered if maybe I shouldn't have asked.
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But then—
quietly—
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"I don't know."
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I looked up slightly.
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His eyes stayed on the rain outside.
Expression softer than usual.
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"One day you were just there."
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My heart tightened instantly.
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"In my house."
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His fingers brushed slowly through my hair again.
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"In my thoughts."
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My breath caught.
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"In everything."
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Silence filled my chest completely.
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Because the way he said it—
quietly.
Honestly.
Without even realizing how much it meant—
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felt dangerously close to something bigger.
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Something neither of us had said yet.
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I looked down quickly.
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Because suddenly—
my heart was beating too hard again.
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And somehow—
I think he noticed.
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Because after a moment—
he pulled me a little closer against him.
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Gentle.
Careful.
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Like he already knew I belonged there 🫶🏻🤍🫀