Author's pov
Nearly a month passed.
University no longer felt unfamiliar.
The once-confusing campus had become second nature.
Everyone had settled into their routines, though not everyone stayed in the same course.
One evening, while everyone was gathered in the twelfth-floor apartment for dinner, Mica nervously cleared her throat.
"I… don't think medicine is for me."
The conversation immediately stopped.
Mica looked around the table.
"I tried."
"I really did."
"But every day I walk into the medical building and… it just doesn't feel right."
Ella smiled.
"So what does feel right?"
Mica didn't even have to think.
"Art."
Grace beamed.
"I knew it."
Jay reached across the table and squeezed Mica's hand.
"Then switch."
Mica blinked.
"Just like that?"
"Of course."
"You shouldn't force yourself into a future that makes you miserable."
A week later, Mica officially transferred into the Art faculty and quickly became classmates with Ella and Grace.
For the first time since university began, she genuinely looked excited to attend class.
Ci made an announcement a few days later.
"I switched courses too."
Nobody even looked surprised.
"What this time?" David asked.
"I'm training to become a pilot."
Josh nodded.
"That actually suits you."
Ci grinned.
"But…"
Everyone sighed.
"…I'm also keeping medical as a second degree."
Silence.
Then Calix slowly asked,
"So… you're doing both?"
Ci nodded proudly.
"I couldn't choose."
Freya laughed.
"Only you would solve indecision by doubling your workload."
Life returned to normal.
Or at least…
It almost did.
One Monday morning, Jay walked into her law lecture with Freya and Rakki.
They took their usual seats near the windows.
Just before class began, a student Jay hadn't seen before entered the room.
He looked around before stopping beside her.
"Is this seat free?"
Jay glanced around.
Half the classroom was empty.
"…Yeah."
He smiled politely.
"Thanks."
"My name's Adrian."
"Jay."
The lecture began.
She thought nothing of it.
The next lecture…
He sat beside her again.
The one after that…
Again.
By the end of the week, Jay had noticed something.
No matter where she sat…
Adrian always ended up beside her.
The following Monday, she decided to test it.
She deliberately sat two rows further back.
Freya noticed.
"Changing things up?"
"I want to see something."
A few moments later…
Adrian walked in.
He looked around the room.
Then walked directly to Jay.
"Morning."
He sat down beside her.
Jay quietly sighed.
The next lecture she moved again.
This time, Adrian simply picked up his notebook…
…and moved too.
Freya exchanged a glance with Rakki.
Neither of them needed to say anything.
They'd noticed it too.
During the break, Rakki leaned closer.
"I don't think that's a coincidence anymore."
"I know."
"You okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Just uncomfortable."
She decided to make things obvious without confronting him directly.
As soon as Adrian sat beside her again, she turned toward Freya.
"So… Keifer and I are thinking of visiting the island again during the break."
Freya caught on immediately.
"Oh? Your boyfriend Keifer?"
"Yeah."
"The one you live with?"
"Mm-hmm."
"The one you've been with for ages?"
"That's him."
Rakki joined in.
"I still can't believe he bought you an island."
Jay smiled.
"I know."
She intentionally kept the conversation going.
Adrian simply smiled politely.
"That sounds nice."
Then opened his notebook.
Completely missing the point.
Jay blinked.
Freya had to hide a laugh.
Another week passed.
Adrian never crossed any serious boundaries.
He never touched her.
Never said anything inappropriate.
He was simply… always there.
Always choosing the seat beside her.
Always trying to make conversation.
Jay found herself dreading that part of every lecture.
Finally, one evening while she and Keifer were making dinner together, she spoke up.
"Can I tell you something?"
Keifer looked over immediately.
"Of course."
She explained everything.
The new student.
The constant seat changes.
Trying to hint that she had a boyfriend.
How uncomfortable it made her feel.
Keifer listened without interrupting.
When she finished…
He was quiet.
"…How long has this been happening?"
Jay hesitated.
"About two weeks."
He slowly set the knife down on the counter.
"Two weeks?"
"I thought he'd eventually stop."
"You didn't tell me?"
"I didn't think it was important."
Keifer looked away for a second before taking a slow breath.
"Jay…"
His voice stayed calm.
But she could hear the frustration underneath.
"I wish you had told me sooner."
"I was handling it."
"I know."
"And I trust you."
He looked back at her.
"This isn't because I don't trust you."
"It's because I hate the thought that you've been uncomfortable for two weeks and felt like you had to deal with it alone."
Jay frowned slightly.
"I just didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
"You wouldn't have been."
"You telling me doesn't create a problem."
"The problem already exists."
She folded her arms.
"I still think you would've worried too much."
"I would've."
He admitted it without hesitation.
"Because I care about you."
The kitchen fell quiet.
Neither of them raised their voices.
Neither wanted to hurt the other.
But neither felt understood.
The next three days felt… strange.
They still ate breakfast together.
Still walked to university together.
Still said good morning and good night.
But conversations became shorter.
More careful.
Neither wanted another disagreement.
Yet neither knew how to end the first one.
Their friends noticed immediately.
At dinner, the group was louder than usual, trying to fill the silence.
Jay smiled when people spoke to her.
Keifer did too.
But whenever their eyes met…
They both looked away.
On the third evening, Aries quietly knocked on the apartment door.
He stepped inside carrying two takeaway bags.
"I brought dinner."
Jay smiled faintly.
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
He placed one bag in front of her.
The other in front of Keifer.
Then he looked between them.
"You've both been pretending you're fine for three days."
Neither answered.
Aries sat down across from them.
"I'm not going to ask who's right."
"Because I don't think either of you are completely right."
Jay looked down.
Keifer stayed silent.
Aries spoke gently.
"Jay…"
"You don't have to solve everything by yourself."
Then he looked at Keifer.
"And you…"
"Sometimes worrying sounds a lot like blaming, even when you don't mean it."
Keifer's shoulders dropped.
"…I know."
Aries gave a small smile.
"So…"
He slid the food toward them.
"Eat before it gets cold."
For several minutes, the only sound was the rustling of wrappers.
Finally, Jay spoke.
"…I'm sorry."
Keifer looked up.
"I should've told you earlier."
"I honestly thought it would stop."
He shook his head.
"And I'm sorry."
"I wasn't angry with you."
"I was angry that someone made you uncomfortable."
He smiled weakly.
"I just expressed it badly."
Jay reached across the table.
He took her hand without hesitation.
"No more keeping things to ourselves?" she asked.
"No more."
Aries quietly stood up.
Satisfied.
"Good."
He picked up his empty drink.
"I'll leave you two alone."
As he reached the door, Jay called after him.
"Thanks."
He smiled over his shoulder.
"I didn't do anything."
"You did."
He gave a small nod before closing the door behind him.
The apartment became quiet once again.
Jay stole one of Keifer's fries.
He looked at her.
"…Really?"
She smiled innocently.
"You said no more keeping things to ourselves."
He laughed for the first time in three days.
"That's not what I meant."
"It counts."
He shook his head, smiling, before stealing one of hers.
Within minutes they were arguing over whose chips tasted better.
The disagreement that had lasted three days ended not with dramatic speeches…
…but with takeaway food, shared fries, and the quiet understanding that they were always strongest when they faced problems together.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hi lovelies. I am thinking i should make Keifer propose soon. Idk if i should. Please tell me. Or do you huys want more drama like yuri but instead it is Kiefers father and Adrian helps Kiefer's father because he likes Jay and Keifers father thinks jay is a distraction to keifer. Pls tell me how u feel abt my plot.
Love you till all the water on earth runs out 🌊 💧