*Continuation Of Flashback*
Jay-Jay's POV
The bonfire behind us was still alive when Keifer suddenly grabbed my hand.
Not harsh.
Not rushed.
Just… certain.
Like he had already decided I was coming with him.
I blinked at him.
"Kidnapping again?"
Without even looking at me fully, he replied—
"You didn't resist."
I scoffed immediately, trying to pull my hand back.
"I didn't agree either."
He finally glanced at me then.
That calm, unreadable expression.
Then—
"You're still here."
I froze for half a second.
Because he was right.
And I hated that he was right.
"…That's cheating logic," I muttered.
"It's truth logic," he said simply.
And just like that—
He started walking.
Taking me with him.
The path away from the bonfire was quieter than expected.
No shouting.
No music.
Just the soft crunch of footsteps and cold air brushing against my skin.
And him.
Always him.
The breeze hit harder and I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself.
Before I could even fully adjust—
His jacket landed on my shoulders.
Warm.
Heavy.
Familiar.
I looked up instantly.
"I didn't say I was cold."
He didn't even hesitate.
"You didn't have to."
I frowned.
"You're acting like this is normal."
He glanced at me again.
"It is."
A pause.
Then softer—
"With you."
My chest did that annoying thing again.
That little flip.
That betrayal.
I looked away quickly.
"You say things like that too casually."
"Because they are casual."
"That was not casual."
"It was."
"No it wasn't."
He leaned slightly closer as we walked.
"Are you always this argumentative?"
I tilted my head.
"Are you always this irritating?"
"Yes."
"…Fair."
The wind got colder.
I didn't even notice when my fingers slipped into his.
But he did.
Of course he did.
And instead of letting go—
He held on tighter.
Naturally.
Like it belonged there.
I looked down at our hands.
Then at him.
"You act like this is normal."
He hummed.
"It is."
"For you?"
"For us."
I blinked.
"That's not a real category."
"It is now."
I rolled my eyes.
But didn't let go.
Which he definitely noticed.
Because his thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles.
Slow.
Absentminded.
Dangerous in the softest way.
We walked for a while before I spoke again.
"My house is chaos," I said suddenly.
He didn't react.
"I know."
I glanced at him.
"You do?"
"You talk in chaos."
I huffed.
"Wow. Observant."
"You're loud emotionally too."
"That sounded like an insult."
"It wasn't."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Debatable."
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"My family is the opposite," he said.
That made me pause.
I turned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Controlled," he said simply. "Quiet. Structured."
I blinked.
"That sounds boring."
"It is."
"Your brothers don't seem boring."
A small smirk.
"They're worse."
That made me laugh a little.
"Now I want to meet them again."
"No."
"Why?"
"They'll annoy you."
"I can handle annoying."
"They'll like you."
That made me pause.
"…That sounded suspiciously protective."
"It was."
"Why?"
He looked at me for a second longer than usual.
Then—
"Because I don't share well."
My heart tripped.
I looked away immediately.
"Noted."
After a while, I spoke again.
"They're weird."
Keifer didn't even ask who.
"They are."
I squinted at him.
"You agree too fast."
"They're obvious."
"I mean Dane and Eunice."
"I know."
I leaned closer slightly.
"You think they like each other?"
"I don't think."
He glanced at me.
"I observe."
"Same thing."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
He exhaled slowly.
"You interfere too much."
"I improve situations."
"You create chaos."
"I create love stories."
That earned me a look.
"A dangerous talent," he said.
"I know."
He shook his head slightly.
"…You're unbelievable."
"And yet here you are."
That shut him up for exactly two seconds.
Which I counted as a win.
The silence after that felt different.
Not awkward.
Just… slower.
More honest.
I studied him quietly.
"You don't open up to people, do you?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Just kept walking.
Then—
"No."
I nodded slowly.
"That's kind of sad."
He glanced at me.
"It isn't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't need to."
A pause.
Then softer—
"Except you."
That hit harder than I expected.
I stopped walking for half a second.
He noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
"What?"
"…Nothing."
But my voice betrayed me.
He stepped closer.
"You're thinking too loud."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Jay."
That tone again.
Soft.
Warning.
Affectionate.
Dangerous.
I sighed.
"Fine. It's just… weird hearing that from you."
He didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"It shouldn't be."
And before I could overthink it—
His hand lifted.
Cupped my face.
Not rough.
Not rushed.
Just steady.
Like I was something he already knew by heart.
"You talk too much," he murmured.
I blinked.
"Then stop me."
That was all it took.
He leaned in.
And kissed me.
Slow.
Intentional.
Not dramatic.
Not rushed.
Just—
Certain.
My brain stopped functioning somewhere between this is happening and this is dangerous.
When he pulled back slightly—
I was still frozen.
Still trying to remember how breathing worked.
"You're distracting," I whispered.
He hummed.
"Good."
"That's not good."
"It is for me."
I glared weakly at him.
"You're impossible."
"And you still chose me."
That made my heart stutter again.
"…Unfortunately," I muttered.
He smiled slightly.
"Liar."
I cleared my throat.
Then looked away.
"Let's check Dane and Eunice."
He raised a brow.
"You're addicted to chaos."
"I am chaos."
"That explains a lot."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I took it as one."
He sighed lightly.
But still—
Didn't let go of my hand.
And somehow—
That said everything.
The door was slightly open.
Not fully.
Not enough to ignore.
But enough to know something was off.
I slowed down.
Keifer noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
He leaned closer to me slightly.
"What?"
I narrowed my eyes at the gap in the door.
"…Something illegal is happening."
Keifer didn't even blink.
"Something obvious is happening."
I turned to him instantly.
"That's not helpful."
"It is accurate."
"That's worse."
He hummed lightly.
"Still going in?"
I hesitated.
Then—
"Yes."
He smirked.
"Good answer."
And just like that—
He pushed the door open.
Silence.
That kind of silence that feels too loud.
Dane.
Eunice.
Too close.
Too still.
And then—
We saw it.
Them.
Kissing.
My brain fully stopped.
Like—
Completely froze.
I blinked once.
Twice.
Then—
"…Oh."
That was all I managed.
Because what else are you supposed to say when reality just slaps you in the face?
"I KNEW IT—WAIT I DIDN'T—BUT I DID—"
I pointed aggressively.
Eunice jerked back immediately.
"SHUT UP—"
Dane stepped back so fast he nearly hit the wall.
"This is not how I planned this."
I turned to Keifer instantly.
"YOU KNEW—"
He shrugged.
"I suspected."
"That's WORSE."
"Why?"
"Because you let me walk into this."
"You walked yourself in."
"I WAS DRAGGED BY CURIOSITY."
"That's a skill issue."
I gasped.
"Mark Keifer Watson—"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Yes?"
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"I am reconsidering."
"You won't."
Eunice was still red.
Dane looked like he wanted to disappear into another universe.
I, on the other hand—
Was thriving.
"You two BETRAYED ME—"
Eunice pointed instantly.
"WHY ARE YOU PERSONALLY HURT—"
"I WAS INVESTED—"
"In what?!"
"In YOU TWO!"
Dane covered his face.
"This is worse than I imagined."
Eunice turned to him.
"You imagined it?"
"I—no—"
"Yes you did."
Keifer leaned slightly toward me.
"Your influence is impressive."
I smiled proudly.
"I know."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I still took it as one."
The chaos slowly… softened.
Not fully.
But enough for reality to settle.
Dane exhaled slowly.
"…This is your fault," he muttered.
I blinked.
"Excuse me?"
He pointed vaguely at me.
"You… figured it out."
I straightened.
"Obviously."
Eunice frowned.
"What?"
Dane hesitated.
Then—
"…She already knew."
Silence.
I froze.
"WAIT—"
Keifer sighed.
"You are not subtle."
"I AM EXTREMELY SUBTLE."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"YES."
Keifer looked at me.
"You are a walking confession machine."
"I prefer the term intuitive genius."
"That's not a real thing."
"It is in my world."
Dane rubbed the back of his neck.
Then looked at Eunice.
Not at me.
Not at Keifer.
Just her.
"…It's you."
The room shifted.
Even I stopped talking.
Eunice blinked.
"What?"
Dane exhaled.
"It's been you. For a while."
Silence.
Heavy.
Soft.
Real.
Eunice didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just stared.
Then—
"…Oh."
That was her entire response.
Which somehow made it worse.
Dane frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
Eunice blinked.
"I mean… I didn't think you'd actually say it."
Keifer leaned toward me slightly.
"Interesting reaction."
"Very," I whispered back.
"Emotionally unstable but honest."
"Like you."
"Rude."
"Accurate."
Eunice suddenly stepped forward.
Pointing at Dane.
"You could've just said that earlier."
Dane blinked.
"…I was trying."
"You were failing."
"I was scared."
That made her pause.
Just slightly.
Then—
"…Idiot."
But softer.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just—
Warm.
And then—
She looked away.
"…I like you too."
Silence again.
But different this time.
Not chaos.
Not confusion.
Just—
Acceptance.
Dane froze.
"Wait—what?"
Eunice sighed.
"You're slow."
I clutched my chest dramatically.
"I AM A MATCHMAKER."
Keifer glanced at me.
"You are a disturbance."
"I AM A LOVE ENGINE."
"That sounds illegal."
"It's emotional engineering."
"That's worse."
"I DON'T CARE."
Eunice pointed at me.
"You are not taking credit for this."
"I ABSOLUTELY AM."
Dane muttered.
"She is somehow the villain and hero at the same time."
Keifer nodded.
"That's accurate."
I pointed at both of them.
"I created destiny."
"No," Keifer said calmly. "You intruded on privacy."
"Same thing."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Keifer leaned closer.
"Jay."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What."
"You are loud."
"I AM EXPRESSIVE."
"You are chaos."
"I AM LOVE."
"That's concerning."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I know."
Eventually—
We all ended up sitting.
Somehow.
Like nothing happened.
Except everything did.
Eunice was still red.
Dane was still processing life.
I was still extremely satisfied.
Keifer? Calm as always.
Too calm.
Suspiciously calm.
Eunice finally spoke.
"If you tell anyone—"
I gasped.
"BLACKMAIL?"
Keifer sighed.
"Threatening silence after confession is normal."
I turned to him.
"Whose side are you on?"
"My own."
"That's fair."
Dane glanced at Eunice.
Then quickly looked away.
Eunice noticed.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"I'm not staring."
"You are."
"I paused."
"Same thing."
Keifer leaned toward me slightly.
"They're going to be exhausting."
I nodded.
"I love it."
"You love chaos."
"I am chaos."
"That explains your decisions."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I know."
Eunice suddenly leaned slightly closer to Dane.
"Are we… okay?"
Dane hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
Eunice frowned.
"That sounded unsure."
Dane looked at her.
Then softly—
"I'm just not used to this."
"…Me either," she admitted.
Silence.
Then—
She nudged him lightly.
"Get used to it."
Dane blinked.
"…Okay."
I immediately leaned toward Keifer.
"ADORABLE."
He sighed.
"You're too invested."
"I AM THE INVESTMENT."
"That's not how it works."
"It is in my system."
Eunice suddenly pointed at me again.
"You caused this."
I gasped.
"I facilitated love."
"You interfered."
"I improved lives."
"You destroyed privacy."
"I delivered happiness."
Keifer leaned back slightly.
"I regret everything."
I looked at him.
"No you don't."
He didn't even hesitate.
"No I don't."
Next Day -:
The morning air felt different.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
Just… loaded.
Like something was about to happen and everyone knew it except the teachers.
We were all gathered near the open field—students scattered in messy groups, still half-asleep, still laughing, still recovering from last night's chaos.
I yawned slightly, leaning closer to Keifer without thinking.
He noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"You're tired," he said quietly.
"I'm functional," I replied.
"That's a lie."
"It's optimism."
"That's also a lie."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're very argumentative today."
"I always am."
"No, today it feels personal."
He leaned slightly closer.
"Maybe it is."
My brain lagged for a second.
"…That sounded threatening."
"It wasn't."
"Then what was it?"
"Honest."
I rolled my eyes.
"Dangerous habit."
A teacher stepped forward, clapping loudly.
"Everyone, listen!"
Groans echoed through the crowd.
"Stay in groups. No unnecessary drama!"
I immediately turned my head toward Keifer.
He was already looking at me.
Perfect timing.
"That's impossible," I muttered.
"With you?" he replied instantly. "Definitely."
I gasped.
"Excuse me?"
He didn't even smile.
Just calm.
"Statistical observation."
"I am not a problem."
"You are a recurring event."
"That sounds worse."
"It is worse."
I hit his arm lightly.
"Stop agreeing with teachers."
"I'm not agreeing."
"You literally are."
"I'm correcting reality."
"Wow. So dramatic."
"You like it."
"…Unfortunately."
The air changed before I even saw her.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… sharper.
A presence.
And then—
She walked in.
Confident steps.
Perfect posture.
Hair smooth, outfit flawless, expression calm like nothing in the world could shake her.
Even the crowd noticed.
I didn't like that.
Not immediately.
But I felt it anyway.
Keifer noticed too.
Of course he did.
But his reaction?
Nothing.
Which made it worse.
Because men like him noticing nothing… usually means they're noticing everything.
She stopped.
Right in front of Keifer.
Not beside.
Not near.
Directly in front.
Like she had been walking toward him the entire time.
"Mark Keifer Watson," she said clearly.
My spine straightened slightly.
Why did she know his full name like that?
Keifer tilted his head slightly.
"You are?"
She didn't even hesitate.
"Seraphina Vale."
Pause.
Then—
"I've seen you at campus."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"And at my father's board meetings."
Oh.
Okay.
That was… not casual.
Keifer's expression stayed the same.
Unbothered.
"You observe too much."
Seraphina smiled slightly.
"I observe what matters."
I stepped half a step forward without realizing.
Not aggressive.
Just… instinct.
"Wow," I said flatly. "That sounded rehearsed."
Seraphina finally looked at me.
Slow.
Measured.
"And you are?"
I lifted my chin.
"Important."
Keifer coughed once.
I turned instantly.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said. "Continue."
"I will."
Seraphina's gaze stayed on me.
"And in relation to him?"
I smiled sweetly.
"Still important."
Silence.
Not awkward.
Not soft.
Just sharp.
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
"I wasn't asking you."
I smiled wider.
"Good. I wasn't answering for you."
Keifer exhaled slowly.
I knew that sound.
That "this is going to be entertaining" sound.
Seraphina stepped slightly closer to him again.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
Keifer replied calmly.
"I didn't expect to be stopped."
That made me blink.
Okay.
That was smooth.
Too smooth.
Seraphina nodded slightly.
"I assume your presence here is personal."
Keifer finally looked at her fully.
"No."
One word.
Clean.
Final.
Seraphina didn't flinch.
Interesting.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Why wasn't she flinching?
I stepped forward again.
"You're blocking group space."
Seraphina glanced at me again.
"And you are?"
"I already answered that."
"I prefer confirmation."
I smiled tightly.
"Then I prefer silence."
Keifer shifted slightly beside me.
I felt it instantly.
Not tension.
Just… awareness.
Seraphina looked between us now.
Slowly.
Like she was analyzing something.
Then—
"I see."
No emotion.
Just observation.
I frowned.
"What do you see?"
She looked at Keifer.
Then back at me.
"Interesting positioning."
I blinked.
"…What does that even mean?"
Keifer spoke quietly.
"It means nothing."
Seraphina nodded.
"For now."
That last word—
Annoyed me.
I turned slightly toward him.
"You're enjoying this."
He didn't deny it.
"I'm observing."
"That's your excuse for everything."
"It works."
"It doesn't."
"It does for me."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"And you're still here."
"That's not an argument."
"It is for me."
I groaned softly.
Seraphina took a small step closer again.
Not to me.
To him.
"I'd like to speak with you privately."
Instant silence.
My brain processed that slowly.
Then—
"No," I said immediately.
Both of them looked at me.
Seraphina calmly.
Keifer slightly amused.
"I didn't ask you," she said.
"I didn't care."
Keifer sighed softly.
"This is going to be long."
"I agree," Seraphina said.
I turned to him instantly.
"You're not agreeing with her."
"I'm not choosing sides."
"That sounds like choosing sides."
"It isn't."
"It is."
"It's observation."
"That's your new excuse for betrayal?"
He leaned slightly toward me.
"I'm not betraying anything."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Relax."
That word—
Did NOT help.
Seraphina looked at me again.
"You seem… protective."
I smiled.
"I am."
"Of him?"
"Yes."
"That's unnecessary."
I laughed lightly.
"That's subjective."
Keifer finally spoke.
"Stop."
Both of us paused.
He looked at Seraphina first.
"Your presence is noted."
Then at me.
"And yours is loud."
I gasped.
"EXCUSE ME?"
"You're escalating."
"I AM DEFENDING."
"You're attacking."
"I AM BALANCING ENERGY."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
Seraphina watched us both.
Then—
"I see why you are interesting."
I narrowed my eyes.
"That was not a compliment."
"It wasn't meant to be."
I smiled sharply.
"Good. I don't need your approval."
She nodded.
"I didn't offer it."
Keifer suddenly exhaled softly.
Enough.
That was his "this is over" sound.
He turned slightly toward me.
"Jay."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You're loud."
"I know."
"And territorial."
"…Excuse me?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"You always are."
That shut me up for half a second.
Seraphina noticed that pause instantly.
Of course she did.
Observant girl.
Annoying.
Seraphina stepped back slightly.
Then smiled.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Just… controlled.
"I understand."
Keifer replied instantly.
"No."
That made me blink.
Seraphina didn't react.
But her gaze sharpened slightly.
"Not yet."
And then—
She turned.
And walked away.
Like she had already won something.
I stood there frozen for a second.
Then turned to Keifer.
"…I don't like her."
He nodded once.
"I noticed."
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"That you don't either."
He looked at me.
Then—
"I don't react unnecessarily."
That was NOT comforting.
The crowd slowly started moving again.
Chaos resumed.
Noise returned.
But I didn't feel it.
Because Seraphina's presence didn't leave.
It stayed.
Somewhere behind my thoughts.
Keifer shifted slightly beside me.
Then quietly—
"She's going to be a problem."
I frowned.
"For who?"
He looked at me.
Then answered simply.
"For you."
And for the first time—
His tone wasn't teasing.
It was certain.
The day didn't slow down.
It only got louder.
And worse.
And somehow—more her.
"Teams of four!" a teacher announced.
Instant chaos.
People splitting, shouting, dragging others.
I ended up beside Keifer again without even trying.
Which… was becoming a pattern I was not complaining about.
"Coincidence?" I muttered.
He glanced down at me.
"Habit."
"That sounds like addiction."
"Same thing."
"Not comforting."
"It's honest."
I rolled my eyes.
"Dangerous habit."
"You're still here."
"Unfortunately."
He smirked slightly.
"Still choosing me."
"I have no other options."
"That's also a lie."
I didn't answer that.
Because he was right.
Of course.
Because peace is illegal in my life.
She joined our group like she belonged there.
No hesitation.
No awkwardness.
Just… certainty.
"Mark Keifer Watson," she said again, as if repeating his name gave her access.
I sighed internally.
Here we go again.
Keifer didn't react.
Of course he didn't.
Seraphina continued smoothly.
"I'll take over my father's company soon."
Keifer nodded once.
"Then learn patience."
Simple.
Neutral.
No emotion.
But somehow—
That made her smile slightly.
I didn't like that.
Not even a little.
Why is she everywhere?
Why does she keep talking to him?
Why does she act like I'm not standing right here?
I exhaled slowly.
"Jay?" Keifer's voice.
I blinked.
"What?"
"You're quiet."
"I'm observing."
"You're calculating."
"That's a skill."
"For what?"
"For survival."
He hummed.
"That sounds dramatic."
"It is."
"Why?"
I looked at Seraphina again.
"…Never mind."
Something in me cracked.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… enough.
I stepped forward.
"What is your problem?"
Silence.
Even the wind paused.
Seraphina turned to me slowly.
"No problem."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Then why are you here?"
"To participate."
"In what? His life?"
Keifer sighed softly behind me.
"Jay."
I ignored him.
Seraphina answered calmly.
"I've seen him in meetings."
That made me pause.
"What?"
She continued like it was casual.
"Business meetings. Vale Industries discussions."
Oh.
So that's the connection.
Rich girl.
Corporate world.
Perfect everything.
Great.
Just great.
I folded my arms.
"Then observe from a distance."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"I don't stay at a distance from things I want."
That sentence—
I hated it immediately.
Keifer finally looked between us.
Just slightly.
Interest flickering.
Dangerous.
I stepped closer.
"I think you misunderstood the situation."
"I don't misunderstand."
"You clearly do."
"I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No."
"Yes."
Keifer sighed again.
"This is exhausting."
"No it's not," I said quickly.
"Yes it is," Seraphina added.
I turned sharply.
"Do not agree with me."
"I didn't."
"You implied it."
"That's your interpretation."
"That's insulting."
"Truth often is."
Oh.
So she's that type.
Seraphina reached out.
Lightly.
Touching Keifer's arm.
Not aggressive.
Not obvious.
But enough.
Enough.
My body moved before my brain did.
I stepped forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
Almost—
Aggressive.
"Don't."
Silence.
Keifer's hand lifted instantly.
Not stopping her.
Stopping me.
"Jay."
I didn't look at him.
"She can't just—"
"Jay."
Something in his tone changed.
I stopped.
Barely.
Breathing uneven.
Seraphina slowly pulled her hand back.
Still calm.
Still composed.
Still unbearable.
Before I could say anything else—
I was suddenly lifted.
Like it was nothing.
Like I weighed nothing.
"PUT ME DOWN—"
"No."
His voice was calm.
Final.
I kicked slightly in protest.
"KEIFER—"
"Stop."
That single word made me freeze.
Not because I was scared.
Because I wasn't used to him using that tone with me.
He walked away from the group.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just controlled.
Like he already decided this conversation was over.
He finally set me down behind a shaded area.
Away from eyes.
Away from noise.
Away from her.
I turned immediately.
"She deserved it."
"She didn't touch you properly," he said.
"That's not the point."
"That is the point."
I frowned.
"No it's not."
He stepped closer.
"Jay."
I exhaled sharply.
"What."
"You swore."
I blinked.
"…She deserved it."
"That's one."
"One what?"
He leaned down slightly.
"Warning."
Then—
He kissed me.
Short.
Soft.
But firm enough to stop my entire argument system.
When he pulled back—
I was still processing.
"…That's not fair."
"It worked."
"I hate that it worked."
"You don't."
I glared weakly at him.
"You're insufferable."
"And you're jealous."
I froze.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm not—"
"Liar."
I looked away.
"…I don't like her near you."
Silence.
He didn't respond immediately.
Which made it worse.
Then—
"Good."
I looked up instantly.
"What?"
He shrugged slightly.
"At least you're honest."
"That's not what I expected you to say."
"What did you expect?"
"I don't know… reassurance?"
He leaned closer slightly.
"I don't entertain unnecessary insecurity."
I frowned.
"That sounds harsh."
"It's not."
"Then what is it?"
"Trust."
That word hit differently.
I didn't respond immediately.
Because my brain was still trying to catch up.
We walked back.
And immediately—
Eunice spotted us.
"YOU WERE ABOUT TO FIGHT HER—"
I straightened instantly.
"I was defending peace—"
Dane sighed.
"That doesn't sound better."
Eunice pointed at me.
"You looked ready to throw hands."
"I WAS ANALYZING THREAT LEVELS."
Keifer added calmly.
"She was."
I turned to him.
"Whose side are you on?"
"My own."
"Of course."
Because why stop chaos halfway?
She appeared again.
Perfect timing.
Perfect posture.
Perfect everything.
Like she had been waiting for this exact moment.
"I believe we were interrupted," she said.
I laughed once.
"WE were?"
She ignored me.
Her eyes went to Keifer.
"I'd still like your advice."
Keifer replied instantly.
"You already received it."
Silence.
Then—
She smiled faintly.
"I don't give up easily."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh, I noticed."
Keifer sighed softly.
"This is going to continue."
I turned to him.
"No it's not."
He looked at me.
"It will."
That was not comforting.
At all.
Seraphina stepped slightly closer again.
Not touching.
Not forcing.
Just existing too close.
And I hated how calm she was.
How untouched.
How unbothered.
I stepped forward again—
Keifer immediately grabbed my wrist.
Not hard.
But firm.
"Enough."
I stopped.
Barely.
Breathing uneven again.
Seraphina watched.
Not reacting.
Just observing.
And then—
She smiled.
Like she already understood something I didn't.
And walked away again.
Leaving silence behind.
Heavy.
Unfinished.
Dangerous.
It was stupid.
That was the first thought.
Stupid how one person could walk into a space and suddenly make you feel like you were… less.
Not ignored.
Not invisible.
Just—
Compared.
And losing.
Seraphina stood there in my mind like a perfect equation.
Clean lines.
No mistakes.
No chaos.
Just control.
And then there was me.
Messy.
Loud.
Impulsive.
Too much.
I exhaled slowly as we walked.
Or rather—
I stopped walking.
Keifer didn't notice immediately.
Of course he didn't.
He was still dealing with Seraphina's lingering presence like it was just another inconvenience.
But I noticed everything.
And that was the problem.
She fits his world more…
The thought came quietly.
But it stayed.
Seraphina—perfect posture, perfect words, perfect control.
Me—tripping over my own emotions and accidentally starting arguments with destiny.
I clenched my fingers slightly.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath.
That made more sense.
I turned slightly.
Then fully.
And started walking away.
Quietly.
No announcement.
No drama.
Just… distance.
Because if I stayed there any longer, I was going to start thinking things I shouldn't.
Behind me—
Voices faded.
But one cut through.
"Where are you going?"
Keifer.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Not without cracking.
So I kept walking.
"Keifer—"
Her voice.
Soft.
Controlled.
Calling him like he belonged to her attention.
But I didn't stop.
Neither did he respond.
That part—
I didn't expect.
Footsteps followed instead.
Fast.
Certain.
Not hers.
His.
I stopped near the edge of the path.
Away from everyone.
Away from noise.
Away from everything that made sense.
The wind was colder here.
Or maybe I just felt it more.
I crossed my arms loosely.
Then—
He arrived.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Just him.
"You walk fast when you're avoiding something," he said.
I didn't turn.
"I wasn't avoiding anything."
"That's a lie."
"Observant today."
"I'm always observant."
"Sure."
Silence.
I finally spoke.
Soft.
Smaller than I wanted.
"She's… perfect."
He didn't respond immediately.
That silence made my chest tighten.
"She is," I added.
Still no reaction.
My fingers curled tighter.
"She belongs in your world."
That sentence hurt more than I expected.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Close enough that the air changed.
"She doesn't belong anywhere near me."
I blinked.
Slowly turned.
"What?"
His expression didn't change.
Calm.
But firm.
Like he had already decided this conversation was unnecessary.
"Keifer… she literally—"
"She doesn't matter."
That stopped me.
Completely.
"I'm not like her."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Too honest.
Too exposed.
Too real.
Silence again.
But this one felt different.
Then—
"You're not supposed to be."
I froze.
"…What?"
He stepped closer again.
Not rushing.
Not pushing.
Just closing the space I didn't realize I needed filled.
His voice dropped.
Calm.
Soft.
Certain.
"I didn't choose perfect."
Pause.
"I chose you."
My breath caught.
My brain—
lagged.
Completely.
Like it didn't know how to process that sentence.
I stared at him.
"…That's not fair."
"It's true."
"You say things like that too easily."
"Because I mean them."
I looked up at him properly now.
No sarcasm.
No defense.
Just me.
"…Why?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Because you're real."
That made my chest tighten.
"That's not a compliment."
"It is to me."
I swallowed.
Hard.
"You could have anyone."
"I don't want anyone."
That silence—
hurt differently.
"I don't understand her," I admitted quietly.
Keifer tilted his head slightly.
"Who?"
"…Seraphina."
"She's irrelevant."
"She's not."
"She is to me."
I shook my head slightly.
"You don't see it."
"I do."
"Then why does she feel like she fits?"
That question—
hung there.
Too honest.
Too raw.
He stepped closer.
Now there was no space left between us.
"Because she fits systems."
Pause.
"You don't."
My breath hitched slightly.
"…That sounds like a problem."
"It isn't."
"Then what is it?"
He lifted a hand slowly.
Cupped my face.
Gentle.
Certain.
"Mine."
"You're mine."
My heart stopped.
"And I'm yours."
That second line—
broke me a little.
Not painfully.
Just enough.
Enough to feel everything at once.
He leaned in.
Slow.
Not rushed.
Not teasing.
Just—
certain.
His lips met mine gently.
And for once—
there was no chaos in my head.
No comparison.
No Seraphina.
No doubt.
Just him.
And me.
When he pulled back—
he didn't move far.
Forehead almost touching mine.
"You think too much," he murmured.
I huffed softly.
"You don't think enough."
"I think enough for both of us."
"That's unfair math."
"It works."
I smiled faintly.
"…You're annoying."
"And you're still here."
The wind moved around us again.
But I didn't feel cold anymore.
I just felt… steady.
He stayed close.
Hand still on my face.
Like letting go wasn't part of his logic system.
And for once—
I didn't want him to.
Maybe I wasn't perfect… But I was his. And somehow— that was enough.