Keifer's POV
"MJ!" "MJ!" "MJ!"
The crowd wouldn't stop screaming.
People surrounded Jay immediately the moment she stepped off the motorcycle.
Some racers were congratulating her.
Others looked genuinely shocked she survived that bridge turn.
One guy kept repeating:
"That drift was impossible."
Jeff looked traumatized. "It absolutely was."
Luke rubbed his face tiredly. "One day she's actually going to kill me from stress."
Meanwhile…
I couldn't move.
Because all I could still see was that moment on the bridge.
The sliding bike.
The sparks.
Her motorcycle nearly flying off the edge.
One mistake.
One second later.
And she would've died right in front of me.
My chest still felt tight.
Painfully tight.
Felix slowly looked at me.
Then immediately took one step back.
"…Guys," he whispered carefully, "President looks terrifying."
Ci-N nodded nervously. "His calmness is violent."
Yuri glanced at me once.
"…Yeah. She's cooked."
Rory crossed himself dramatically. "Rest in peace MJ."
Endrix looked emotional. "She lived through the race just to die afterward."
David sighed. "You people are exhausting."
Then suddenly—
A racer walked toward Jay grinning.
"You were incredible tonight."
Jay laughed lightly while removing her gloves.
"Obviously."
The racer chuckled. "Cocky."
"Talented."
The guy leaned slightly closer. "You should join our next city run."
Jay smirked. "Depends."
That was enough.
I walked straight toward her.
The racer noticed me first.
Then wisely moved away.
Good decision.
Jay looked up at me casually.
Then blinked slightly.
Because apparently my expression looked worse than I thought.
"…Keifer?"
I grabbed her wrist.
Not rough.
But firm enough to stop her from talking.
Then pulled her through the crowd.
Immediately chaos erupted behind us.
Felix screamed: "OHHHHH."
Ci-N nearly collapsed. "THE TENSION."
Luke elbowed Jeff. "Told you."
Jeff nodded dramatically. "He's in love."
Jay tried pulling her wrist slightly.
"Keifer."
I kept walking.
Straight past the lights.
Past the crowds.
Past the noise.
Until we finally reached a quieter side street near the racing area.
Then I stopped.
The silence between us felt heavy.
Jay slowly rubbed her wrist.
"…You're angry."
I laughed quietly.
But there was no humor in it.
"You almost died."
She looked away briefly.
"But I didn't."
"That's not the point."
My voice came out sharper this time.
Jay looked back at me silently.
I stepped closer.
"That stunt on the bridge."
"You could've crashed."
"You could've fallen off."
"You could've—"
I stopped talking suddenly.
Because even saying the words felt wrong.
Jay stared at me quietly now.
The teasing expression she usually wore had disappeared completely.
"You were scared," she said softly.
I looked away immediately.
But she had already noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Jay slowly leaned back against the wall behind her.
"You don't have to look like someone died."
"That's easy for you to say."
She stayed quiet.
Then I finally looked at her again.
"Do you have a death wish or something?"
The question came out quieter than I intended.
Not angry anymore.
Just tired.
Jay stared at me for a long moment.
Then finally answered softly:
"No."
Silence.
The city lights reflected faintly in her eyes.
Then she looked down at the helmet in her hands.
"I just…" she paused slightly.
"…feel free when I race."
The way she said it made something in my chest ache.
Not excitement.
Not rebellion.
Freedom.
Like racing was the only place she could breathe properly.
Jay laughed quietly afterward.
"But now that I think about it…"
She glanced up at me.
"…that bridge turn was a little crazy."
"A little?"
"Okay maybe extremely crazy."
I sighed deeply and ran a hand through my hair.
"You're impossible."
She smiled slightly.
Small.
Soft.
Then suddenly—
Jay stepped closer.
Close enough that I could feel her warmth through the cold night air.
My heartbeat immediately betrayed me.
She looked up at me carefully.
Still holding the helmet with one hand.
Then quietly said:
"I'm sorry."
I froze slightly.
Because Jay almost never apologized seriously.
"And," she continued softly, "I didn't realize you'd get that scared."
I looked away again.
"…You scared everyone."
"But mostly you."
I didn't answer.
Couldn't.
Because she was right.
Jay studied my face quietly for a moment.
Then suddenly reached up.
And flicked my forehead lightly.
I blinked.
"…What was that?"
"You looked too serious."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"You almost died and you're flicking me?"
"It worked though."
I hated the fact that she was right.
Some of the tension eased slightly from my chest.
Jay smiled seeing it.
Then before I could react—
she gently took my hand.
Not jokingly.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
Warm fingers wrapping around mine.
The movement caught me completely off guard.
Jay looked down slightly while speaking softly.
"I'll be more careful next time."
My heart genuinely stopped for a second.
Because suddenly…
the loud chaotic MJ from earlier disappeared.
And this was just Jay again.
Real.
Quiet.
Dangerously easy to care about.
Then she looked back up at me.
"…So stop looking like you attended my funeral."
I accidentally laughed.
Actually laughed.
Jay immediately pointed proudly. "There. Better."
I shook my head slowly.
"You're unbelievable."
"And yet," she said smugly, still holding my hand slightly tighter, "you still followed me here."
Before I could answer—
LOUD FOOTSTEPS approached.
Then:
"THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS!"
Felix's voice echoed through the entire street.
Jay immediately let go of my hand.
Ci-N pointed dramatically. "I KNEW IT."
Rory looked emotional. "Love wins."
Yuri smacked all three of them instantly.
Luke looked at me from behind the boys.
Then quietly said:
"She only races like that when her head's messed up."
My eyes immediately shifted toward Jay.
Her playful expression faded slightly.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
And somehow…
that scared me more than the race did.