(Jayjay) pov
The day felt normal.
Almost too normal.
I woke up, got ready, had breakfast, and left with Aries like usual. The drive was the same—him complaining about something unnecessary, me ignoring half of it. Nothing new.
School was… boring.
Classes felt longer than usual. I tried to focus, I really did, but my mind kept drifting back to the same thing.
The plan.
Lunch break was normal too.
Section E being loud, arguing over nothing, teasing each other like always. Felix said something stupid, Calix argued back, Eren laughed too loudly, and Cin stayed close to me, noticing more than she said.
I tried to act normal.
And I think I did.
Mostly.
But inside—
I was waiting.
Finally, the last bell rang.
The sharp sound echoed through the classroom.
Usually, everyone would be the first to rush out.
But today—
no one moved.
I kept my eyes on my desk, trying not to smile too much.
Keifer stood up first.
I could feel it without even looking.
A second passed.
Then another.
"…why is no one moving?" he said.
I looked up slightly.
Everyone was still sitting.
Trying to act normal.
Failing.
Felix stretched dramatically. "We're tired."
Calix nodded. "Very tired."
Eren added, "Emotionally."
Keifer narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…right."
Then slowly—
everyone started getting up.
Too slow.
Way too slow.
I stood up beside him.
And I couldn't stop it—
I was smiling.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"You're smiling a lot today," he said, glancing at me.
"Am I?" I replied casually.
"Yeah."
"Maybe I'm just happy."
"About what?"
I shrugged lightly. "Life."
He didn't look convinced.
We walked out together.
Side by side.
And for once—
I didn't feel nervous.
Not yet.
Outside, he turned slightly toward me.
"I'll drop you home," he said.
I opened my mouth to reply—
"No need."
Aries.
I turned.
He was already standing beside me.
"Angelo told me to take her," he added casually.
I blinked.
"…since when do you listen to Angelo?" I thought.
Keifer looked at him for a second.
Silent.
Thinking.
"…fine," he said after a pause.
But something in his expression—
He wasn't convinced.
Keifer's POV
Something was off.
Not wrong.
Just—
different.
The whole day felt… planned.
The way Section E didn't move after the bell.
The way they were acting.
The way she was smiling.
And now—
Aries.
Showing up out of nowhere.
"…that's not random," Keifer thought.
He looked at Jay again.
She looked normal.
Too normal.
Not hiding something heavy.
Not like before.
This was different.
"…what are you doing?" he thought.
A small suspicion settled in.
But not the kind that made him uneasy.
If anything—
it made him curious.
"…fine," he said again quietly.
He'd wait.
Jay's POV
I turned toward Aries as soon as we started walking.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"…ohh," I said slowly, dragging the tone.
He looked at me. "What?"
"For the first time… you did something right."
He frowned. "Excuse me?"
"Impressive," I continued, nodding. "I'm proud."
"Stop talking."
I smiled wider.
"…this is actually working," I thought.
We didn't go home.
Not yet.
Instead—
we headed back.
To the classroom.
Section E was already there.
Everyone.
Waiting.
The moment I walked in—
Felix stood up. "Finally."
Calix crossed his arms. "Took you long enough."
Eren grinned. "We thought you backed out."
"I didn't," I said.
Cin looked at me carefully. "You sure?"
I nodded.
"…I'm doing this."
That was enough.
The room shifted.
Serious.
But still them.
"Alright," Edrix said, finally speaking. "Plan."
Everyone gathered.
Closer.
We started discussing.
Details.
Timing.
Who does what.
Arguments started in between.
Of course.
"No, that's a bad idea."
"Your face is a bad idea."
"Focus."
I stood there, listening, occasionally adding something.
And slowly—
it started coming together.
The plan.
After some time—
we were done.
I exhaled softly.
"…this is actually happening," I thought.
"Let's go," someone said.
And just like that—
movement started again.
We all walked out together.
Cars waiting.
Engines starting.
And then—
we drove.
To Eman's restaurant.
The place was already empty when we reached.
Perfect.
"Alright," Calix clapped his hands. "Let's make this look good."
And chaos began.
Not messy chaos.
Focused chaos.
Decorations.
Lights.
Arrangements.
Simple.
But—
clean.
Elegant.
Not too much.
Not too little.
It started looking…
different.
Better.
Richer.
I stood in the middle for a second.
Looking around.
"…this is it," I thought.
And for the first time—
I felt it.
excited.
My phone buzzed.
I glanced at it casually—
Then paused.
Jay.
"Where are you? I need help with something and no one here is useful."
I frowned slightly.
"…what now?" I muttered.
It sounded normal.
Very her.
But something about today—
didn't feel normal.
Still—
I didn't think twice.
I picked up my keys and left.
The drive felt… different.
Quiet.
Usually, I don't think much while driving.
But today—
my mind wouldn't stay still.
Her smile in class.
The way she kept looking at me.
The way everyone was acting.
"…something's going on," I thought.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel slightly.
And then—
a different thought hit.
What if—
I stopped it immediately.
"…no."
But it didn't go away.
That feeling.
The one I hate.
The fear.
Of losing her.
It's stupid.
I know it is.
But after everything—
after seeing her break like that—
"…what if I mess something up again?" I thought.
My jaw tightened.
No.
Not today.
I exhaled slowly and focused on the road.
A few minutes later—
I reached the restaurant.
Everything looked normal from outside.
Too normal.
I stepped out.
Walked to the door.
And opened it.
Dark.
Completely dark.
I frowned.
"…Jay?" I called.
No response.
I stepped inside slowly.
"Jay?"
Still nothing.
For a second—
my chest tightened.
"…this isn't funny," I thought.
And then—
The lights turned on.
Not all at once.
Just one.
Focused.
On her.
And everything else—
stopped.
Jay.
Standing right in front of me.
For a second—
I forgot how to breathe.
She looked—
Different.
Not in a way I couldn't recognize.
But in a way I couldn't look away from.
A soft pink top, fitting perfectly, the fabric slightly gathered near her shoulders, the long sleeves falling gently down her arms.
It made her look—
soft.
But the way it held her—
the way it shaped her—
Confident.
And the light blue wide jeans—
simple.
Effortless.
But on her—
it looked like something else entirely.
Like she didn't try—
but still looked better than anyone.
My eyes stayed on her longer than they should have.
"…she's beautiful," I thought.
No.
That wasn't enough.
She was—
everything.
The rest of the lights turned on.
And that's when I noticed.
People.
Section E.
Standing around.
Watching.
And—
cameras.
Pointed at us.
I blinked.
"…what is this?" I thought.
Then I looked back at her.
She stepped closer.
And something clicked.
Not fully.
But enough.
"…she planned this," I realized.
My heart started beating faster.
Not panic.
Something else.
Something I couldn't name—
but I felt it.
She stopped right in front of me.
Close.
Too close.
And then—
she spoke.
"You stayed… even when I didn't make it easy."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But I heard it clearly.
Every word.
And something in my chest—
tightened.
Because I knew—
she meant it.
Not just now.
Always.
I didn't say anything.
I couldn't.
I just looked at her.
Waiting.
Because I knew—
this moment wasn't over.
Not yet.