Keifer's POV
It had been a week.
For the past seven days, the routine never changed. Jay would come to school, quietly attend one class—sometimes two—and then leave with Jason before the rest of the day even began. Every afternoon I found myself staring out the classroom window, watching her walk away without looking back once.
It was driving me insane.
Not because I didn't trust her. I did. If there was one person in this world I trusted with all my heart, it was Jay.
But she wouldn't even talk to me anymore.
Every time I tried to start a conversation, she'd find an excuse to leave. Every time our eyes met, she'd look away first. It felt as if simply looking at me reminded her of everything I'd done, and honestly... maybe it did.
Today's first class ended like every other day. Jay quietly packed her bag while the rest of us were still talking. Before she could leave, Ci N stopped her.
"Hey, Jay."
She turned around with a small smile. "Hmm?"
"Why are you leaving with Jason every day? Aren't you supposed to be attending classes?"
For a second, I thought she would answer.
Instead, she smiled innocently and said, "By the way... did you finish Sir Alvin's assignment?"
Ci N blinked in confusion. "Huh? That's not what I asked."
"I know," she laughed softly. "Answer me first."
Within moments, the conversation had gone in a completely different direction. She had effortlessly changed the subject, leaving Ci N's question unanswered. A few seconds later, she waved goodbye to everyone and walked out of the classroom as if nothing had happened.
I watched until she disappeared from sight.
Leaning back in my chair, I let out a slow breath.
"Okay, Jay..." I whispered to myself. "I get it."
The silence around me only made my thoughts louder.
I was sorry.
Not just for hurting her.
Not just for breaking her trust.
But for the way I had done it.
I had humiliated her in front of the entire school. In front of people who now thought they had the right to disrespect her because I had done it first.
And then...
I apologized in private.
How unfair was that?
If I had the courage to disrespect her in front of everyone, then I should've had the courage to apologize in front of everyone too.
I slowly clenched my fists.
Jay deserved that much.
No...
She deserved far more than that.
A determined smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
"Mrs. Waston..." I murmured under my breath.
Tomorrow...
I'll do what I should've done the moment I landed in the Philippines.
Even if it cost me my pride...
I'd earn back her respect first.
The next day...
Jay walked into the classroom with a pale face.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were slightly swollen, as if she hadn't slept properly...
Or maybe...
She had been crying.
My chest tightened.
And the worst part?
I knew the reason behind those tears.
Me.
I was the reason she cried.
I'm sorry, Jay.
But today... I'll do what I should have done days ago.
I'll do anything to earn your forgiveness.
Even if it takes the rest of my life... I'll spend every single day trying.
The morning classes felt longer than ever. I couldn't focus on a single word Sir Alvin was saying. Every few minutes, my eyes drifted toward Jay. She quietly took notes, never once looking in my direction. But there was something else in her eyes, that I couldn't understand.
Finally...
The bell rang.
I saw her begin packing her bag, just like she had every day for the past week.
Before she could leave...
I stood up and walked out of the classroom.
My heart was pounding so loudly that I could hear it.
I walked into the middle of the school campus.
Section A.
Section B.
Section C.
Section D.
And ofcourse Section E.
Students from every section were already outside during the break.
I called out loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
Confused murmurs spread through the crowd.
Students began surrounding the courtyard.
Teachers standing nearby looked over curiously but didn't interfere.
Good.
I wanted everyone here.
Because even though I had humiliated Jay in front of Section A...
The entire campus knew about it.
So today...
They deserved to see this too.
I hadn't prepared a speech.
No fancy words.
No dramatic lines.
I was just going to speak from my heart.
I didn't expect her to forgive me.
Not after everything.
But she deserved this apology.
And she deserved far more than an apology.
She deserved the whole world.
Then...
I saw her.
Jay walked out of the school building with her bag on one shoulder, looking down as she searched for something inside it.
She didn't notice the crowd at first.
She didn't notice me.
Then...
She lifted her head.
Our eyes met.
For a few seconds...
Her footsteps slowed.
Almost as if...
She already knew something was about to happen.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
Maybe she was angry.
My angry bird.
And honestly...
She had every right to be.
She finally reached the center of the crowd.
Her eyes stayed on me.
"Keifer..."
Her voice was tired.
"I have some work to do."
"I don't want to talk."
"I have to go."
She turned to leave.
Instinctively...
I reached out and gently held her hand.
"Jay..."
My voice trembled.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't demanding.
It sounded like someone desperately trying not to lose the person he loved.
"Please..."
"Just listen to me once."
She tried to pull her hand back.
"Keifer."
"I have to go."
"Leave my hand."
Her voice was sharp.
For the first time in years...
I felt my eyes burn.
A single tear slipped down my face.
I took one small step closer.
Not enough to invade her space.
Just enough to let her know...
I was there.
"Jay..."
Another tear fell.
"I-I'm..."
My voice broke.
"I'm really..."
"...really sorry."
Silence filled the entire courtyard.
"I disrespected you."
"I humiliated you."
"I questioned your character."
"And every single word I said that day..."
"...makes me disgusted with myself."
Without thinking anymore...
I slowly dropped to my knees.
Gasps echoed around the campus.
"What the—"
"Keifer knelt?"
"Is that really Mark Keifer Waston?"
"No way..."
Even the teachers looked stunned.
Everyone knew me.
Mark Keifer Waston.
The boy whose ego was almost impossible to bend.
The boy who never apologized.
The boy who never bowed his head for anyone.
And today...
I was on my knees.
For one girl.
For my girl.
My mutya.
My life.
Her hand was still trembling in mine.
"I questioned your relation with everyone in Section E."
"I dragged you to Section A."
"I humiliated you in front of everyone."
I lowered my head.
"I'm sorry, Jay."
"I'm sorry for everything."
"I made that fucking stupid plan."
A bitter smile escaped my lips.
"But karma..."
"...hit me in the best way possible."
"It made me realize..."
"...that losing your trust hurts far more than any punishment this world could ever give me."
I slowly looked up at her.
"I love you."
"You're the most beautiful thing that has ever happened in my life."
"As long as you're with me..."
"It doesn't matter who isn't."
"I love you, Jay."
"I'll love you until scientists find the end of the universe."
The entire campus held its breath.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Jay looked down at me.
There wasn't anger in her eyes anymore.
There was something worse.
Pain.
She slowly took her hand out of mine.
Then, in a voice so quiet...
Yet so devastating...
She said,
"But I don't"
Everything went blank.
The noise.
The crowd.
The campus.
It all disappeared.
I couldn't hear the whispers.
I couldn't hear my own breathing.
I couldn't even feel the ground beneath my knees.
For the first time in my life...
I understood what true numbness felt like.