Jay's POV:
"Come with me," he said, voice low, thumb brushing the back of my hand. "I… have something for you."
His unit was quieter than usual. No loud music, no laughter — just the hum of the refrigerator and the soft shuffle of his footsteps. He disappeared into the bedroom for a second. I looked around — boxing gloves hung on the wall, study papers scattered, a jacket of his on the couch that smelled like him — like mint and rain and something that felt safe.
When he returned, he was holding a box.
A huge one.
He placed it in my hands like it was the most serious moment of his life.
"What is this?" I whispered.
"For our date," he replied, scratching the back of his neck. "I… thought if everything went perfect, we'd sit somewhere and eat these together."
He opened the lid — and my eyes widened.
Chocolates, snacks, imported candies, homemade cookies (don't ask how, I have no idea when he had the time), a tiny plushie wearing a miniature Section E jacket, and even a note:
"For the girl who made the monster feel human."
My throat burned.
"You planned… all this?" I asked.
He shrugged, embarrassed. "I didn't know what you like so I… kinda got everything."
I hugged the box to my chest. "It's perfect. You're… perfect."
He smiled. Actually smiled. Not smirk, not cold grin — a real, shy smile.
But his smile faded when I sat beside him and spoke, "I need to tell you something… about Drew."
His shoulders tensed. "What about him?"
I exhaled. "He's paying off a loan. His mom is sick. He works… a lot. He didn't want you all to know because he hates pity. He thinks if anyone finds out, they'll treat him differently."
Keifer's jaw tightened. "He should've said something. He's part of us. He's not alone."
"I know," I said softly. "But not everyone knows how to ask for help."
He looked away — that shadow crossing his eyes — the one that appears whenever responsibility crushes him. The one that makes him look like the world has asked him to carry it again.
"I'll handle it," he finally murmured. "No one in Section E suffers alone. Not anymore."
Something about those words made me move before I even realized it. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek — quick and gentle. Warm.
He froze.
Then his hand lifted, fingers brushing the spot I kissed like it burned.
"Jay…"
I stood up too fast. "Return gift," I whispered, flustered.
A beat.
Two.
Then he chuckled — under his breath — like he was trying not to look too happy.
We walked to the door, and just before I opened it, I paused. Something felt… odd. A sound. A giggle. A low voice. The air outside Keifer's unit suddenly felt heavy.
Angelo's unit was right across.
I peered through the small gap.
And the world flipped.
Angelo. Ion. Hands tangled. Mouths crashing. Bodies pressed against the wall like they couldn't breathe without touching.
My eyes widened — my brain screamed — NO NO NO NO–
Before Keifer could react, I slapped my hand over his eyes.
"DON'T LOOK!" I hissed.
"What— Jay, what's happ—"
"Just— SHHH. SHHH. SHHH!"
I kept watching like a car crash — unable to look away. They were desperate, hungry, losing themselves in each other. Then the door opened — they stumbled inside — still kissing — and disappeared into Angelo's room.
Silence.
My heart hammered.
I dropped my hand. "We're leaving."
Keifer blinked. "Jay— what just happened?"
"NOTHING. NOTHING HAPPENED. GO. WE GO. NOW."
We walked out like the hallway was on fire. I could feel heat crawling up my neck. Keifer looked confused, a little amused, and mostly concerned.
He drove me home. The ride was quiet — not awkward — just heavy with everything unsaid. When we reached my house, he stepped out with me.
"So… goodnight?" he asked, leaning down, his voice dropping to that tone that turns my spine into electricity.
He leaned closer — eyes flicking to my lips — and the entire hallway blurred.
But then—
I remembered.
Ion. Angelo. The wall. The hands.
My brain threw alarms everywhere.
"I— OKAY GOODNIGHT BYE!" I squeaked, bolting up the steps like a terrified squirrel.
"Jay?"
"BYE!!!"
Door. Slam. Lock.
I slid down the back of it, heart pounding, face on fire.
What. The. Actual. Hell.
Keifer's pov:
Jay vanished into the house like a squirrel escaping a dog.
The door slammed.
Silence.
I blinked at the wooden door.
"…Did she just—? Yep. She did."
I touched my cheek. The spot where she kissed me was still warm.
"She kissed me… then sprinted like I proposed marriage."
I huffed, half confused, half amused.
"What did I miss? Did I smell weird? Is it the cologne? Is it mint? Do I smell like… curry??"
I sniffed myself like an idiot.
Okay, not curry.
Back at the unit, hallway lights flickering like they'd seen a crime.
That's when I noticed Angelo's clothes on the floor.
A shirt.
A belt.
Something that looked 90% like pants and 10% like regret.
I squinted.
"…No way."
I knocked on Angelo's door.
"Yo, are you dead in there or—"
Thud.
Shuffling.
A breathless voice.
Then Ion's giggle.
OH.
OH.
My mouth fell open.
"No… freaking… way."
Jay saw THIS.
Jay.
Who cries if a dog looks too cute.
Who blushed because I held her hand.
Who literally turned into a tomato when I called her mine.
I leaned back on the wall, rubbing my face.
"She covered my eyes because—"
I snorted.
"Yep. Makes sense. That's like… level 9 trauma."
And then it hit me.
The kiss.
Her running away.
All of it lined up like a badly written sitcom.
I dragged a hand through my hair.
"Great. Now she probably thinks I'll get weird or jealous. She really doesn't get it, huh?"
I sat on the couch inside my unit and exhaled slowly.
"I'm not gonna touch her without permission," I muttered.
"Even if she kissed me first and my brain short-circuited. She's not some trophy. She's not a mission. She's not—"
I paused.
"She's Jay. And whatever we are… it's on her pace. I'm not messing that up."
I rubbed my face again.
"But seriously… WHY curry??"
I shook the curry thought off, grabbed my phone, and typed:
Text to Mutya 🖤:
Got home safe? don't worry about anything. I won't rush you.
Sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.
I hovered. My thumb hesitated.
But I meant it.
No games.
No pressure.
Just honesty.
Sent.
I tossed the phone beside me and grabbed one of the snacks from the gift box.
Then pointed the cracker at the door like a dramatic villain.
"Jay Mutya… next time, just say it. Whatever it is. I'm not going anywhere."
I bit the cracker.
"…and I'm buying new cologne. Just in case."