🌸 Chapter 1 — The Boy Who Stayed
Jay sat alone.
Sand under her fingers.
Eyes down.
"Hey."
She froze.
"She's weird."
A laugh.
"Why don't you talk?"
Jay stayed quiet.
Always quiet.
A foot kicked her sand.
It scattered.
"Oops."
More laughter.
Jay blinked fast.
"Stop."
Silence.
Jay looked up.
A boy stood there.
Calm.
Still.
"What?" one said.
"I said stop."
He didn't move.
They stared.
Then—
"Tch. Let's go."
Footsteps faded.
Gone.
Jay looked at the sand.
Ruined.
"…you're okay."
She looked at him.
He sat beside her.
Like it was normal.
"They bother you?" he asked.
A small nod.
"They're annoying."
Jay blinked.
No one said that before.
"You can tell a teacher."
She shook her head.
"They won't listen."
"I will."
Jay frowned.
"Why?"
A shrug.
"Because it's wrong."
Simple.
Jay looked down.
"…thank you."
"For what?"
"For staying."
A pause.
"I'll stay again."
Jay looked up.
"…really?"
A nod.
"I sit here anyway."
Silence.
Soft this time.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"…Jay."
"Jay."
He said it slowly.
"I'm Keifer."
She repeated it in her head.
Keifer.
It felt warm.
Jay touched the sand again.
"It broke."
"I'll help."
She looked at him.
"…okay."
He smiled.
Small.
And he stayed.
They sat quietly.
Sand between them.
Jay fixed the broken edges.
Keifer watched.
"You're careful."
"…it breaks easily."
"I won't break it."
She looked at him.
"…okay."
He moved closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
Their hands brushed.
Jay pulled back.
"…sorry."
"Don't say sorry."
A pause.
She nodded.
"…okay."
He smiled.
Small.
They worked together.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The house stood again.
"Done," he said.
Jay looked at it.
"It's better."
"Because we made it."
She looked at him.
A tiny smile.
The bell rang.
Jay froze.
"I have to go."
"Me too."
They stood.
Awkward.
"Will you come tomorrow?" she asked.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Jay nodded.
"…I'll wait."
He looked at her.
"Okay."
They walked.
Same direction.
Same steps.
Not talking.
But not apart.
At the gate—
Jay stopped.
"This is mine."
Keifer nodded.
"I go that way."
A small silence.
"Bye, Jay."
"…bye, Keifer."
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
Then—
A small wave.
From him.
Jay copied it.
Slow.
Careful.
He smiled.
And left.
Jay watched.
Until he disappeared.
The next day—
Jay came early.
She sat.
Waiting.
Looking.
Footsteps.
She turned.
Keifer.
"You came."
"You too."
He sat beside her.
Like before.
Like always.
Days passed.
They didn't ask.
They just stayed.
"You're late," Jay said one day.
"Sorry."
She looked at him.
"…it's okay."
A pause.
"…I waited."
He blinked.
"I'll be early tomorrow."
She nodded.
Lunch time—
He sat with her.
"Eat with me."
She hesitated.
"…okay."
They shared.
Quiet.
Easy.
"You laugh more now," he said.
Jay looked down.
"…only with you."
A pause.
"Good."
Another day—
Someone looked at Jay.
Too long.
Keifer noticed.
"What?"
The boy looked away.
Jay looked at Keifer.
"…you always see."
"I'm looking."
"Why?"
A pause.
"…because you're my friend."
Jay went still.
"…friend?"
He nodded.
"My best friend."
Silence.
Soft.
Jay smiled.
Small.
"…you're mine too."
He didn't look away.
"Good."
And just like that—
He didn't leave.
And she didn't feel alone.
Anymore.