KEIFER POV
I didn't know him.
None of us did.
That was the problem.
The moment Jay-Jay ran straight into his arms… everything in Section E went silent.
Completely silent.
Cin blinked.
"…Who is that?"
Rory lowered his phone slowly.
"Okay wait—who is THAT guy?"
Blaster frowned.
"She just ran like that… do we know him?"
David shook his head.
"No."
And that made it worse.
Because Jay-Jay was holding onto him like she had been waiting years.
Like he was something important.
Something no one else was allowed to understand.
Cyrus stood a few steps away too, watching quietly.
Robin looked entertained but also curious.
And me?
I was watching her.
Only her.
Jay-Jay's hands were gripping his shirt tightly.
Her voice was low.
"You left."
The guy—Adrian—looked at her like he was careful.
Like he didn't want to break something.
"I didn't want to," he said.
That answer made her laugh.
Small.
But not happy.
"I always hear that."
Silence hit again.
And I felt it.
That strange tight feeling in my chest.
Because this wasn't like Cyrus.
This wasn't an ex.
This wasn't a random friend.
This was something deeper.
Something I hadn't seen before.
Cin suddenly leaned toward me.
"Keifer… do YOU know him?"
I didn't take my eyes off them.
"No."
That was the truth.
And it annoyed me more than I expected.
Because Jay-Jay hadn't looked at anyone else since he arrived.
Not Cyrus.
Not Robin.
Not even us.
Only him.
Adrian gently brushed her hair back.
"You're shaking," he said softly.
"I'm not," she snapped immediately.
But she didn't let go.
That alone said everything.
Rory whispered,
"…Okay why does this feel worse than a fight?"
Blaster added,
"I don't like this vibe."
Cyrus finally spoke, low and calm.
"That's Adrian."
Cin turned instantly.
"WHO?"
Cyrus didn't look at her.
"He's… someone from her past."
That didn't explain anything.
And I could tell Cyrus wasn't giving details either.
Which meant—
we were missing something important.
Something only Jay-Jay and that guy knew.
Adrian finally looked up.
And for the first time—
his eyes moved across us.
Section E.
Then stopped on me.
A pause.
Not aggressive.
Not friendly either.
Just observing.
Like he was trying to understand where I stood.
I didn't move.
Didn't look away.
Then Jay-Jay finally spoke again, voice quieter now.
"You shouldn't have come back like this."
Adrian's expression softened slightly.
"I had to see you."
That line hit differently.
Even I noticed it.
Cin grabbed my sleeve slightly.
"…Why is he talking like that?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know either.
But I knew one thing.
Jay-Jay's emotions had changed completely the moment he arrived.
And for the first time since meeting her—
I wasn't the one making her react.
I wasn't the problem.
I wasn't even in the center anymore.
He was.
And I didn't like that.
Not even a little.
END OF CHAPTER 38