Chapter 12
The room was quiet again.
But not peaceful.
Jay stood near the mirror.
Her fingers lightly touched her cheek.
Then her neck.
The same places…
Where he had been.
Her breath slowed.
Then quickened again.
"What is wrong with me…"
She whispered.
Her reflection stared back.
Confused.
Flustered.
Lost.
She closed her eyes.
But it only made it worse.
Because she could feel it again.
That warmth.
That closeness.
The way her body reacted…
The way her heart raced…
The way she didn't stop him.
"I should hate it…"
She said softly.
"I do hate it…"
But the words didn't sit right.
Because somewhere…
In between the fear…
In between the anger…
She felt something else.
Something she didn't want to name.
A small knock interrupted her thoughts.
She turned quickly.
"Come in…"
The door opened.
Keifer walked in.
Jay's heartbeat instantly changed.
Faster.
Louder.
She hated that.
"You were avoiding me again."
His voice was calm.
But it carried something beneath it.
"I was just… busy."
A weak excuse.
He stepped closer.
"Doing what?"
She didn't answer.
Because she couldn't say—
Thinking about you.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"Look at me."
Jay hesitated.
But slowly…
She did.
Their eyes met.
And everything came rushing back.
That night.
That closeness.
That feeling.
Her breath hitched slightly.
Keifer noticed.
Of course he did.
"You're reacting again."
Her brows frowned.
"I'm not—"
"You are."
A step closer.
Now barely any distance.
Jay's fingers curled slightly.
"You feel it…"
He said quietly.
"Don't you?"
Her voice came out softer now.
"…I don't know what I feel."
And that was the truth.
Keifer's gaze softened—
Just a fraction.
But enough.
He lifted his hand slowly.
Not sudden.
Not forceful.
Giving her time to move away.
But she didn't.
His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek.
Jay's eyes fluttered for a second.
A small breath escaped her lips.
And that was enough.
To tell him everything.
"You don't pull away."
He murmured.
Her heart pounded harder.
"I should…"
"But you don't."
Silence.
Heavy.
Confusing.
Real.
Jay looked at him.
Her eyes softer now.
Less fear.
More… something else.
"I hate that you make me feel like this."
She whispered.
Keifer didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"You don't hate it."
Her breath caught.
Because deep down…
She knew.
That was true.
She looked away.
Trying to escape the moment.
But his hand gently turned her face back.
"Say it."
Her voice trembled.
"I…"
A pause.
Long.
Painful.
"I don't hate it."
The words came out soft.
Barely there.
But they changed everything.
Keifer watched her.
Carefully.
Like she had just given him something important.
Something he wasn't expecting.
Jay's cheeks flushed slightly.
Her heart still racing.
Because now…
She wasn't just confused anymore.
She was aware.
Of him.
Of herself.
Of this.
And that scared her…
More than anything else.
End of Chapter 12