Author's POV
The heavy oak doors of the grand ballroom swung open, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne, vintage champagne, and the suffocating weight of social expectations.
For Jay and Jane, the entrance was a statement. Jay, in her sharp, midnight-hued gown, looked like a dangerous secret, while Jane, in her luminous attire, was the morning light that followed.
They walked in with Keifer and Yuri flanking them, a quartet that drew every eye.
Business moguls paused their conversations, and the heirs of the city's elite whispered behind their crystal flutes.
Even the students from their school who had managed to snag an invite stood frozen, realizing the social hierarchy had just been rewritten.
Jay's eyes scanned the crowd restlessly. Her posture was rigid, her gaze darting from face to face as if hunting for a threat.
"He's not here yet," Keifer's voice vibrated near her ear, startling her. She hadn't realized he was watching her so closely. "Cin will be late. He's coming with his sister."
Jay met his gaze, her expression neutral despite the flicker of relief in her chest. She gave a sharp, single nod. "Fine."
"Let's go freshen up," Jane whispered, sensing the tension. Jay didn't argue. They slipped away toward the powder room, leaving the boys in the center of the lion's den.
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Jay's POV
When we stepped back out into the ballroom, the first thing I saw wasn't the decor. It was the swarm.
A group of girls—noble-born socialites with perfectly curled hair and hungry eyes—were hovering around Keifer like flies on honey.
They were leaning in too close, their laughter high-pitched and fake. One girl was practically pressing her shoulder against his arm, her eyes locked on his face as if he were the only person in the room.
Something in my chest didn't just tighten; it knotted into a hard, cold ball. My vision tunneled. I felt an irrational, violent urge to walk over there and poke her eyes out. Why was she looking at him like that? Like she had any right to be in his space?
I don't even like him, I told myself, the lie tasting like ash. He's a nuisance. A Watson.
But the heat spreading through my veins said otherwise. It was jealousy—sharp, ugly, and undeniable. I couldn't stand the way they looked at him. I veered toward the drinks table, grabbing a dark amber liquid to drown the urge to start a fight.
I needed to ignore him, but every time I looked away, my eyes drifted back to the way that girl's hand almost touched his jacket.
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Jane's POV
I stood paralyzed a few feet behind Jay. My eyes were locked on a girl holding a phone, shamelessly snapping photos of Yuri while he smiled politely.
A slow, simmering rage began to boil in my gut. I wanted to march over, grab that phone, and hurl it—and her—out of the nearest window. The feeling was so intense it scared me. I've always been the calm one, the anchor.
I like Yuri. I knew that. But I told myself it was as a friend. A deep, soulful friendship. If that was true, then why did seeing that girl's camera lens on him feel like a physical insult? Why did I want to throw her out? I knew this was jealousy, but I couldn't understand why it hit this hard if we were "just friends." My heart was humming with a protectiveness that felt far from platonic.
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Author POV
The host took the stage, his voice booming. "And now, the floor is open for the couples' dance."
Yuri immediately turned toward Jane, ignoring the girls around him. He held out his hand, his eyes soft but expectant. Her first instinct was to refuse—to run away from the confusing jealousy still buzzing in my ears.
But then she looked at him, and her hand moved on its own. She placed it in his.
Meanwhile, Jay was standing in a corner, her knuckles white around her glass. A tall, well-dressed heir approached her. "May I have this—"
Before the boy could finish, a hand flew to Jay's waist, pulling her flush against a hard chest.
"Leave," Keifer's voice was a low growl. "She's with me."
The boy gave an awkward, stammering smile and vanished. Jay looked up at Keifer, her eyes snapping with fire. "Why did you do that?"
"He was asking for something that wasn't his," Keifer said.
"I'm not yours either, Watson," she spat.
Keifer leaned down, his breath ghosting over her ear. "You are for tonight. Now, miss stubborn... can I get a dance with you?"
Jay smirked, the challenge returning to her gaze. "Of course, King of Uplongs."
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Yuri's POV
The music was a slow, rhythmic pulse. I led Jane to the center of the floor. As I placed my hand on her waist, she hissed—a small, sharp intake of breath—but she didn't pull back. Instead, her hand slid up my arm and settled firmly behind my neck.
We moved in perfect sync. It was as if the rest of the gala had faded into a blur. I was lost in her. Without thinking, caught in the gravity of the moment, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Jane froze. She pulled away and moved out of the stage, her face a mask of confusion. I went behind her, finding her leaning against a wall in the dim hallway.
"Jane," I said, stepping close. She looked at me, her eyes wide. I saw her try to speak, but I placed my finger on her lips to quiet her.
"I'm not interested in games anymore, Jane. I want to pursue you. Properly. Sweetly. I want to be the one you think of when you wake up, because you're the only one I see when I close my eyes."
I didn't wait for her to answer. I left her there, needing her to process the weight of my words.
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Jane's POV
My heart was humming out of my chest. The spot where his lips had touched my forehead felt like it was on fire. Then came the confession.
I want to be the one you think of when you wake up.
I stood frozen against the wall long after he left. My breath was shallow. I had been lying to myself for weeks, calling it friendship, but the way my soul reached for him in that moment told a different story. I wasn't just jealous; I was falling.
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Keifer's POV
On the other side of the floor, my dance with Jay was a battlefield.
"Ow! You stepped on my foot," I muttered.
She didn't apologize. She thought she was winning this little war of nerves, but she forgot I'm a Watson. I'm smarter than she thinks. I gripped her waist tighter, pulling her so close there wasn't a breath of air between us. She froze. Then, she punched me in the stomach.
"Hey!" I barked, and instinctively, I punched—or rather, firmly poked—her waist back to get her to loosen her grip.
"Ahh!" she said, and I winced at the sound. She immediately elbowed me in the chest.
Ouch. That hurt. Is she a man? I didn't let go, though.
I locked her between my hands, pinning her arms. We were so close I could see the gloss on her lips. They were shiny, inviting, and suddenly, they were all I could see.
I leaned in and kissed her. No thinking, just instinct.
She pushed me back, her eyes wide. I thought a punch was coming, but she looked around at the crowd, realized where we were, and bolted off the stage.
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Jay's POV
He kissed me. Keifer Watson actually kissed me.
My first instinct was to break his jaw. I was about to punch him, but then I realized the scene it would cause. Everyone would know why I hit him. I couldn't have that. I turned and ran out toward the balcony, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.
But he was fast. Before I could reach the edge, Keifer pinned me against the stone wall.
"I've been thinking about this all night," he said, hovering his thumb over my lips. "Your lips are fucking sweet, Jay. It's becoming a problem."
I didn't melt. I bit his thumb—hard—and delivered a swift kick to his shin. "Problem solved," I hissed, shoving past him.
As I ran, I heard him shouting behind me.
"Ouchhh! Kitten! That's a foul!"
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