Silence.
The kind of silence that eats at you. That makes every heartbeat sound like a drum solo.
Keifer's standing there, close enough that I can see the gold flecks in his stupid glinty eyes. His expression doesn't change. Calm. Sure. Dangerous.
"Jay," he says softly, "don't lie to me."
My knees almost give out. WHY is his voice like that? Who gave him permission?!
"I'm not lying!" I squeak, holding my phone tighter. "I'm just… creatively editing the truth!"
His smirk twitches—just barely. "That's still lying."
Oh my god. Someone bury me alive. Right here. Right now.
I try to edge sideways, but he steps with me. Dead end wall at my back, Keifer blocking the way out. Fantastic. Love being cornered like a scared rabbit.
My phone buzzes in my hand.
BUZZ.
Both of us freeze.
I glance down. One new notification. My chest lurches.
From: Pres. Yuri.
Keifer's gaze flicks to the phone instantly. "Jay."
"Nope!" I slap the screen face-down against my chest. "It's… spam! Free car warranty stuff. Annoying, right?"
He doesn't move. Doesn't blink. Just watches me like he can see through skin and bone and straight into my guilty soul.
"Spam doesn't make you look like you're about to faint," he says quietly.
EXCUSE ME. I am not about to faint! Okay maybe I am. But only because his face is way too close and my brain is fried noodles!
I force a laugh. "Ha-ha, wow, look at the time! Don't wanna be late for—uh—existing. Bye!"
I try to dart past him.
He catches my wrist. Gently, but firm enough that I freeze.
His voice lowers. "Jay. Why him?"
My brain short-circuits. Why him? WHY HIM?! Oh, I don't know, maybe because Yuri has literally vanished off the face of the earth and nobody else seems to care?!
But my mouth? My mouth is an idiot."I-it's not— I wasn't— you don't—"
Keifer tilts his head, eyes locked on me. He's not angry. He's worse. Calm. Too calm.
I tug my wrist, but he doesn't let go. "Keifer, it's nothing, okay? Just—"
BUZZ.
My phone again.
Both of us glance down at the glowing screen. This time, I don't even have time to hide it. The message flashes clear:
From: Pres. YuriDon't drag anyone else into this. Especially him.
Keifer reads it. I can tell by the way he frowns he isn't calm anymore.
"Especially him," Keifer repeats, voice like ice. His gaze snaps to mine. "So he thinks I'm the danger?"
OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. Abort mission, abort—
"It's not what it looks like!" I blurt, yanking my hand free. "Yuri's just—he's—"
"What?" Keifer steps closer, cornering me against the wall again. "Jay, if you know something, you don't get to keep me in the dark. Not about this."
His voice isn't calm anymore. It's rough, tight, like he's holding something back.
I should tell him. I should. But… Yuri's words burn in my head. Don't drag anyone else into this. I don't want something to happen because of me...
So instead, I whisper, "Keifer, please. Just… trust me."
The silence is so heavy I can barely breathe.
Then—
"Trust you?" he echoes, low. He leans closer, so close I can feel his breath against my ear. "Jay, I'd trust you with my life. But not with your lies."
…
------------------------------------x-x-x-x--x-x--x-x-xx----------------------------------------------------Keifer's POV:
Jay's eyes dart everywhere but me.
She's lying. I know it. She knows it. And that damn message on her screen confirmed it.
Don't drag anyone else into this. Especially him.
My jaw tightens. Especially me. That's the part that won't stop echoing in my head.
Why me? Why does Yuri think I'm the one who can't be trusted?
Jay hugs her phone to her chest like it's armor. Her lips part, trembling, and for a second—just one second—I almost forget to be angry. She looks terrified.
But then she says it. "Keifer, please. Just… trust me."
And that's the problem.
I already do. More than I should. More than is safe.
But she's hiding something. And if Yuri's involved… if he thinks I'm the danger… then he's already two moves ahead in a game I'm not losing. I care about her... I don't want to see her in trouble again, she has gone through enough because of me.
I lean closer, so close her breath hitches."Trust you?" I say, keeping my voice low, steady, even though my pulse is anything but. "Jay, I'd trust you with my life. But not with your lies."
Her eyes snap up to mine. Wide. Guilt flickering just long enough for me to catch it.
Yeah. I knew it.
For a moment, the world goes quiet. Just her, me, and the unspoken words hanging between us.
Then footsteps thunder down the hall. Voices. Section E.
Jay exhales sharply, relief flashing across her face.
She doesn't even realize I'm still watching.
Still thinking.
Still deciding.
Because one thing's clear:If Yuri's dragging her into something dangerous—if she won't tell me—then I'll find out myself.
And when I do, no one—no one—is keeping her from me.
Jay laughs too loudly when Ci-n's voice echoes down the hall. "JAYYYY, DO YOU WANT MY LAST SLICE OF PIZZA OR NOT?!"
Her shoulders drop, and she takes two quick steps back—like the sound of Section E saves her. Like she's safe now.
But I'm not done.
Not even close.
"Jay," I murmur, and her eyes flick back to me instantly. That little pause before she answers tells me everything. She's torn. She wants to say something—but she won't.
She doesn't trust me with this.
That burns more than I expect.
Because I've spent years holding myself back. From her. From us. And every time I think I've got her close enough to finally stop running—she pulls away.
But this time, it's not about me. It's Yuri. And if Yuri's hiding, lying, or worse—dragging her into whatever mess he's tangled in—then she's already standing too close to the fire.
I lean against the wall, folding my arms like I've let it go. Her face softens, just slightly. She thinks she's won.
Good. Let her think that.
Because while she's busy protecting him, I'll make sure no one gets close enough to hurt her. Not Yuri. Not Aries. Not my father. Not anyone.
She turns when Ci-n finally rounds the corner, waving the last slice like and idiot like an idiot. I don't. I keep my eyes on her.
On the way her hands grip her phone. On the way her smile doesn't reach her eyes. On the way she exhales like she escaped something—when she hasn't. Not really.
Not yet.
My fists clench. Silent. Steady.
If Yuri thinks he's the one protecting her—he's wrong. Because Jay's mine to protect. Even if I have to protect her from herself.
Ci-n pulls her to where the rest of section e are.
I hang back, letting them go. Jay hesitates for a second, looking over her shoulder at me. Her eyes plead without words. Please understand. Please don't follow.
I nod slightly, though she can't see it through the crowd. I understand. For now.
Once she's out of arm's reach, I reach for my phone.
The call connects immediately. "Keifer? Everything okay?" Angelo's voice is calm, measured. Always calm.
"No," I admit. "Not exactly. But I need you to keep an eye on Section E for me. Jay's there now… but something's off. She got a message from Yuri."
I hear a pause. "Yuri? That's… not good. You want me to come there?"
"Not yet," I say, scanning the hallway. My jaw tightens. "Just—make sure she's safe. Don't let anyone suspicious get near her. And Angelo… if he tries anything—Yuri—I mean it. Don't let him touch her."
"Understood," he replies. "I've got eyes everywhere. Don't worry. Just… make sure she is safe when I can't."
"ok..."
I hang up, my fists clenching. Who does Yuri even think he is?
I watch Section E from the edge of the hall. Jay laughs softly at something Calix says, and for a moment, she looks like herself again—the Jay Jay I know, alive and unafraid.
But I can't let myself forget. That text. That warning.
Yuri's pulling her into something dangerous.
And if anyone hurts her while I'm standing here…
No. Not happening.
I slip my phone back into my pocket, letting my shoulders relax just enough to blend into the crowd. My eyes don't leave her.
Section E might think she's safe.
But I know better.
And I'll be ready.