Chapter 13
I Said Yes. I Don't Know Why. But I Did.
It started as a regular day.
Normal. Boring. Just another day of pretending I had everything under control.
Then lunch happened.
And someone said the words that would ruin me:
"Let's play Truth or Dare!"
Only the girls joined. Which I thought was safe.
Ha. Stupid me.
It started harmless — silly truths, dares like "drink a spoon of ketchup" or "text your ex."
Then someone looked at me.
Someone evil.
"Jay," she said, grinning. "Truth."
I nodded cautiously.
"If Keifer asked you to be his girlfriend again right now… would you say yes?"
Silence.
Literal silence.
My heart went still.
My mouth moved.
Before I could stop it.
Before I could think.
"Yes."
Just like that.
The word hung in the air like it didn't belong to me.
I blinked. Wait—what?
Everyone stared.
My cheeks burned.
"I-I mean—hypothetically! I'm just saying!"
But it was too late.
They heard.
They definitely heard.
I glanced at Fatima.
Her smile said it all.
They wouldn't tell him… right?
…Right?
They would.
----
By next class, Keifer was gone.
No desk. No note. No smirk from the back row.
I told myself it was nothing.
But I couldn't focus.
Couldn't breathe right.
My hands were fidgety. My heart was in a blender.
Where was he?
That class was cancelled.
I was walking to the canteen with Fatima and Yuri when she got a message.
From Keifer.
"Meet me at the staircase. All three of you."
My stomach dropped.
"Should I be scared?" I asked.
Fatima smirked. "probably."
We reached the staircase landing.
Nobody else was there.
Keifer was waiting.
Of course he was.
He looked at me.
No teasing smile. Just… nervous. Too quiet.
"Jay," he said, "close your eyes."
I narrowed mine. "If you kiss my hand again I'm going to throw you in the ocean."
He laughed. "I swear I won't. Just trust me this once."
I groaned. "Fatima, watch him."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm watching. Chill."
I closed my eyes.
I felt something—soft. Light. Pressed into my fingers.
"Okay," he said. "Open."
I looked down.
A rose.
A single, red, real rose in my hand.
I blinked.
"What—?"
Keifer suddenly took two steps back, shouted,
"YOU'RE MY GIRLFRIEND NOWWW!"
And sprinted down the stairs.
Like.
Full sprint.
Gone.
Fatima was WHEEZING. Yuri nearly fell over laughing.
And me?
I just stood there.
Holding the rose.
Heart pounding.
Brain short-circuiting.
Mouth open.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
I walked to class half-conscious.
Clutching that rose like it was a live grenade.
Where was I supposed to keep it?
How would I hide it from my mom?
Why did I let him do this?
Why am I smiling?
I couldn't stop smiling.
I shoved the rose deep into my bag, then into my drawer at home, locking it like it was made of gold.
I don't know why I felt like crying and laughing at the same time.
But I knew one thing for sure:
That rose meant something.
He didn't kiss my hand this time.
But he didn't have to.
Because I finally said yes.
And for the first time?
It didn't scare me.
End of Chapter 13.