Chapter 16
For Once, I Wanted to Be the Girl You Couldn't Take Your Eyes Off.
I didn't expect much from prom.
I mean, it's just our first year.
A school-organized event.
Not even a proper ballroom — just the multipurpose hall, some fairy lights, a speaker, and whatever food our class could afford.
But that morning, when I stood in front of the mirror?
I let myself hope.
I curled my hair.
Let Fatima do my makeup.
Put on the magenta dress we picked together.The one that made me feel like maybe… I could be that girl.


And the necklace my mom gave me.
The kind boys looked at with wonder.
The kind Keifer might look at like she was made of stars.
When we arrived, the sun was golden.
The decorations glowed.
Everyone looked different — softer, cleaner, like we were playing at being older.
And then he saw me.
Keifer.
Across the hallway.
He stopped.
Mouth slightly open.
Eyes wide.
Yuri elbowed him. "Say something before she turns around and walks back home."
He didn't say anything.
Just walked up slowly, staring like I'd fallen from the sky.
"Jay," he said.
"What?"
"You look like…" He shook his head. "You don't even look real."
I raised an eyebrow. "Say something corny and I'll step on your foot."
He grinned. "Too late. Already thinking of a poem."
I laughed. "Don't."
He just offered his hand.
"Come take pictures with me?"
We took so many.
Him behind me, arms loose around my waist.
Me pretending not to lean into it.
Fatima making kissy faces from the side.
Yuri trying to photobomb every single one.
Someone shouted: "Couple goals!!"
I blushed so hard I almost tripped on my own heels.
The music started.
Slow. Then upbeat. Then soft again.
He danced with me.
Hands gentle.
Eyes soft.
Thumb brushing the edge of the bracelet on my wrist.
We didn't talk much.
Just stayed close.
And for once, I didn't feel scared.
I didn't worry about what my mom would say.
Didn't worry about tomorrow.
Didn't even worry about the girl in red from last week.
I was here.
I was his.
And he was mine.
That night, I looked at the photos on my phone.
Zoomed in on our faces.
Our smiles.
The way he was looking at me like he already knew —
I was it for him.
I fell asleep in my dress.
Shoes kicked off.
Makeup half-wiped.
But happy.
So, so happy.
End of Chapter 16.