Chapter 32
The Rose and the Quiet Promise
Jay tugged her sweater tighter as the evening breeze drifted through the university courtyard. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and lavender — the kind of sky that made you believe anything was possible, even after everything.
Her heart thudded with a nervous excitement she hadn't felt in a long time.
Keifer was waiting by the bench near the fountain, holding a small bouquet wrapped in simple brown paper. Not flashy, just roses — a soft mix of blush and cream, delicate and real.
He caught her eyes the moment she stepped into the courtyard, his smile gentle, like he was seeing her for the first time all over again.
"Hey," he said, voice low and warm.
Jay smiled back, trying to keep her cool. "Hey."
He held out the flowers.
"For you."
She accepted them, fingers brushing his for a second that felt electric.
"Why roses?" she asked.
Keifer shrugged, a little sheepish. "Because you kept that old one all this time. The one I gave you when we were idiots, pretending we didn't care. I figured it was time for a fresh start."
Jay's chest tightened. "It's perfect."
They settled on the bench, side by side, the quiet bubbling between them like a soft song.
Around them, the university hummed with life — groups laughing, music from a nearby event, the occasional shout of friends making plans. But here, with Keifer, everything felt calm. Safe.
"I've been thinking," Jay started, tracing a rose petal between her fingers, "about how far we've come. How many times we almost lost each other."
Keifer looked at her, eyes serious. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "I used to be scared that if I let myself care again, it would just hurt more. But… maybe it's okay to take the risk."
He reached out, brushing a stray hair from her face. "I don't want to be your risk. I want to be your choice. Every single time."
Jay's breath hitched.
They sat there in silence, watching the stars begin to twinkle above.
Life at university wasn't always easy. The pressure of classes, endless assignments, and exams gnawed at both of them. Fatima and Yuri were constant forces of chaos and support — their loud banter a reminder that not everything had to be serious.
During late-night study sessions, Fatima would pop in with snacks and bad jokes, while Yuri tried to make Keifer laugh with ridiculous impressions that never quite landed.
Jay found herself laughing more than she had in years.
And through it all, Keifer was her anchor — steady, patient, the quiet warmth in the storm of deadlines and doubts.
One evening, as they huddled over a mountain of textbooks in the dorm common room, Fatima nudged Jay with a grin.
"So… when are you two going to stop being all mysterious and just kiss already?" she teased loudly, earning a playful glare from Yuri.
Jay blushed fiercely, but Keifer just smirked and squeezed her hand.
"Soon," he whispered.
And Jay believed him.
Days turned into weeks.
Classes ended, projects finished.
And with every passing moment, their bond grew — no grand declarations, no sweeping gestures — just simple, steady moments.
A shared coffee when mornings were rough.
A hand held during stressful exams.
Text messages filled with silly inside jokes.
They were quietly building something real.
One chilly autumn afternoon, Keifer surprised Jay with a small picnic near the campus lake.
They sat on a plaid blanket, the scent of fallen leaves in the air, sharing sandwiches and talking about their dreams.
"I want to travel," Jay confessed, "see the world beyond this campus."
Keifer nodded. "Me too. But wherever we go, I want to go with you."
Her heart soared.
Because for the first time, she wasn't just hoping. She was sure.
Later that night, back in her dorm room, Jay pinned the new rose to her corkboard — right next to the old pressed one.
She smiled, whispering to herself, "This time, we're doing it right."
And as she closed her eyes, the last thing she felt wasn't fear or doubt — but a quiet, glowing hope.
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Hey its author ayesha hereThree chapters left guys only three then the secret gets revealed. I will post it today.
Bye guys