The next morning felt… weird.
Not bad-weird.
Just… I-told-my-crush-I-love-him-
I was brushing my hair in the mirror, staring at my own reflection like:
"Girl, why do you look like you just swallowed a whole galaxy?"
My phone buzzed.
Aries:"Can't pick you up. Going hospital for my chest check-up. Kuya going w/ me."
Aries:"Ask someone else."
Great.
Kuya Angelo was with Aries, meaning no ride.
I didn't wanna commute alone—last time some creepy tito winked at me and I almost committed a crime.
I was about to message Ci-N when another text popped up.
Angelo:"Keifer will pick you up. We told him. Be ready."
…
…
OH NO.
My entire soul left my body.
Of all people.
The universe REALLY wanted me to suffer today.
I paced around my room, hugging my bag like it was a shield.
"What am I even supposed to SAY to him after last night?! 'Good morning babe'? EW NO."
I slapped my cheeks. "Girl. Calm down. You're not in a Wattpad book."
Then a honk sounded outside.
A familiar one.
I peeked out the window.
Keifer.
Leaning casually against his signature black jeep like he wasn't the reason my stomach was turning into mashed potatoes.
He texted me.
Keifer:"I'm outside. No rush."
Keifer:"But… I wanna see you."
My heart nearly exploded into confetti.
I grabbed my bag and ran downstairs.
But the moment I opened the door and saw him standing there, smile soft and teasing—
My brain short-circuited.
He leaned slightly forward.
"Morning, Jay-Jay."
My voice cracked. "M-morning."
He raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You're shy now? After last night?"
I DIED. I DIED RIGHT THERE.
They might as well have buried me on the spot.
I hid my face behind my hand.
"I wasn't shy last night! I just— I— I—"
He stepped closer, gently pulling my hand down so he could see my face.
His voice dropped, warm and stupidly sweet:
"It's okay. I'm shy too."
I stopped breathing.
Sir. Please. I am only one person.
He opened the passenger door for me
"Come on. I'll take you to school."
I nodded, trying not to combust as I got on behind him.
And when he drove off, wind rushing past us, his voice reached me through the noise:
"I'm really happy you called me last night."
My heart did a whole backflip.
We were only a minute away from school when the car suddenly slowed down… then pulled over to the empty side street just before the main gate.
He shifted into park.
I blinked. "…Why are we stopping?"
Keifer turned toward me fully, his expression gentle in a way that made my chest go warm.
"I didn't want to drop you off without this," he said quietly.
Before I could even ask, he leaned closer and—
placed a soft kiss on my lips
Warm. Light. Careful.
My breath hitched.
Then he whispered, almost shyly,
"One more."
He leaned in again and gave me another quick kiss, soft enough that it felt more like a promise than anything else.
"That's for the profanities yesterday"
I froze in my seat.
He pulled back slightly, eyes searching mine.
"You okay?"
"I— I— I—"
My brain had disconnected from my body.
"I'm GREAT," I squeaked.
He laughed softly and turned the car back on, cheeks a little red himself.
"Come on," he said, lightly bumping his shoulder to mine. "Let's go before your classmates think you died."
I couldn't speak the whole rest of the ride.
My face was basically lava.
As we pulled up to the school gate, he glanced at me again, voice low.
"Jay-Jay?"
"Y-yeah?"
His smile softened.
"Don't ever leave me "
I nodded, still stunned.
Yep.
I was done for.
I was still halfway melted into the car seat when Keifer cleared his throat.
"Uh… before you go," he said, fingers tapping the steering wheel like he was nervous.
KEIFER. NERVOUS.
What an honor.
I turned back to him. "Yeah?"
He looked straight ahead for a moment, like he was trying to pick the right words.
"Do you…" He exhaled slowly. "Do you want to go out with me?"
My brain: OUT WHERE. OUT HOW. OUT WHY. OUT AHHHH—
My mouth: "Like… like a date?"
His eyes met mine. "Yeah. A real one."
He said it so softly I almost melted again.
My heart did a full gymnastics routine, but somehow my voice stayed stable.
"O-okay," I said, trying not to sound like I was exploding. "Yeah. I'd… I'd like that."
He smiled—slow, warm, the kind that made my knees go weak all over again.
But then—
Panic.
"Oh— wait— HOLD UP—" I grabbed his sleeve. "Keifer, don't tell anybody."
He blinked. "About the date?"
"Yes. ALL of it. Every part." I whispered fiercely. "I don't want Percy screaming. I don't want Ci-N teasing me. And Aries and Kuya Angelo — Kuya will literally kill me, resurrect me, then kill me again."
Keifer snorted. "Angelo can't kill you. He likes me."
"He hates you."
"He tolerates me," Keifer corrected, lifting one eyebrow.
"Barely."
He laughed quietly, then nodded. "Okay. I won't tell anyone."
He leaned slightly closer, voice dropping.
"Our secret?"
I swallowed and nodded. "Our secret."
"Good," he said. "Because I want the first date to be just us."
My soul left my body.
He put the car back in drive, eyes still soft.
"Go. Before you pass out."
Probably smart.
I got out of the car with jelly legs and closed the door gently.
I looked like an idiot and walked off, trying not to grin like a maniac.
A DATE.
A REAL DATE.
With him.
But no one could know.
Not Ci-n
Not Ella.
Not Mica.
Not Percy.
Not Rakki
NOT EVEN ARIES
Oh and especially SECTION E
Lord help me.