That evening the group was sitting under the big tree again.
Ella.
Freya.
Grace.
Rakki.
Jay.
Everyone was trying to talk normally.
But the air felt strange.
Because once again…
Keifer had left the moment Jay arrived.
The bench where he usually sat was empty.
Jay tried to smile while the others talked.
But she wasn't really listening.
Her eyes kept drifting toward the path where Keifer had disappeared.
Her chest slowly started feeling heavy.
Freya suddenly noticed.
"Jay?"
Jay quickly wiped her eyes.
"I'm fine."
But the tears didn't stop.
One slipped down her cheek.
Then another.
And suddenly…
Jay started crying.
Not loudly.
But quietly.
The kind of crying that comes from deep pain.
Ella immediately moved closer.
"Hey…"
She wrapped her arm around Jay's shoulders.
Grace held her hand gently.
"What happened?"
Jay shook her head.
"I didn't mean to hurt him this much…"
Freya's expression darkened.
"Oh come on."
Rakki sighed.
"He's taking this too far."
Jay whispered through tears,
"He doesn't even look at me anymore."
Ella looked toward the empty path angrily.
"Enough."
She suddenly stood up.
Freya followed her.
"Yeah, this is stupid now."
Grace also stood.
Rakki scratched his head.
"I guess we're doing this."
Jay wiped her tears nervously.
"What are you doing?"
But they were already walking toward the basketball court.
Because they knew exactly where Keifer was.
Keifer was leaning against the fence.
Scrolling through his phone.
When he saw them coming…
He frowned slightly.
"What?"
Ella crossed her arms.
"You need to stop this."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Stop what?"
Freya stepped forward.
"Stop acting like Jay doesn't exist."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"I'm not acting."
Grace spoke calmly.
"She's crying, Keifer."
His expression flickered for a second.
But he quickly looked away.
"Not my problem."
Ella snapped immediately.
"Not your problem?"
"She's crying because of you!"
Keifer's eyes flashed with anger.
"Because of me?"
Freya shot back,
"Yes!"
"You leave every time she comes!"
Keifer suddenly pushed himself away from the fence.
His voice turned sharp.
"What do you want from me?"
Grace replied softly,
"Just talk to her."
Keifer laughed bitterly.
"Talk about what?"
Ella gestured toward Jay sitting far away under the tree.
"She misses you!"
That was the wrong thing to say.
Keifer's anger exploded.
"Oh really?"
"Did she miss me when she ignored me for months?"
Silence fell.
His voice was filled with frustration.
"Did she miss me when she walked past me like I didn't exist?"
None of them spoke.
Keifer continued bitterly.
"Now suddenly I'm the bad guy?"
Freya tried to say something.
"But—"
Keifer cut her off.
"No."
His voice was colder now.
"You all wanted me to move on."
"So I did."
Ella shook her head.
"Running away isn't moving on."
Keifer stared at her.
Then he said quietly,
"Maybe."
"But it's easier."
With that…
He turned around.
And started walking away again.
Rakki called out,
"Keifer!"
But he didn't stop.
He didn't look back.
Not at them.
Not at the tree.
Not at Jay.
And after that moment…
Keifer didn't talk to any of them.
Not Ella.
Not Freya.
Not Grace.
Not Rakki.
He simply walked away…
Leaving the group behind in heavy silence. 💔