The girls were still sitting under the big tree.
Jay had cried so much that her eyes were swollen.
Her head was still resting on Ella's lap.
Ella gently stroked her hair.
Trying to calm her down.
Freya sat beside them quietly.
Grace and Rakki looked worried.
But Ella's mind was somewhere else.
Because something about this situation didn't make sense to her.
At all.
Ella knew Keifer.
Better than most people.
And one thing she was absolutely sure about…
Keifer loved Jay.
Not just as a friend.
But deeply.
Everyone had seen it.
The way he looked at her.
The way he protected her.
The way he lost his temper when she got hurt.
Ella sighed quietly.
Freya noticed.
"What are you thinking?"
Ella looked down at Jay.
Still crying softly.
Then she said slowly,
"This doesn't make sense."
Grace frowned.
"What?"
Ella continued.
"Keifer loves Jay."
Rakki nodded immediately.
"Obviously."
Freya agreed too.
"Anyone with eyes can see that."
Grace looked thoughtful.
"Then why is he getting engaged?"
Ella shook her head.
"That's what I don't understand."
Jay slowly lifted her head.
Her voice weak.
"No."
Ella looked at her.
Jay wiped her tears.
"He doesn't love me."
Her voice sounded empty.
"If he did… he wouldn't do this."
Ella held Jay's face gently.
"Jay."
"Listen to me."
Jay looked away.
Ella spoke firmly.
"I've seen Keifer with you for years."
"He never looked at anyone the way he looks at you."
Jay shook her head slowly.
"But he chose someone else."
Freya crossed her arms.
"That's suspicious."
Grace nodded slightly.
"Very."
Rakki leaned forward.
"Maybe there's a reason."
Ella's eyes narrowed slightly.
Because the more she thought about it…
The more something felt wrong.
Keifer was many things.
Stubborn.
Proud.
Hot-headed.
But he was not the kind of person who would marry someone he didn't want.
Unless…
He had a reason.
Ella sighed softly.
Looking down at Jay again.
Jay looked completely heartbroken.
And Ella quietly made a decision in her mind.
She needed to find out the truth.
Because something about Keifer's engagement…
Didn't feel real at all.