That evening Ella found Keifer alone near the basketball court.
The campus was quiet.
Most students had already left.
Keifer was sitting on the metal bench, scrolling through his phone lazily.
Like nothing in the world was wrong.
Ella walked straight toward him.
Her steps firm.
Keifer noticed her and smirked.
"Oh."
"Detective Ella."
Ella crossed her arms.
"Stop joking."
Keifer raised his eyebrows.
"Serious mood."
Ella didn't sit.
She just stood in front of him.
"We need to talk."
Keifer sighed dramatically.
"That sounds dangerous."
Ella glared at him.
"Keifer."
His playful expression faded slightly.
"What?"
Ella spoke slowly.
"Why are you getting engaged?"
Keifer shrugged.
"You already know."
"I like Ion."
Ella stared at him.
For a few seconds she didn't say anything.
Then she asked quietly,
"Do you really?"
Keifer leaned back on the bench.
Looking completely relaxed.
"Yeah."
Ella shook her head.
"I don't believe you."
Keifer chuckled.
"That sounds like a you problem."
Ella's voice became sharper.
"Jay cried today."
Keifer's fingers froze on his phone.
Only for a second.
Then he continued scrolling.
"Okay."
Ella clenched her fists.
"She confessed that she loves you."
Keifer's jaw tightened slightly.
But he still didn't look up.
Ella watched him carefully.
"Say something."
Keifer finally looked at her.
His expression calm.
"What do you want me to say?"
Ella's voice cracked with frustration.
"That you love her too!"
Silence fell between them.
Keifer stared at her for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"You're imagining things."
Ella felt anger rising.
"I've known you for years."
"You think I can't see it?"
Keifer stood up slowly.
Putting his phone in his pocket.
"I like Ion."
He said it simply.
"So I'm getting engaged."
Ella stepped closer.
"Look me in the eye and say that again."
Keifer did exactly that.
"I like Ion."
Ella stared at him.
Searching his face.
Trying to find something.
Anything.
But Keifer's expression stayed calm.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
Ella finally stepped back.
Her mind slowly putting the pieces together.
Because something about this conversation felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Keifer wasn't confused.
He wasn't defensive.
He wasn't emotional.
He was… hiding.
Hiding something deep.
Ella looked at him one last time.
Then she sighed.
"Fine."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"You're done?"
Ella nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
But inside her mind something had become very clear.
Keifer was lying.
And whatever the real reason behind this engagement was…
It was something big enough for him to hide it even from his closest friends.