*Continuation of Flashback*
Jay-Jay's POV
If anyone told me college mornings would feel like a race against time, I'd probably have laughed. But here I was—half-asleep, still in pajamas, with my Tita Gemma calling from the kitchen like a human alarm clock.
"Jay, anak, hurry up! You'll be late again!"
I groaned into my pillow. "Tita, five minutes!"
From downstairs, I heard Aries chuckle. "Five minutes means thirty in Jay-time."
"Aries!" I shouted, fumbling to get up. My hair was a mess, and my uniform skirt hung half-ironed on the chair. Perfect start, I thought sarcastically.
By the time I reached the breakfast table, my brother and Tita were already eating. Aries looked annoyingly fresh in his Northbridge College jacket—neat, confident, the perfect older brother image.
"Morning," I mumbled, sitting down.
"Morning," Tita Gemma replied, handing me a cup of hot chocolate. "You better eat fast. Aries will drop you today."
I blinked. "Wait, what? He's not even going the same way!"
Aries smirked. "Northbridge is just two streets over from St. Celestine, genius."
Tita rolled her eyes. "Stop teasing your sister. She's nervous, that's all."
"I'm not nervous," I said defensively, stabbing my eggs. "Just… curious."
Aries grinned. "Curious about your new friend, maybe?"
I almost choked. "Wh—what are you talking about?"
"You were smiling at your phone last night. Don't deny it."
I glared. "It was a funny meme!"
He leaned back smugly. "Right. 'Funny meme.' That's what they all say."
Tita Gemma chuckled softly. "You two never change. Jay, anak, just enjoy college, okay? Make friends, but focus on your studies."
I nodded. "I will, Tita. Promise."
When we reached St. Celestine College, I was both awed and nervous. The campus looked like it was pulled out of a postcard—ivory buildings with arched hallways, manicured gardens, and students in crisp white uniforms accented with navy ribbons.
"Good luck," Aries said as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "Text me if Keifer picks you up."
I gave him a look. "You mean when Keifer picks me up."
"Right," he smirked, "the boyfriend."
I swatted his arm before getting out, cheeks warm.
Inside the campus, the morning buzzed with chatter. Students greeted each other, some already forming tight-knit groups. I adjusted my bag strap, scanning for familiar faces—and there he was.
Dane.
He stood near the courtyard fountain, sunlight hitting his dark hair just right. He spotted me and waved, grinning like we'd known each other for years.
"Hey, Jay!"
I walked over, smiling back. "Hey, Dane. Early as always?"
He shrugged. "Habit. My sister keeps nagging me about being 'presentable.'"
"Your sister goes here too?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Clara. Second year."
I froze for half a second. Clara… the same Clara? The girl from orientation who gave me the iciest stare when we were introduced?
"Oh," I said slowly. "I think I've… met her."
He raised a brow. "Met or survived her?"
I burst into laughter. "Let's just say it wasn't a warm welcome."
He winced. "Yeah, she's got that… uh, protective older sister thing. Don't mind her."
"Trust me, I won't."
We chatted for a while—about classes, professors, and how he nearly tripped over the principal's dog on his first day. He was easy to talk to, funny in an unintentional way.
But even as we laughed, I felt a tiny tug in my chest. Keifer.
He'd texted me that morning, right before breakfast:
Keifer 🖤: Morning, Jay. Don't skip breakfast.Keifer 🖤: I'll drop by later if my class ends early.You: You don't have to, Keifer.Keifer 🖤: I want to.
And I knew that tone—playful but stubborn. He would come.
Classes passed in a blur of notes, introductions, and awkward small talk. By lunch, I was sitting under a big acacia tree with Dane, laughing over how our professor called him "Dale" by mistake the entire period.
"That's karma for laughing when she called me 'Jade,'" I teased.
We were mid-laughter when I felt a familiar gaze on me. The kind that prickled the back of my neck even before I turned.
Keifer.
He stood a few meters away, in his Northbridge College uniform—black blazer, white shirt slightly undone at the top, and that expression. That half-smile that wasn't really a smile at all.
"Uh-oh," Dane muttered, noticing my glance. "Boyfriend alert?"
"Maybe," I murmured.
Keifer approached, casual but sharp-eyed. "Hey, Jay."
I smiled. "Hey, Keifer. You're early."
His gaze flicked briefly to Dane. "You going to introduce me?"
"Oh! Right." I turned to Dane. "Keifer, this is Dane. Dane, Keifer—my boyfriend."
Dane stood and offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, man. I've heard about you."
"Likewise," Keifer said, his tone polite but cool.
"I should probably head to the student center," Dane said after a moment, sensing the tension. "See you in class, Jay."
"Sure," I said, waving as he left.
The moment he was gone, Keifer's eyes returned to me.
"So," he began, leaning slightly closer, "new friend?"
I crossed my arms. "Don't start."
He tilted his head, lips twitching. "I'm not starting. Just… asking."
"You're jealous."
He smirked. "Maybe. A little."
I rolled my eyes. "He's just a friend, Keifer. We met yesterday."
"Hmm." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You know I can't help it when someone gets too close to you."
My heart skipped. His hand brushed mine—not holding, just there, his warmth spreading through my skin.
"Keifer," I whispered, glancing around. "We're in public."
He smiled faintly. "Let them look."
I could feel my face burning. "You're impossible."
"And you're beautiful when you're annoyed."
I groaned, lightly shoving his shoulder, which only made him laugh softly—the sound wrapping around me like home.
We found a quiet spot behind the admin building, where the campus garden overlooked the city below. Keifer leaned against the stone railing while I sat on the bench beside him.
"So," he said after a while, "how's college so far?"
"It's… good. Different. I'm getting used to it."
"And your new friends?"
I smiled. "Dane's nice. And guess what? His sister is Clara."
Keifer blinked. "Clara? The girl who glared at you during orientation?"
"The very same," I said, laughing. "Now I know why. He said she's protective. Maybe she just didn't like how I sat next to her brother."
Keifer chuckled. "Can't blame her. If I were her, I'd be protective too."
"Of Dane?" I teased.
"Of you."
The words hit me like a pulse. My breath caught, and when I looked up, his gaze was steady—deep, warm, and honest.
He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek lightly before pulling back, as if resisting the urge to stay.
"You're doing great, Jay," he murmured. "I'm proud of you."
I smiled softly. "Thanks, Keifer."
For a while, we didn't say anything—just the wind moving between us, the scent of cut grass, the faint laughter of students nearby.
Keifer's POV
I hadn't planned to visit her that day. I told myself I'd just swing by St. Celestine after my classes ended early. But when I saw her laughing with another guy, something inside me clenched.
I wasn't the jealous type—at least, I liked to think I wasn't—but seeing that smile, my Jay's smile, aimed at someone else stirred something primal.
I knew it wasn't fair. She deserved friends. She deserved to laugh. But part of me wanted to pull her close and say, Mine. Only mine.
I tried to play it cool when we met, but the tension stayed under my skin. The guy—Dane—seemed harmless, polite even. Still, I noticed the way he looked at her. The way Jay's eyes lit up when she talked.
I wasn't angry at her. Just… scared. Scared that time and distance might someday change the way she looked at me.
After I dropped her home that evening, the sky was streaked with orange. She was quiet, leaning her head against the window. I glanced at her, memorizing the faint smile that played on her lips.
When we reached her gate, she turned to me. "Thanks for today."
I smiled. "Always."
And before she could open the door, I reached out—gently brushing my thumb along her temple and pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.
Her eyes widened slightly, then softened. "Keifer…"
"Go on," I said quietly. "Your Tita's waiting."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Goodnight, Keifer."
"Goodnight, Jay."
I watched her walk up the steps, the porch light flickering on as Tita Gemma appeared in the doorway.
Jay-Jay's POV
"Anak, you're late again," Tita said as soon as I entered.
"Sorry, Tita," I said, cheeks heating. "We got stuck in traffic."
She eyed me suspiciously but said nothing more. Dinner was warm and comforting—fried tilapia, rice, and her special soup—but I barely tasted it.
Later, lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts tangled. The day replayed in fragments: Dane's laughter, Clara's glare, Keifer's touch, his words—I'm proud of you.
And that kiss on my forehead.
I pulled my blanket closer, heart racing for reasons I didn't fully understand.
"Goodnight, Keifer," I whispered into the quiet room.
And for the first time since college started, I fell asleep smiling