Library

JAY-JAY POV

Then, without warning, he reached over, closed my laptop, and whispered, "Come with me."

I blinked. "What—"

He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the back corner of the library, past the dusty shelves and forgotten encyclopedias.

It was quiet.

Dim.

Almost secret.

He stopped, turned to face me, and smiled.

"What are we doing?" I asked, heart thudding for no reason.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You've been staring at your screen like it owes you money."

"I'm trying to be productive."

"You're trying to combust."

I rolled my eyes. "So you dragged me here to lecture me?"

"No," he said, stepping closer. "I dragged you here because I missed you."

I blinked. "We were literally sitting together."

He shrugged. "Not the same."

I stared at him.

He looked tired.

Soft.

Like he needed this moment as much as I did.

"You still have some kisses debt," he said, voice low, teasing.

I looked up from where I was leaning against him, eyebrows raised. "Debt?"

He nodded solemnly. "You promised more at home. I'm just reminding you. For accountability."

I snorted. "You sound like a tax collector."

He leaned closer, lips brushing my temple. "I'm collecting affection. Very serious business."

I rolled my eyes, but my heart was already doing cartwheels. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're mine," he said, pulling me gently back into his arms.

I let myself melt into him for a moment, the smell of his hoodie, the quiet hum of the library, the way his fingers traced lazy circles on my back.

"I'll pay at the house," I said, trying to sound firm.

"I can't wait," Keifer murmured, eyes too soft for a library corner.

"Keifer," I warned, half a glare, half a plea.

"Jay, please, babe," he said, voice low and teasing, like he knew exactly how to unravel me.

I sighed. "Fine."

His grin was instant. Smug. Victorious.

He kissed me slowly at first, like he was memorizing the moment.

But it quickly turned into something more—urgent, familiar, like he'd been waiting all day to do this.

His hands found my waist.

Mine curled into his hoodie.

The library corner faded.

The world faded.

Just us.

Just this.

I pulled back, breathless. "Keifer, we're in public."

He grinned. "Technically, we're in a quiet zone."

I smacked his chest lightly. "You're impossible."

"And you're mine," he whispered, brushing his thumb across my cheek.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart was already doing somersaults. This boy. This chaos. This comfort.

I kissed him again. This time, he didn't hesitate. He picked me up, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist, like muscle memory.

"Keifer," I whispered, half laughing, half breathless.

He leaned back against the wall, holding me like I weighed nothing. "You said 'fine.' I'm collecting."

I buried my face in his neck, heart racing. "We're in a library."

He grinned. "We're in love. Libraries should be honored."

I pulled back just enough to glare at him. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're mine," he said, eyes soft, voice low.

I kissed him again

I kissed him again. Soft. Certain. Like the world had narrowed to just us and the quiet hum of the library.

His hands were warm on my waist. Mine tangled in his hoodie. It was stupid and sweet and everything I didn't know I needed.

And then—

"Jay?"

I froze. Keifer pulled back, blinking.

I turned slowly.

Eric and Lila stood at the end of the aisle, wide-eyed, frozen like they'd walked into a scene they weren't supposed to see.

Lila's mouth opened. Then closed. Eric looked like someone had unplugged his brain.

I stepped back from Keifer, heart hammering. "Oh."

Keifer, ever the chaos gremlin, just smiled. "Hey, guys."

Keifer, ever the chaos gremlin, just smiled. "Hey, guys."

Lila blinked fast, like she was trying to reset her brain. "We didn't mean to interrupt."

Eric didn't speak. Just stared. At me. At Keifer. At the way my hand was still half-tangled in his hoodie.

I stepped back fully, clearing my throat. "We were just—uh—taking a break."

Keifer snorted. "A very romantic break."

Lila laughed, but it was brittle. "Right. Totally normal. Library kisses. Love that."

Eric's jaw was tight. "You said you were studying."

"I was," I said quickly. "We were. I mean—we are."

Keifer leaned against the shelf, unbothered. "Jay got a 97%. I'm celebrating."

Lila's eyes flicked to me. "Congrats."

"Thanks," I said, voice small.

Eric finally spoke, voice low. "You didn't tell us it was like... that."

I frowned. "Like what?"

He shook his head. "Nothing."

Lila smiled too brightly. "We'll leave you to it."

They turned and walked away, footsteps echoing down the aisle.

I stared after them, heart still thudding.

Keifer reached for my hand. "That was awkward."

"Yeah," I whispered.

"They already knew we were engaged."

"Not like that," I said. "Not... us."

Keifer squeezed my hand. "You okay?"

I nodded. But something in me twisted. Because now they'd seen it. Not just the label. Not just the ring.

They'd seen the love. And it changed everything.