Chapter 14
He Sees Me. Even When I Try to Hide.
I never knew being someone's girlfriend could feel like this.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
Just... quiet moments that sneak into your bones and stay there.
I was still freaking out inside.
Like, every day.
We never announced it.
Never posted anything.
Never even held hands in public.
But I think the whole section knew.
Or at least felt it.
Because sometimes, I'd be talking to Fatima and look up to see Keifer... just staring. Softly. Casually. With that look on his face.
That stupid, heart-ruining look.
Like I was some inside joke he loved.
A week after the rose, he showed up before class with something in his hand.
A scrunchy.
Blue.
My favorite shade.
He handed it to me like it was nothing.
"Thought you'd like this."
I blinked. "Why do you know I like scrunchies?"
He smirked. "You wear one every day like it's part of your religion."
I snatched it, ears red.
Didn't wear it right away.
Too obvious.
Too much.
But the moment he turned around...
I tied it to my wrist.
Wore it all week.
Still have it.
Even now.
Then came the bracelet.
Black.
Simple.
Silver charm.
His initial.
"I'm not taking that," I said, pushing it back into his palm. "Do I look like a gold digger?"
He rolled his eyes. "It was less than 200 taka. Chill."
"Still."
"Jay."
"What?"
"Please take it. It's not about the money. It's about you wearing something that's mine."
My heart glitched.
I took it.
Wore it on the inside of my wrist so my mom wouldn't see.
Still felt like everyone could.
Still felt like I was glowing.
We didn't get much time together.
But the time we did have?
Felt like magic no one else could see.
Stolen glances across the classroom.
Quick hugs behind staircases.
His head resting on my shoulder after P.E., even if we were both sweaty and out of breath.
Once, he kissed my forehead and I forgot how to speak for the rest of the day.
And me?
I noticed things I'd never seen before.
Like the fact that he always sat one seat diagonally from me - just close enough to see me without ever being obvious.
How long had he done that?
Had he always positioned himself that way?
Had he always... been looking?
Sometimes, I caught him staring during boring math classes.
His eyes soft.
Focused.
And I'd pretend not to notice.
Because if I did, I'd melt.
At night, I'd lie in bed, staring at the bracelet in the dark, tracing my finger over the silver charm.
I wasn't allowed to date.
I wasn't supposed to be doing this.
But it didn't feel wrong.
It felt like something I'd been waiting for without even knowing it.
It felt like someone finally saw me - the real me - and didn't look away.
End of Chapter 14.