Jay-jay's POV
People were shouting loudly in the auditorium. I could hear them from my seat. I was on the side of our room right now. I didn't want to watch, I was just going to find out who would win. After what happened earlier, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I went home and cried there but Kuya Angelo saw me. I also had to go back at school because we were still on patrol.
But I chose to stay while the others watched and waited for their turn.
I held my cellphone and checked their texts to me.
From: Ci-N
Message: The contest is at 11am. We'll pick you up now.
From: David
Message: Where are you? You said you left?
From: Yuri
Message: Answer my call! Please!
From: Ci-N
Message: Jay! Answer! We're worried!
I can't help but cry while reading their texts.
I know it's all my fault. It hurts me, we prepared so well for the contest but it ended up being nothing.
"Aren't you being teased in your place?" Yuri asked and suddenly sat down next to me.
I wiped my tears and tried to stay calm.
"No... Why are you here?"
I looked next to him. He was carrying a guitar. He smiled at me and looked up at the sky.
"I don't know where to go."
"You should be in the auditorium... Aren't you going to wait for the announcement of who won?" I asked him and tried to take the guitar from his hand.
"I don't want to! I'm already disqualified, why should I find out who won?"
I was stunned by what he said. Disqualified? I don't know that. But why?
"Why were you disqualified?"
"They said there was only one contest per person." Yuri replied and smiled at me.
He also reached for the guitar when he noticed that I was having trouble reaching it.
I put it on my lap and felt like a guitarist.
"Does that mean if Ci-N made it, he'll be disqualified too?"
Yuri nodded. But nothing in the rules said that. This was probably Freya's plan. Yuri's effort was wasted.
His song is still beautiful.
"Jay..." Yuri called me. "...Who's Cyrus?"
I was stunned, because I didn't know if I should tell him.
It's boring to hear but I really feel like saying something.
It's not bad to say something sometimes.
The worms in my brain have a point. They say that if you let what's inside you out, it will lighten up.
"My ex-boyfriend."
"How was your meeting?"
"Uhmm... It wasn't good."
Yuri looked at me. "Can you tell me?"
I replied with a curt nod. "He didn't want me to leave. He just wanted me by his side. He even choked me because he was angry."
Yuri suddenly became serious. "He did that?"
"Yes... It's a good thing his family was there to help him."
"You're not thinking of getting back there, are you?"
"Oh my! I'm not going back there!"
"That's good..." Yuri whispered.
I picked up the guitar string. Just to experiment. Not that I know how to do it. I just wanted to try.
"Do you want me to teach you?" Yuri offered.
I shook my head and handed the guitar back to him. "I don't have the patience for that. an."
I used to try to play the guitar because I was losing my appetite.
So I just stared and dreamed.
He laughed a little. "I'll just play."
I smiled at him and let him do what he wanted. I was in the mood to listen to music again.
"Through all of time and space, I'd always rearrange
Everything around me, so things would go as planned, But I found clarity
Some things aren't meant to be, Take it as you go on
Your future's in your hands, And all we want is love
So as I look above..."
I admit, it feels good to hear Yuri's voice now.
Add to that the pleasure of listening to his voice.
"...Oh it's the stardust in the sky that, Makes me realize that
I'm not the only one, And just know dreams come true
So make sure every single thing that you do, Just take your time
And look up at the stars tonight..."
Because the lyrics said look up at the stars tonight, I looked up. That just failed. There were only a few stars. Pfffttt... Even Yuri looked up for a moment and laughed a little when he noticed that there were only a few stars.
I closed my eyes because the feeling of his song was so good. Sometimes I really envy those who have talent in instruments and singing.
But I more want to feel what Yuri is singing now. My fears have disappeared from my thoughts.
"... It's the stardust in the sky that, Makes me realize that
I'm not the only one, And just know dreams come true
So make sure every single thing that you do, Just take your time
And look up at the stars tonight..."
He suddenly stopped. I knew he wasn't finished singing.
I opened my eyes and stopped. Everything stopped for me.
Because the moment my eyes opened was when his lips touched mine.
Y-yuri...
I didn't count how long we had been like that. But when he broke away from me, I waited for him to speak.
I wanted to ask 'Why'.
Why did you kiss me? Why are you doing this? Why?
But my mouth wouldn't open. My body wouldn't move either. The only thing I could feel was the incessant beating of my heart.
Speak! Explain, Yuri! Please!
He's not speaking. He's just looking at me.
He slowly put down his guitar without taking his eyes off me. He took a step closer and gently held my cheek. He moved his lips closer to mine, but before he could…
"Yuri…"
We both stood up and turned toward the voice. Keifer stood there, staring at us without any expression. I looked at what he was holding in his right hand. A trophy? Wait—was it… the contest! I listened to the sounds coming from the auditorium. It sounded like they had finished, and there was already a winner.
"K-Keifer… Why are you holding a trophy?" I asked. He looked at the trophy and slowly walked toward me. His eyes seemed distant and emotionless. "Oh," he said, handing me the trophy. I took it and read the inscription.
Battle of the Band Champion Section E
They really won! Amazing! Our section won!
"You guys won?" I asked with a smile. "Yeah…" he answered quietly.
My smile faded when I noticed how serious he was. He kept his eyes locked on Yuri, and the atmosphere felt tense.
"I-I'll just… go check what's happening," I excused myself quickly and left.
The truth is, Keifer's vibe felt off. Yuri's serious expression as he stared at Keifer made me uneasy. I felt like something bad had happened, and they were on the verge of fighting.
I entered the room, still holding the trophy.
"Jay!" Ci-N called. "We only got second place in Dance Troops." "That's okay… At least it's better than nothing," I said.
"Why are you holding that? Have you seen Keifer already?" Felix asked, taking the trophy from me.
"Ah… yeah. H-he's talking to Yuri." "Keifer was smiling so wide earlier! He said he'd be the one to tell you about the win!" Ci-N added while looking at the trophy.
But he didn't seem happy earlier. He looked more like he was thinking about something—or upset.
"Who's on patrol at 11 p.m.?!" someone shouted.
We all looked at the clock. It was already 11:02 p.m.
"Oh no! That's us!"
We quickly grabbed our flashlights and headed out. I thought about checking on Yuri and Keifer, but they were already heading back to the room.
Yuri and I locked eyes for a moment. I quickly looked away.
That kiss…
I walked alongside David, avoiding Yuri's gaze. Even though it wasn't me who initiated that kiss, I couldn't help but feel awkward.
When we stopped in front of the main building, we were told we couldn't start cleaning yet because there was still a party happening in the auditorium. So, we had to patrol first.
Yuri and Keifer followed behind us. Keifer was walking so fast, like he was about to pick a fight with someone. He suddenly stopped in front of us but didn't look our way.
"Figure out who you want to pair up with!" he said angrily before storming off.
David, Ci-N, and Eren exchanged glances. It was like Keifer had been possessed or something.
David, Ci-N, and Eren started walking away, and I was about to follow them when Yuri grabbed my arm.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
I nodded, and we walked toward the first-year building. We reached the second floor, but he still hadn't said a word.
"Yuri…" I finally broke the silence. "A-about earlier—"
"I thought you'd never ask."
I looked at him. So he was just waiting for me to speak first? Seriously?! He was the one who asked to talk, and yet he made me start the conversation.
"W-what did you mean by what you did?" I asked hesitantly.
"What do you think it meant?" he replied, turning the question back to me.
"B-because… no one just kisses someone without it meaning something," I said, scratching my head.
It felt like I was the one being interrogated here. Was I the one at fault?
"If you're wondering if I like you… I won't deny it," he said.
I froze. Was he saying he—
"…but I won't confirm it either."
Huh?! My head started spinning. Talking to Yuri was so confusing! He wouldn't deny liking me, but he wouldn't confirm it either.
"I don't get what you're saying."
"Jay… look, if I deny it, you'll think I'm lying. But if I confirm it, there's a chance you'll stay away from me. So I won't answer either way," he explained before walking ahead of me.
My brain was still loading, trying to process everything he said. What was with all these theories?