Chapter Four: Unspoken feelings

The rest of the week dragged by slowly, each day blending into the next. Jayden and I kept talking on the phone and texting about the most random things. He never mentioned anything about his feelings—if he liked me or not. He never answered my question on how I got him.

The only thing I ever got was don't rush to things, slowly my frustration was building.

It felt like I had known him for years, like we had some unspoken connection that made conversations effortless. We didn’t have to search for topics—they just flowed. It was easy. Natural.

Before I knew it, Friday had arrived. I was both excited and sad.

Excited because the weekend was approaching, and sad because Fridays were my longest days in school. I had afternoon classes that stretched till 6 PM, and as a final-year student, the workload was suffocating. I was on edge, exhausted from the endless cycle of lectures, assignments, and deadlines.

I just wanted this semester to end so I could tell myself, Only one more left. Just one.

That morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual to study and complete some assignments. By 2:30 PM, I checked my wristwatch and sighed. My next class was in an hour and a half, but my stomach was already protesting. I decided to step out to grab some air, leaving my bag with Bianca.

When I returned, my eyes landed on something unexpected—Jayden, sitting in class.

We had spoken the previous night, and he hadn’t mentioned coming to school. What’s he doing here? I walked up to him, curiosity laced in my voice.

"Hi, Jayden."

His lips curled into a smile, one that felt almost too innocent. "Hey, surprise!"

"You didn’t tell me you’d be in school today." I said, tilting my head slightly, trying to mask the unexpected flutter in my chest.

"I wanted to surprise you," he said, stretching out his hand for a handshake.

That’s when I noticed her—the girl sitting beside him. I didn’t know her. She was laughing at something he said, leaning slightly toward him. My stomach twisted.

I shook his hand briefly and walked away, biting down the sudden wave of jealousy. Surprise me? And you're sitting with another girl, making her laugh? I took my bag and moved to the back of the class, choosing a seat by the window. I needed space. Air. Distance.

Still, my eyes betrayed me. They kept drifting toward him. He was talking to her, and she was smiling—a little too much for my liking. I found myself stealing glances, trying to decipher the nature of their conversation.

Then, it happened.

Our eyes met.

He was talking to her, but he was watching me. His gaze was intense, unreadable. My heart picked up pace. What game is he playing?

I lowered my head and tried to focus on my book. Just read, Sharon. Ignore him. But the words blurred together. I felt his gaze lingering, as if he was studying me, waiting for a reaction.

Is he trying to make me jealous?

I gave up on pretending and rested my head on the desk, hoping sleep would claim me. But it didn’t. My mind was too occupied.

Isn’t he going to talk to me?

Forty long minutes passed before he finally walked over.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice smooth, laced with something unreadable.

I lifted my head and forced a faint smile. "I’m alright. Just a bit tired and hungry."

"What do you want to eat?"

I wasn’t prepared for how close he leaned in, his face just inches from mine. His scent, a mix of cologne and something undeniably him, filled my senses. My breath hitched.

"Umm… anything," I stammered, trying to put some space between us.

"I’ll be right back," he said, standing up abruptly.

"Wait—"

But he was already gone.

I dropped my head back on the desk, frustration creeping in. That’s it? After ignoring me for almost an hour?

Minutes later, he returned, handing me a small bag.

"Here."

I opened it—coke and a sandwich.

"You didn’t have to," I said, feeling my lips stretch into a smile before I could stop it. My fingers instinctively covered my mouth. Am I blushing?

Jayden smirked. "What? No one’s ever bought you lunch before?"

I rolled my eyes, but my heart was doing flips. "Oh, please…"

Still, my gaze settled on his features, really seeing him up close for the first time. His dark brown eyes, the sharp structure of his nose, the way his lips—oh God, his lips—looked so soft and inviting.

And then, as if he could hear my thoughts, he licked them.

Sharon, get a grip.

My cheeks burned. I needed to escape before I embarrassed myself.

"Are you staying for the last class?" I asked, desperate for a distraction.

He checked his phone. "No. I have something to do in my former department."

I tilted my head. "Former department?"

"Yeah. I transferred in my second year, but I still have some things to sort out for my final year clearance."

Before I could respond, his phone rang.

Grin griin.

"Excuse me," he muttered before stepping outside to take the call.

I sat near the door, but his voice was too low to make out the conversation. Seconds later, he walked back in.

"I gotta go," he said, sliding his phone into his pocket. "A friend is waiting for me."

"Oh, okay—"

"I’m visiting her. I’ll be sleeping there tonight."

My heart stopped.

I swallowed. "Her?"

"Yeah, just a female friend. She invited me over."

I forced a chuckle. "Oh. She."

He nodded, completely unbothered.

"Is it your Anne?" I probed, hoping the answer was yes. At least I knew about Anne.

"Nope. Just a friend."

His casual tone made my stomach sink. Why does this feel like a slap to my face?

He must have noticed the shift in my expression because he tilted his head slightly. "Eat your food, Sharon. You look gloomy."

"Yeah. Sure."

But I wasn’t sure. My appetite had vanished.

What exactly was I getting myself into?

Jayden glanced at his phone again and muttered, "She’s here."

He got up suddenly. "I’ll see you around."

"Okay—"

But he was already gone.

I sat there, unmoving, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Who is she?

Why did it sting so much?

And more importantly…

Why do I feel like this is only the beginning?