By the third day of practice, Y/N had decided that working with Jay was like babysitting a confident, good-looking tornado.
He was talented—she couldn’t deny that—but he was also late every single time.
When she arrived at Studio 3, Jay was nowhere in sight. She set down her bag, checked the time, and sighed. “Fifteen minutes late. Typical.”
Kea’s voice buzzed in her head from this morning: “He’s testing you. Don’t fall for his charm.”
Maria’s calm advice followed: “Patience is a virtue.”
Y/N groaned, flopping into a chair. “Virtue or not, I’m about to lose mine.”
Just as she was about to pack up, the door creaked open. Jay slipped in, sunglasses on, holding two iced coffees.
“You’re late,” Y/N said flatly.
“I come bearing peace offerings,” he said, handing her one.
She raised a brow. “Is this supposed to make me forget that you wasted fifteen minutes of my life?”
He grinned. “Maybe twenty.”
Y/N glared—but took the drink anyway.
---
They started their usual warm-ups, Jay on guitar this time while Y/N scribbled notes on their song choice. They’d decided to perform a pop ballad — a mix of harmony and emotional build-up. Something simple, yet intimate.
Jay strummed a few chords. “Try that bridge again,” he said.
Y/N sang softly, focusing on the pitch. “I don’t need forever… just tonight with you…”
When she looked up, Jay was staring.
“What?” she asked.
He blinked, smiling faintly. “You hit that note perfectly this time.”
“Oh.” She turned quickly to her notebook. “Thanks.”
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—it was something else. The air between them felt charged, like they were both pretending not to notice the way it felt to be this close.
Jay was the first to break it. “So, why’d you join this school anyway?”
Y/N looked up. “Singing’s always been my thing. Music feels… like home.”
He nodded slowly. “Same.”
It was a rare moment—Jay being serious. She found herself watching him, his usual smirk replaced by something softer.
Then he caught her staring. “Why? Falling for me already?”
Her serious expression vanished. “And there it is.”
He laughed, the sound deep and warm. “You make it too easy to tease you.”
“Well, stop.”
“Can’t. It’s my new hobby.”
Y/N grabbed a paper ball and threw it at him. He dodged effortlessly, grinning. “Terrible aim, Coffee Girl.”
“Terrible timing, Jay.”
---
After two hours, they managed to get through the whole song without stopping. For the first time, they sounded like an actual duo. Their voices melted together in a way that even Y/N had to admit was kind of magical.
When the last note faded, they both sat quietly, breathing heavily.
“That… wasn’t bad,” Jay said, still catching his breath.
Y/N smiled a little. “Coming from you, that’s practically an essay of praise.”
He chuckled, strumming a random chord. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“I won’t,” she said. But she was smiling anyway.
---
Later that evening, Y/N walked out of the studio with her earphones in, replaying their recording. She couldn’t believe how good they sounded together.
Maria and Kea were waiting near the dorm gates, waving.
“So?” Kea asked, eyes sparkling. “Was there tension? Did he flirt? Did you almost kiss?”
Y/N sighed. “It was practice, Kea. Not a drama scene.”
Maria smirked. “But you’re blushing.”
“I’m hot!” Y/N protested, tugging at her collar.
Kea wiggled her eyebrows. “Hot because of Jay maybe?”
“Goodbye.” Y/N walked past them, trying not to laugh.
But as she reached her dorm room, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Jay looked at her when she sang. The way his voice softened when he said her name.
He wasn’t her type.
At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
---
✨ End of Chapter 3 ✨
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