By the time their midterm performance was just a week away, Jay and Y/N had become inseparable—though Y/N would never admit that out loud.
They practiced almost every afternoon, their sessions filled with equal parts laughter, teasing, and near-arguments.
But tonight felt different. The school’s music wing was quiet, the lights dim, and the soft hum of the piano echoed through the empty hallways.
Jay sat at the keys while Y/N stood beside him, humming through the final chorus of their song.
Their voices blended perfectly, and when they hit that last harmony, the sound lingered like a sigh.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Jay turned slightly, his eyes soft. “You’ve gotten better every day.”
Y/N smiled shyly. “Maybe you’re not a completely terrible partner.”
He smirked. “High praise from you.”
Then silence again. Not awkward, but heavy—with something neither of them could name.
---
Jay leaned his elbow on the piano, studying her face. “You know, when we first met, I thought you hated me.”
Y/N laughed softly. “I did.”
“Fair.” He grinned. “But now?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Now you’re just slightly less unbearable.”
Jay chuckled, leaning closer. “That’s progress.”
“Barely.”
He was close enough now that she could see the small scar above his eyebrow, the way his eyes softened when he wasn’t smirking.
Her heart skipped—just once. Then twice.
“Jay…” she started, her voice lower than she expected.
He tilted his head. “Hmm?”
“I—”
But before she could finish, the door swung open.
“GUYS!” Kea’s voice echoed like an explosion. “You won’t believe what just happened—”
She froze mid-sentence, eyes darting between Jay and Y/N, who were still way too close for normal rehearsal distance.
“Oh,” Kea said slowly, grinning. “Ohhh. Did I interrupt something?”
Y/N stepped back so fast she almost tripped. “N-No! We were just—uh—discussing vocals!”
Maria appeared behind Kea, holding a folder. “Vocals?” she said with a knowing smile. “Looked more like visual chemistry to me.”
Jay leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Told you, Coffee Girl—rumors write themselves.”
Y/N’s face turned bright red. “You’re insufferable!”
He laughed, standing up and stretching. “That’s what makes me charming.”
“Delusional,” she muttered.
“Admit it,” he teased, walking toward the door. “You’d miss me if I stopped teasing you.”
“I’d celebrate,” she shot back.
But her smile gave her away.
---
After Jay left, Kea immediately squealed. “You were so close! I thought you were finally going to kiss!”
“Kea!”
Maria smirked. “She’s right. The tension was obvious.”
“There’s no tension!” Y/N protested, gathering her notes. “We’re just partners.”
Kea gasped dramatically. “Partners in love?”
Y/N threw a crumpled paper at her. “Partners in music!”
Maria chuckled softly. “You can keep denying it, but your eyes tell a different story.”
Y/N stopped, blinking. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Maria closed her folder. “You look at him like you’re scared to fall—but halfway there already.”
Y/N fell silent, her heart thudding a little too loudly.
---
That night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Kea snoring softly beside her.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Jay.
> Jay: Don’t forget practice tomorrow. 6 p.m. sharp.
Jay: And don’t be late this time.
Y/N: You were late three times last week.
Jay: That’s different. I look good being late.
Y/N: You’re impossible.
Jay: You love it.
Y/N stared at the last message, her cheeks heating up.
She didn’t reply. She just smiled to herself, heart fluttering in a way she couldn’t explain.
Maybe Maria was right. Maybe she was already halfway there.
---
✨ End of Chapter 5 ✨
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments