Jay POV
Break time.
My favorite time of the day.
Not because I loved resting.
Not because I loved socializing.
Because food existed.
😭
A few minutes later, I was happily walking out of the cafeteria line carrying enough snacks to feed a small village.
Or just myself.
Same thing.
I had barely taken three steps when someone appeared beside me.
"You bought all that for yourself?"
I didn't even have to look.
"Hello, Matteo."
"That's not an answer."
"Yes."
"That's concerning."
"Mind your business."
😭
Matteo laughed.
Then grabbed one of my fries.
I smacked his hand.
"Thief."
"Friend."
"Thief."
"Friend."
"Hungry thief."
"Better."
😭
The two of them found an empty table near the far side of the cafeteria.
As usual, the place was loud.
Students were talking.
Laughing.
Running around.
Teachers pretending not to see anything.
A normal day at HVIS.
Matteo stole another fry.
I glared at him.
He ignored me.
"You're rude."
"I'm helping you."
"By stealing my food?"
"Sharing is caring."
"You're lucky we're friends."
"I know."
😭
A few minutes passed.
The conversation flowed easily.
It always did with Matteo.
That was one thing I liked about him.
Talking to him never felt difficult.
Then suddenly he asked:
"Are you free after school?"
I looked up.
"Maybe."
"That's not an answer."
"I learned from you."
"Dangerous."
😭
I laughed.
Then shrugged.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Meet me at the gate after school."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Suspicious."
"Very."
"You're not helping."
"I know."
😭
Typical Matteo.
Still...
I nodded.
"Fine."
"Great."
"Now tell me why."
"No."
"Matteo."
"Jay."
"I don't like you."
"Liar."
😭
Unfortunately...
He was right.
As annoying as Matteo was...
I liked having him around.
Which reminded me of something.
Something I'd been wondering for weeks.
I turned toward him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Depends."
"How are you and Matilda twins?"
Matteo nearly choked on his drink.
😭
For three whole seconds he stared at me.
Then burst out laughing.
Actually laughing.
Loudly.
The kind of laugh that made nearby students turn around.
"Trust me."
He wiped his eyes.
"I ask myself that every day."
😭
I laughed too.
"Seriously."
"No, seriously."
"You two are completely different."
"Thank God."
That made me laugh even harder.
Then Matteo leaned back in his chair.
The smile on his face faded slightly.
Not completely.
Just enough.
"You know why she hates you so much?"
I immediately groaned.
"Because she enjoys being annoying?"
"That too."
😭
"Then what?"
Matteo looked toward the cafeteria windows.
As if remembering something old.
"Our family, Keifer's family, and Yuri's family have known each other forever."
I listened quietly.
"Business partners."
"Friends."
"The whole package."
I nodded.
That explained why they all seemed to know each other so well.
"When we were kids, our parents always joked about Matilda and Keifer ending up together."
My eyebrows rose.
"Seriously?"
"Unfortunately."
"Adults are weird."
"Very."
😭
Matteo stole another fry.
I hit his hand again.
He deserved it.
"Anyway..."
He continued.
"Matilda liked Keifer since we were six."
Six.
That was crazy.
Absolutely crazy.
"Six?"
"Yep."
"That's a long time."
"Tell me about it."
😭
I shook my head.
Then asked the question I actually wanted to know.
"Did Keifer like her?"
Matteo answered immediately.
"No."
I blinked.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"Never?"
"Not even once."
My heart did something weird.
Very weird.
So I ignored it.
😌
Matteo continued.
"He liked her as a friend."
"That's all."
"But as we got older..."
His expression became annoyed.
"She started getting possessive."
That sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
"She hated seeing girls around him."
Yep.
Definitely Matilda.
"Keifer got tired of it."
"So he started keeping his distance."
I quietly nodded.
Honestly...
That sounded exactly like something Keifer would do.
Matteo sighed.
"The worst part?"
"What?"
"I had to listen to her complain about it."
I laughed.
Hard.
Very hard.
"That sounds painful."
"You have no idea."
😭
The bell suddenly rang.
🔔
Both of us groaned.
Instantly.
At the same time.
Then stared at each other.
And laughed again.
School really had terrible timing.
Matteo stood up first.
"Guess we're done."
"Unfortunately."
He grabbed his bag.
Then pointed at me.
"Don't forget."
"The gate."
"Good."
"Still suspicious."
"Exactly."
😭
Then he walked away.
Leaving me standing there with my snacks.
And about a thousand questions.
Mostly one.
What exactly did Matteo want after school?
👀✨
End of Chapter 98 📖🍟😂💖