Jaya week: 2024

✧ look over here ✧

The cool morning air clung to the monastery as Jay spun his nunchucks in an arc, trying to make his movements look effortless. Each time he executed a twist or a flip, his eyes strayed—drawn to Nya like a magnet. She was sitting nearby, her eyes trained on her brother, studying. She possessed a breath-taking beauty: her short dark hair framing her face perfectly, her deep brown eyes sharp and focused.

Jay landed a flip and tried to stick the landing, but his foot wobbled slightly, and he nearly toppled. He pretended to adjust his stance as though nothing was wrong. Nya hadn't seen it, had she? No, she was too absorbed in her own thoughts. But even if she had noticed, she wouldn't say anything. Nya was like that—observant but never quick to judge.

He threw a glance her way, watching her. She sought to surpass her brother in training. Jay admired that about her—how she approached life with such clear intent, while he felt like he was always improvising. And yet, there was something thrilling about trying to catch her attention, even if he fell short. Maybe that's why he kept doing these ridiculous flips—because one day, she might really look.

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Jay lingered outside the workshop, hearing the familiar clink of tools and the quiet hum of machines from within. Nya was working, as usual, her mind probably deep in the intricate details of her latest invention. Jay had always admired her focus and skill.

He leaned against the doorframe, trying to summon the courage to step inside. Nya was so... capable. She always seemed to know what she was doing, her confidence shining through her work. Jay, on the other hand, felt like he was always fumbling around, cracking jokes to cover his nerves. What could he offer someone like her? What would she even see in him, beyond the clumsy attempts to impress?

Jay sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. His heart felt heavy, caught between admiration and self-doubt. He wasn't sure if Nya even noticed the effort he put into every little thing, how much he craved her attention. Yet, the thought of giving up felt worse than the uncertainty. He'd keep trying, no matter how many times he fell short.

He'd do anything for just a moment of her time, for her to look over —just once. To see him, really see him, even for a second. That's all he wanted.

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The golden hour bathed the courtyard in a warm, soft light, the shadows of the monastery stretching across the stones like long fingers. Jay sat alone on the steps, watching the sky deepen into shades of orange and pink. The others were scattered across the grounds, busy with their own routines, but Jay had paused. His thoughts were swirling, conflicted.

He liked Nya—no, he really liked her. But what did she think of him? He wasn't like Cole, with his strength and quiet confidence, or like Kai, who always seemed to know what to do. Jay was loud, goofy, always trying to impress. Was that enough for someone like Nya?

He stood abruptly, pacing back and forth. It was driving him crazy, this not knowing. Every time he tried to get her attention, she'd smile politely, laugh at his jokes, but there was always a distance—like she kept him at arm's length. He didn't know how to break through, but he wasn't going to stop trying.

With a deep breath, he walked toward the workshop. He could see the light inside, flickering slightly from the machines she was working on. He hesitated at the door, heart pounding in his chest. What was he even going to say? That he liked her? That he wanted her to look his way and see him the way he saw her? It sounded so stupid in his head.

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Jay found himself on the roof of the monastery, his usual chatter replaced by a restless silence. The stars stretched out above him, indifferent to his thoughts, while the cool breeze tugged at his clothes. This was supposed to be his place to clear his head, but tonight it only seemed to make things worse. His mind was consumed by a single, nagging thought—Nya.

No matter how many jokes he cracked or stunts he pulled, it always felt like she was just out of reach, her attention fixed on something else—something more important. And no matter how much he tried to be noticed, tried to be enough, she barely seemed to look his way.

He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. What he wouldn't give for her to just see him, not as the jokester or the goofy teammate, but as someone real, someone worth her attention.

His eyes trailed the sky, but his heart was elsewhere. Look here, he thought, the words echoing in his chest like a quiet plea. Just one glance, just one moment. He'd been trying for so long, and every day it felt more impossible. But he couldn't stop. No matter how invisible he felt, no matter how far away she seemed, he kept hoping that maybe, one day, she'd look over.

Not because he did something flashy, not because he was loud, but because she saw him.

And as the night stretched on, Jay let out a soft sigh, the quiet pressing in around him. Maybe it wasn't about standing out. Maybe he was missing something—something quieter, something real.

But still, that hope lingered: Look over here.