By the time the cars rolled into the long driveway of Keifer's second mansion, everyone was half asleep and half wired with leftover adrenaline from the arcade.
Cin yawned dramatically, "Someone carry me. My legs are officially retired."
Michael tossed her a pillow from the car. "Here, take this. Now you can nap and complain at the same time."
Jay stretched as she stepped out, tossing her car keys to a butler. "Remind me to never let Percy near the wheel again. That man drives like he's in an apocalypse."
Percy gasped, hand on chest. "Excuse me! I was born to drift."
Adam deadpanned, "You were born to give me motion sickness."
The gates closed behind them as everyone trudged inside. Keifer, ever the composed one, just smirked. "Welcome to temporary chaos headquarters."
Jay laughed. "Your house. It has no idea what's about to hit it."
Before Jay could respond, the mansion doors opened — and two familiar figures stepped out.
Keigan and Keiren Watson.
Jay blinked, the corners of her lips lifting unconsciously.
Keiren grinned wide. "Ate Jay!" Then caught himself — "Wait, I mean— Jay! Uh, sorry—"
Jay laughed softly. "You were right the first time, Keiren."
Keifer looked between them with a small smirk. "Guess someone's been missing their favourite r figure."
Keiren shrugged sheepishly. "She is better gamer than you, kuya."
"Hey!" Keifer protested, while Jay chuckled.
Keigan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. His eyes, once sharp with resentment years ago, had softened."I see you're still surviving, Jay."
Jay tilted her head. "I'm good at that."
For a heartbeat, they just looked at each other — a quiet acknowledgment of how much had changed.
Keigan finally sighed. "You know… I was wrong about you."
Jay's brows lifted. "You're saying that out loud?"
He smirked faintly. "Don't make me repeat it."
Minutes later, the mansion looked less like a luxury estate and more like a college dorm gone rogue.
Section E sprawled across the couches, bags and snacks everywhere.
Keiren was on the carpet, playing with Rosie, who had immediately claimed him as her favorite human.
Rosie giggled, "Keiren, higher! Spin faster!"
Keiren twirled her gently, smiling wide.
felix leaned to calix, whispering, "I get why Yochi's jealous. Keiren's always with Jay."
Calix giggled. "Exactly. Betraying his girlfriend for the Mutya of Section E."
david, half-asleep, snorted. "Poor Yochi. She doesn't stand a chance."
Keifer looked up from his phone, mock-stern. "You're corrupting my brother."
yuri raised brow. "Excuse me? He's been corrupted since birth."
Keiren laughed, "Facts."
Even keifer, lounging on the couch, cracked a rare smile. "You know, Jay, it's weird seeing the house this loud again. But… not bad."
Jay grinned. "Don't get used to peace and quiet around me, . I destroy that for a living."
Aries smirked. "True. Jay is like… the hurricane that talks back."
eman grinned. "Too late. You're the Mutya of HVIS, remember? The celebrity of chaos and magnet of drama."
Keifer leaned lazily on the counter, watching her. "I can confirm that. You attract trouble like it's an Olympic sport."
Jay shot him a teasing glare. "And yet you're still here. So who's the real trouble addict?"
He chuckled, voice low. "Touché, Meddler."
Keigan appeared from the hallway, hair messy, expression calm but mildly done."Do you people ever rest?"
"Nope," Adam said without missing a beat.
Keigan sighed, taking a seat beside Keifer. "How do you live with them?"
Keifer grinned. "I don't. I survive them."
Jay saluted. "Proud of you, soldier."
Even Keigan smirked faintly. "You're lucky I like your sarcasm now."
Michael leaned toward Jay. "You mean he didn't before?"
Keiren snorted. "He hated it. Now he's in denial."
The room erupted in laughter.
Late-Night Talk
As the laughter quieted, Angelo leaned against the doorway."By the way, hvis announced that results will be out in two weeks."
A chorus of groans followed.
Cin flopped dramatically onto the couch. "Two weeks?! I'll die ."
Jay smirked. "Then I'll inherit your snacks."
david rubbed his temples. "At this rate, I'll inherit everyone's patience."
Yuri's phone buzzed, and he stood up. "I'll have to step out early tomorrow. Got some… things to handle."
Jay nodded lightly, tone casual. "Same. Got work to finish."
Keifer looked at her with quiet amusement. "Work? You? At this hour?"
Jay tilted her head. "Would you rather I cause chaos instead?"
He leaned closer, eyes glinting. "Depends — will I get to watch?"
Section E groaned.
Cin threw a cushion at them. "Can you both flirt after we recover from today's trauma?"
Keiren shielded Rosie playfully. "Protect the child! Corruption in progress!"
Jay rolled her eyes. "You're all hopeless."
Cin, Felix, and Percy immediately started a pillow fight in the hallway."WHOEVER WINS GETS THE BIG ROOM!" Cin shouted.
"Not fair!" Felix yelled. "You've got better aim!"
From across the hall, david's sleepy voice echoed, "Guys, it's 2 A.M.! I'm too handsome for sleep deprivation!"
Adam grinned. "You've been saying that since 2015, bro."
Keifer's chuckle echoed softly as he leaned against the balcony railing beside Jay. "They're chaos incarnate."
Jay smiled, watching the group chase each other with pillows. "They're home."
He turned toward her, eyes softer than the lamplight. "And what about me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"
He stepped closer, until their shoulders brushed. "Do I count as home too?"
Jay met his gaze — steady, teasing, dangerous. "You're the kind of home that comes with fire alarms."
Keifer laughed lowly. "Guess that means I make your heart catch fire."
She rolled her eyes, but she didn't step away. "You make my blood pressure rise, that's for sure."
He grinned. "I'll take that. ok come now let's sleep"
jay" what about them "
keifer " EVERYONE GO TO SLEEP NOW "
MESSAGE:
LEAGUE ALERT:Priority meeting. Base 19. 12:00 sharp.