Jay had just finished zipping up her suitcase when the dorm finally went quiet. The excitement from the message had faded into something softer — a shared calm between two people who had always been at odds but now, strangely, felt in sync.
Keifer was sitting on his bed, half-leaning against the wall, still watching her with that lazy grin that drove her insane. "You know," he said quietly, "you're kind of terrifying when you're focused."
She laughed, tossing a stray shirt at him. "You're just noticing that now?"
He caught it easily, setting it aside. "No. I've noticed since we were ten." His voice softened. "You always gave everything your all."
Jay looked at him, surprised by the sincerity. "Don't go getting all sentimental on me now."
"Too late," he said with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. The tension that usually hung between them had disappeared. For once, there wasn't any arguing, no teasing — just the quiet hum of their breathing and the glow of the small dorm light.
She sat down beside him, their shoulders brushing lightly. "We've been through so much, huh?"
"Too much," he murmured. "But I wouldn't trade it."
For a long moment, they just sat there, close enough to feel each other's warmth. The world outside felt far away — the competition, the families, the expectations.
Jay let out a small sigh. "You should sleep. Big day tomorrow."
He smiled faintly. "Only if you promise not to overthink everything like you always do."
She gave him a mock salute. "No promises."
He chuckled, reaching over to gently fix a strand of her hair that had fallen across her face. "Goodnight, Jay."
"Goodnight, Keifer."
They lay down in their own beds, the soft sound of the night filling the room. The quiet between them wasn't awkward anymore — it was comforting.
Before long, Jay's eyes grew heavy. She could still hear Keifer breathing on the other side of the room, steady and calm. Somehow, knowing he was there made her feel safe.
And as the lights dimmed, both of them drifted off to sleep — side by side, hearts steady, their rivalry slowly melting into something deeper neither of them had words for yet.