Jayjay POV
The ride back was quiet.
Too quiet.
The doctors discharged Sienna quickly — nothing serious, they said. Funny how something so "small" could break so much.
Kiefer and I didn't speak.
Not a word.
I went straight to our room, shut the door, and let the silence swallow me. The bath was warm, comforting… until I realized too late that the bandage on my ankle was soaked. I sighed, peeled it off carefully, dried my leg, and told myself I'd redo it later.
Later never came.
I crawled into bed, exhausted in a way sleep doesn't fix. My body gave up before my mind did.
I don't know how long I slept before I felt it.
Hands.
Careful.
Warm.
Something wrapped gently around my ankle.
A voice whispered, low and familiar, "Don't move."
My heart skipped.
Kiefer.
A soft kiss brushed my ankle.
I almost gasped.
He lowered my leg slowly, like it was made of glass, then footsteps padded toward the bathroom. Water ran. Drawers opened. Closed.
When he came back, I quickly pretended to be asleep, my breathing even, my heart anything but.
He slid into bed behind me.
His arm wrapped around my waist.
"Sorry, Jay," he murmured, his voice rough. "But trust me."
A kiss pressed to the top of my head.
Then nothing—except his steady breathing and his arm still holding me like he was afraid I'd disappear.
His words echoed in my head.
Trust me.
I didn't know if I could.
But I fell asleep anyway.
Yuri POV
The living room lights were low, the movie playing more as background noise than entertainment. Ciel sat beside me, legs tucked under her, eyes on the screen.
Andrew and Chantelle came downstairs.
"Why can't you sleep?" Andrew asked, flopping onto the couch.
Ciel shrugged. "Just our evening routine."
Chantelle smiled. "Can we join?"
"Sure," I said.
We watched for a few minutes. Too quiet. My brain wouldn't shut up.
"So," I said casually, eyes still on the screen, "how did you know Jayjay got hurt?"
Andrew stiffened.
"I—didn't I already say? I saw her limping."
"When?" I asked.
"Umm… before we left for the hospital."
I turned to him slowly. "Really?"
Andrew glanced at Chantelle. Then back at me.
"…Yes."
I paused the movie.
"But Jay didn't get up from the stairs until you guys left," I said calmly. "In fact, I carried her to the room."
Silence.
Andrew exhaled. "Okay. Fine. You got me."
"Who told you?" I asked.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Bro, I can't lie at all."
"Who," I repeated.
"…Kiefer."
Ciel blinked. "Huh?"
Andrew nodded. "Kiefer told me to check up on Jayjay when we were at the hospital."
"Kiefer," I echoed.
He nodded again.
I leaned back, arms crossed, staring at the dark screen.
So you care enough to send someone else… but not enough to stand beside her yourself.
Whatever Kiefer was doing—
It wasn't accidental.
I hit play again.
The movie continued.
But my mind didn't.