The room was quiet.
For about five seconds.
Then—
Ci-N: Absolutely NOT.
His voice wasn't loud.
It was loud.
Echoing-off-the-walls loud.
Jennie flinched.
Jennie: Can you NOT yell?!
Ci-N threw his hands in the air dramatically.
Ci-N: They said ONE person stays. ONE. Not a group project!
Keifer, sitting way too comfortably in the chair beside Jay's bed, didn't even look fazed.
Keifer: Good. Problem solved. I'm already sitting.
Ci-N turned to him like he'd just committed a crime.
Ci-N: Oh, so you think this is first come, first served?!
Keifer: That's usually how chairs work.
Jennie stepped between them.
Jennie: No. I'm staying. End of discussion.
Ci-N: You said that ten times!
Jennie: And I'll say it again!
Ci-N clutched his chest dramatically.
Ci-N: I have ALSO suffered!
Keifer: You made it about yourself in under a minute. Impressive.
Ci-N: I almost passed out in the hallway!
Jennie: You tripped over your own shoe.
Ci-N: IT WAS EMOTIONAL DAMAGE.
Their voices kept rising despite all three of them trying not to—
Jennie: She's my sister!Keifer: And she needs someone who isn't running on zero sleep!Ci-N: And someone with COMMON SENSE—WHICH IS ME—
Jennie: You are literally the loudest person here!Ci-N: I AM PASSIONATE!Keifer: You're a siren.
Ci-N: At least I care loudly!
Keifer: That's not a thing!
And then—
A small, groggy voice from the bed:
Jay: what is that noise…?
Silence.
Instant.
All three of them froze like statues.
Slowly—
They turned.
Jay's eyes were half-open, unfocused, her brows slightly furrowed.
Jennie rushed forward immediately.
Jennie: Hey—hey, sorry, go back to sleep—
Keifer: Yeah, ignore us.
Ci-N (too quickly): Nothing is happening. Everything is calm.
Jay blinked at them.
Once.
Twice.
Then frowned slightly.
Jay: …you're lying.
Keifer: Not even a little.
Jay let out a weak breath, clearly annoyed.
Jay shifted a little, wincing.
Jennie noticed immediately.
Jennie: Careful—
Jay: how long was I out…?
There was a small pause.
Ci-N said it like it was nothing—
Ci-N: Fifteen days.
Jay just stared at him.
Then—
Jay: …yeah, no.
Keifer frowned slightly.
Keifer: "No" what?
Jay: I'm not sleeping anymore.
Jennie: Jay—
Jay: I just did that. For two weeks.
Keifer: That's not how that works.
Jay: I don't care.
Jennie almost laughed through her exhaustion.
Jennie: You need rest.
Jay: I've had enough rest.
Ci-N nodded immediately.
Ci-N: Honestly? Valid.
Keifer: Don't encourage her.
Jay looked between them, still tired—but now very aware.
Jay: why were you arguing…?
Silence.
Jennie: It was nothing.
Keifer: Nothing important.
Ci-N: They're both wrong and I'm right.
Jennie: CI-N.
Jay narrowed her eyes slightly.
Jay: …tell me.
Another pause.
Then—
Keifer sighed.
Keifer: We're deciding who stays.
Jay blinked.
Then—
Jay: …that's it?
Ci-N: IT IS NOT "THAT'S IT." This is a serious decision!
Keifer: You're making it sound like a court case.
Ci-N: Because it IS.
Jennie rubbed her face.
Jennie: We're tired, Jay.
Jay looked at all of them.
Really looked this time.
Jennie—barely standing.
Ci-N—overdramatic but clearly exhausted.
Keifer—trying to act fine, but not hiding it well.
Jay let out a slow breath.
Jay: …okay.
And just like that—
They all shut up.
Jay shifted her gaze to Jennie first.
Jay: you're going home.
Jennie blinked.
Jennie: What? No—
Jay: you look like you're about to pass out.
Jennie: I'm fine!
Jay: you're not.
Jennie opened her mouth—
Closed it.
Because… yeah. She wasn't.
Jay turned her head slightly.
Jay: Ci-N.
Ci-N straightened immediately.
Ci-N: Yes. Obviously me.
Keifer snorted.
Keifer: You didn't even wait.
Ci-N: I was chosen spiritually.
Jay stared at him for a second.
Then—
Jay: no.
Ci-N froze.
Ci-N: …what?
Jay: you're too loud.
Keifer let out a quiet laugh.
Keifer: Called it.
Ci-N: I CAN BE QUIET.
Jay: you're yelling right now.
Ci-N: THIS IS NORMAL VOLUME.
Jennie: It's not.
Jay looked at Keifer last.
A small pause lingered there.
Jay: …you.
Keifer blinked.
Keifer: Me?
Jay: you're already sitting.
Ci-N: THAT'S NOT FAIR—
Jay: and you're quieter than him.
Ci-N: THE BAR IS ON THE FLOOR.
Keifer leaned back slightly, trying not to smile.
Keifer: I accept.
Ci-N: I OBJECT.
Jay: denied.
Jennie let out a tired laugh.
Jennie: Wow. Ruthless.
Jay's expression softened just a little.
Jay: one person stays. That's the rule.
She looked at Jennie again.
Jay: go home. come back tomorrow.
Jennie hesitated… then slowly nodded.
Jennie: …okay.
Ci-N still looked deeply offended.
Ci-N: I was robbed.
Keifer: You were loud.
Ci-N: I was expressive!
Jay: you're leaving.
Ci-N: …this is injustice.
But even he didn't argue further.
Jay leaned back into the pillow, clearly drained—but stubbornly awake.
Keifer glanced at her.
Keifer: You should still try to rest.
Jay: no.
Keifer: You just woke up.
Jay: I slept for fifteen days.
Keifer: That doesn't reset the system like that.
Jay: watch me.
He huffed a quiet laugh.
Ci-N headed toward the door, still muttering.
Ci-N: I would've been the best choice.
Jennie: You would've talked her back into a coma.
Ci-N: RUDE.
Jennie gave Jay one last soft look.
Jennie: I'll be back first thing, okay?
Jay nodded slightly.
Jay: …bring food.
Jennie smiled.
Jennie: Of course.
They stepped out.
The door closed.
And finally—
Silence.
Real silence.
Keifer sat back down beside her.
Jay stared at the ceiling for a moment.
Then—
Jay: …you better not let them go to that restaurant without me.
Keifer smirked.
Keifer: Still thinking about that?
Jay: obviously.
He shook his head.
Keifer: You're unbelievable.
Jay turned her head slightly toward him.
Jay: you stayed.
Keifer shrugged lightly.
Keifer: Someone had to win.
A small pause.
Jay's eyes softened.
Jay: …good.
And this time—
Even without sleeping—
She looked at peace.
********************************************************************************************************************************
Author note:
Hello guys
This is the new chapter! Comment if you like it. Also pls leave reviews it really means a lot for me! Anyways guys next chapter is locked!! To unlock it you must complete the target:
15 comments (at least two comments per person no more)
love you all! See you on the next chapter! Byeee!