The world returned in fragments—sound first, then light.
A ache pulsed as I tried to breathe. The floor was cold beneath me. My heartbeat sounded too loud, too fast. And then I heard it—the quiet shuffle of movement.
I turned my head slowly. Keifer was sitting up on the bed, his eyes half-open, confusion flashing across his face before melting into something softer… something that hurt to look at.
"Jay? " he said, voice low and hoarse.
I pushed myself up on trembling arms, fury rising to drown the chaos inside me. "Don't," I snapped. My voice cracked, the edge of it sharper than I meant. "Just don't."
He took a cautious step forward, hands lifted slightly like he was afraid I'd vanish. "I'm sorry ," he murmured.
"Sorry?" I laughed bitterly, tears slipping down again. "Why huh ?That you lied? That you used me?" Every word shook. My chest felt too small for everything I was holding in. "Get out, Keifer. Just—get out and never come back."
Silence hovered, thick and heavy.
But he didn't move.
Instead, Keifer crossed the space between us in three slow steps. "I had to lie," he said, his voice rough with something between guilt and longing. "They were watching, Jay. If I hadn't said those things, they would've killed you."
"Don't," I whispered again, backing away until I hit the wall. "You don't get to say my name like that I've had enough of your lies."
He hesitated—then closed the final distance. His hand brushed my cheek, almost a question. I should've pulled back, screamed, done something. But instead, I froze.
"I never stopped loving you," he murmured, barely a breath.
And before I could stop him , his lips met mine. It wasn't gentle; it was desperate, aching, full of everything we'd lost and everything we still were. I hated how my heart answered his, how the world tilted just the same as it had the very first time. I knew deep down I still loved him.
When he finally pulled away, breath mingling with mine, all I could say was a whisper that barely made it past my lips. " why ? "