(Keifer's POV)
The living room slowly started calming down.
Not completely.
That would be impossible with Section E in the same house.
But at least the pillow fight had finally ended.
The floor looked like a disaster zone.
Feathers everywhere.
Blankets scattered across the room.
Empty snack wrappers lying on the table.
Half-crushed chips.
Someone's shoe under the couch.
I had no idea whose.
Blaster was lying flat on the carpet like he had just survived a war.
Blaster:
"I regret nothing."
Felix sat beside him eating chips.
Felix:
"You should regret everything."
Denzel was still laughing quietly.
Denzel:
"I can't believe Keiren made them kiss again."
Eman was sitting on the armchair watching the video he recorded.
Eman:
"This is going into the Section E archives."
Ci N dramatically raised his hand.
Ci N:
"This will be remembered as the greatest moment in Watson Mansion history."
David shook his head.
David:
"You people need hobbies."
Meanwhile…
Keiren looked extremely proud of himself.
Like he had just won an Olympic medal.
Keiren:
"My plan worked."
Keigen sighed beside him.
Keigen:
"You didn't even make the plan."
Keiren pointed at Felix.
Keiren:
"He did."
Felix smirked.
Felix:
"Mastermind."
I shook my head slowly.
But my attention drifted back to Jay.
She was standing near the couch.
Arms crossed.
Still blushing a little.
Trying very hard to look annoyed.
Jay:
"I cannot believe I got manipulated by a ten-year-old."
Keiren grinned.
Keiren:
"You love me."
Jay tried to stay serious.
But after a few seconds she laughed.
Jay:
"Unfortunately yes."
Keiren ran and hugged her waist.
Keiren:
"See!"
She ruffled his hair gently.
The same way someone would comfort their own child.
Something warm settled in my chest again.
That same feeling I had earlier.
Watching her with my brothers…
It felt right.
Too right.
Jay looked over at me suddenly.
Jay:
"What are you staring at?"
I realized I had been smiling again.
Keifer:
"Nothing."
Jay narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Jay:
"You're smiling again."
Felix gasped loudly.
Felix:
"OH NO."
Blaster sat up instantly.
Blaster:
"He's thinking about something."
Ci N pointed dramatically.
Ci N:
"CONFESS YOUR THOUGHTS."
I sighed.
Keifer:
"You people are impossible."
Jay walked closer to me slowly.
Jay:
"You were definitely thinking something."
Keiren looked curious.
Keiren:
"Was it about the kissing?"
The entire room burst into laughter again.
Jay covered her face.
Jay:
"Oh my god."
I couldn't help it.
I laughed too.
But then…
Something else happened.
Jay suddenly grabbed a pillow from the couch.
Jay:
"Round two."
Felix screamed.
Felix:
"NO."
Too late.
Jay threw the pillow straight at him.
Felix:
"BETRAYAL!"
Denzel grabbed another pillow immediately.
Denzel:
"WAR AGAIN!"
Blaster stood up dramatically.
Blaster:
"SECTION E NEVER RESTS!"
Keiren jumped excitedly.
Keiren:
"ATTACK!"
And just like that…
The pillow fight started again.
Absolute chaos.
Pillows flying.
People yelling.
Someone knocked over a snack bowl.
Again.
Jay ran past me laughing.
Jay:
"Come on!"
I raised my hands immediately.
Keifer:
"I already joined once."
Jay grabbed my sleeve again.
Jay:
"Too late."
And before I could protest—
She handed me a pillow.
Keifer:
"You're evil."
Jay smiled sweetly.
Jay:
"I know."
Keiren suddenly ran between us again.
Keiren:
"TEAM WATSON!"
Blaster shouted.
Blaster:
"TEAM CHAOS!"
Felix pointed at Jay dramatically.
Felix:
"TARGET ACQUIRED."
Jay gasped.
Jay:
"HEY—"
Three pillows flew toward her at once.
She ducked.
Then hid behind me.
Jay:
"Shield!"
I sighed.
Keifer:
"I'm not a shield."
Another pillow hit my shoulder.
Keifer:
"…okay now I'm involved."
Jay laughed behind me.
Jay:
"Good."
And somehow…
Even though I had tried to stay out of it earlier…
I ended up fighting again.
Because that was the effect Jay had.
She pulled people into her chaos.
Her laughter.
Her energy.
Her world.
And honestly?
Standing in the middle of the living room…
Fighting a pillow war with my friends…
My brothers laughing beside me…
Jay hiding behind my shoulder while throwing pillows at Felix…
I realized something.
For the first time in years…
This house didn't feel heavy.
It didn't feel lonely.
It didn't feel like a battlefield.
It felt like home.