Keifer's POV
The clinic was quiet.
Too quiet.
The ticking clock on the wall sounded louder than usual, each second stretching into the next like time had slowed down.
Jay was still asleep.
The nurse had dimmed the lights before leaving the room, saying the medicine would make her sleep for a while. I sat in the chair beside the bed, leaning slightly forward with my elbows resting on my knees.
I wasn't supposed to stay this long.
Technically, I had student council work to do.
Meetings.
Paperwork.
Responsibilities.
But somehow… none of that felt important right now.
My eyes drifted back to her.
Jayjay Marino.
The girl who argued with everyone.
The girl who refused to listen.
The girl who would rather collapse than admit she wasn't okay.
And right now…
She looked completely different.
Peaceful.
Her breathing was slow and steady, her messy hair spread across the pillow. Without the usual fire in her eyes, she looked younger. Softer.
Almost fragile.
I leaned back slightly in the chair, crossing my arms.
She's impossible.
Every single person had told her to rest.
The nurse.
Her brother.
Me.
And she ignored all of us.
Typical Jay.
Still… my gaze softened slightly as I watched her sleep.
For someone so stubborn…
She looked incredibly defenseless right now.
Then suddenly—
Jay shifted slightly on the bed.
Her eyebrows pulled together faintly.
A small frown formed on her face.
I straightened a little.
"Jay?" I murmured quietly.
She didn't wake up.
But her lips moved.
At first, the words were barely audible.
"I… didn't mean it…"
My brow furrowed.
Her voice sounded small.
Different.
"I'm sorry…"
The words were soft and broken, almost like she was talking to someone in a dream.
Then I noticed something else.
A tiny tear slid down from the corner of her eye.
I froze.
Jay… crying?
Even in sleep?
Another tear followed slowly down her cheek.
"…I didn't mean it…" she whispered again.
For a moment I just sat there, staring.
Because this wasn't the Jay I knew.
The Jay I knew would glare at someone before letting them see even a hint of weakness.
But right now…
There was no wall.
No sarcasm.
No stubborn pride.
Just a girl trapped in a dream she clearly didn't want.
I stood up slowly.
My footsteps were quiet as I moved closer to the bed.
The tear reached the edge of her cheek.
Without thinking too much about it…
I reached out.
My thumb gently brushed it away.
Her skin felt warm.
"…It's okay," I murmured softly, though I wasn't even sure she could hear me.
Jay shifted again slightly.
Her breathing hitched faintly.
"…don't leave…"
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
I looked down at her.
"Who are you apologizing to?" I whispered quietly.
Of course she didn't answer.
She was still asleep.
Still lost somewhere in that dream.
Another tear appeared in the corner of her eye.
This time I wiped it away before it could fall.
My voice dropped to a quiet murmur.
"You're strange, you know that?"
I exhaled slowly and leaned back slightly, resting one hand on the edge of the bed.
The girl who could argue with half the school without blinking…
Was apologizing in her sleep.
And crying.
Whatever memory she was seeing right now…
It clearly hurt.
I glanced toward the clinic door.
Then back at her.
"…I'm not going anywhere," I said quietly.
Not sure why I even said it.
Maybe because she had asked someone not to leave.
Maybe because for the first time…
Jay didn't look like someone who could fight the world alone.
So I stayed there beside the bed.
Watching.
Waiting.
Making sure the next tear that appeared…
Never made it past her cheek.
End of Chapter 41 📖✨