We talked about everything.
About them.About me.
And somehow… it felt easy. I got close to everyone.
Like, there was no gap.No distance.Like time had simply paused—and decided to move again.
Before I even realized it—
Night had fallen.
One by one, they started leaving.
"Jay, are you free tomorrow?" C-in asked.
I looked at him for a moment—then nodded.
"I am."
"Then come with us," he said with a small smile. "Let's go out… spend some time together."
"Okay."
There was something about him.
Warm.Comforting.
I was always the youngest, never knowing what it felt like to have someone to look after—but with him, I finally understood what it meant to have a younger brother.
Just… calmer. Older in a way that didn't show in age.
I still couldn't believe he was younger than me.
And already a doctor.
The ones who stayed gathered outside.
A bonfire lit up the night—casting flickering shadows across their faces.
Laughter echoed.Voices overlapped.Warmth filled the air.
But for me—
Everything felt slightly distant.
Like I was there…but not fully.
My body felt heavy.
Drained.
Like sleep had been avoiding me for days.
"Are you not going home?" Kiefer's voice cut through my thoughts.
I looked at him.
"I'm tired," I admitted quietly. "From the flight… from everything."
A pause.
Then softer—
"Can't I stay here… just for tonight?"
Another pause.
"If I go home… Angelo will kill me."
I looked at him then—
Really looked.
Letting my eyes say what my words didn't.
A silent plea.
The same one that always worked on Clyden.
"You can't stay here," he said.
Firm.
Unmoving.
I pouted slightly.
"Please…" I stretched the word, softer this time. "I'm even drunk. You wouldn't abandon me like this, right?"
He didn't answer.
So I didn't stop.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Until finally—
He exhaled.
Defeated.
"…Fine."
A small smile slipped onto my lips before I could stop it.
He led me upstairs.
Quiet.
Careful.
Like every step mattered more than it should.
He stopped in front of a room and opened the door.
"You can stay here."
I nodded.
"Thank you…"
After that, I freshened up.
When I stepped out—
He handed me a pajama.
Simple.
Soft.
Beautiful in a quiet way.
I changed.
And when I looked at myself—
It fit perfectly.
Too perfectly.
Like it had been chosen for me.
Like… I had worn it before.
A strange feeling settled in my chest—
But I ignored it.
I lay down.
And for the first time in what felt like forever—
Sleep took me instantly.
When I woke up—
Something felt different.
Warm.
Too warm.
There were arms around me.
Firm.Secure.
Like they belonged there.
Like I belonged there.
My breath slowed as I looked up.
Kiefer.
Still asleep.
Face relaxed.
Peaceful.
Untouched by the chaos that seemed to follow me.
And for a moment—
I just watched him.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Only curiosity.
My fingers moved before I could stop them—
Tracing his jaw.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then brushing over his lips—
Like I was about to take something that wasn't mine—"Like what you see?" he murmured, voice low. "You're not even trying to hide it… at least pretend you're not drooling over me."
His eyes stayed closed.
My hand froze.
Before I could pull away—
He moved closer.
His arms tightened.
And then—
He buried his face into my neck.
Like it was instinct.
Like he had done it a hundred times before.
My heart stumbled.
"Did we… do something?" I asked suddenly.
A beat of silence.
"Hmm," he said lazily. "Best night ever."
My eyes widened.
I sat up instantly.
"Oh shit… why don't I remember anything?"
The disappointment in my voice was real.Too real.
He opened one eye, slow and deliberate.
"What?" he murmured. "You really want to remember?"
A faint smirk."The hugging… or the kissing?"
"Of course I do!" I shot back, "It was my first time? How could I not remember something like that?"
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.
Behind me—
A quiet laugh.
"Jay…" his voice dropped, softer now.
"You're way too easy to mess with."
I turned.
"What?"
He stretched, completely relaxed.
"You came in the middle of the night," he said."And just… slept beside me."
A pause.
I frowned slightly, looking down at him.
"Then why are you shirtless… and in shorts?" I asked, narrowing my eyes."And I'm only in a tank top. I clearly remember wearing pajamas."
He didn't even look bothered.
"I don't know about you," he said lazily, stretching his arm behind his head,"But I sleep shirtless."
I stared at him.
Suspicious.
Then I glanced down at myself again—at the loose tank top, the missing pajamas.
"…I must've taken them off," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than him.
He smirked slightly.
"Looks like you were more comfortable than you thought with me."
My face heated up instantly.
"Don't make it weird," I snapped.
"I'm not," he replied calmly.
Which somehow made it worse.
My shoulders dropped.
Half relief.Half embarrassment.
Before I could react—
He pulled me closer.
Suddenly.
My breath caught.
"If you want me…" he murmured, voice low, teasing,"…you can."
He bit his lower lip.
Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
Heat rushed to my face instantly.
"Gago!" I snapped, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.
He didn't even dodge.
Just laughed.
And I turned away quickly—
walking straight into the bathroom.
My heart was racing.
Too fast.
Too loud.
I pressed my palm against my chest.
Why…?
I just met him yesterday.
Yesterday.
And yet—
I slept beside him.
Let him hold me.
Stayed.
And the worst part?
…it didn't feel wrong.
Not even a little.
If anything—
It felt natural.
Familiar.
Like my heart recognized him—
even if my mind refused to.
"Stop beating so much…" I muttered.
As if it would listen.
A soft knock.
"Jay… are you okay?"
His voice.
Low.
Close.
I froze.
Then forced myself to answer.
"I'm okay."
But even I didn't believe it.
I stepped out after getting ready.
He walked in—still in shorts, hair damp, towel around his neck.
I covered my mouth, laughing.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked.
Then looked down.
Reindeer.
On his shorts.
"This is my favorite," he said.
That only made me laugh harder.
But then—
He didn't look away.
His eyes stayed on me.
Focused.
Unmoving.
And I—
couldn't look away either.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked.
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Confident.
"I'm trying to seduce you," he said.
My face burned.
"Aye… are you blushing?" he teased, leaning in.
Too close.
Way too close.
"I'm not," I said quickly, turning away.
He didn't let me.
His fingers tilted my chin back.
"Look at me."
My breath hitched.
"Tss… you are," he murmured.
"I'm not—it's just hot," I muttered, fanning my face before escaping the room.
Fast.
Too fast.
Behind me—
His quiet laughter followed.
Outside, everyone was already eating.
"Did you sleep well, Jay?" C-in asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Felix squinted at me.
"What happened to your face? Why is it red?"
I froze.
Then—
That voice again.
Soft. Amused.
"Nothing… just the heat," I said, grabbing bread.
"Hm… just the heat," Kiefer echoed.
Enjoying this far too much.
I shot him a glare.
It only made him smile wider.
I turned away.
Focused on C-in.
"So… where are we going today?"
Because if I looked at Kiefer any longer—
I was going to lose.
"Arcade? Amusement park? Mall?" C-in suggested.
"C-in, we're not in high school anymore," Calix said.
"So what?" I cut in. "There's no rule saying we can't have fun."
C-in lit up instantly.
Before I could react—
He hugged me.
"Let's go, Jay!"
"Let me eat first—"
Too late.
He shoved bread into my hand and dragged me along.
"Eat while walking!"
Seventeen people.
Five cars.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Alive.
I ended up in one with Kiefer, C-in, Rory, and Edrix.
Shotgun seat.
C-in talking non-stop beside me.
I nodded.Answered.Laughed.
But—
My attention kept slipping.
Because every time I turned—
My eyes met his.
Kiefer.
And the worst part?
He was already looking at me.
Every.
Single.
Time.
Kiefer(POV)
I woke up—
not because of a sound,
but because something felt… right.
Wrong enough to wake me.
Right enough to hold me there.
Warm.
My arm was heavy.
Curved around something soft—
something alive.
I didn't open my eyes.
Didn't move.
Because I already knew.
If I did—
It would be gone.
Like every other time.
Still—
I looked.
And everything in me stilled.
Jay.
In my arms.
Not a dream.
Not a memory.
Real.
Close enough that her breath brushed my skin—
slow, steady, unguarded.
I watched her for a long moment.
Careful.
Like, even looking too hard might break this.
Kiegen had arranged the hospital visits.The others had filled my hands with prescriptions—rest, recover, move on.
None of it mattered.
None of it touched this.
Because the only thing that ever fixed me—
was already here.
My lips moved before I permitted it.
A quiet kiss to her forehead.
"Jay…"
A soft sound escaped her.
"Hm…let me sleep," she muttered
And then—
She moved closer.
No hesitation.
No thought.
Like her body had already decided.
Her cheek brushed mine.
Her breath warmed my skin.
And something inside me slipped.
My gaze dropped—
to her lips.
Too close.
Too easy.
One second of weakness—
And everything would change.
My fingers tightened against the sheet.
Control.
I needed it.
I held it—
until she moved again.
Closer.
Like she was chasing warmth even in her sleep.
My breath hitched.
"Jay…" I tried again, quieter.
Not to wake her.
To stop myself.
"It's irritating…" she murmured.
Before I could react—
She shifted, slipping out of her pajama top, leaving only a thin layer between her skin and my control.
I froze.
Not because of what she did—
But because of how natural it was.
Like this wasn't new.
Like she had always been here.
With me.
She turned back.
A small, content smile resting on her lips—
and wrapped herself around me.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
Like I was hers.
Her head found my chest.
She settled there.
Soft.
Trusting.
"It's warm now…"
That was it.
That was all it took.
Something in me gave way.
Slowly—
I let my hand rest against her back.
Not pulling.
Not holding tighter.
Just… there.
Because even this felt dangerous.
Her warmth seeped into me—
quiet.
Real.
Familiar in a way that hurt.
My fingers curled lightly against the fabric at her back.
Grounding myself.
Because if I let myself believe this—
even for a second—
I wouldn't survive losing it again.
And she…
She didn't remember.
Didn't know.
And still—
She chose this.
Chose me.
That was the cruelest part.
"Wife…" I breathed, the word barely leaving my lips."You're going to be the end of me."
She didn't react.
Didn't pull away.
Only settled deeper.
Like she had already decided where she belonged.
And that—
That broke me.
Just enough.
I leaned down—and pressed a kiss against her.
Soft.Careful.
Like I was finally taking something I had waited years for.
"It's not my fault…" I whispered against her skin."You're the one coming closer."
I rested my head against her arm, guiding her other hand around my neck—anchoring her to me.
Letting myself have this.Just this.
Her leg slipped over mine without hesitation,like her body already knew where it belonged.
I buried my face against her neck—breathing her in.
Her warmth sank into me, slow and steady.
She smelled like vanilla—soft, familiar, dangerously comforting.
And suddenly—
She pulled me closer,tightening her arms around me like I was something she needed.
And I gave in.
My arms tightened around her, holding her just as close.
Peace was never something I searched for.
I knew where it was.I always did.
Not in power.Not in the world.Not in time.Not even in healing.
It was here—
in the nape of her neck,in the warmth of her skin,in the quiet rhythm of her breathing.
Her scent—soft, familiar—the only thing that could calm me…the only thing that could finally let me sleep.
This was it.
My peace.
It was her.
It had always been her.
And for the first time in four years—
I fell asleep in her arms…free from the world,free from the fear of losing her.