✦ CHAPTER — HER WORLD ✦
Jayjay's POV
I woke up lighter.
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Not completely.
But enough.
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Enough to not feel heavy.
Enough to breathe.
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And for once—
I didn't overthink it.
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I got up.
Walked out.
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And found him.
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Of course I did.
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Keifer was in the living room.
Calm.
Composed.
Like always.
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But the moment he saw me—
something in his expression shifted.
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Softer.
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"…you're up."
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I nodded.
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Then—
without thinking too much—
I walked straight to him.
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Grabbed his hand.
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"Come with me."
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His brows furrowed slightly.
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"…where?"
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"You'll see."
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And I didn't wait.
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I pulled him along.
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Keifer's POV
She dragged me outside.
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Without explaining.
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Without slowing down.
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And for some reason—
I let her.
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"…Jay."
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No answer.
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Just that small smile on her face.
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Different.
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Lighter.
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We stopped in the garden.
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I looked at her.
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"What are we—"
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Splash.
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Cold.
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I froze.
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Water hit my shirt.
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I looked down slowly.
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Then back at her.
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She was holding—
a water gun.
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Smiling.
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No—
laughing.
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Not soft.
Not quiet.
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Real.
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"…Jay."
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She took a step back.
Grinning.
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"You're too serious."
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Another splash.
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I didn't move.
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Didn't react.
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Because I wasn't looking at the water.
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I was looking at her.
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The way her eyes lit up.
The way she laughed freely.
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Like nothing hurt.
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Like nothing ever did.
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And something in my chest tightened.
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Because I hadn't seen this before.
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Not fully.
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Not like this.
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Jayjay's POV
He wasn't reacting.
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Just standing there.
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Looking at me.
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"…are you not going to fight back?" I teased.
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Silence.
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Then—
he stepped closer.
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Slow.
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My smile faltered slightly.
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"…Keifer?"
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His hand reached out.
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And before I could react—
he pulled me closer by the waist.
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My breath hitched.
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"Who said I wouldn't?"
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And then—
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splash.
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I gasped.
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Cold water hit me.
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"Keifer!"
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He didn't stop.
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Another splash.
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I laughed.
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Actually laughed.
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And ran.
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He followed.
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Not rushed.
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But not letting me go either.
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The garden filled with laughter.
Water.
Breathless moments.
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And for a little while—
I forgot everything else.
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Keifer's POV
She was laughing.
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Running.
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Looking back at me with that same smile.
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And I couldn't look away.
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Not from her.
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Not from this.
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Because this—
this was her.
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Not the quiet version.
Not the hurt version.
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This.
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And it hit me—
harder than anything else.
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She used to be like this.
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All the time.
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And I—
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My jaw tightened slightly.
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I was the reason she stopped.
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Jayjay's POV
By the time we stopped—
I was tired.
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Breathing heavily.
Laughing softly.
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"…okay—okay—stop."
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He lowered the water gun.
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But didn't step away.
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Still close.
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Always close now.
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We sat down after.
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Someone had brought ice cream.
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I didn't even question it.
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I just took it.
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"…this is nice," I murmured.
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He didn't answer.
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I glanced at him.
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He was already looking at me.
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Again.
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"…what?"
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A pause.
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"…nothing."
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But it wasn't nothing.
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I could feel it.
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I took another bite—
but a little bit melted too fast.
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"…wait—"
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Before I could wipe it—
his hand moved.
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His thumb brushed lightly against my lip.
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My breath caught.
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Slow.
Careful.
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Then he pulled his hand back.
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Like he realized what he did.
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Silence.
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"…you got some," he said quietly.
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"…I noticed."
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My voice came out softer.
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A pause.
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Then—
I leaned back slightly.
Closer to him.
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Without thinking.
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"…you should smile like that more."
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I stilled.
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My fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
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"…I used to."
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Silence.
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Heavy this time.
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Different.
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I didn't look at him.
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Didn't want to.
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Because I knew—
he understood.
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Keifer's POV
She used to.
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That's what she said.
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And I knew exactly what she meant.
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My chest tightened.
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Because I knew why she stopped.
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And I knew—
I was part of it.
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I didn't say anything.
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Didn't try to fix it.
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Instead—
I moved closer.
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My hand resting lightly at her back.
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Pulling her just slightly toward me.
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She didn't resist.
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Just leaned.
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Tired.
Soft.
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I leaned down.
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Pressed a quiet kiss into her hair.
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Gentle.
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But this time—
it meant more.
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Because now I knew—
what I almost destroyed.
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And I wasn't going to let it disappear again. 🤍