Jayjay's POV
I probably shouldn't have taken it.
But I did.
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Keifer's hoodie hangs loosely on me, sleeves covering my hands, almost reaching my knees.
It smells like him.
And I like it.
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I step out of the room casually—
And freeze.
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He's right there.
Watching me.
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"…that's mine," he says.
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I smile innocently.
"I know."
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A pause.
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His gaze sharpens slightly.
"Take it off."
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"No."
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And I run.
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"Jay."
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I don't stop.
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I rush into the living room—
Straight toward Mama.
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"Mama!" I hide behind her, gripping her arm.
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Everyone's there.
Papa. Aries. Jare. Ciel.
tita Serina. tito Keizer.
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All of them look at me.
Then at him.
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Keifer walks in calmly.
Like this is normal.
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"She stole my hoodie."
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Jare laughs immediately.
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Ciel claps.
"Jayjay run!"
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I shake my head.
"No. It's mine now."
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Keifer raises a brow.
Then walks closer.
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"Come here."
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I hide further behind Mama.
"No."
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Mama is trying not to laugh.
tita Serina is smiling warmly.
tito Keizer watches quietly, amused.
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Keifer stops right in front of me.
Looks at Mama.
Then back at me.
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"Wifey," he says calmly.
"Give it back."
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Silence.
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Everyone freezes.
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Jare: "…what?"
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Ciel: "He said WIFEY—"
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My face burns instantly.
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I stare at him.
"W-what did you just say…?"
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He doesn't react.
Just tilts his head slightly.
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"Don't make me repeat it."
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"NO."
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Laughter breaks out.
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He steps closer.
Reaches for the sleeve.
"Give it."
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I hold onto it tightly.
"No, it's mine!"
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"Jay."
"No!"
He gently tries to pull it—
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And my eyes sting.
"I said it's mine…" my voice wobbles 🥺
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He stops immediately.
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"…you're crying?" he says, quieter.
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I sniff.
"Because you're mean."
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Jare: "BRO—"
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"Shut up," Keifer mutters.
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Then he sighs.
Soft.
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And lets go.
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"Fine."
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I blink.
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He adjusts the sleeve instead.
Pulls it down over my hand gently.
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"Keep it."
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I look up at him.
"…really?"
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He nods once.
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"Yeah."
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I smile, small but real.
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"Thank you."
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He looks away like it doesn't matter.
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Behind us—
Ciel whispers loudly:
"He called her wifey."
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Jare: "He's finished."
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Aries: "Completely gone."
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Mama smiles knowingly.
tita Serina looks very pleased.
tito Keizer just chuckles softly.
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Keifer walks away like nothing happened.
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But just before leaving—
He says quietly:
"Don't lose it."
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And somehow…
it feels like more than just a hoodie.
Jayjay's POV
The room is quiet.
Too quiet.
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I'm sitting on the bed, wrapped in Keifer's hoodie.
His hoodie.
Still mine.
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I hum softly to myself.
A random tune.
Just to fill the silence.
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Across the room—
Keifer is working.
Files spread out.
Glasses on.
AirPods in.
Completely focused.
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I glance at him.
"…Keifer?"
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No response.
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I tilt my head.
"Keifer."
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Nothing.
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I frown slightly.
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"Keifer."
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Still nothing.
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I sigh.
He's not even hearing me.
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Fine.
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I stand up quietly.
Walk closer.
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"…baby?"
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Nothing.
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Okay.
Now I'm annoyed.
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So I do what I always do.
I start bothering him.
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I tap his shoulder.
Lightly.
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No reaction.
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I tap again.
Harder.
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Still nothing.
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"Wow," I mumble.
"Am I invisible?"
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I reach out—
And pull one AirPod out.
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He looks up instantly.
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"What are you doing?" his voice is sharp.
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I blink.
"…you weren't listening."
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"I'm working."
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"I was just talking to you."
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He exhales sharply.
"Jay, not now."
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That tone.
I don't like it.
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So I fold my arms.
"I've been calling you for so long."
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"I said I'm working."
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His voice is colder now.
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Something in my chest tightens.
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"I just wanted to—"
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"Can you not do this right now?" he snaps.
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Silence.
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My words stop.
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I stare at him.
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His jaw is tight.
Eyes frustrated.
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Like I'm… annoying him.
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"Oh."
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That's all I manage.
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I step back slowly.
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"Sorry."
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My voice comes out smaller than I expected.
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He doesn't say anything.
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And that hurts more.
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So I turn.
And walk out.
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Keifer's POV
The door closes.
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And the silence feels worse.
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I stare at the papers.
But I'm not reading anything anymore.
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I replay it.
Her voice.
Her face.
That quiet "sorry."
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My jaw tightens.
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"…damn it."
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I push the papers aside.
Pull out my AirPods.
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I shouldn't have snapped like that.
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She wasn't doing anything wrong.
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She just wanted my attention.
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And I—
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I stand up immediately.
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I find her near the corner.
Walking fast.
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"Jay."
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She doesn't stop.
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"Jay."
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Still nothing.
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I reach her quickly.
Grab her wrist gently.
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She flinches slightly.
That hits harder than anything.
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"Hey," I say, softer now.
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She doesn't look at me.
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"Look at me."
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She shakes her head.
"No."
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Her voice is quiet.
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"I didn't mean to shout," I say.
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Silence.
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"I was just stressed."
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Still nothing.
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"I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
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A pause.
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Then finally—
She speaks.
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"You looked at me like I was bothering you."
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That lands.
Hard.
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I exhale slowly.
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"You weren't."
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"Then why did you sound like that?"
I don't answer immediately.
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Because she's right.
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"I messed up," I say quietly.
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Another pause.
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Then softer—
"Come here."
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She hesitates.
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Then slowly… steps closer.
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I pull her gently into me.
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She doesn't hug back immediately.
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But she doesn't pull away either.
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"I'm sorry," I murmur near her hair.
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A few seconds pass.
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Then her hands slowly hold onto my shirt.
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"…you're mean sometimes," she mumbles.
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A faint exhale leaves me.
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"I know."
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I rest my chin lightly on her head.
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"I'll try not to be."
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She doesn't reply.
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But she doesn't let go either.
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And that's enough.
🖤 Scene: Now You Wait
Jayjay's POV
He brings me back to the room.
Still holding my hand.
Like he's scared I'll walk away again.
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But I don't look at him.
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I sit on the bed quietly.
Pull my phone out.
And start watching something.
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No humming.
No talking.
No bothering him.
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Just silence.
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I can feel his eyes on me.
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"…Jay."
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I don't respond.
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I scroll.
Tap.
Watch.
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"…baby."
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Nothing.
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A pause.
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"You were just talking a lot a few minutes ago."
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I shrug slightly.
Still not looking at him.
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"I don't feel like it anymore."
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Silence.
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I hear him move.
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Papers shifting.
Chair sliding.
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Then—
He sits closer.
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I still don't look at him.
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"You're ignoring me now?" he asks quietly.
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I tilt my head slightly.
Finally glance at him.
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"Can you not do this right now?"
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His expression freezes.
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That was his line.
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I look back at my phone.
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"I'm busy."
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A pause.
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"…Jay."
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I ignore him again.
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And honestly?
It feels a little satisfying.
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🖤 Keifer's POV
She's doing exactly what I did.
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Same tone.
Same words.
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And I don't like it.
Not even a little.
I watch her for a second.
Phone in her hand.
Eyes focused.
Like I'm not even here.
I exhale slowly.
"Alright," I mutter.
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Then I move.
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Closer.
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Close enough that her shoulder brushes mine.
Still nothing.
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So I reach out—
And gently take her phone.
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"Hey—"
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I place it aside.
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"Now you're listening," I say.
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She frowns.
"I was watching that."
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"You were ignoring me."
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"You ignored me first."
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That hits.
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I pause.
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Then sigh.
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"Yeah."
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A moment.
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Then quieter—
"I deserved that."
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She doesn't say anything.
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Just looks at me now.
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And I soften slightly.
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"Don't do that again," I murmur.
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Her brows pull together.
"Why?"
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"Because I don't like it."
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A pause.
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Then I add—
"…I don't like when you go quiet on me."
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Her expression shifts.
Just a little.
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"And I don't like when you shout at me," she says.
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Fair.
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I nod.
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"Okay."
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Silence again.
But different this time.
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Then I reach for her again.
Gently.
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"Come here."
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She hesitates.
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"…no."
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I almost smile.
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"Still mad?"
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"Maybe."
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I lean slightly closer.
Lower my voice.
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"Then stay mad here."
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Before she can react—
I pull her lightly toward me.
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She lets out a small protest.
But doesn't fight much.
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I adjust her so she's sitting against me.
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"Work," I say quietly.
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She blinks.
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"You said you were busy, right?" I add.
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Her lips press together.
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But she doesn't move away.
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Instead—
She stays.
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🌙 Later
I go back to my work.
Papers in front of me again.
Glasses on.
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But this time—
She's here.
Leaning slightly against me.
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Quiet.
But not distant.
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After a while…
her head slowly rests on my shoulder.
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I glance down briefly.
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She's still holding onto a bit of my shirt.
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Like earlier.
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And I realize something.
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She didn't stop needing me.
She just wanted me to notice.
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So I adjust slightly.
Make her more comfortable.
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One hand still holding the paper.
The other… resting lightly on her arm.
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And I keep working.
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Because now—
she's not outside my world.
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She's right here in it.
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