š¤ Chapter: Stayā¦ Just Like This
Jayjay's POV
The room is quiet again.
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Not heavy like before.
Justā¦ still.
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I sit there, looking down at my hands.
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I can still feel it.
His words.
His voice breaking.
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And it does something to me.
Something soft.
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But thenā
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that toneā¦ that dayā¦
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My chest tightens slightly.
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And just like thatā
I pull back again.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I see it.
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That small shift.
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The way she softensā
then closes again.
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And this timeā¦
I don't take it personally.
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I understand it.
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So I don't move away.
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I don't try to fix it.
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I justā¦ stay.
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She tries to adjust her position.
Still weak.
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Her hand presses slightly against the bed for support.
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I move instinctively.
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"Waitā"
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But I stop myself halfway.
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"ā¦can I?" I ask softly.
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She looks at me.
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Hesitates.
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Then nods.
Just a little.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
He helps me sit up.
Carefully.
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Not too close.
Not too distant.
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Just enough.
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His hand stays on my arm for a second longer than needed.
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Not gripping.
Not forcing.
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Justā¦ there.
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And I don't pull away this time.
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Not immediately.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
That small momentā
it means more than anything.
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Because she didn't step back.
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I let my hand drop slowly.
Not rushing it.
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"Are you feeling better?" I ask quietly.
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She nods.
"ā¦a little."
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Her voice is still soft.
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Still careful.
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But she answered.
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Laterā¢
She leans back slightly.
Tired again.
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Her head tilts just a littleā
towards my shoulder.
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Not fully.
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Justā¦ close.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I don't even realize I'm doing it at first.
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Justā¦ leaning.
A little.
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Because I'm tired.
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Because he's here.
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Becauseā¦ it feels familiar.
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And for a secondā
I let it happen.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I freeze.
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Not moving.
Not breathing properly.
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Because she's close.
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Not pulled away.
Not guarded.
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Justā¦ resting near me.
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And I don't want to ruin it.
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So I stay still.
Careful.
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Like even breathing wrong might break it.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
Thenā
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that memory again.
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His voice.
Sharp.
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My eyes open slightly.
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And I straighten.
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Pulling away gently.
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"ā¦sorry," I whisper.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
That one wordā
it hurts.
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But I don't show it.
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"Don't," I say softly.
"ā¦you don't have to apologize."
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She looks down again.
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And I realizeā
she's not pulling away from me.
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She's pulling away from the feeling.
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Silence settles again.
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But not like before.
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I shift slightly closer this time.
Slow enough for her to notice.
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Not enough to scare her.
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Just enough to say:
I'm here.
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My voice comes out low.
Careful.
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"ā¦I'm not going anywhere."
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She doesn't respond immediately.
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But she doesn't move away either.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
That lineā¦
it stays.
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Not fully trusted.
Not fully believed.
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But not ignored either.
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I close my eyes again.
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Still keeping a little space.
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But not as much as before.
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And for nowā
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that's all I can give.
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š¤ Chapter: Not the Same, But Not Broken
Jayjay's POV
By evening, I'm out of the room.
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Not fully okay.
But better than before.
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The living room is loud.
Voices, laughter, chaos.
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Jare and Aries are arguing again.
Ciel is laughing.
Mama's calling someone from the kitchen.
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Normal.
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I stand there for a second.
Taking it in.
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Then I feel it.
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That presence.
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I don't even have to look.
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Keifer.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
She came out.
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That's the first thing I notice.
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Secondā
she looks lighter.
Not fully.
Butā¦ a little.
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I don't go to her immediately.
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I just watch.
Make sure she's okay.
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Thenā
she sways slightly.
Barely noticeable.
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But I see it.
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And this timeā
I don't ask.
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I just walk over.
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ā Living room
"Sit," I say quietly beside her.
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She looks up at me.
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That small hesitation again.
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Thenā
she sits.
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Next to me.
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Not far.
Not close.
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Justā¦ beside.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
He didn't ask.
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Didn't force.
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Justā¦ stayed.
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And I didn't push him away.
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Not this time.
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Jare smirks.
"Ooooh, look who's back to sitting togetherā"
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"Shut up," Keifer says immediately.
Flat.
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Everyone pauses.
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Because his toneā
isn't sharp.
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It's protective.
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And calm.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I don't look at them.
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Just at her.
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"You okay?" I ask softly.
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She nods.
"ā¦yeah."
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Still quiet.
Still careful.
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But she answered.
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Mama brings juice.
Hands it to her.
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She takes it.
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But her hand trembles slightly.
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Before I thinkā
I steady the glass.
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Our hands touch again.
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This timeā
she doesn't pull away immediately.
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Justā¦ slowly.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
My heart reacts first.
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Then my mind.
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that memory againā¦
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And I gently move my hand back.
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Not rejecting.
Justā¦ unsure.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I notice.
Of course I do.
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But I don't react.
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I just adjust.
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Instead of holdingā
I sit closer.
Not touching.
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Justā¦ there.
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Ciel whispers to Aries:
"ā¦he's not leaving her side."
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Jare smirks again.
"Man's down bad."
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"Say that again and I'll throw you in the pool," I mutter.
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They laugh.
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But I don't move.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I hear them.
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And for a secondā
I almost smile.
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Almost.
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Then I glance at him.
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He's not joking.
Not distracted.
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Justā¦ watching me.
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Carefully.
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Like I might disappear again.
I shift slightly.
Closer.
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Not much.
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Just enough.
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And this timeā
I don't move back.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I feel it.
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That small movement.
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And I don't react.
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Don't make it obvious.
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Justā¦ stay still.
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Because I've learned nowā
not to rush what she's giving.
The room is still loud.
Still chaotic.
But between usā
it's quieter.
Softer.
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Not fixed.
Not normal.
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But not broken anymore either.
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And for nowā
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that's enough.
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