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đź–¤ Chapter: I Stayed This Time
Jayjay's POV
Night comes slower here.
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Everyone's still awake somewhere in the house.
But I'm outside now.
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The balcony is quiet.
Cool air.
Soft lights from inside spilling out behind me.
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I lean on the railing.
Just breathing.
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Trying not to think too much.
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But my mind doesn't listen.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
She left.
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I noticed.
Of course I did.
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Ciel was still talking.
Jare was laughing.
But I wasn't listening properly.
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So I follow.
Quietly.
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I stop at the balcony door.
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She's there.
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Alone.
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I don't go closer immediately.
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Just stand there.
Watching.
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She looks… calmer.
But distant again.
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Like she's somewhere in her head.
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"…you're out here alone again," I say softly.
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She turns slightly.
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Not surprised.
Just… aware.
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"…I just needed air," she replies.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
His voice doesn't feel heavy tonight.
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Just… careful.
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And I don't feel pushed.
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That's new.
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I nod slightly.
"…you can stay."
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It comes out before I fully think.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I pause.
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Because she didn't ask me to leave.
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So I walk in.
Slowly.
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Not too close.
Just beside her.
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Leaning on the railing too.
For a while, neither of us speaks.
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Just the night.
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The wind.
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The quiet between us.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
My fingers rest on the railing.
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I glance at him.
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He's not looking at me.
Just forward.
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But he stayed.
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And somehow…
that feels different.
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"…you don't have to keep checking on me," I say quietly.
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I don't know why I say it.
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But I do.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I finally look at her.
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"No," I say softly.
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Pause.
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"…I want to."
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Not forcing.
Not demanding.
Just honest.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
That makes my chest tighten a little.
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Because it doesn't sound like control.
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It sounds like… care.
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And I hate that I notice the difference now.
I hesitate.
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My hand is on the railing.
Still.
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Then slowly—
I move it.
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Just a little.
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Closer to his arm.
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Not touching fully.
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Just… near.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I see it.
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And I don't move.
Don't rush it.
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Just stay still.
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Like if I breathe wrong, she'll pull away again.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I stay like that for a few seconds.
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Then—
my fingers lightly touch his sleeve.
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Barely.
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Almost like I'm testing it.
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And I don't pull away immediately.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
That small contact—
it hits harder than anything else today.
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Not because it's big.
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Because it's hers.
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Chosen.
Not accidental.
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[ Jay's pov ]
We don't talk much after that.
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Just stand there.
Side by side.
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Not fixed.
Not healed.
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But closer than before.
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And for the first time in a long time—
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I don't feel like I need to leave immediately.
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🖤 Chapter: Morning That Felt Safe… Until It Wasn't
Keifer's POV
I wake up earlier than I planned.
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She's still asleep.
Curled slightly on her side.
Breathing steady for once.
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I don't move immediately.
Just look at her for a second.
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Then I get up.
Quietly.
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Kitchen.
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It's calm in a way I'm not used to anymore.
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I open the fridge.
Think for a moment.
Then decide.
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French toast.
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Her favorite.
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Not because I need to do something big.
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Just because I remember.
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The pan is warm.
The house is quiet.
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I move slowly.
Careful.
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Not because it's hard.
Because I don't want to mess it up.
Not this.
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"…don't burn it," I mutter under my breath.
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A small breath leaves me.
Almost a laugh.
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I don't even know why I'm nervous.
It's just breakfast.
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But it feels like more than that.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I wake up slowly.
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Something smells sweet.
Familiar.
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I sit up.
Blink a few times.
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The bed beside me is empty.
But the air doesn't feel empty.
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I get up and follow the smell.
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I stop at the doorway.
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Keifer.
Cooking.
Focused.
Quiet.
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And on the counter—
plates already set.
Neatly.
Carefully.
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My favorite.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I just stand there for a second.
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He made this?
For me?
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My chest tightens slightly.
Not painful.
Just… warm.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I feel her before I fully turn.
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So I do.
Slowly.
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She's there.
Watching.
Not speaking.
Just… still.
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"…you're awake," I say softly.
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She nods.
"…you made this?"
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"Yeah," I reply simply.
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No big explanation.
No drama.
Just… yes.
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🌙 Breakfast
She sits.
Carefully.
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Doesn't eat immediately.
Just looks at it.
Like she's trying to understand it.
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Then she finally takes a bite.
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Small pause.
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"…it's good," she says quietly.
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That's all.
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But it's enough.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I sit across from her.
Watching.
Not staring.
Just… there.
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She eats slowly.
Still a little weak.
Still careful.
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But she's here.
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With me.
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And that's what matters right now.
For a while—
it almost feels normal.
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Not fixed.
Not healed.
Just… calm.
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She looks slightly less tense.
And I don't push anything.
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Because I know better now.
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Door opens
Then—
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voices from the hallway.
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Laughter.
Casual footsteps.
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I don't think much of it at first.
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Until she walks in.
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đź–¤ Lia's entrance
"Keifer!"
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A girl steps into the kitchen like she owns the space already.
Confident.
Bright smile.
Same age as me.
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Lia.
My cousin.
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She walks straight to me.
Like it's normal.
Like it's always been like this.
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And she hugs me.
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Quick.
Familiar.
Natural.
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I hug her back automatically.
Briefly.
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Then let go.
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"Long time," I say.
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She laughs.
"You act like I disappeared."
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She sits beside me immediately.
Starts talking.
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Casual.
Comfortable.
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Like nothing is unusual.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I feel it before I understand it.
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Her sitting close.
His calm response.
The ease.
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Too easy.
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My fingers tighten slightly on my sleeve.
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I look down at my plate.
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Then back up.
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Same position.
Same closeness.
Same comfort.
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Something inside me shifts.
Quietly.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I notice it.
Soon.
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Jay isn't speaking anymore.
Not like before.
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Just… watching.
Then looking away.
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That's not her usual silence.
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That's different.
She leans slightly closer while speaking.
Laughing.
Relaxed.
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I answer normally.
Nothing unusual.
Because to me—
it isn't.
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But then I see it again.
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Jay's expression.
Just for a second.
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Still.
Then gone.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
That's when I understand.
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It's not Lia.
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It's how it looks.
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And how it feels to her.
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Lia keeps talking.
Unaware.
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But I look at Jay again.
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She's quiet.
Too quiet.
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And I realize—
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today is going to need more than just breakfast.
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đź–¤ Chapter: Don't Walk Away Like That
Jayjay's POV
After breakfast… I try to act normal.
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I really do.
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But I can still feel it.
Lia laughing.
Keifer responding so easily.
That comfort.
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It shouldn't bother me this much.
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But it does.
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So I stand up.
Quietly.
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"I'll go upstairs," I say softly.
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Not looking at him properly.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I notice immediately.
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The shift.
The distance.
Again.
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"…Jay," I call gently.
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She pauses.
But doesn't turn fully.
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And that's when I stand too.
Following her.
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Not rushing.
Just… behind her.
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Hallway
She stops near the stairs.
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"…you don't have to follow me," she says quietly.
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I step closer.
Careful.
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"I'm not following you," I say softly.
"…I'm staying with you."
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That makes her turn slightly.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
He's close again.
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Not forcing.
Just there.
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And I hate how safe that feels.
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But I still hesitate.
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"…I'm fine," I whisper.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
"No," I say gently.
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Not arguing.
Just… correcting.
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"You're not."
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Silence.
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Her eyes flicker away.
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And for a second—
I think she'll pull back again.
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Instead…
She moves first.
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Small step forward.
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Then suddenly—
she grabs my shirt lightly.
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Not angry.
Not unsure.
Just… holding.
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And she kisses me.
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Soft.
Quick.
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Right there.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I don't think about it.
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I just do it.
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Because if I don't—
I'll go back into my head again.
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And I don't want that right now.
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When I pull back slightly—
I whisper:
"…don't forget me, okay?"
🥺
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My voice is small.
Almost embarrassed.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
That stops me completely.
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Not because she doubts me.
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Because she still needs reassurance.
Even now.
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I soften immediately.
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My hand moves gently to her hair.
Fixing a loose strand behind her ear.
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"…forget you?" I repeat softly.
A small breath leaves me.
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Then I smile slightly.
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"You're my wife," I say quietly.
"…I'm yours. And you're mine."
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Not possessive.
Not heavy.
Just… certain.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
That makes my chest feel lighter.
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And I hate how much I needed to hear it.
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I look up at him.
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"…good," I whisper.
"…you should remember that."
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A tiny pause.
Then softer:
"…properly."
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I let out a quiet chuckle.
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Not loud.
Just warm.
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And I pull her a little closer.
Not fully.
Just enough.
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"…you're really clingy when you're jealous," I say softly.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I instantly hide my face against him.
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"…I'm not jealous," I mumble.
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But I don't move away.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I wrap my arm around her gently.
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And she stays.
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Not pulling back this time.
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Just holding onto me like she decided—
this is where she wants to be.
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And I don't let go.