(Keifer's POV)
Morning came too normally.
Like last night hadn't happened.
Like she hadn't—
I stopped that thought.
She moved.
I noticed instantly.
Her eyes opened slowly, blinking against the light.
"…morning?" she murmured.
I was already standing.
"Yes."
She pushed herself up slightly.
Bad idea.
Her body swayed just a little—
I caught her immediately.
"Careful."
"I'm fine," she said.
She wasn't.
But she still tried to stand.
I didn't stop her.
I just stayed close.
One hand lightly holding her arm—
ready.
Always ready.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Downstairs," she said like it was obvious.
"No."
She looked at me.
"I'm not staying in bed all day."
A pause.
"…slowly," I said finally.
That was the compromise.
The stairs were quiet.
Jay walked carefully—
one step at a time.
Keifer right beside her.
Not touching constantly—
but close enough to catch her if needed.
Which he did.
Once.
"…I said I'm fine," she muttered.
"You almost fell."
"I didn't."
"You were going to."
She sighed.
"…annoying."
"Alive," he corrected.
The moment they reached—
they stopped.
The table was a mess.
Food.
Too much food.
Some of it—
questionable.
Keigen stood there.
Serious.
Proud.
"I made breakfast."
Jay blinked.
"…did something explode?"
"Minor accident," Keigen replied calmly.
From the side—
Keiren popped up.
"I supervised."
Jay looked at him.
"…that explains everything."
Keifer pulled a chair for her.
"Sit."
She sat.
Slowly.
Keigen rushed forward immediately.
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No."
"Now—"
"It hurts because you keep asking."
He froze.
"…oh."
Keiren snorted.
"Great recovery technique, bro."
Keifer ignored both of them and placed a glass of water in front of her.
"Drink."
"I just woke up."
"Drink."
She drank.
Keigen placed a plate in front of her.
Carefully.
Like it was fragile.
"I made this," he said.
Jay looked at it.
Then at him.
"…I trust you."
A pause.
"…but not this."
Keiren laughed.
"I told him not to mix that."
"It looked right," Keigen defended.
"It looked illegal," Keiren corrected.
Keifer pushed the plate slightly away.
"She's not eating that."
"…rude," Keigen muttered.
Keifer placed the medicine in front of her.
"No."
"Yes."
"I don't need it."
"You fainted."
"I'm fine now."
"No."
Keiren leaned in slightly.
"Should we force feed?"
Keifer didn't even look at him.
"…don't test me."
Jay sighed dramatically.
"I got hit once, not adopted by three bodyguards."
Silence.
Keiren burst out laughing.
Keigen almost smiled.
Keifer didn't react.
But his grip on the table tightened slightly.
"Take it," he said.
Jay tried to adjust her position.
A small movement.
But enough.
Her expression shifted slightly.
Pain.
Keifer noticed immediately.
His hand moved to steady her.
"Enough," he said quietly.
Not strict.
Just—
concerned.
She looked at him.
For a second—
everything else faded.
"…you didn't sleep, did you?"
A pause.
"I did."
She didn't believe that.
Neither did anyone else.
From the side—
Keiren leaned closer.
"Kuya didn't even blink."
"…romantic," he added.
Jay smiled faintly.
Keifer ignored him.
Keigen suddenly placed something small near her. chocolate 🍫
Quietly.
Her favorite snack.
"…doctor didn't say no to this," he said softly.
Keifer looked at it.
Then at her.
A pause.
"…just one."
Jay smiled.
Small.
Real.
And for the first time—
the house didn't feel heavy.
Just—
alive.
(Keifer's POV)
The house finally felt… normal.
Or at least—
something close to it.
We were in the living room.
Jay sat on the couch.
Between Keiren and Keigen.
Alive.
Talking.
Laughing.
I stayed a little away.
On the armchair.
Phone in my hand.
Talking—
but not really listening.
Because my eyes kept going back to her.
Again.
And again.
Every few seconds.
She was laughing.
Too much.
And every time she laughed too hard—
there it was.
That small wince.
Barely visible.
But I saw it.
They saw it too.
No one said anything.
Because we all knew.
(Author's POV)
"UNO!" Keiren suddenly shouted, throwing his card down dramatically.
Jay froze.
Then made a face.
"Excuse me?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "You've been holding that card for ten years."
Keiren leaned back like he just won a championship.
"Strategy."
"That's not strategy," she shot back. "That's emotional cheating."
Keiren gasped.
"Wow. Accusing me? In my own house?"
Jay blinked.
"…this is not your house."
Keiren paused.
"…minor detail."
Keigen, sitting beside them, let out a small laugh.
"You both are laughing on your own joke," he said, shaking his head slightly.
Jay and Keiren looked at each other.
Then—
laughed again.
Louder this time.
And right in between that laughter—
Jay winced.
Just a little.
Her hand pressing slightly against her side.
It lasted barely a second.
But it was there.
All three of them noticed.
Keifer's grip on his phone tightened.
Keigen's smile faded slightly.
Keiren's eyes paused on her—
just for a second.
But no one said anything.
Because if they did—
she would stop smiling.
"Again," Keiren said quickly, shuffling the cards.
Jay looked at them.
Then shook her head lightly.
"No."
Simple.
Quiet.
She leaned back into the couch instead.
Silent now.
Not tired—
thinking.
Keifer noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes stayed on her a second longer this time.
But he didn't interrupt.
Didn't ask.
He waited.
And then—
"Keif?"
His attention snapped fully to her.
"What about our school?"
Before he could answer—
she suddenly bolted upright.
Too fast.
"Keif—" she sat straight, panic rising instantly, "Keif what about Kuya? He will kill me if he knows that I didn't go today—"
Her voice rushed.
Her breathing quick.
Keifer stood up immediately.
Crossed the distance in seconds.
"Relax, Jay."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Grounding.
"I've talked to your Kuya."
She blinked.
Paused.
"…you did?"
"He was worried about you," Keifer said.
Simple.
But it worked.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
The panic—
fading.
"…oh."
A small breath left her.
And just like that—
everything settled again.
But Keifer didn't move away.
Not yet.
Because even now—
he was still watching.
Making sure
she stayed.