Keifers (pov)
At some point—
I fell asleep.
Deep.
My hand still resting on her head.
The other—
holding her fingers.
Then—
"Keif…"
My eyes opened immediately.
"…wake up."
I looked at her.
She was already sitting up.
Looking at me—
wide awake.
"What happened?" I asked.
She didn't hesitate.
Not even a second.
"I'm hungry."
I blinked.
Of course.
"You just remembered that now?"
"I didn't eat properly," she said, completely serious.
I exhaled softly.
That sounded more like her.
No holding back.
No overthinking.
Just—
straight.
"I noticed," I said.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Then why didn't you force me?"
"I did."
"You didn't do it properly."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
"Come," I said.
We walked to the kitchen.
She sat on the small table—
swinging her leg slightly.
Watching me.
Very focused.
Not on me—
on the food.
I opened the fridge.
Took out whatever was quick.
She leaned forward slightly.
"What are you making?"
"Food."
"Very specific."
"You'll eat it anyway."
"Depends."
"It doesn't."
She smiled.
There it was.
That normal—
easy smile.
I prepared something simple.
Placed it in front of her.
She didn't wait.
Started eating immediately.
Fast.
Like she trusted it.
Like she trusted me.
I leaned against the counter.
Watching.
"…about earlier," I said.
She looked up this time.
Still chewing.
"What?"
"You don't have to act okay when you're not."
She swallowed.
"I wasn't acting."
A pause.
"…I just didn't want to ruin everything."
I shook my head slightly.
"You don't ruin anything."
She looked at me.
Then—
went back to eating.
"…still," she muttered.
Silence again.
Comfortable.
Then—
she picked up something else.
Chocolate.
Of course.
I stared.
"…you still took it."
She didn't even look guilty.
"I told you I needed it."
"You hid it."
"I secured it."
I walked closer.
Took a piece.
"You're sharing now."
"That's illegal."
"I paid."
She rolled her eyes.
"Unfair system."
"Very."
A pause.
Then she looked at me again.
Softer this time.
"…you knew I didn't eat."
"I always know."
She held my gaze for a second.
Then smiled—
small.
Real.
And went back to eating.
Because that's her.
Simple.
Honest.
And somehow—
I understood all of it.
Without her saying much.
She was still eating.
Like nothing had happened.
Like the night hadn't been heavy just hours ago.
And somehow—
that made it better.
I stood there.
Watching her.
The way she focused on food.
The way she frowned slightly when something tasted different.
The way she didn't overthink small things.
And then—
she looked up.
Caught me staring.
"…what?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Liar."
I didn't reply.
Just walked closer.
Slow.
She didn't move away.
Didn't ask again.
Just watched.
Quiet.
I stopped right in front of her.
Close enough.
Too close.
My hand moved first.
Gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
Tucking it behind her ear.
Slow.
Careful.
She didn't look away.
Her eyes—
steady.
Waiting.
I leaned in.
Not rushed.
Not sudden.
Just—
closing the distance.
Giving her time.
To pull away.
To stop me.
She didn't.
Her breath hitched slightly—
but she stayed.
So I kissed her.
Soft.
At first.
Barely there.
Like I was making sure—
she was really here.
That this was real.
Her lips were warm.
Still.
Then—
she moved.
Just a little.
And that was enough.
My hand shifted—
to her jaw.
Holding her gently.
Keeping her close.
The kiss deepened.
Not rough.
Not urgent.
Just—
full.
Real.
Like everything unspoken—
was finally there.
I felt her fingers clutch lightly at my shirt.
Pulling me closer.
And something in my chest—
tightened.
Not pain.
Something heavier.
Something I didn't name.
I slowed slightly.
Not breaking the kiss—
just softening it again.
Because this—
wasn't about need.
It was about her.
About knowing she was okay.
About feeling her here—
not somewhere else.
Not lost in something I couldn't reach.
When we finally pulled apart—
it wasn't sudden.
Just—
a small distance.
Enough to breathe.
But not enough to leave.
Her forehead rested lightly against mine.
Quiet.
Steady.
I didn't say anything.
Didn't need to.
My hand slid around her—
pulling her into me.
And she came easily.
Like she belonged there.
Her arms wrapped around me.
Tight.
Not desperate.
Just—
holding.
I rested my chin lightly over her head.
One hand at her back.
The other still near her shoulder.
Keeping her close.
And for a moment—
everything else faded.
No noise.
No past.
No pressure.
Just—
this.
And her.
Exactly where she was supposed to be.
(Keifer's POV)
She was standing close.
Not touching—
but close enough.
Looking at me.
Then—
"…I like the way you hug me," she said.
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
She nodded.
"…like I'm your whole world."
I stepped a little closer.
"You are."
She blinked.
"…too fast."
"I don't wait."
"Liar."
"Try me."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…don't."
I leaned slightly in.
"Or I can hug you again and prove it."
She stepped back immediately.
"No."
"Scared?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"…shameless."
"Only with you."
She tried not to smile—
failed.
And then—
"OH MY GOD—"
Too loud.
Way too loud.
We both turned.
Cin.
Standing there like he just saw a crime.
Eyes wide.
Pointing at us.
"THEY ARE FLIRTING AT MIDNIGHT!"
I closed my eyes for a second.
No.
Not him.
Not now.
Jay froze.
"…Cin—"
But he was already turning—
toward the hallway.
And then shouted—
"WAKE UP EVERYONE, LIVE ROMANCE GOING ON!"
Footsteps.
A lot of them.
Fast.
First—
Kit.
Half asleep.
"…what happened?"
Then Eran.
"Who's fighting?"
Calix walked in next—
calm.
But watching everything.
Felix right behind him—
already smirking.
Josh leaned against the wall—
trying not to laugh.
Edrix came last—
annoyed.
"…why are we awake?"
David stood slightly behind—
quiet.
Just observing.
Denzal appeared from the side—
"…did I miss something?"
Rory rubbed his eyes—
"Why is Cin shouting like a siren?"
Mayo just stood there—
processing everything slowly.
Cin pointed again.
Dramatic.
"THEM."
All eyes—
on us.
Silence.
Then—
Felix smirked.
"…at midnight?"
Josh chuckled.
"Respect."
Jay covered her face.
"I'm disappearing."
Eran laughed.
"No, no stay, we just came."
Edrix sighed.
"This is why I hate group study."
Kit looked between us—
"…continue, we'll watch."
"Don't," I said.
Flat.
No one listened.
Of course.
Cin stepped closer.
"So… what was happening?"
Jay pointed at him.
"You're dead."
He grinned.
"Worth it."
I looked at all of them.
One by one.
"Go back to sleep."
Silence.
Then—
Josh shook his head.
"No."
Felix nodded.
"Definitely not."
Rory sat on the chair nearby.
"I'm invested now."
Mayo whispered—
"…same."
Jay turned to me.
"This is your fault."
"How?"
"You exist."
I exhaled.
Fair.
And just like that—
the night—
was no longer quiet.