(Keifer's POV)
Morning.
Light hit my eyes first.
Through the glass windows.
Too bright.
I blinked once.
Then again.
Awake.
My hand moved slightly—
and I felt it.
Her.
Still there.
My fingers were in her hair.
Exactly where they were last night.
The other hand—
holding hers.
Loose.
But still there.
I looked down.
She was asleep.
Head on my lap.
Face relaxed.
Finally.
No tension.
No frown.
Just… calm.
I didn't move immediately.
Just watched.
Making sure—
she actually rested.
Around us—
everyone was still out.
Scattered.
Uncomfortable.
Unaware.
Cin half off the couch.
Kit at the table.
Eran on chairs.
Everyone exactly where they fell.
I exhaled slowly.
Then looked back at her.
Time to wake her.
"Jay…"
Soft.
No response.
Of course.
I shifted my hand slightly—
brushing her hair back.
"Jay baby."
Softer this time.
Closer.
She stirred.
Brows pulling together slightly.
"…five minutes…" she mumbled.
"No."
I tapped her head lightly.
"Wake up."
She moved a little—
trying to ignore me.
I leaned slightly closer.
"Jay."
A pause.
Then her eyes opened slowly.
Confused.
Unfocused.
Looking around—
then at me.
Realization hit.
Fast.
And I just watched.
Calm.
Waiting.
(Jay's POV)
I blinked.
Light.
Too much light.
My head felt—
comfortable.
Wait.
Too comfortable.
I looked up.
Keifer.
Of course.
My head—
on his lap.
Again.
I closed my eyes for a second.
"…not again."
He didn't react.
Just looked at me.
"You slept."
"You let me."
"You needed it."
I sat up slowly.
Careful.
Still a little heavy.
Then—
I looked around.
And froze.
Everyone.
Everywhere.
Cin—
half falling off the couch.
Kit—
dead on the table.
Eran—
on chairs like that made sense.
Felix on the floor.
Josh against the wall.
Everyone looked—
destroyed.
And then—
"AHH— MY BACK—"
Cin.
Of course.
He sat up suddenly—
then fell again.
"I'M DYING—"
"No one cares," Kit mumbled.
"I care."
"No."
Eran groaned.
"I can't feel my body."
"You don't have one," Felix said.
"I hate all of you."
Cin finally looked at me—
then at Keifer—
then back at me.
Pause.
"…oh."
No.
No.
"OH MY GOD— THEY ARE STILL LIKE THAT—"
I immediately stood up.
"CIN—"
Too late.
He was already up.
Pointing.
"ROUND TWO MORNING EDITION—"
"SHUT UP," everyone shouted.
Kit threw something at him.
Missed.
Felix laughed.
Josh smirked.
I covered my face.
"I'm leaving."
"You're not," Keifer said calmly.
Of course.
And just like that—
morning started.
With chaos.
Again.
Somehow—
we all ended up at the dining table.
Again.
Plates in front.
Food everywhere.
And noise—
as usual.
"I'm telling you, I need medical help," Cin said, holding his back dramatically.
"You need silence," Edrix replied flatly.
"Rude."
"Accurate," Felix added.
I started eating.
Properly this time.
Not forcing it.
Keifer noticed.
Of course.
Didn't say anything.
Just a small glance.
Enough.
"Don't start romance again," Cin suddenly said.
I froze.
"CIN—"
"I'm just reminding—"
"No one asked."
"I saw everything."
"You need glasses."
Josh chuckled.
Rory leaned back.
"This is better than breakfast."
"I hate all of you," I muttered.
"You love us," Cin replied instantly.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Eat," Calix said calmly.
And somehow—
we did.
Between arguing.
Between laughing.
Between wanting to throw something at Cin.
After that—
we all got ready.
Fast.
Uniforms.
Bags.
Still talking.
Still chaotic.
Then we all left together.
Walking out of the mansion—
like nothing happened last night.
We stepped into the car.
Finally.
Just us.
No noise.
No Cin.
No chaos.
Just silence.
I leaned back in the seat.
Exhaled.
"…finally."
"Hm."
He started the engine.
Focused.
Driving.
For a few seconds—
nothing.
Then—
"Keif."
"What?"
"I want a smoothie."
A pause.
"No."
I turned toward him.
"Keif."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Please."
Silence.
Then—
the car slowed.
I smiled.
Victory.
He turned the wheel—
stopped near the store.
Without another word.
Of course.
We got out.
He walked around—
opened my door.
Held his hand out.
I took it.
Without thinking.
We walked inside.
Cool air.
Bright lights.
Quiet.
I moved ahead.
Looking around—
finding what I wanted.
"Mango?" he asked from behind.
"Yes."
"Basic."
"Shut up."
I turned—
and froze.
"Jay?"
My heart skipped.
That voice—
I knew it.
I looked up.
A boy.
Standing there.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
"…Arin?" I said slowly.
He smiled.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
Neither did I.
And beside me—
Keifer went still.
Completely.
Watching.
(Keifer's POV)
"…Arin?"
I repeated the name in my head.
He smiled at her.
Like he knew her.
Too well.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said.
She looked surprised.
"…yeah, same."
I stood beside her.
Quiet.
Watching.
Always watching.
"You disappeared after that year," he continued.
She nodded slightly.
"…yeah."
I stepped a little closer.
Placed my hand lightly on her waist.
Casual.
Not casual.
She stilled for a second—
then didn't move.
Good.
He noticed.
Of course.
"…oh," he said slowly.
Looking between us.
"Didn't know you were—"
"She is," I said.
Calm.
Flat.
Very clear.
He blinked.
Then smiled awkwardly.
"Right… okay."
Jay looked at me for a second.
Then back at him.
"We're just here for a smoothie."
Important detail.
Priorities.
He laughed lightly.
"Still the same."
I looked at her.
"…you're famous for smoothies?"
She ignored me.
Of course.
Arin continued—
"You used to fight people for food."
I turned to her.
Slowly.
"…you fought people?"
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
He nodded.
"Yes."
I raised an eyebrow.
She pointed at him.
"He's lying."
"He's not," I said.
She looked at me.
"You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am."
"Then defend me."
"I'm processing."
He laughed.
"I remember she once—"
"No you don't," she cut him instantly.
"…threw a spoon."
Silence.
I looked at her.
She looked away.
"…it was a fork," she muttered.
I stared.
"You upgraded?"
"It was a situation."
"Violent situation."
"Food was involved."
"Of course it was."
Arin was trying not to laugh now.
Bad decision.
Jay glared at him.
"We're leaving."
"Yes," I said immediately.
Agreed.
We turned.
Walked toward the counter.
I picked up the smoothie.
Paid.
Still thinking.
We stepped out.
Got into the car.
I started the engine.
Then—
"…you threw a fork?"
She crossed her arms.
"I was hungry."
"That justifies assault?"
"It was not assault."
"What was it?"
"Food defense."
I exhaled.
Looked at her.
"…should I be scared?"
"Yes."
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
"…did you win?"
She looked at me.
Proud.
"Obviously."
I nodded.
"Of course you did."
And just like that—
whatever that was—