(Keifer's POV)
My hand stayed around hers.
Careful.
Steady.
"I've got you," I whispered again, closer this time. "Just stay here, okay?"
For a second, nothing changed.
Then—
her fingers moved.
Barely.
Weakly tightening around mine like she was trying to hold on but didn't have strength to fully do it.
That small reaction hit harder than anything else so far.
"Jay…" I called softly.
Her eyes shifted again under the oxygen mask.
Not fully open.
But aware enough to know I was still there.
A faint breath escaped her, shaky, uneven.
"…Keif…"
That was it.
Just my name.
But it was enough.
My chest tightened.
"I'm here," I said immediately. "I'm right here, baby."
My thumb brushed gently over her hand again, slow, grounding her.
And for a second—
she didn't drift.
She stayed.
Just for a second.
Then the door opened.
I turned instantly.
A nurse stepped in quickly, checking the monitors first before looking at us.
"Please step back a little," she said calmly.
I didn't move at first.
Not immediately.
My eyes went back to Jay.
Her breathing had slightly changed again, weaker now.
"Sir," the nurse repeated softly, more careful this time.
I exhaled slowly.
Reluctantly—
I shifted half a step back.
Not letting go of her hand fully, just loosening my hold.
The door opened again.
This time—
more people came in.
Angelo stepped in first, his face tight but controlled.
Right behind him—
Aries.
Jaw clenched, eyes sharp but carrying something heavy underneath.
Then Percy.
No attitude now.
Just quiet tension.
Behind them—
Section E.
All of them.
Silent.
Still.
Cin stood slightly forward, his eyes red again, trying hard not to break. Others behind him looked the same—controlled on the outside, shaken underneath.
Then—
Tita Gema.
She stopped the moment she saw her.
Her hand went to her mouth instantly, holding back whatever wanted to come out.
And lastly—
her mother.
She didn't even step fully in at first.
Just froze at the doorway.
Like her body didn't know how to move forward.
The room suddenly felt too full.
Too heavy.
Too real.
Jay's eyes flickered slightly again.
She noticed.
Even in that state.
Her gaze moved weakly, trying to register the people around her.
Her mother took a shaky step forward, tears already forming but not falling yet.
"Oh my baby…" she whispered.
That broke something in the air.
Angelo looked at me briefly, then at her.
No words.
Just understanding.
Aries stood closer to the side, hands clenched, not speaking.
Percy looked away for a second, jaw tight.
Cin finally blinked hard, turning his face slightly down so no one could see his expression fully.
I stayed beside her.
Still holding her hand.
Because I knew—
if I let go now, even for a second—
it would feel like losing her again.
Jay's fingers moved once more.
Slightly.
Trying.
And her eyes, half-open, stayed on me just a little longer.
Like she was making sure I was still there too.
"I'm here," I whispered again.
Soft.
Only for her.
And this time—
I didn't look away.
For a brief moment, the room finally quieted.
Not empty.
Just… less crowded.
People had stepped out for a second—Angelo stayed near the door, Aries close by, Percy leaning slightly back against the wall, Section E and her family just outside but still close enough if needed.
But inside—
it was just her.
And me.
I stayed right beside her bed, not moving away.
Not even a little.
Her fingers were still loosely in mine.
Weak.
But there.
A nurse entered quietly, holding a chart board, checking the monitors first before looking at her.
"Vitals are stable for now," she said softly, mostly to herself.
Then she looked at Jay.
"Did she have difficulty breathing with the oxygen mask?" she asked.
I glanced at her before answering.
"She was struggling earlier," I said quietly.
The nurse nodded once.
"Alright."
She stepped closer, gently adjusting a few readings on the machine.
Then she looked back at Jay.
"I'm going to remove the mask for a moment," she said calmly. "Is that okay?"
Jay didn't fully respond at first.
Her eyes barely shifted.
So I squeezed her hand lightly.
"Jay," I murmured. "It's okay."
A small pause.
Then—
a faint nod.
Barely there.
But enough.
The nurse carefully removed the oxygen mask.
Slow.
Controlled.
The moment it came off—
Jay flinched slightly.
A small, instinctive reaction, like her body had gotten used to something and suddenly had to adjust again.
I leaned in immediately.
"Easy," I whispered.
The nurse watched her closely.
"Is it okay?" she asked gently.
Jay didn't speak.
But her breathing—
it was still uneven.
Still weak.
But she didn't look like she was panicking.
Just tired.
Too tired.
I brushed my thumb lightly over her fingers again, grounding her.
"She's okay," I said quietly to the nurse.
Not asking.
Just confirming.
The nurse nodded.
"Good," she said. "We'll keep monitoring her breathing closely without it for now."
She adjusted the machine again, then stepped slightly back.
I stayed where I was.
Close.
Careful.
My eyes never left Jay.
Her face looked different without the mask.
More real.
More fragile.
Like everything she had been holding in was now just… visible.
Her eyes stayed half open, slowly shifting toward me again.
And I didn't move.
Just leaned slightly closer.
"I'm still here," I whispered.
And this time—
I didn't let go of her hand.
never