(Keifer's POV)
The noise came back fast.
Like nothing serious had ever happened.
Cin was the loudest now.
"Vacation means couple time," he said, grinning.
"Jay, don't forget us after going there with him."
"She already forgot you," Percy added.
"I did not," Jay replied.
Cin leaned closer. "Then prove it. Sit with me."
"No," I said before she could answer.
"See?" Cin pointed at me. "Possessive."
"Alive," I corrected.
"Same thing," Calix muttered.
Felix smirked. "Husband behavior."
"Felix," I said calmly.
He raised both hands. "Okay, okay. Rare moment, I'll stop."
He didn't.
The chaos kept going.
Blaster laughing loudly.
Drew arguing about money again.
Eran barely interested but still listening.
And in the middle of all that—
she leaned closer.
Her head rested lightly on my shoulder.
Small movement.
Quiet.
No one noticed.
I didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just adjusted slightly so she didn't have to.
"You okay?" I murmured low enough for only her.
"…yeah," she said softly.
A pause.
Then she spoke again, even lower.
"We're really going?"
"Yeah."
She shifted just a little.
Not away.
Closer.
"Everyone?" she asked.
"Everyone."
She let out a small breath.
"…they'll destroy that place."
"They already did," I said.
She smiled faintly.
I felt it against my shoulder.
"Cin will jump into the water without thinking," she said.
"He already planned it."
"Percy will complain."
"He's already complaining."
"And you?" she asked.
I glanced down slightly.
"You'll make it difficult," I said.
She frowned a little.
"…how?"
"You won't sit still."
A small pause.
"…maybe," she admitted quietly.
Of course.
"You're not overdoing it," I said.
She didn't answer this time.
Instead—
"…what if I do?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Then I stop you."
"How?"
I didn't hesitate.
"However I want."
She went quiet.
Then—
"…that sounds like a threat."
"It is."
A small pause.
Then she whispered—
"…what if I still don't listen?"
I leaned slightly closer.
"Then I make sure you do."
She didn't reply.
But she didn't move away either.
For a moment—
everything else faded.
Just her.
Then—
"WHY ARE THEY SO QUIET?"
Cin's voice cut through everything.
Jay straightened instantly.
Too fast.
I caught her arm lightly.
"Slow," I said.
"I am," she replied quickly.
Cin squinted at us.
"Suspicious," he said. "Very suspicious."
"Focus on your life," Percy told him.
"I am," Cin replied. "Their life is my entertainment."
"Get your own," Aries said.
"I have," Cin said proudly. "It's them."
Blaster laughed loudly.
Jay shook her head slightly.
Then suddenly—
her expression changed.
A spark.
"…let's play something," she said.
Everyone paused.
"Dangerous words," Drew muttered.
"What?" Calix asked.
She looked around.
Then smiled a little.
"Truth and Dare."
Silence.
Then—
"Oh, this is bad," Percy said immediately.
"I'm in," Blaster added.
"Of course you are," Aries muttered.
Cin stood up instantly.
"I START," he announced.
"No one asked you," Percy replied.
"Everyone wants me," Cin said confidently.
"No," Felix said.
"Yes," Cin nodded to himself.
Jay looked at me.
"…you're playing too."
"I'm not," I said.
"You are," she replied.
I looked at her.
She held my gaze.
"…fine," I said.
Big mistake.
Because Cin grinned like he just won everything.
"Oh this is going to be fun," he said.
And I already knew—
This was not going to end quietly.
The living room didn't stay normal for long.
Within minutes—everything shifted.
Chairs dragged.
Cushions thrown on the floor.
Blaster almost tripped over the table.
And somehow—
they all settled into a circle.
Jay sat beside Aries.
I sat on her other side.
Percy dropped down next to me, already annoyed.
"This is stupid," he said.
"You're still here," Aries replied.
Cin clapped once, way too excited.
"Truth and Dare begins now."
"No one gave you authority," Percy said.
"I took it," Cin replied proudly.
Jay laughed.
Too easily.
Aries looked at her instantly.
"Not too much," he said quietly.
"I'm fine," she replied.
"She's not," I added.
She turned to me. "…I am."
"Lower your voice," I said calmly.
"Lower your energy."
She rolled her eyes.
But she did it.
Cin pointed at us dramatically.
"See? Married behavior again."
"Cin," I said.
He shut up.
For two seconds.
"Okay first turn—me," he said again.
"No," Percy said.
"Yes," Blaster supported.
"Democracy is broken," Percy muttered.
Cin spun an empty bottle anyway.
It rolled slowly in the center.
Everyone watched.
It stopped.
On Jay.
"OH—" Cin almost jumped.
"No," Aries said immediately.
"Yes," Cin replied.
Jay looked at the bottle.
Then at him.
"…fine."
"Truth or dare?" Cin grinned.
"Truth," she said.
"Boring," Percy muttered.
Cin leaned forward.
"Do you love Keifer more than us?"
Silence.
"Idiot," Aries said.
"That's not allowed," I added.
"It is," Cin argued.
Jay looked down for a second.
Then back up.
"…yes."
The room went quiet.
Blaster reacted first. "Wow."
Percy scoffed. "Obviously."
Felix smirked. "Confirmed."
Cin froze.
"…rude."
Jay laughed again.
This time—
it hit.
I saw it immediately.
That slight pause.
Her hand tightening slightly.
Aries noticed too.
"Enough," he said sharply.
She shook her head.
"I'm fine—"
"No," I cut in.
My hand moved to her wrist.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop her from brushing it off.
"Slow," I said.
She went quiet.
Cin looked between us.
"…should we stop?"
"No," Jay said quickly.
I looked at her.
She held my gaze.
Stubborn.
"…continue," I said after a second.
Percy leaned back.
"Of course we are continuing."
Aries shook his head slightly.
But didn't argue more.
The bottle spun again.
And this time—
it didn't feel like a game anymore.