JAYJAY (pov)
(Keifer's POV)
She passed by me again.
Fast.
Too fast.
Then—
She crashed into me.
Hard.
For a second—
everything stopped.
Her body folded instantly.
She dropped down—
onto her toes.
One hand gripping my shirt tightly.
The other—
pressed against her side.
Her breath hitched.
Sharp.
Uncontrolled.
"Jay—"
I was already down beside her.
My hand on her shoulder.
Steadying.
Her fingers tightened in my shirt.
Like she needed it.
Just for a second.
Her eyes shut briefly.
Pain.
Clear.
Not small.
"Look at me," I said low.
She shook her head slightly.
"…I'm fine."
She wasn't.
I could see it.
Her grip loosened slowly.
Too slowly.
Then she forced herself up.
Using me for balance—
just for a second.
Then she stepped back.
"I'm fine," she repeated.
This time sharper.
Like a warning.
Like she didn't want me to push.
I didn't move away.
Didn't stop watching either.
Her steps weren't as fast now.
But she still walked past.
Still left.
Like nothing happened.
Like she didn't just—
stop breathing for a second.
I stayed there.
Jaw tight.
Yeah.
This wasn't nothing anymore.
"I'm fine."
I said it again.
And walked away before he could say anything else.
Bad idea.
The moment I turned—
the pain came back.
Sharper.
Deeper.
"…shit," I muttered under my breath.
I didn't stop.
Didn't let it show.
Just kept walking.
Past the lights.
Past the noise.
Back into the mansion.
Quiet.
Empty.
Good.
I headed straight to the bathroom.
Locked the door.
Finally—
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
My hand moved to my side again.
Carefully.
Slowly.
"…don't be bad," I whispered.
I lifted my shirt slightly.
And froze.
One stitch.
Broken.
Not big.
But enough.
"…great," I said dryly.
Of course.
Of course this would happen now.
The pain wasn't unbearable—
but it wasn't small either.
A constant pull.
Sharp when I moved.
I closed my eyes for a second.
"Okay… okay."
I fixed it as much as I could.
Cleaned it.
Pressed it.
Not perfect.
But enough.
I dropped my hand slowly.
Stood there for a second.
Breathing.
Then I stepped out.
And immediately—
regretted it.
The movement pulled again.
Harder.
I grabbed the wall.
"…fine," I whispered.
Not convincing.
I walked out slowly this time.
Not running anymore.
Not jumping.
Just… walking.
Each step careful.
Measured.
By the time I reached the couch—
I dropped down.
Quietly.
Hand clutching my stomach again.
Breathing shallow.
"…stupid," I muttered.
But I didn't call anyone.
Didn't move.
Just sat there.
Waiting for it to settle.
Like I always did.
(Keifer's POV)
Something was wrong.
It had been wrong.
Since the beach.
Since before that.
Jay.
She wasn't outside anymore.
Not with them.
I looked around once.
Twice.
Nothing.
I knew where she went.
Inside.
But she was taking too long.
Too long for someone who said she was "fine."
My jaw tightened.
I didn't wait anymore.
I walked back.
Fast this time.
The hall was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then I saw her.
On the couch.
Bent slightly forward.
Her hand gripping her stomach—tight.
Her breathing—wrong.
Not steady.
Not normal.
And something in my chest dropped.
"Jay."
She flinched.
Looked up.
"…I said I'm fine."
No.
No, she wasn't.
I was already beside her.
Closer than before.
My hand moved to her shoulder—
firm.
steady.
"You're not," I said.
Low.
But not calm.
Not this time.
I was looking at her properly now.
Every small movement.
Every breath.
Her hand—still pressing hard.
Too hard.
"What happened?"
She exhaled slowly.
"…nothing."
I let out a sharp breath.
"That's not nothing," I said immediately.
No patience left now.
My hand shifted slightly—
closer to where she was holding.
"Jay, look at me."
She didn't.
Of course she didn't.
I leaned down slightly.
Closer.
"Look at me," I repeated.
Softer—
but more serious.
She finally did.
And that was enough.
She looked tired.
Not stubborn.
Not playful.
Just… tired.
And in pain.
My jaw clenched.
"…what did you do?"
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…just one stitch."
Everything in me went still.
"You opened it?"
No answer.
That was answer enough.
I ran a hand through my hair once—
frustrated.
worried.
"You said you were fine."
Not angry.
Just…
hurt.
She didn't respond.
Of course she didn't.
I exhaled slowly.
Then stepped even closer.
"Come here."
Not a suggestion.
Careful—but firm.
Like I wasn't giving her a choice this time.
My hand stayed on her shoulder.
Steady.
Not letting her brush it off again.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Quiet.
But it carried everything.
Concern.
Worry.
Something heavier.
And this time—
I wasn't stepping back.
(Keifer's POV)
She didn't argue this time.
That was the first sign.
I didn't wait.
My arm slid around her carefully.
Supporting her before she could push me away.
"Easy," I said quietly.
She tried to move on her own.
I didn't let her.
"Keifer—"
"Don't."
Not harsh.
Just… firm.
I lifted her.
Careful.
Slow.
Like she might break if I wasn't.
She didn't resist much.
Just rested against me.
Quieter than usual.
That worried me more.
I carried her to the room.
Set her down on the bed gently.
"Don't move," I said.
She rolled her eyes slightly.
"I'm not dying."
"I didn't say you were."
But my voice didn't match that.
I knelt down beside her.
"Show me."
A pause.
She hesitated.
Then slowly moved her hand away.
I lifted her shirt just enough to see.
Careful.
Precise.
One stitch.
Broken.
Not bad.
But enough to hurt.
My jaw tightened anyway.
"You opened it."
She didn't reply.
Of course.
I cleaned it properly this time.
More carefully than she had.
Fixed it.
Covered it.
Slow.
Gentle.
Making sure it wouldn't worsen.
"It's not deep," I said after a moment.
She exhaled softly.
"I told you."
"That's not the point."
I adjusted the bandage once more.
Then looked up at her.
"You're in pain."
She didn't deny it.
Didn't admit it either.
Just looked away.
I stood up slowly.
"Lie down."
She didn't move.
"Jay."
A pause.
Then she shifted—
carefully—
and lay back.
I adjusted the pillow behind her.
Pulled the blanket slightly over her.
Not too much.
Just enough.
"Rest."
She sighed softly.
"I'm fine."
I didn't respond this time.
Just sat beside her.
Close enough.
Watching.
Making sure.
And not moving anywhere.