(Keifer's POV)
She fell asleep quietly.
Not instantly—
but slowly.
Her breathing finally steady.
Less tight.
Less forced.
I stayed there for a while.
Just watching.
Making sure she was actually resting this time.
Not pretending.
Only when I was sure—
I stood up.
Careful not to wake her.
Then walked out.
Back toward the beach.
The noise was still there.
Laughter.
Voices.
Normal.
The moment I stepped closer—
Aries noticed.
Then Percy.
Both of them looked at me immediately.
"Where's Jay?" Percy asked.
Aries was already standing.
"Is she okay?"
Straight to the point.
I exhaled once.
"She's in the room."
A pause.
"She's fine."
They didn't relax.
Of course they didn't.
"What happened?" Aries asked.
I ran a hand through my hair.
"She opened one stitch."
Silence.
Percy closed his eyes briefly.
"…of course she did."
Aries let out a slow breath.
"That girl—"
"She was running around like nothing happened," I added.
Not angry.
Just…
tired.
"Typical," Percy muttered.
"She never sits still," Aries said.
"Even when she should," I replied.
They both looked at me again.
Concern still there.
"She's resting now?" Aries asked.
"Yes."
"I fixed it."
"It's not bad."
Percy nodded slightly.
"But it hurt?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Yes."
That was enough.
Aries looked away for a second.
"…she doesn't say anything," he said quietly.
"She never does," Percy added.
"Even when she should," I repeated.
A pause.
Then Percy scoffed lightly.
"Stubborn."
"Very," Aries agreed.
I almost smiled.
"Annoying," Percy added.
"Too much," I said.
"But still—"
He stopped.
Didn't finish.
Didn't need to.
We all knew.
Aries folded his arms slightly.
"Take care of her."
Not a request.
A statement.
I nodded once.
"I am."
And I meant it.
I shouldn't be here.
I knew that.
I still came anyway.
Sleeping was boring.
And I was fine.
Mostly.
"…just sitting," I muttered to myself.
I slipped out quietly.
Slow steps.
Careful.
No noise.
The beach was still alive.
Lights dim now.
Voices louder.
They were already drinking.
Of course they were.
Idiots.
I didn't go near them.
Instead—
I found a spot.
A little away.
Behind a low rock.
Hidden enough.
Perfect.
I sat down slowly.
"…okay, this works."
Phone out.
Scrolling.
Peace.
Finally.
For a while—
no one noticed.
Good.
I stayed there.
Quiet.
Watching them from distance.
Freya laughing loudly.
Cin doing something stupid.
Aries shaking his head.
And Keifer—
I didn't look at him.
Didn't need to.
I knew he was there.
"…don't start," I whispered under my breath.
Back to scrolling.
Time passed.
Not much.
Just enough.
Then—
"SEE?" Percy's voice.
Loud.
Confident.
"I told you I'm not drunk."
Honey sighed.
"You are drunk."
"I am NOT."
"You are."
"I can literally see properly."
"No, you can't."
"I CAN."
"Then prove it."
A pause.
Then—
Percy turned.
Pointed.
Straight at me.
"LOOK."
Oh no.
"My sistahhh is sitting right there."
"…Percy—"
"I CAN SEE HER."
"No, you can't."
"I CAN—LOOK—JAY!"
Every.
Single.
Head.
Turned.
Straight.
At.
Me.
"…shit."
I froze.
For one second—
just one—
I considered pretending I wasn't there.
Didn't work.
"OH MY GOD—" Freya shouted.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?"
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING!" Honey added.
"Jay!" Aries stood immediately.
Cin started laughing.
"I KNEW IT—SHE'S LIKE A GHOST."
"I WAS HIDING," I snapped.
"Clearly," Ella said dryly.
"WHY are you here?" Percy asked proudly.
"BECAUSE I CAN SEE YOU."
"You are drunk."
"I am NOT."
"You just exposed me!"
"YOU WERE ALREADY THERE."
"IDIOT—"
"HEY—WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE—"
"YOU WATCH YOUR FACE—"
Chaos.
Immediate.
Loud.
I pushed myself up.
Bad idea.
Pain pulled slightly again.
"…damn it," I muttered low.
No one noticed.
Good.
I walked toward them anyway.
Like nothing happened.
Like I wasn't supposed to be in bed.
Like I wasn't just caught.
"Go back," Aries said immediately.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"I AM—"
"Stop saying that."
That voice.
I didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
Keifer.
Of course.
I rolled my eyes slightly.
"Don't start."
"I already did."
A pause.
Then I finally looked at him.
And yeah—
he wasn't amused.
At all.
Not angry.
Worse.
Concerned.
Too much.
"I was just sitting," I said.
"Hidden," Cin added.
"Shut up."
"Creepy."
"I will throw you."
"Worth it."
Laughter again.
But he didn't laugh.
He stepped closer.
Not fast.
Not dramatic.
Just… there.
"You're supposed to be resting."
"I am resting."
"You're outside."
"I'm sitting."
"You're arguing."
"That's normal."
A pause.
Then Percy whispered loudly—
"I think I'm still right."
"You're not," everyone said together.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
But then—
his gaze dropped.
Just for a second.
To my side.
And that was enough.
He saw it.
Of course he did.
"…sit," he said quietly.
Not loud.
But not something I could ignore either.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then rolled my eyes—
"…fine."
But I sat.
And he didn't move away.
Of course he didn't.