Jay POV
Keifer was still scolding me while checking the burned stove carefully.
"Jay, what if the fire got bigger?" he said seriously. "You could've gotten hurt."
I rolled my eyes while squeezing water from the cloth. "Nothing happened."
"Because I came on time."
"There you go again acting like some superhero."
He turned toward me with a frown. "I'm serious."
I kept wiping the water I splashed earlier near the sink, avoiding his eyes. The whole kitchen smelled like burnt oil and ruined snacks.
Keifer sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You need to stop doing dangerous things while being distracted."
"I wasn't distracted."
"You were literally staring into space."
I muttered under my breath, "Maybe because someone keeps saying weird things like sunshine compliments…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously before turning the stove off completely. Then he poked the frozen snacks with a spatula and winced.
"Yeah… these are gone."
"My snacks…" I whispered dramatically.
"Burned beyond recognition."
I stared at the dead snacks sadly before looking at him again. "Then what are we supposed to eat?"
Keifer glanced at me, but the moment our eyes met I quickly made puppy eyes.
"I'm hungry, Keifer…"
He stared at me for a few seconds in silence.
Then he groaned softly. "That face should honestly be illegal."
I tried not to smile. "So?"
"The stove's not safe anymore." He pointed at the mess. "And your frozen snacks died bravely in battle."
I gasped. "Stop disrespecting them."
"But," he added while lifting the bowl from the sink, "the frozen fish already defrosted."
My eyes brightened instantly. "Really?"
"Yeah." He smirked a little. "We'll cook outside. Bonfire."
—
The night air felt cold against my skin as we stepped outside. Keifer prepared the bonfire while I carried plates and cutlery carefully this time because apparently I can't be trusted near kitchens anymore.
Soon warm orange flames danced in front of us, crackling softly in the quiet backyard.
Keifer sat down on a stone slab beside the fire before patting the empty spot near him.
"Come here."
I looked around dramatically. "Well where else would I sit?"
"Exactly."
I sat beside him with a small huff while he adjusted the fish over the fire.
The flames reflected against his face, making him look unfairly handsome for absolutely no reason.
Well I don't enjoy sitting near him okay? Don't misunderstand things. I'm still angry at him. And I'm definitely not kissing him even if he begs for it.
I have pride okay.
—
The fish actually turned out surprisingly good.
Which was annoying because now Keifer would never shut up about his "amazing survival cooking skills."
"Told you," he said proudly while leaning back slightly. "You'd literally die without me."
I scoffed while eating another bite. "Please. I survived before you."
"Barely."
I kicked his foot lightly under the fire's glow. "Shut up."
He laughed quietly, the sound soft and warm in the cold night air.
For a while we stayed silent, only the crackling fire filling the space between us. The orange flames flickered against his face while smoke curled into the dark sky.
Then his smile slowly faded.
I noticed the way his eyes dropped to the fire.
"Jay…" his voice became quieter this time. "You really scared me today."
I blinked.
"When I smelled the smoke and saw you near that stove…" He swallowed hard. "Do you know what my first thought was?"
I stayed silent.
"That something happened to you." He let out a weak laugh. "And for one second I genuinely felt like I couldn't breathe."
The teasing tone was gone now.
Completely gone.
Keifer looked at me, his eyes softer than before. "I know I joke around a lot but… I don't think you understand what you've become to me."
My chest tightened a little.
"You're everywhere now, Jay." He smiled sadly. "In every part of my day. Every thought. Every stupid little thing." His gaze lowered for a second before returning to mine. "And it terrifies me sometimes… because if I ever lose you—"
"Keifer—"
"I mean it." His voice cracked slightly. "I don't think I'd survive it."
The fire crackled loudly between us.
I stared at him speechless because he looked so honest right now. So painfully vulnerable that it hurt.
Then suddenly while I was trying to stand up and grab the empty plates, my foot slipped slightly against the sand.
"Jay—"
Before I could react properly, Keifer grabbed my wrist instinctively.
But the movement pulled both of us off balance.
I fell forward right onto him.
A small gasp escaped me as Keifer landed against the ground with me half on top of him, his arm immediately wrapping around my waist protectively so I wouldn't hit the stones near the bonfire.
For a second neither of us moved.
The firelight danced across his face.
His hand was warm against my waist.
And I suddenly became very aware of how close we were.
Keifer looked up at me quietly, his expression softer than I had ever seen before.
"…Still angry at me?" he whispered.
I tried to answer but nothing came out properly.
His thumb slowly brushed against my side.
"Can I ask for something?"
I swallowed nervously. "What?"
His eyes dropped to my lips for a second before meeting my eyes again.
"A kiss."
The way he said it wasn't teasing this time.
It sounded needy.
Careful.
Like he was asking for something precious.
And maybe I should've refused.
Maybe I should've remembered all my pride and anger and dignity.
But then he looked at me like that again.
Like I was something important.
Something loved.
And I melted.
Slowly, I leaned down toward him.
Keifer's breath caught softly the moment our lips touched.
The kiss wasn't rushed.
It wasn't desperate.
It felt deeper than that.
Like months of yearning quietly unfolding between us.
Like every unspoken apology, every fear, every "please stay" hidden inside one kiss.
Warm.
Gentle.
Painfully loving.
His hand moved to my cheek carefully, like he was scared I'd disappear if he held too tightly.
And when I kissed him back properly, I felt the small shaky breath he let out against my lips.
As if this kiss meant everything to him.
As if it was a promise.
That no matter how much we fought, broke, healed, or hurt each other…
We would still find our way back.
—
When we finally pulled away, neither of us spoke for a few seconds.
Keifer was staring at me so softly it actually made my heart panic.
Then suddenly—
He smiled.
Not his teasing smirk.
Not his annoying cocky grin.
A real smile.
Warm.
Genuine.
The kind that reached his eyes.
And for some reason that affected me more than the kiss itself.
My face immediately burned.
I quickly looked away, pretending to fix my sleeve while avoiding eye contact at all costs.
"Oh my God," Keifer whispered dramatically. "You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You literally look like the bonfire."
"I hate you."
He laughed quietly beside me. "No you don't."
I refused to answer because unfortunately he was becoming very correct lately and that was personally offensive to me.
Keifer stretched slightly before glancing at the fire. "You know… if you want, we can roast marshmallows."
My head snapped toward him instantly. "You have marshmallows?"
The smug look on his face already gave me the answer.
"You're unbelievable."
"I know." He stood up dusting his clothes lightly. "I'll bring them."
Then he paused and pointed at me suspiciously.
"And don't touch anything dangerous while I'm gone."
I gasped. "Wow. You kiss me and still don't trust me?"
"You almost burned the house today."
"Details."
He shook his head while laughing softly before walking back inside.
The moment he disappeared through the door, I hugged my knees a little closer and stared at the fire.
My lips still felt warm.
Stupid Keifer.
Stupid pretty smile.
And stupid heart for beating this fast over one kiss.
Actually no.
Not one kiss.
That kiss.
The kind that stays inside your chest long after it ends.
I touched my lips absentmindedly before groaning quietly into my hands.
Why did he have to look at me like I was the center of his world?
That should honestly be illegal.
A few moments later the back door opened again.
Keifer walked outside carrying marshmallows, skewers… and a wine bottle.
Immediately my eyes locked onto it.
Oh.
Oh no.
He noticed instantly.
"No."
"I didn't even say anything yet."
"You looked at the bottle like a villain discovering treasure."
I crossed my arms innocently. "I'm just observing."
"Mhm."
He sat back beside me, keeping the wine bottle very far away from my reach.
Rude.
Honestly rude.
But okay maybe slightly understandable.
Last time I got drunk apparently I became "Barakuda."
Which according to Keifer meant I threatened people, stole someone's shoe, and demanded a virgin sacrifice for a better life.
And unfortunately for him, he was the only virgin nearby.
So technically speaking, his fear was valid.
Still.
I wanted the wine.
Badly.
But if I directly asked for it, he'd hide it forever.
Then suddenly…
An evil little idea appeared in my head.
I looked at him sweetly. "Keifer?"
He narrowed his eyes immediately. "Why do you sound nice?"
"Can you bring the graham crackers from inside? And maybe chocolate too? For the s'mores?"
He stared suspiciously. "You're plotting something."
I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. "How could you think that about me?"
"Because I know you."
"…fair."
After another suspicious stare, he finally stood up. "If I come back and see chaos—"
"You wound me."
"Jay."
"Go get the chocolate."
He pointed at me threateningly before going back inside again.
The second the door closed—
I grabbed the wine bottle at lightning speed.
"Desperate times," I whispered.
I quickly opened it and took a long sip.
Then another.
And another.
Warmth immediately spread through my chest.
Oh yeah.
I definitely needed this.
Somewhere deep inside I could already feel Barakuda slowly waking up again.
Keifer Pov
The moment Jay asked sweetly for chocolate and graham crackers, I knew something was wrong.
Jay being sweet was dangerous.
Suspiciously dangerous.
Like "there's a bomb under your chair" dangerous.
I was already inside the kitchen opening cabinets when my brain suddenly connected the dots.
The wine bottle.
Silence.
Then horror.
"…oh no."
I slowly turned my head toward the backyard door like a soldier realizing the battlefield was already lost.
"She tricked me."
I dropped the chocolate packet dramatically onto the counter.
"No no no no—"
I could already imagine it.
Barakuda Jay.
The terrifying creature born after alcohol consumption.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Violent.
Last time she tried to fight a lamp because she claimed it "looked at her disrespectfully."
And then there was the virgin sacrifice incident.
My soul left my body remembering it.
"She's going to burn me alive," I whispered in fear.
I grabbed the marshmallows quickly.
"No way. I'm too young to die."
I froze mid-step.
"…wait."
An idea hit me.
"I can just tell her I'm not a virgin."
Silence.
Then immediate rejection.
"BAD IDEA."
Actually the worst idea.
If drunk Jay heard that, she wouldn't sacrifice me.
She'd cut me into pieces and feed me to wild animals while crying dramatically about betrayal.
I pointed at myself in panic. "Run outside faster, Keifer. Survival first. Explanations later."
I practically sprinted toward the backyard.
But the moment I stepped outside—
I stopped.
Completely.
Because Jay was sitting near the bonfire holding the wine bottle loosely in one hand while staring into the flames.
Cheeks flushed.
Hair slightly messy from the wind.
Eyes soft and unfocused already.
And God.
She looked beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
The kind of beautiful that makes a man willingly accept death.
Jay slowly turned toward me after hearing my footsteps.
Then she smiled lazily.
"…Hi, pretty boy."
Oh.
I was absolutely finished.
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Guys be ready for drunk jay. 😝
10 comments for next chapter 🎯
And tell me what you think about that what will jay do to keifer? Would she again become the barakuda and sacrifice him? Or is it going to be more fun?... drop your suggestions and ideas ❤️