Jay's POV
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was warmth.
The second thing I noticed was:
Keifer was still here.
My brain immediately stopped functioning. 😐✨
Morning sunlight poured softly through the giant windows while the pool outside reflected blue light across the ceiling.
And somehow…
everything felt peaceful again.
Too peaceful honestly.
Then I realized I was covered with:
a blanket
and Keifer's jacket
Wait.
His jacket?
I slowly looked toward the couch beside me.
And there he was.
Still asleep.
One arm folded awkwardly.
Head tilted slightly.
Neck looking absolutely destroyed. 😭
I stared at him for a second before muttering quietly:
"This boy is going to wake up needing spinal surgery."
Unfortunately…
the universe enjoys embarrassing me.
Because one second later Keifer opened one eye lazily.
"…You insult people very early in the morning."
I nearly jumped.
"YOU WERE AWAKE?!"
"Barely."
His voice sounded rough from sleep.
Which honestly should've been illegal.
I quickly looked away before my face betrayed me emotionally. 😐✨
Then Keifer stretched slightly before wincing.
"…Ow."
I snorted immediately.
"See?"
"Your skeleton is filing complaints."
"You're laughing after ruining my sleep."
"I didn't ask you to sleep like folded furniture."
Keifer stared at me tiredly for a second.
Then smirked slightly.
"Worth it."
Excuse me???
Illegal response honestly. 😭🔥
I stood up immediately.
"Coffee."
"Running away already?"
"I'm choosing survival."
"Smart."
Dangerous conversation.
Very dangerous.
A few minutes later I returned with coffee.
Keifer had loosened his tie slightly now and somehow looked even more unfairly attractive.
Disrespectful honestly.
I handed him a mug carefully.
Our fingers brushed slightly.
And suddenly my heartbeat became annoying again.
Great.
Fantastic.
Wonderful. 😐✨
Keifer looked at me quietly.
Then softly:
"You look better today."
My chest betrayed me instantly.
Rude.
Very rude.
So naturally I answered:
"Maybe near-death experiences suit me."
His expression flattened immediately.
"We're never joking about that sentence again."
Oops.
Right.
Forgot he still cared too much. 😭
The atmosphere softened slightly after that.
For the first time in days…
I almost felt normal again.
Then suddenly Keifer spoke:
"Are you coming back to school?"
I sat beside him holding my coffee carefully.
"Depends."
"On?"
"Do I still have homework?"
Keifer laughed quietly.
Actually laughed.
And wow.
That sound did dangerous things to my emotional stability. 😐✨
Then he looked at me again.
Softer this time.
"Everyone misses you."
I pointed immediately.
"Everyone except Felix."
"He probably enjoys the silence."
"Felix almost fought somebody for sitting in your seat yesterday."
I blinked slowly. "…What?"
"Ci-N had to physically drag him away."
Okay.
That was both concerning and emotional somehow. 😭
I looked down into my coffee quietly.
Then finally admitted softly:
"…I just don't want anyone getting dragged into this."
Keifer leaned back watching me carefully.
"You don't get to decide that alone."
I looked up slowly.
His eyes stayed on mine.
Calm.
Certain.
Then he added quietly:
"If people care about you, they deserve the choice to stay."
Okay.
Yeah.
That line almost killed me emotionally. 😐✨
I looked away first before my brain completely collapsed.
Coward behavior.
Necessary though.
Then suddenly Keifer spoke again.
"Also."
I glanced back. "What?"
His eyes dropped briefly toward the oversized shirt and jacket I was wearing.
Then slowly back to my face.
And this idiot actually smirked.
"…You stole my jacket."
My brain blue-screened immediately.
"It was cold."
"You looked comfortable."
"I WAS HALF ASLEEP."
"So you admit you liked wearing it?"
I stared at him in horror.
Because somehow this conversation felt more dangerous than being kidnapped. 😭🔥
Then he leaned slightly closer.
Just enough to ruin my emotional balance completely.
"Careful, Jay."
"You're starting to look attached."
EXCUSE ME???
I opened my mouth ready to defend myself dramatically—
Then suddenly:
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The security alarm exploded through the house loudly.
Everything changed instantly.
The softness disappeared.
I stood up immediately while Keifer's expression hardened beside me.
I moved toward the security monitor quickly and checked the cameras.
One figure.
Black hoodie.
Cap low over face.
Moving carefully near the poolside path.
Not random.
Searching.
Keifer noticed my expression change immediately.
No more joking.
No more flirting.
Just focus.
I opened the drawer beneath the monitor and pulled out the handgun smoothly.
Silence.
Then slowly Keifer blinked.
"…Why do you own a gun?"
I checked the magazine calmly.
"Because life hates me."
Fair answer honestly. 😐✨
The figure outside moved closer toward the garage area.
Keifer stepped beside me carefully.
"Stay behind me."
I looked at him in disbelief.
"…That's adorable."
"What?"
"But statistically I'm more dangerous than you."
"Jay."
"I'm serious."
He looked like he wanted to argue.
Then probably remembered I fought fifteen men this week.
Valid honestly. 😌
The alarm suddenly stopped.
Silence filled the house.
Then—
movement outside.
Keifer grabbed my wrist immediately before I could move forward.
And because life enjoys embarrassing me…
I stumbled directly against his chest.
Too close.
WAY too close. 😐✨
One hand still holding my wrist.
The other against my side to steady me.
Then his voice lowered near my ear.
"Focus."
Okay.
This was genuinely becoming unfair now.
This is not the time to notice his eyes, Jay.
Professionalism please. 😭
Another shadow moved near the pool lights.
I raised the gun slightly while stepping toward the glass doors carefully.
Then finally—
the figure removed the hood.
And immediately groaned.
"…Baby G?"
Gabriel Valdez grinned immediately.
"Wow."
"No hug?"
"Heartbreaking."
Keifer blinked slowly beside me.
"…You know him?"
Unfortunately.
Very unfortunately.
Gabriel walked inside casually like he owned the property.
Rain dripping from his jacket while he looked around dramatically.
Then suddenly pointed at Keifer.
"WAIT."
"THIS is Keifer?"
Oh no.
Absolutely not.
I rubbed my forehead immediately.
"Please leave."
Too late.
Gabriel already looked delighted.
"The school president?"
"You described him shorter."
"BABY G."
"And less attractive."
"BABY G."
Keifer suddenly looked way too amused.
Traitor behavior honestly. 😐✨
Gabriel narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Keifer.
Then dramatically grabbed my shoulder.
"Jayjay."
"He looks like the type to say:
'I'll allow it.'"
I immediately pointed aggressively.
"HE DOES."
Keifer looked offended.
"I have never said that."
"Not verbally," Gabriel answered calmly.
"But your face definitely has."
Honestly accurate. 😭🔥
A few minutes later Gabriel had somehow invaded my kitchen.
Again.
The audacity.
He opened my fridge dramatically before gasping.
"JAY."
"Why do you live like a divorced businessman?"
I looked offended immediately.
"Excuse me?"
Gabriel held up energy drinks and instant noodles dramatically.
"THIS is not food."
"This is emotional collapse."
Keifer laughed quietly beside me.
Actual laugh.
Traitor. 😐✨
I pointed aggressively.
"There's fruit in there."
Gabriel opened another section.
Silence.
Then:
"…One strawberry."
"IT COUNTS."
Gabriel suddenly pointed between me and Keifer suspiciously.
"…Wait."
"You two flirt like divorced rich people."
Complete silence.
My soul temporarily left my body. 😐✨
Keifer coughed trying not to laugh.
TRAITOR.
I threw a pillow directly at Gabriel's face.
"GET OUT."
He caught it dramatically.
"VIOLENCE."
"She's in love your honor."
"BABY G."
Then slowly…
Gabriel's smile faded.
Back serious.
He looked toward the security monitors quietly.
Then toward me.
"You can't stay here anymore."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
I crossed my arms.
"I'm fine here."
Gabriel stared at me blankly.
"Jay."
"Someone already found this place."
Annoying statement.
Because he was right.
Then he added quietly:
"Move to the other house."
Keifer frowned immediately beside me.
"…Other house?"
Oops.
Right.
Forgot normal people didn't casually own backup houses. 😭✨
I looked away casually.
"…I have another house."
Keifer stared at me slowly.
"You have ANOTHER secret house?"
"Well when you say it like that it sounds suspicious."
"Because it IS suspicious."
"It's not secret."
"You literally never mentioned it."
"Well it never naturally came up in conversation."
"Hey Keifer by the way I own multiple emotional support properties."
Gabriel nearly collapsed laughing.
"EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROPERTIES IS INSANE." 😭🔥
I pointed at him aggressively.
"You own a racing boat named Baby Shark."
"That was ART."
"That was embarrassment."
"It was iconic."
Keifer rubbed his forehead laughing quietly again.
Honestly fair.
Then Gabriel looked directly at me again.
Serious now.
"I'm not joking, Jayjay."
"This place isn't safe anymore."
Silence settled heavily across the room.
Then Keifer quietly asked:
"…How dangerous is this actually?"
Gabriel and I exchanged one brief look.
Too quick.
Too understanding.
And unfortunately…
Keifer noticed that too. ☀️