Jay's pov
Morning was a mistake.
Not because of the place.
Not because of the weather.
But because—
I woke up and forgot where I was.
For one second, everything felt normal.
Then—
I moved slightly.
And realized—
I wasn't alone.
Keifer.
Still there.
Still holding me.
My brain froze.
"…Oh."
He was still asleep.
Or at least—
He looked like he was.
I tried to move.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Bad idea.
His arm tightened instantly.
"Where are you going?"
My heart jumped.
"You're awake?"
"Now I am."
"…Let go."
"No."
"Keifer."
"Five minutes."
"Not again."
I tried to pull away again.
He didn't let me.
Instead—
He pulled me closer.
"Stay," he said, voice still low and sleepy.
"…You're impossible."
"And you're still here."
I rolled my eyes.
But didn't move again.
Which was the real problem.
"People will wake up," I said.
"They already did."
"And?"
"And nothing."
Silence.
Then—
He opened his eyes properly.
And looked at me.
That look again.
That same look.
"Good morning," he said.
"…Morning."
I sat up quickly.
Too quickly.
He smirked.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"Yes."
"Shut up."
The Bathroom Chaos
"I'm going first," I said, grabbing my clothes.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"I was going."
"Now I am."
I walked into the bathroom and locked it.
Finally.
Safe.
I turned on the shower.
Cold water hit my hand.
I hissed. "Why is it so cold—"
"Because it's morning."
I froze.
"…Keifer."
"Yes?"
"You're outside, right?"
"Yes."
"…Don't come in."
"Why would I?"
"Just don't."
"Relax."
I sighed.
Started getting ready.
Trying not to think about anything.
Trying not to think about last night.
Trying not to think about—
Him.
I finished quickly.
Wrapped my towel securely.
Opened the door—
And stepped out.
Big mistake.
He was right there.
Hair slightly messy.
White shirt again.
Why is it always white.
Why.
He looked at me.
Paused.
Just for a second.
Then looked away.
Immediately.
"Your turn," I said quickly.
Walking past him.
Too fast.
"Jay."
I stopped.
"…What?"
"You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
"Go shower."
He laughed softly and walked inside.
I sat on the bed.
Heart racing.
Again.
Why is morning like this.
A few minutes later—
The bathroom door opened.
And I made the mistake of looking up.
Water still dripping from his hair.
Sleeves slightly rolled.
Shirt damp at the top.
I looked away instantly.
Nope.
Not doing this.
"You're staring again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
Almost Moment
He walked closer.
Too close.
Again.
"Cold?" he asked.
"…A little."
He stepped even closer.
Close enough that I could feel the cool air shift.
"Come here," he said.
"I can stand here."
"Come here."
I didn't move.
So he did.
He reached out—
And pulled me slightly closer.
"Keifer—"
"Relax."
"I am not relaxed."
"I can see that."
My breath hitched slightly.
Again.
"Someone will come," I said.
"Door is locked."
"…Still."
He leaned slightly closer.
Not touching.
But enough.
"Morning is dangerous," he said quietly.
"You are dangerous."
"I know."
For a second—
We just stood there.
Too close.
Too aware.
Then—
Knock.
We both froze.
"Jay?" Aries' voice.
My soul left my body.
"COMING," I shouted.
Keifer stepped back instantly.
Like nothing happened.
Like everything was normal.
I opened the door.
Aries stood there.
Suspicious.
Again.
"You took long."
"Getting ready."
He looked past me.
At Keifer.
Silence.
"Come down," he said. "Everyone's waiting."
"Okay."
He left.
I closed the door slowly.
Turned.
Looked at Keifer.
"That was your fault."
"My fault?"
"Yes."
"You didn't stop me."
"…I tried."
"You didn't try hard enough."
I grabbed my jacket.
And walked out.
Before something else happened.
"FINALLY," Felix shouted.
David: "You took forever."
Ci.n: "We are going for zip-lining!"
Rakki: "You are not falling."
Calix: "Stay calm."
Mica: laughing.
Drew: "This is going to be fun."
Mayo: "Is there food after?"
Eman: "Yes."
Denzel: "Focus."
"Zip-lining?" I asked.
"Yes," Keifer said. "Scared?"
"No."
"Liar."
"Not a liar."
Felix went first.
Screaming the entire way.
David shook his head.
Ci.n went next.
Excited like a kid.
Rakki shouting instructions.
My turn.
I stood there.
Looking down.
Okay maybe—
A little scared.
"Jay."
I turned.
Keifer.
Standing behind me.
"I've got you," he said.
"…You're not even coming with me."
"Still."
I smiled slightly.
"Okay."
I went.
Wind hitting my face.
Heart racing.
But—
I laughed.
When I reached the other side—
He was already there.
"How—"
"I'm faster."
"Show off."
Later—
Freya and Keifer were talking again.
Laughing.
Close.
I didn't like that.
Again.
I walked past them.
Didn't look.
Didn't stop.
A few seconds later—
Footsteps behind me.
"Jay."
I didn't stop.
He caught up.
"You're ignoring me."
"No."
"Yes."
I turned.
"You were busy."
"With a conversation."
"Looked more than that."
He stepped closer.
Lowered his voice.
"Jealous again?"
"…No."
"Liar."
I crossed my arms.
"Go back."
"No."
He leaned slightly closer.
"I choose where I stay."
"…And?"
"And I'm here."
That—
That fixed it.
Annoyingly.
Evening – Back to Room
We were exhausted.
Completely.
I dropped on the bed.
"I can't move."
"You will," he said.
"No."
"Yes."
I sat up slowly.
Looked at him.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Always."
Silence again.
That same tension.
Back.
I stood up.
Walked closer.
Slowly.
"Keifer."
"Hm?"
"…We keep stopping."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because we should."
I stepped closer.
Very close.
"…What if I don't want to stop?"
He froze.
Just for a second.
Then—
That look again.
"Jay…"
And that's where everything started slipping again.
End of Chapter 18
Ily.