Keifer's pov
Morning came faster than expected.
I didn't even realize when I fell asleep properly.
The bus slowed down a little and my eyes opened.
First thing I noticed—
Jay.
Still in my arms.
Still close.
Too close.
And I was not complaining.
Her head was resting near my shoulder.
Hair slightly messy.
Face calm.
For once—
She wasn't arguing, teasing or acting strong.
Just…
Soft.
I tightened my hold a little.
Not enough to wake her.
Just enough to feel that she's still there.
"Keifer…"
She murmured.
Half asleep.
"Hmm?" I replied quietly.
"Don't move…"
I smirked.
"Okay."
For few minutes—
I didn't move at all.
Just stayed like that.
Watching her.
Then suddenly—
"GOOD MORNING LOVEBIRDS—"
Felix.
I closed my eyes again.
I don't want to deal with him.
Jay woke up instantly.
"What the hell—"
Ci.n popped from behind.
"I saw everything."
"YOU DID NOT," Jay snapped.
"I did," he grinned.
"You were like this—" he hugged himself dramatically.
Jay pushed me lightly.
"Sit properly."
"No," I said.
Felix laughed.
"Keifer is not leaving you."
David from behind: "Obviously."
Jay rolled her eyes but didn't move away completely.
Good.
Chaos Begins Again
Everyone started waking up.
Curtains opening.
Voices everywhere.
Snacks wrappers.
Water bottles rolling.
Rakki came and sat beside Ci.n.
"You didn't even wait for me."
"I came early," he said proudly.
Calix and Mica already together.
Drew laughing for no reason.
Mayo eating something since morning.
Eman giving him more food.
Denzel just watching everyone like a tired parent.
Rory came near me.
"Good sleep?"
"Not really," I said.
He smirked slightly looking at Jay.
"Yeah, I can see."
Jay hit his arm.
"Shut up."
Edrix joined.
"Driver said we will reach by 10 but road condition is not good ahead."
That caught my attention.
"What do you mean?"
"There was a landslide on this route few days ago," Edrix said.
"Sometimes they block small sections."
Rory nodded.
"Yeah, if it happens we might get stuck."
I leaned back.
Thinking.
Jay looked at me.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," I said.
"For now."
After some time—
The bus stopped.
Everyone groaned.
"WHAT NOW—" Felix shouted.
Sir Alvin stood up.
"Stay calm. There's some blockage ahead. We might have to wait."
Ci.n: "NOOOO."
Jay sighed.
"This is going to take forever."
I stood up.
Looked outside.
Yeah.
Not good.
Road partially blocked.
Small rocks and mud.
Not huge—
But enough to stop the bus.
I turned to Rory and Edrix.
"You both saw this before?"
They nodded.
"Can it be cleared?"
"Yeah," Rory said, "if we move smaller rocks and check a safe path."
Edrix added, "But someone needs to guide properly. It's slippery."
I looked at them.
Then outside.
Then back at Jay.
"Stay here," I said.
She frowned.
"Where are you going?"
"Just checking."
"I'm coming."
"No."
"Yes."
"No, Jay."
She crossed her arms.
"I am not sitting here like a weak person."
I smirked.
"Fine. Stay behind me."
Outside – Real Action
Cold air hit immediately.
Students slowly got down.
Teachers trying to control.
Rory and Edrix already ahead.
Checking ground.
"Careful," Rory said.
"It's slippery."
Jay walked beside me.
Not scared.
Not hesitant.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I've done worse," she said.
I looked at her.
"…Of course you have."
She smirked.
Edrix crouched down.
Checking mud pattern.
"Water flowed from here," he said.
"So this side is unstable."
Rory pointed.
"We should move from left."
I nodded.
"Let's clear this path."
We started moving smaller rocks.
Others joined slowly.
Felix tried lifting one.
Failed.
"THIS IS HEAVY."
David: "Then don't lift."
Ci.n was just jumping around.
"Should I help?"
Rakki: "No. You will fall."
Jay actually helped.
Picking smaller stones.
Moving them.
I watched her for a second.
She's not pretending.
She actually can handle things.
"Don't stare," she said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Focus."
She laughed slightly.
Suddenly—
Jay slipped a little.
"Careful—"
I grabbed her instantly.
Pulling her towards me.
Her hand landed on my chest again.
We froze.
"Got you," I said.
"…I know," she replied softly.
For a second—
Everything slowed.
Then—
"ROMANTIC SCENE IN MUD," Felix shouted.
Jay pushed me.
"Shut up."
Work Done
After some time—
Path was cleared enough.
Bus driver checked.
"Good work," Sir Alvin said.
Everyone cheered.
Ci.n: "WE DID IT."
"You didn't do anything," Calix said.
"I gave emotional support."
Rakki: "You gave headache."
Everyone climbed back.
Tired.
Messy.
Cold.
Jay sat beside me again.
"See, I helped," she said.
"You almost fell."
"But I didn't."
"Because I was there."
She looked at me.
"…Yeah."
Silence.
But soft.
I pulled her closer again.
Without asking.
This time—
She didn't even pretend to resist.
She rested against me.
"Sleep?" I asked.
"Hmm."
She closed her eyes.
I wrapped my arm around her again.
Rory passed by and whispered—
"Good tracking partner."
Edrix smirked.
"Yeah, you handled well."
I nodded.
But my focus—
Was still her.
Jay's pov
I was tired.
But comfortable.
His arms around me again.
Warm.
Safe.
I don't know when—
But I smiled.
Maybe—
Because everything felt right again.
Not perfect.
But real.
I looked at him one last time.
Before closing my eyes.
"I trust you," I whispered.
He didn't reply.
But his hold tightened slightly.
And that was enough.
End of Chapter 20.
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