Jay's pov
Morning felt different.
Not quiet.
Not calm.
But like something was ending.
Everyone was packing, dragging bags, shouting from one room to another, asking where their chargers were, blaming each other for missing hoodies, and somehow no one knew whose stuff was whose anymore. Felix was literally sitting on his suitcase trying to close it while David stood there judging him silently, and Ci.n had already opened his bag three times because he "forgot something important" which turned out to be snacks every single time.
"I am not leaving anything behind," he said proudly.
"You are leaving your brain," Rakki replied.
"It's portable."
I was folding my clothes slowly, not in a hurry like others. I don't know why, but I didn't feel like going yet. It wasn't even about the trip anymore. It was just… this place. These people. Him.
"Jay," Ci.n suddenly dropped beside me, "you're too quiet again."
"I'm packing."
"You're thinking."
"I can do both."
"No, you can't."
I smiled slightly. "Why are you so invested?"
"Because if you leave, I will be bored."
"You have everyone."
"I want you."
That made me pause for a second.
Not in a weird way.
Just…
Real.
"I'll still be there," I said.
"Not like this," he replied.
Before I could answer, Felix screamed from outside, "WHO TOOK MY BLACK T-SHIRT?"
"YOU STOLE IT FROM ME," Drew shouted back.
"IT WAS BORROWED."
"FOR THREE DAYS?"
I shook my head. "This is insane."
"Best chaos," Ci.n said, grinning.
Keifer's pov
I knew she was going to leave.
I knew it from the moment everyone started packing.
And I didn't like it.
I stood at the door for a second, watching her. She was sitting on the bed, folding clothes slowly, while Ci.n kept talking next to her. She wasn't fully there. I could tell.
Good.
That means she doesn't want to go either.
I walked in.
Ci.n looked at me.
Then at her.
Then back at me.
"…I'm leaving," he said dramatically.
"No one asked you to stay," I replied.
He stood up anyway. "Take care of her."
"I already do."
He rolled his eyes and left.
I closed the door.
She looked up.
"You scared him away."
"He scares easily."
"He doesn't."
"He does around me."
Silence for a second.
"You're leaving," I said.
She nodded slightly.
"…Everyone is."
I walked closer.
"Stay."
That made her look at me properly.
"Keifer—"
"Stay."
"It's not that simple."
"It is."
"No, it's not," she said, standing up now, "I can't just decide like that."
"Why not?"
"Because I have a home. I have people. I have—"
"I'm not asking you to leave all that," I said, cutting her off, "I'm asking you to stay a little longer."
Silence.
She looked at me.
Thinking.
"…Why?"
That question.
I stepped closer.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
"Because I'm not done with you yet."
Her breath hitched slightly.
"That's not a reason."
"It is for me."
She didn't reply.
So I did something else.
I stepped behind her.
Placed my hands gently on her shoulders.
She stiffened slightly.
"Relax," I said quietly.
"I am relaxed."
"No, you're not."
I started lightly pressing her shoulders, slow, controlled, just enough to ease the tension. She didn't stop me. After a moment, I felt her posture change slightly, less stiff, more… comfortable.
"You're tired," I said.
"A little."
"Stay."
She exhaled slowly. I kissed her for a time.
"I don't know what to say to Aries."
"I'll talk to him."
"No, you won't," she said immediately, turning slightly, "I will."
"Then say it."
She looked at me.
"…You're making this difficult."
"I know."
"But I don't want to leave either," she admitted quietly.
That was it.
"Then don't," I said.
Jay's pov
Why is he like this?
Why does he make everything sound so simple?
I turned away slightly, trying to think straight.
"Aries won't agree easily."
"He will."
"You're too confident again."
"And you still listen to me."
I didn't deny it.
"Fine," I said finally, "if he says no, I'm leaving."
"And if he says yes?"
I looked at him.
"…Then I stay."
Finding Aries was not hard. He was near the hall, talking to Ella while helping Denzel move some bags.
"Aries," I said.
He looked at me immediately.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," I said, "I need to ask something."
He looked at Keifer behind me.
Then back at me.
"Say it."
I took a breath.
"…Can I stay?"
Silence.
Ella looked between us.
Denzel stopped moving.
Aries didn't answer immediately.
"Why?" he asked.
"I want to."
"That's not enough."
"I feel safe here."
That changed his expression slightly.
"With him?" he asked.
I nodded.
Silence again.
Then—
"I have to leave anyway," he said slowly, "Kuya Angelo and Tita Gema are going to Singapore. I'll be with them."
I blinked.
"…So?"
"So," he sighed, "you can stay."
Felix from behind: "APPROVAL GRANTED—"
"Felix, shut up," David said.
Aries looked at Keifer.
"Take care of her."
"I already do," Keifer replied.
Aries nodded slightly.
"…I know."
That was new.
After that, everything became even more chaotic. Half the group left, half stayed longer, everyone hugging, shouting, exchanging last jokes, making plans that would probably never happen, and still acting like nothing was ending.
Ci.n hugged me tightly. "You better not forget me."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
Felix: "If you don't come back, I will come here."
David: "Please don't."
Rakki smiled. "Take care."
Calix nodded.
Freya hugged me softly.
Edrix waved.
And just like that—
They left.
The house felt quieter.
But not empty.
Because I stayed.
I looked at Keifer.
"…Happy?"
He smirked slightly.
"Very."
Then we kissed very deeply.
End of Chapter 24
A hot, spicy, and intense chapter will come if you comment. The target is 30 comments. The views on my book are 7million, I don't know what is the problem in this. Please comment, okayy.
And ya it was my birthday on 19th, all the snap friends know and fiv3 among you have seen my face.
Byeee.
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