Chapter 14 – Chaos, Peaks, and Sunset Happiness
Morning at the campgrounds didn't arrive gently. It barged in.
Birds were loud, wind was louder, and Percy Mariano was basically a natural disaster in human form.
"BABY SISTAH! WAKE UP BEFORE THE SUN STARTS TREKKING WITHOUT YOU!" he yelled, ripping open JJ's tent like it was a dramatic reveal in a bad action movie.
JJ didn't even open her eyes. A pillow flew straight into Percy's face.
"Let the sun die. I'm sleeping."
Aries stood behind him, arms crossed, looking like he had already accepted emotional defeat for the day. "Why is he always like this…"
Inside another tent, Section E was already forming chaos clusters—Felix arguing with Rory, David calmly tying his shoes like a retired man, Endrix checking supplies, Calix complaining about everything, and Denzel questioning why he ever agreed to friendship.
Keifer, of course, looked annoyingly fresh.
When JJ finally stepped out, hoodie oversized, hair slightly messy, expression half-dead, Keifer's lips curled.
"Morning, wifey."
JJ didn't even look at him. "Morning, problem."
Percy gasped loudly. "SHE CALLED HIM PROBLEM!! THAT'S LOVE LANGUAGE, BABY SISTAH!"
JJ pointed at him. "One more word and I'll leave you in the forest."
"Nature AND betrayal," Percy nodded proudly. "She's evolving."
Aries sighed. "I should've been an only child."
---
Trek Begins – Immediate Regret for Everyone Except JJ
The trekking path was no joke. Rocks, slopes, uneven trails, and a general vibe of "why are we doing this voluntarily?"
Calix slipped within five minutes. "I hate nature."
Rory followed right after. "Same."
Felix was already sweating. "This is cardio I did not sign up for."
David walked like he had emotionally left his body.
Endrix kept muttering, "Why am I here…"
Denzel just stared at the sky like he was asking for rescue.
JJ? Walking normally. Calm. Balanced. Like mountains were her childhood playground.
Keifer walked beside her. "You're enjoying this."
JJ shrugged. "Better than your annoying face in classrooms."
"You say that a lot."
"Because it's consistent truth."
From behind, Percy shouted, "BABY SISTAH, IF YOU FALL, I WILL CATCH YOU LIKE A HERO!"
Aries snapped, "If she falls, you'll drag all of us down."
Ella, walking calmly beside Aries, smiled softly. "Let him be. He's having fun."
Aries sighed, but his tone softened when he looked at her. "You're too calm for this chaos."
Ella smiled. "Someone has to balance you all."
JJ noticed that and smirked slightly. "Aries actually being normal… rare sighting."
Aries glared at her. "Don't start."
---
Mid Trek – JJ the Unexpected Food Disaster
They stopped midway for rest.
And that's when JJ opened her bag.
Silence.
Felix blinked. "Why do you have… five types of snacks?"
JJ shrugged. "Emergency survival."
Keifer leaned closer. "That's not survival. That's emotional attachment to food."
JJ immediately opened a packet. "Food is stability."
Denzel whispered, "I respect her lifestyle."
Rory asked, "Can I have some?"
"No."
"Cruel."
Keifer smirked. "She shares only when she feels like it."
JJ pointed at him mid-bite. "Correct."
Percy shouted, "THAT'S MY BABY SISTAH! DOMINATING FOOD AND LIFE!"
Aries groaned. "I'm surrounded by chaos."
---
Slipping Scene – Absolute Chaos Moment
The trail became steeper.
JJ stepped on a loose rock.
Her foot slipped.
Time slowed.
"JJ!" someone shouted.
Before she could fully react, Keifer grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him—but not fully stable footing yet.
JJ ended up half-falling forward, hands on his chest, stuck between balance and disaster.
Keifer, very casually, smirked. "Careful, wifey. You can't fall for me like this in public."
JJ glared instantly. "Gago, pull me up first before flirting!"
Behind them—
Percy screamed. "HE SAID WIFEY AGAIN!! I AM WITNESSING CRIME AND ROMANCE!"
Felix shouted, "THIS IS NOT NORMAL FRIEND BEHAVIOR!"
Rory added, "SHE'S LITERALLY HANGING ON HIM!"
Denzel just whispered, "This is cinema."
Keifer finally pulled her up properly, still holding her wrist for a second longer than needed.
Aries immediately stepped in, pulling JJ slightly back. His voice was firm. "Keifer. My sister is NOT anyone's wife. Focus."
Keifer raised his hands slightly. "Noted."
JJ rolled her eyes. "I can stand on my own, you know."
Aries: "Not when he's around."
Keifer: "That sounds like jealousy."
Aries: "That sounds like protection."
Percy: "THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOVE TRIANGLE WITHOUT CONSENT!"
Ella quietly laughed. "Percy… breathe."
---
Sunset Point – Everything Slows Down
By late afternoon, they finally reached Sunset Point.
And suddenly… even chaos got tired.
The sky stretched wide in gold, orange, and soft pink. Wind brushed through trees like it was whispering instead of shouting.
For once, no one argued.
JJ stood near the edge, hands in hoodie pockets, quiet.
Keifer stood beside her.
"Quiet JJ," he said.
She nodded slightly.
"It's nice here," she said softly.
And for a second… her usual sharpness wasn't there.
Just stillness.
Just something deeper.
Keifer noticed. Didn't interrupt.
Behind them, Percy was whispering loudly, "THIS IS A ROMANTIC SETTING. I SHOULD BE FILMING THIS."
Aries shoved him. "Stop ruining the moment."
---
JJ's Quiet Realization
JJ looked at the sunset.
And something inside her shifted.
Not sadness exactly.
Something heavier.
Something softer.
Because she knew.
Her time wasn't endless.
But here—
Right here—
With Percy shouting nonsense, Aries pretending to be strict, Ella smiling quietly, Cin laughing, Felix arguing, Rory complaining, Endrix observing, David silent but present, Denzel half-lost in thoughts…
And Keifer standing beside her like a problem she didn't want solved…
She felt something she didn't expect.
Gratitude.
For once, she wasn't alone in her chaos.
Her voice came softer than usual. "It's… good."
Keifer glanced at her. "What is?"
JJ looked away quickly. "Nothing."
But her grip on her sleeve tightened slightly.
---
Chaos Returns (Because It Always Does)
Percy suddenly ran forward. "BABY SISTAH, IF YOU EVER GET SAD, REMEMBER I AM YOUR FAVORITE PERSON!"
Aries grabbed his collar. "You are NOT helping."
Ella sighed, smiling. "He's impossible."
Felix slipped on a rock again. "I am dying here slowly."
Rory laughed. "Same."
Denzel: "I regret trekking."
Endrix: "I regret existing."
Keifer looked at JJ. "You okay?"
JJ smirked again, walls back up. "Always."
But her eyes stayed on the sunset a little longer than usual.
---
Walking Back – Strange Peace
On the way down, everything was noisy again.
But JJ walked slightly slower.
Keifer matched her pace.
No teasing this time.
Just walking.
Side by side.
Percy screamed somewhere behind, "BABY SISTAH, DON'T DIE WITHOUT ME!"
Aries: "I swear I'll throw him off this hill."
Ella: "Please don't."
And JJ… for once… didn't tell anyone to shut up.
Because even chaos…
felt like home now.