Chapter 21 – The Night Without Snorlax
Night at camp finally settled.
For everyone else.
Not for JJ.
She lay inside the tent, staring at the ceiling, arms crossed, turning from one side to another for what felt like the hundredth time.
"This is so stupid…" she muttered.
It wasn't the missing snacks.
It wasn't the blankets.
It wasn't even Freya's attitude.
It was Snorlax.
Her comfort. Her habit. Her stupid, soft, always-there thing that made nights easier.
And now—
it wasn't there.
JJ sighed loudly and sat up.
Outside, the camp was quiet.
Everyone asleep.
Even Percy—for once—not making noise.
JJ rubbed her face. "I'm actually losing sleep over a plush toy… wow."
A voice from the entrance:
"Correction."
She froze.
Keifer leaned casually against the tent flap, arms crossed, clearly awake.
"You're losing sleep because someone took something that matters to you."
JJ narrowed her eyes. "You just appear everywhere now?"
Keifer shrugged. "You weren't sleeping."
JJ flopped back down dramatically. "Obviously."
He stepped inside.
Sat down beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
That annoying perfect distance.
"You could've just said it bothered you," he said.
JJ turned her head toward him. "And give Freya the satisfaction? No thanks."
Keifer smirked slightly. "You're stubborn."
JJ rolled her eyes. "And you're still here."
A pause.
Then—
"Wifey," he said casually.
JJ sat up instantly. "Say that again and I will actually kick you."
Keifer leaned back slightly, amused. "You won't."
"I will."
"If you do," he replied calmly, "then how exactly am I supposed to babies ?"
JJ grabbed a pillow and hit him. "GAGO. Shut up."
He caught the pillow mid-air.
"Profanity," he said.
JJ immediately covered her mouth. "Don't even think about it."
He didn't move.
Just looked at her.
Close.
Too close.
Then his pressed his lips on her, kiss wasn't harsh, it was soft, comforting in a way, and much deep.
They finally broke it, breathless.
Then JJ muttered, softer this time:
"…you're annoying."
Keifer replied just as quietly, "You didn't sleep."
JJ looked away.
Silence stretched.
Then, almost reluctantly, she said:
"…I just hate sleeping alone."
That was it.
That one line.
No attitude.
No sarcasm.
Just honest.
Keifer didn't tease this time.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't push.
He simply shifted slightly closer.
Not asking.
Just being there.
JJ didn't move away.
A few seconds passed.
Then she leaned—just a little—against him.
Like it wasn't a big deal.
Like it didn't matter.
But it did.
Keifer exhaled quietly.
"…better?"
JJ nodded slightly.
"Don't get used to this," she mumbled.
He almost smiled.
---
The Night Softens
The camp stayed quiet.
The chaos paused.
JJ's breathing slowly evened out.
Her grip on his sleeve tightened unconsciously.
Keifer glanced down at her.
This version of her—
not loud, not fighting, not teasing—
just tired—
was rare.
He adjusted slightly so she was more comfortable.
"Sleep," he murmured.
JJ didn't respond.
She was already halfway there.
And for once—
she didn't wake up.
---
Morning Disaster
Morning came.
And with it—
noise.
"WHY IS THE PRESIDENT NOT IN HIS TENT—"
Percy stopped mid-sentence.
Because—
there.
Inside JJ's tent.
JJ.
Asleep.
And Keifer.
Also asleep.
Very clearly in the same tent.
Very clearly too close.
Silence.
Then—
Percy inhaled.
Deep.
Dramatic.
"ARIES."
Aries looked.
Paused.
Closed his eyes.
"…I'm going to kill him."
Cin peeked in. "Oh this is GOLD."
Felix whispered, "We're witnessing history."
Rory: "No, we're witnessing a funeral. Keifer's."
Denzel: "Should we wake them?"
Percy: "NO. We observe."
Aries: "We do NOT observe."
Too late.
JJ stirred slightly.
Opened her eyes.
Blink.
Saw Keifer.
Paused.
Then sat up instantly.
"…what."
Keifer opened his eyes slower.
Saw the entire audience.
And didn't even flinch.
"Morning," he said.
Silence.
Then—
explosion.
Percy: "BABY SISTAH WHAT IS THIS DEVELOPMENT?!"
JJ grabbed the nearest thing and threw it. "SHUT UP."
Aries: "OUT."
Keifer stood up calmly. "Relax."
Aries: "RELAX?!"
Cin was laughing. Felix was dying. Rory was recording mentally for life.
JJ buried her face for a second. "I hate all of you."
Keifer, completely unfazed, added:
"She couldn't sleep."
Percy gasped. "SO YOU—"
JJ: "PERCY. ONE MORE WORD."
He shut up.
Immediately.
---
Revenge Planning Begins
A few minutes later, chaos turned into strategy.
Because priorities.
Cin leaned forward. "We need revenge."
Felix nodded. "Immediate revenge."
Rory: "Creative revenge."
Percy: "ICONIC revenge."
Aries crossed his arms. "No one touches her things and walks away."
Keifer looked at JJ. "What's the plan?"
JJ's eyes sharpened slightly.
The calm version again.
"Their bath time," she said.
Everyone leaned in.
JJ continued:
"When Section A is in the washrooms… we hit."
Denzel blinked. "Hit how?"
Cin grinned slowly. "I like where this is going."
JJ smirked faintly.
"Red liquid. Water tank."
Silence.
Then—
Felix: "OH THIS IS EVIL."
Rory: "I LOVE IT."
Percy: "WE START A LEGEND."
Keifer raised an eyebrow slightly. "And the story?"
JJ's smile turned dangerous.
"We spread a rumor."
Cin finished it instantly:
"Cursed water."
Felix added dramatically:
"Demon of the jungle."
Rory whispered, "No one uses that bathroom again."
Percy stood up like a general. "OPERATION BARACUDDA RETURNS."
JJ pointed at him. "Don't call it that."
Percy: "Too late."
Aries sighed. "…this is going to be a disaster."
Keifer looked at JJ again.
Not worried.
Not stopping her.
Just watching.
Because this?
This chaos?
This fire?
This was her.
And somehow—
he was already part of it.
---
And somewhere far from the camp…
someone unseen was still watching.
The boy who disappeared.