Chapter flip. Curtains rise. Morning walks in like it owns the place.
The bathroom door creaked open.
Steam rolled out first, dramatic as a movie entrance.
Ci-N.
Half-drenched, hair dripping, towel slung lazily around his shoulders like he just walked out of a shampoo commercial and a crime scene at the same time. He was flexing his abs to literally no one (He didn't have abs).
"…why is it so quiet," he muttered.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Felix was already dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through his phone like a responsible citizen for once.
Edrix stood near the mirror, fixing his hair with monk-level focus.
"I don't trust this peace," Felix said.
"Peace never lasts here," Edrix replied.
Ci-N squinted toward the beds.
One was empty.
The other.
He froze.
Then slowly… slowly turned his head like a horror movie reveal.
"…oh," he said.
Felix followed his gaze.
Paused.
Then immediately slapped Edrix's arm.
"LOOK."
Edrix turned.
And just stood there.
Processing.
Because on the bed.
Keifer and Jayjay were out cold.
Gone.
Knocked out like the world had no rights over them.
And, too close.
Way too close.
At some point in the night, the invisible "don't touch me" treaty had collapsed.
Jayjay had shifted.
Keifer had shifted.
Now?
Her head was tucked near his shoulder.
His arm slightly bent like it didn't know where to go but stayed anyway.
Blanket tangled.
Legs barely inches apart.
Breathing synced in that quiet, accidental rhythm.
And yes, snoring.
Soft. But there.
Felix covered his mouth. "NO WAY. THEY LOOK LIKE HUSBAND AND WIFE."
Ci-N's eyes lit up like he just found treasure.
"This," he whispered, "is historical evidence."
Edrix nodded slowly. "National archive material."
Felix grabbed his phone.
Ci-N grabbed his hand.
"Flash off. Respect the art."
"Of course."
click.
click.
click.
CLICK.
Different angles.
Different zoom levels.
Felix crouched slightly. "Bro this looks like a K-drama poster."
Ci-N leaned in. "More like 'denial: the series'."
Edrix crossed his arms. "They're gonna deny this till 2050."
From the bed:
Jayjay shifted slightly, face scrunching.
Everyone froze.
Keifer mumbled something unintelligible.
Without waking, He moved just a little closer.
Like gravity had opinions.
Felix silently collapsed onto the floor, shaking.
"HE DID NOT-"
Ci-N had to physically hold himself back from laughing out loud.
"This is cinema," he whispered.
Edrix looked at them, then back at the sleeping duo.
"…do we wake them?"
Ci-N's grin grew slowly.
"No."
Felix looked up. "No?"
"No," Ci-N repeated, eyes sparkling with pure chaos. "We let them wake up like this."
Edrix blinked.
Then nodded.
"…evil."
"Efficient," Ci-N corrected.
Felix stood up, already backing away. "I want front row seats when they realize."
Ci-N threw the towel over his shoulder properly, stepping back like a director finishing a masterpiece.
"Positions, gentlemen."
They moved quietly.
Sat.
Waited.
Like predators.
Like the audience.
Like absolute menaces.
A few minutes later.
Jayjay stirred first.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…why is it warm," she mumbled.
Keifer, half-asleep: "…blanket…"
"This is not blanket."
Pause.
Her brain slowly loaded.
Her eyes opened.
Realisation hit like a truck.
She froze.
Didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
"…Keifer," she said slowly.
He groaned. "Five minutes…"
"Keifer."
"…what."
"…why am I this close to you."
Silence.
Then, his eyes opened.
Looked at her.
Looked at the distance.
Or lack of it.
Brain: ERROR 404
Jayjay jerked back instantly.
"WHAT-"
"YOU-"
"I DIDN'T-"
"YOU CAME-"
"NO YOU-"
From across the room, clapping.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Ci-N.
"Good morning," he said, smiling like a villain who just won.
Felix waved. "Sleep well?"
Edrix nodded. "Very… comfortable, I assume."
Jayjay grabbed a pillow and threw it.
Missed.
Keifer ran a hand through his hair, still processing.
"This is not what it looks like."
Ci-N tilted his head. "So it looks like nothing?"
Felix added, "Because it looked like something."
Jayjay pointed at all three of them. "You saw nothing."
"We saw everything," Edrix said calmly.
Keifer groaned. "I hate this room."
Ci-N stepped closer, hands behind his back.
"Oh no," he said softly. "This room loves you."
Jayjay buried her face in her hands.
Keifer looked at the ceiling like it personally betrayed him.
Felix whispered, "Day one, and we already have content."
Ci-N nodded.
"Today," he declared, "we push them further."
Jayjay: "I heard that."
Ci-N: "Good."
Welcome to morning chaos.
Population: unhinged
And Ci-N still. Didn't put his t-shirt on.