✦ CHAPTER — STAY, I'VE GOT YOU ✦
Jayjay's POV
I knew the moment I woke up.
That dull, aching pull low in my stomach—
familiar.
Uncomfortable.
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I curled slightly into myself.
Breathing out slowly.
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Not today…
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Everything already felt too much.
Him.
Us.
My thoughts.
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And now this.
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I still tried to get up.
Tried to act normal.
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But by the time I reached my room again—
I was already tired.
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A soft knock.
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My eyes closed for a second.
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"Jay."
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Him.
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"…come in."
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The door opened.
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He stepped in—
and stopped.
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His eyes moved over me.
Taking in everything I was trying to hide.
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"You don't look fine."
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"I am."
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Even I didn't believe that.
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He walked closer.
Slow.
Careful.
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"What's wrong?"
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"Nothing."
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A pause.
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Then the pain hit again.
Sharper.
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I flinched slightly.
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That was enough.
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His expression changed instantly.
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"…does it hurt?"
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His voice was softer now.
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I looked away.
"…it's nothing serious."
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He didn't argue.
Didn't push.
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He just… left.
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I blinked.
Confused.
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"…Keifer?"
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No answer.
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A few minutes passed.
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Then—
the door opened again.
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And I wasn't ready for what I saw.
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He stood there—
holding a bag.
A heating pad.
A drink carrier.
A box.
And—
flowers.💐
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My breath caught.
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"…you didn't."
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"I did."
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He walked in like it was normal.
Like this wasn't new for him.
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"You didn't have to—"
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"I know."
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He set everything down carefully.
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"Lie down."
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"…what?"
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"Lie down."
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Softer this time.
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And I listened.
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I lay back slowly.
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He plugged in the heating pad.
Waited.
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Then came back to me.
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"Turn."
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I shifted slightly.
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His arm slid behind me.
Supporting me.
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Then he pulled me closer 🤍✨️
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My breath caught.
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Until I was resting against him.
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On his chest.
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His arm wrapped around me.
Secure.
Gentle.
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"Here."
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He placed the warm heating pad softly against my stomach.
Holding it there himself.
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The warmth spread slowly.
Easing the pain just a little.
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I let out a quiet breath.
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"…better?"
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"…a little."
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His hand stayed steady.
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Like he didn't trust it to stay without him.
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"You got all this for me?"
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"…yes."
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"And the flowers?"
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A pause.
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"…you like them."
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That simple.
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My chest tightened.
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I moved closer without thinking.
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His arm tightened immediately.
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"…Jay?"
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"I feel awful."
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My voice came out smaller.
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His hand moved slightly.
Running gently through my hair.
Slow.
Careful.
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"I know."
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No fixing it.
No dismissing it.
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Just… being there.
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My fingers curled into his shirt.
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"…don't go."
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The words slipped out quietly.
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He stilled.
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Then his hand moved to the back of my head.
Holding me closer.
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"I'm not going anywhere."
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My chest softened.
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He reached for the drinks.
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"Drink."
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I looked.
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"…bubble tea?"
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"You like it."
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"And donuts?🍩"
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A small nod.
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"And flowers…"
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Silence.
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"…Keifer."
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He looked down at me.
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"…thank you."
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Something in his expression softened.
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"You don't have to thank me."
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"I want to."
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A pause.
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Then quietly—
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"You take care of me…"
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My breath caught.
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"So let me do it too."
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I moved closer.
Fully this time.
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Curling into him.
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And he let me.
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His chin rested lightly against my head.
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His fingers continued moving through my hair🫧🤍
Slow.
Soothing.
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Then—
very gently—
he leaned down.
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And pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
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My eyes closed instantly.
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The kind of kiss that didn't ask for anything.
Didn't take.
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Just… stayed.
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Keifer's POV
I had no idea what I was doing.
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None.
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I stood outside my mother's room earlier—
then remembered she wasn't home.
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So I called her.
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"…what do you do when someone's not feeling well."
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Silence.
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Then—
"…who?"
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I paused.
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"…Jayjay."
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A small pause on the other end.
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Then her voice softened.
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"Oh."
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That one word—
said more than anything else.
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"Does she look like she's in pain?"
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"Yes."
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"Then don't ask too many questions."
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I stayed quiet.
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"Just take care of her."
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"How?"
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A soft laugh.
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"Warmth. Something sweet. Stay with her."
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Stay.
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So I did.
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Now—
she was lying on me.
Holding onto me like she needed it.
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And I didn't want to move.
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Not even a little.
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My hand stayed steady against her.
Keeping the warmth there.
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My other hand moved slowly through her hair.
Again.
And again.
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She relaxed more each time.
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Her breathing softened.
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But her grip on my shirt didn't.
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If anything—
it tightened slightly.
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"…Jay."
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A soft hum against my chest.
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"I've got you."
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No response.
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But she moved closer.
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And I leaned down once more—
pressing another soft kiss to her forehead.
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Careful.
Like she was something fragile.
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Something I didn't want to hurt.
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And for the first time—
taking care of someone like this…
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didn't feel unfamiliar.
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It felt right. 🤍✨️🎀❤️