Author's POV
By the time they returned to the base, everyone was exhausted.
But somehow, nobody wanted the day to end yet.
Percy suggested a movie.
Denial immediately agreed.
Within minutes, the common room had transformed.
The lights were dimmed.
The curtains were closed.
A huge screen illuminated the room while blankets and cushions were scattered across the sofas.
Everyone settled wherever they could.
Jay sat beside Keifer.
At first, she was actually watching the movie.
She laughed at a few scenes.
Made one sarcastic comment about the main character.
Even argued with Aries about what was going to happen next.
But slowly—
her voice became quieter.
Her movements became slower.
Her head began leaning against Keifer's shoulder.
Keifer noticed.
He glanced down.
"Sleepy?"
Jay shook her head.
"No."
He smiled slightly.
"Of course."
She tried concentrating on the movie again.
Five minutes later—
her eyes closed.
She had fallen asleep.
Keifer didn't move.
Not even slightly.
He lowered the volume of his voice when he spoke to the others.
"Keep it down."
Percy looked over and immediately understood.
He smiled.
"She's asleep?"
Keifer nodded.
Nobody teased him.
For once.
The movie continued.
One by one, everyone became quieter.
Some people eventually left for their rooms.
Others fell asleep on the opposite sofa.
But Keifer remained exactly where he was.
Jay had shifted in her sleep.
Without waking, she slowly curled toward him, her body turning sideways until she was comfortably tucked against his chest.
Her head rested beneath his chin.
One arm was folded between them, loosely holding onto the fabric of his shirt.
Her knees were drawn slightly toward herself beneath the blanket.
Keifer carefully adjusted the blanket around her.
Then his arm settled around her shoulders, keeping her comfortably supported.
His other hand rested gently over the blanket near her arm.
He didn't squeeze.
Didn't move her.
He simply stayed there.
Jay's breathing was slow now.
Steady.
Completely different from the restless nights she'd had before.
Keifer looked down at her.
A few strands of hair had fallen across her face.
He carefully moved them aside.
She didn't wake.
For a moment, he simply watched her sleep.
She looked younger when she slept.
Not because she was weak.
Because all the things she normally carried—every responsibility, every worry, every fear—were finally quiet.
Keifer leaned back against the sofa.
The movie continued playing across the room.
He barely watched it anymore.
His attention remained on Jay.
She shifted slightly in her sleep.
Her fingers tightened around his shirt for a moment.
Keifer immediately looked down.
"Still here," he whispered quietly.
Jay didn't answer.
She was completely asleep.
He smiled faintly.
The room grew quieter as the movie reached its ending.
Everyone else had eventually fallen asleep or disappeared to their rooms.
But Keifer stayed awake.
He didn't want to move her.
He didn't want to wake her.
So he simply remained there, holding her comfortably against him beneath the blanket.
Hours passed.
The screen eventually went dark.
The room became almost completely silent.
Jay continued sleeping peacefully against his chest.
And Keifer—
still didn't sleep.
He simply stayed there beside her.
Making sure she was comfortable.
Making sure the blanket stayed over her.
Making sure that when she eventually opened her eyes—
she wouldn't wake up alone.
For tonight, that was enough.
Author's POV
By the time they returned to the base, everyone was exhausted.
But somehow, nobody wanted the day to end yet.
Percy suggested a movie.
Denial immediately agreed.
Within minutes, the common room had transformed.
The lights were dimmed.
The curtains were closed.
A huge screen illuminated the room while blankets and cushions were scattered across the sofas.
Everyone settled wherever they could.
Jay sat beside Keifer.
At first, she was actually watching the movie.
She laughed at a few scenes.
Made one sarcastic comment about the main character.
Even argued with Aries about what was going to happen next.
But slowly—
her voice became quieter.
Her movements became slower.
Her head began leaning against Keifer's shoulder.
Keifer noticed.
He glanced down.
"Sleepy?"
Jay shook her head.
"No."
He smiled slightly.
"Of course."
She tried concentrating on the movie again.
Five minutes later—
her eyes closed.
She had fallen asleep.
Keifer didn't move.
Not even slightly.
He lowered the volume of his voice when he spoke to the others.
"Keep it down."
Percy looked over and immediately understood.
He smiled.
"She's asleep?"
Keifer nodded.
Nobody teased him.
For once.
The movie continued.
One by one, everyone became quieter.
Some people eventually left for their rooms.
Others fell asleep on the opposite sofa.
But Keifer remained exactly where he was.
Jay had shifted in her sleep.
Without waking, she slowly curled toward him, her body turning sideways until she was comfortably tucked against his chest.
Her head rested beneath his chin.
One arm was folded between them, loosely holding onto the fabric of his shirt.
Her knees were drawn slightly toward herself beneath the blanket.
Keifer carefully adjusted the blanket around her.
Then his arm settled around her shoulders, keeping her comfortably supported.
His other hand rested gently over the blanket near her arm.
He didn't squeeze.
Didn't move her.
He simply stayed there.
Jay's breathing was slow now.
Steady.
Completely different from the restless nights she'd had before.
Keifer looked down at her.
A few strands of hair had fallen across her face.
He carefully moved them aside.
She didn't wake.
For a moment, he simply watched her sleep.
She looked younger when she slept.
Not because she was weak.
Because all the things she normally carried—every responsibility, every worry, every fear—were finally quiet.
Keifer leaned back against the sofa.
The movie continued playing across the room.
He barely watched it anymore.
His attention remained on Jay.
She shifted slightly in her sleep.
Her fingers tightened around his shirt for a moment.
Keifer immediately looked down.
"Still here," he whispered quietly.
Jay didn't answer.
She was completely asleep.
He smiled faintly.
The room grew quieter as the movie reached its ending.
Everyone else had eventually fallen asleep or disappeared to their rooms.
But Keifer stayed awake.
He didn't want to move her.
He didn't want to wake her.
So he simply remained there, holding her comfortably against him beneath the blanket.
Hours passed.
The screen eventually went dark.
The room became almost completely silent.
Jay continued sleeping peacefully against his chest.
And Keifer—
still didn't sleep.
He simply stayed there beside her.
Making sure she was comfortable.
Making sure the blanket stayed over her.
Making sure that when she eventually opened her eyes—
she wouldn't wake up alone.
For tonight, that was enough