Sunlight and Stares
Jay woke to warmth.
Not the blanket kind — the him kind. Keifer's arms around her waist, his breath warm against her neck, their legs tangled beneath the white sheets like they'd never meant to untangle.
Her heart jumped a little.
They'd done it.
Not just the dare. Not just the kiss.
All of it.
And she didn't regret a thing.
Keifer stirred behind her, nose nuzzling her shoulder like his subconscious already knew she was awake.
"Morning," he mumbled, voice wrecked with sleep.
Jay bit her lip. "Morning."
He smiled against her skin. "Still here?"
"Unfortunately."
He chuckled, then gently pulled her closer. "I don't want to get up."
She turned to face him. Hair messy. Mascara smudged. But he looked at her like she was made of light.
"Then don't," she whispered.
He leaned in and kissed her — slow, sleepy, and soft.
They stayed in bed longer than they were supposed to.
Only when Yuki spammed Jay's phone with "BREAKFAST. NOW. BEFORE I COME IN AND DRAG YOU OUT NAKED" did they finally pull themselves out of bed.
Jay wore Keifer's hoodie.
Keifer didn't stop smiling.
Hotel Breakfast Lounge
Section E was already there.
Yuki spotted them first — hoodie, messed-up hair, Jay trying to look normal while Keifer looked like he'd won the universe.
"Oh," Yuki said, way too loudly, "so that's why you were late."
Jay kicked her under the table.
Luka leaned over. "Hey Keif, you limping or just walking funny?"
Ezra raised a glass. "To not-so-innocent Truth or Dare."
Rei smirked. "I give them a week before they start skipping class."
Jay turned red.
Keifer?
He was calm as hell. Sipping his coffee. One hand on her knee under the table like it was his right.
"Keep talking," Jay said sweetly. "I'll release all your secrets."
Keifer leaned in. Whispered, "Let them talk. I'm still the one you woke up with."
She turned redder.
The teasing didn't stop.
But neither did Keifer's little touches.
A kiss on her cheek when she passed him sugar.
A hand on her waist when they stood together at the buffet.
A whisper in her ear that made her shiver: "You look better in my clothes than I do."
By the time breakfast ended, Jay was pretty sure Section E had made a mental group chat titled "Keifer and Jay: Unholy Era."
She didn't even care.
Because when Keifer looked at her?
Like she was the only girl in the room?
She felt like she was finally where she belonged.
End of Chapter