Chapter 27: The Kiss Before Leaving
Jay's POV
Beeping.
That annoying, slow, steady hospital beeping was the first thing I heard.
My eyes felt heavy, like they were glued shut. But I forced them open.
White ceiling.
White curtains.
A dull ache in my stomach.
And Marcus.
Sitting beside my bed, arms crossed, jacket thrown over his lap, staring at me like I was some wounded bird.
Marcus: "Finally… Welcome back, Jay."
His voice sounded tired. He must've stayed.
Jay: "What… happened?"
Marcus: "You fainted. Nurse called an ambulance. Aries is talking to the doctor."
I nodded weakly. My throat hurt.
Footsteps echoed, and Aries practically burst into the room.
Aries: "JAY— don't ever— EVER— scare me like that again."
He hugged me gently, careful not to squeeze too tight.
Then the door slid open again.
And time stopped.
Keifer stood there.
Hair messy, hoodie half-zipped, eyes red like he hadn't slept.
He froze when he saw me awake.
Aries immediately stepped in front of me like a guard dog.
Aries: "No. You don't get to see her."
Keifer didn't even blink.
Keifer: "…Move."
One word. Low. Dangerous.
Aries: "YOU didn't trust her. YOU ignored her. YOU don't get this moment."
Marcus instinctively stood up beside Aries even though he looked terrified.
Keifer's jaw clenched.
He didn't look at Aries.
He didn't look at Marcus.
He only looked at me.
And that hurt more than anything.
Jay: "…It's fine, Aries."
(I wasn't ready. But I said it anyway.)
Aries stepped aside reluctantly, glaring holes into Keifer's skull.
Keifer walked closer, slowly, like each step was pain.
He stood right beside the bed but didn't reach for me.
His fists were clenched at his sides.
We didn't speak.
Not a word.
Silence stretched like a bruise.
He looked like he wanted to say a thousand things.
To apologize.
To scream.
To hold me.
But he didn't.
Finally— Aries snapped.
Aries: "Say something or GET OUT."
Keifer snapped back instantly.
Keifer: "I don't owe you anything."
Aries shoved him.
Keifer shoved back.
Marcus jumped between them.
Marcus: "STOP— both of you!"
Aries: "You broke her!"
Keifer: "AND YOU THINK I'M NOT BROKEN?!"
His voice cracked.
Just once.
And for the first time since I've known him…
I saw him fall apart.
But still— we didn't speak.
Keifer stepped away from the fight.
He turned to me again, breathing hard.
And then—
He leaned in.
He kissed me.
Desperate.
Shaking.
Short, but full of everything he wouldn't say.
A goodbye kiss.
When he pulled away… his voice was barely a whisper. Not even words— just a breath.
And then he turned.
He didn't look back once.
He walked out of the hospital room…
…out of my life…
…and he never came back.
Not that year.
Not the next.
Not ever.
For now?
This was the end of Jayfer.