Jay's POV
I was half-asleep when I felt it.
Weight.
Not heavy—just warm. Familiar in the way safety always is before your mind catches up.
I stirred, breath hitching slightly as something brushed my neck.
Soft.
Unhurried.
A kiss.
I blinked my eyes open.
Keifer was curled around me inside the tent, eyes still closed, forehead resting against my hair. One arm wrapped securely around my waist, the other tucked beneath my head like he'd done it a hundred times already.
I let out a small, breathy chuckle before I could stop myself.
"Do you know you're doing that in your sleep?" I whispered.
He hummed, the sound low and lazy, lips grazing my skin again—gentler this time, like he was half-aware and entirely unbothered by it.
"Mmm," he murmured. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," I said softly. "I just… noticed."
His eyes opened slowly.
Dark. Warm. Still heavy with sleep.
"You okay?" he asked immediately, thumb brushing absent circles against my side.
I nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay."
He searched my face for a moment anyway—habit, not doubt—then leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to my forehead. Not claiming. Not urgent. Just… there.
"You scared me today," he said quietly.
I sighed, resting my hand against his chest. "I know."
Silence settled between us, comfortable and unforced.
After a moment, I added, "You didn't have to sneak in here."
He gave a small, sleepy smile. "I wanted to."
"Why?"
"Because you sleep better when you're not alone," he said simply.
That hit something soft in my chest.
I shifted closer, fitting against him like it was instinct instead of choice. His arm tightened immediately, protective without being possessive.
"You staying?" I asked.
"Not going anywhere," he murmured.
I tilted my head up, close enough to feel his breath, close enough that the quiet felt louder than words.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
I kissed him.
Slow.
Warm.
Nothing dramatic—just lips meeting in the dark, familiar and steady, like confirmation rather than discovery.
He kissed me back just as softly, forehead resting against mine when we pulled apart.
"Sleep," he whispered.
I smiled, tucking my face against his neck, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear.
"Goodnight," I murmured.
"Goodnight, Jay."
His breathing evened out quickly after that.
Mine followed.
Wrapped in warmth. In certainty. In arms that didn't let go.
And for the first time in a long while—
Sleep didn't feel like escape.
It felt like home.
The next morning I not only woke up to Keifer's warmth but,
I woke up to voices.
Not soft ones.
Not far ones.
Right outside my tent.
"…no, I swear I saw—" "BRO I'M TELLING YOU—" "Why is his bag THERE?"
My eyes flew open.
Oh no.
Oh no.
I turned my head slowly.
Keifer was still asleep.
Completely.
One arm thrown over my waist like he owned the concept of gravity. Face relaxed. Peaceful. Unbothered. The audacity.
The voices outside got louder.
"Open it." "DON'T open it." "I'm opening it."
I shoved his shoulder gently. "Keifer."
He grunted and pulled me closer.
"Keifer," I hissed.
He buried his face in my neck. "Five more minutes, wifey."
I froze.
"…Excuse me?" I whispered.
His eyes cracked open slightly. Lazy. Smug. Still half-asleep.
"What?" he mumbled. "You're warm."
"WHO is wifey," I asked, trying very hard not to laugh.
He smiled into my shoulder. "You.My Mrs. Watson.. "
I slapped his chest lightly. "WHAT MRS. WATSON!!! WAKE UP."
That did it.
He blinked properly this time.
Then—
Realization.
The voices outside. The timing. The situation.
He sat up fast. "Oh."
"Yeah," I said. "Oh."
Before either of us could react—
The tent flap was yanked open.
Cin.
Felix.
Rory.
Edrix.
Blaster.
Eman.
Josh.
Eren.
Calix.
Mayo.
Kit.
Denzel.
Yuri and David standing slightly behind like they already knew and were just here for confirmation.
All of them froze.
Dead.
Silent.
Me and Keifer sitting there.
Hair messy. Blankets shared. His arm still very much around me.
Time stopped.
Then—
"AAAAAAAA—" "KILIG—" "BRO I KNEW IT—" "THEY SLEPT TOGETHER—" "I CAN DIE HAPPY—""HUSBAND AND WIFEEE"
Cin fell to his knees dramatically. Felix screamed like he'd won the lottery. Blaster actually did a lap around the tent.
Keifer stood up, calm as ever, stretched like this was a normal morning. I followed, trying not to laugh at the absolute meltdown happening in front of us.
We stepped out of the tent together.
Hand in hand.
That was a mistake.
The screaming got worse.
"THE HAND HOLDING—" "STOP BEING CUTE—" "THIS IS ILLEGAL BEFORE 9AM—"
Yuri sighed. David rubbed his temples.
Keifer leaned down slightly and murmured, "Worth it."
I smiled. "I'll deal with you later...."
Breakfast was chaos.
They wouldn't let us sit together without commentary.
"PASS THE JAM TO THE COUPLE." "WHY IS HE FEEDING HER—" "DON'T LOOK AT EACH OTHER LIKE THAT—"
After breakfast, we were headed to the activities area.
Teachers shouted instructions. Clipboards waved. Energy was aggressively forced.
Then came the announcement.
"Section E will not be participating in the main activities today."
Cheers.
Actual cheers from some of the section...
I could see everyone face turning sad and disappointed written all over...
As everyone dispersed, I turned to them, eyes lighting up.
"So… do you wanna go to a waterfall or do you wish to sit and be sad and give them the satisfaction...?"
Silence.
Then—
"WAIT—THERE'S A WATERFALL??" "WHY ARE WE STILL HERE—" "LET'S GOOOO—"
Cin was already packing snacks. Felix was hyping it up like a life-changing event. Blaster yelled something about cliff jumps.
Keifer slipped an arm around my shoulders. "You sure you're up for it?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I want to."
He smiled. Soft. Proud. "Then we're going."
I led the way.
Not on the marked trail. Not the one everyone knew.
I veered left instead, past a cluster of rocks and down a narrow path half-hidden by overgrown vines.
"Uh—Jay?" Felix called. "This looks illegal."
"It's not," I said over my shoulder. "Just forgotten."
Keifer stayed close behind me, one hand hovering near my back like instinct, like if I slipped he'd already decided gravity didn't get a vote.
"I found it once with Kuya Angelo," I explained. "We were kids. Ran away from a lecture. Found this place by accident."
Cin's eyes lit up. "Secret spots are always elite."
The path opened suddenly.
And there it was.
A small waterfall tucked into stone like it had chosen to stay hidden. Water spilled gently over moss-dark rock into a clear pool below, light catching in the spray like it didn't care who saw it.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then Blaster broke the silence by ripping his shirt off. "I'M GOING IN."
Chaos followed.
Shirts abandoned. Shoes kicked off. Someone almost tripped. Someone definitely screamed when the water hit.
Laughter echoed off the rocks, loud and free and unfiltered.
I waded in with the others, the cold shocking at first before turning exhilarating. Water splashed everywhere. Cin tried to dunk Felix. Felix retaliated. Rory slipped and took Eman down with him.
I looked back.
Keifer was sitting on a rock near the edge, sleeves rolled up, forearms resting on his knees. Watching.
Not distant.
Just… content.
"You're not coming?" I called.
He shook his head slightly. "I'll stay here."
I narrowed my eyes.
Oh, absolutely not.
I waded back toward him, water dripping from my hair and sleeves. He raised an eyebrow when I stopped in front of him.
"Jay," he warned lightly.
I smiled sweetly. "Come on."
"No," he said, amused. "I'm good."
I leaned in closer. "Please?"
He held my gaze. Unmoved.
So I changed tactics.
I looked around to see if anyone was watching then
I kissed him.
Soft. Quick. Warm.
Pulled back just enough to see his expression shift.
"One more," he murmured.
I kissed his jaw.
Then the corner of his mouth.
Then his cheek.
Someone wolf-whistled behind me.
Keifer exhaled slowly, eyes closing for half a second like he was losing an internal argument.
"You're bribing me," he said.
"Yes."
"With kisses."
"Yes."
He sighed, standing up. "You're impossible."
I grinned. "You love it."
He stepped into the water with me, the splash earning cheers from everyone else.
The sun dipped lower by the time we finally dragged ourselves back—soaked, tired, laughing, full in the way only moments like this can make you.
Dawn was creeping in when we reached the tent area again.
That's when Edrix slowed.
His expression shifted.
"Jay," he said quietly, nodding toward the entrance.
I followed his gaze.
Three figures stood there.
Kuya Angelo.
Sir Alvin.
Aries.
Waiting.
Not angry.
Not smiling either.
Just… there.
Keifer looked at me instantly. "You want me to go?"
I shook my head. "No."
This was mine.
I squeezed his hand once, then turned toward the tent.
"I'll be right back."
I dropped my bag inside, wiped my hands on my jeans, and stepped out again.
Walking forward.
Chin lifted.
Heart steady.
Some things don't chase you anymore.
They wait.
And this time—
I didn't feel alone walking toward them...