Jay's POV
A week passed.
The news came quickly after.
The university was officially closed until further notice.
No classes.
No campus.
No normal.
The world felt paused.
I was lying on my hospital bed, staring at the TV mounted on the wall. News anchors still talking about the explosion. Still using words like "tragic" and "investigation."
The room door opened.
I didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"Morning," Keifer said.
I looked over.
He looked better.
Rested. Cleaner. Less haunted.
Good.
"You look alive again," I said softly.
He smirked. "That's rude."
He walked over and sat beside me.
"Some of the boys are coming later," he said. "Yuri, Ci-n, probably everyone."
I nodded. "Okay."
We watched TV quietly for a while.
It felt… almost normal.
Then the nurse came in.
"Time to apply ointment to your back wound," she said cheerfully.
Right.
I had forgotten about that.
Keifer immediately stood up. "I'll help her turn."
Before I could protest, he carefully helped me roll slightly onto my side.
The nurse opened the small container of ointment.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen. "One second."
She answered briefly, then sighed.
"I have to step out for something urgent."
She placed the ointment in Keifer's hand.
"Apply this gently on her back. Don't press too hard."
My eyes widened.
"Wait— that's not necessary," I said quickly. "She can wait. Or Aunty Gemma will be here soon—"
The nurse paused, looked at Keifer, then at me.
"Who is he to you?"
Keifer didn't hesitate.
"My wife."
My brain froze.
The nurse smiled. "Good. Then apply the ointment properly."
And just like that, she left.
The door clicked shut.
Silence.
I slowly turned my head toward him.
"Wife?"
He shrugged slightly. "It worked."
I buried half my face in the pillow.
He pulled a chair closer to the bed.
"Are you ready?" he asked softly.
"Um… maybe we should wait for Aunty Gemma…"
"Don't worry," he said gently. "I'll be careful."
His voice wasn't teasing.
It was steady.
I swallowed.
"Okay…"
He carefully pulled the blanket down to my waist.
Then slowly lifted my shirt just enough to expose the bandaged area.
Cool air touched my skin.
I immediately pressed my face into the pillow.
Why is this so embarrassing?
It's just ointment.
It's medical.
Calm down.
I heard him open the container.
Felt his fingers lightly scoop some ointment.
Then—
His hand touched my back.
Soft.
Warm.
Gentle.
I froze.
He started spreading the ointment carefully over the wound.
Slow circles.
Not too much pressure.
Every movement deliberate.
He even blew lightly over the area to cool the sting.
That didn't help.
That made it worse.
My heart was racing.
Why is my heart racing?
It's just Keifer.
It's just ointment.
Why does it feel like electricity?
I gripped the pillow tighter.
Don't make a sound. Don't react weirdly.
He worked quietly.
Focused.
Careful.
After a few minutes, he pulled his hand away.
"I'm done," he said softly.
He waited a moment before gently rolling my shirt back down.
Then he helped me turn onto my back again.
I avoided his eyes.
My face felt hot.
Too hot.
"Jay… you okay?" he asked.
"Yes," I said quickly. "I'm fine."
I finally looked at him.
And—
Oh.
He was red.
Completely red.
Ears. Neck. Cheeks.
Like someone painted him.
I blinked.
"You okay?" I asked slowly.
"Yeah," he said too fast. "I'm good."
He stood up immediately.
Grabbed his jacket.
And walked toward the bathroom.
Using the jacket very strategically.
My eyes widened slightly.
Oh.
Oh.
I turned my face back to the ceiling.
Heat spreading across my cheeks again.
Why is he like this?
Why am I like this?
The bathroom door closed.
Water started running.
I stared at the ceiling.
And for the first time since the explosion—
I smiled.
End of Chapter 78.🌤️