Jay's POV
The private condo felt less scary with Chantelle and Ciel around.
After the picture session earlier, we had lunch. I was quieter than usual. They were pretending to talk about random things, but I knew what they were doing.
Planning.
After we finished eating, Ciel cleared her throat. "Okay. Next plan."
My eyes narrowed. "Next plan?"
Before anyone could answer, the doorbell rang.
Chantelle stood up way too calmly.
And then—
A man walked in.
Doctor's coat. Calm face. Sharp eyes.
My stomach dropped.
"What is he doing here?" I asked immediately.
Ciel stepped closer to me. "Jay, relax."
"We haven't even started and you're already scared," Chantelle teased lightly.
"I am not scared," I snapped, even though my hands felt cold.
The doctor crossed his arms. "How am I supposed to treat her if she reacts like this?"
Ciel quickly stepped in. "Sir, please wait. Let us talk to her first."
Chantelle grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a corner.
"Jay," she said softly, "don't you want to get rid of your fears?"
"Yes," I admitted quietly.
"Don't you want Keifer and your family to stop worrying about your blood trauma?"
That hit.
"…Yes."
"Then let's go."
I hesitated. "But this doctor has a bad temper. And he's even the only boy here."
Chantelle rolled her eyes. "Stop complaining. He's a good doctor."
I sighed. "Fine."
We walked back to the couch.
The doctor adjusted his glasses slightly. "Well, Miss Jasper. Ready?"
I nodded.
He turned to Ciel. "Can we have some privacy?"
Chantelle answered before Ciel could. "Sure."
They walked to the dining hall.
And suddenly, it was just me and him.
He sat directly in front of me.
"So," he began calmly, "when did this start?"
I stared at my hands.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"It just… started one day."
He studied me carefully.
"Was there an event? An accident?"
I shook my head.
"I don't remember."
My chest tightened slightly.
My eyes started getting watery without permission.
Why am I crying?
He quietly handed me a tissue.
"It's okay," he said gently. "You don't have to force the memory."
I wiped my eyes quickly.
The session continued.
He asked more questions.
He guided my breathing.
Then he pulled out a tablet.
Videos.
My heart instantly reacted.
"No," I whispered.
"It's controlled exposure," he said calmly. "You're safe."
The first video started.
A small clip.
Blood.
My breathing changed immediately.
Sweat formed on my palms.
My legs felt weak.
"It's not real," he reminded me. "It's just a screen."
But my body didn't care.
My heart started pounding fast.
My hands trembled.
I looked away.
"Jay. Look at it for five seconds."
One.
Two.
Three—
"I can't."
"You can."
I forced myself.
Four.
Five.
I shut my eyes again, breathing heavily.
The session went on like that.
Questions.
Videos.
Breathing exercises.
Fear.
Sweat.
Trembling.
Four hours.
Four long hours.
When it finally ended, I felt drained.
Completely.
The doctor stood up. "I'll come back tomorrow."
Tomorrow.
I nodded. "Okay."
He left.
The moment the door closed, Ciel ran over and dramatically rested her head on my lap.
I blinked. "Why is everyone resting on my lap these days?"
Chantelle flopped beside me. "Wow. That doctor is handsome."
Ciel nodded. "Very true."
I stared at them. "Have you both lost your minds? We all have boyfriends."
"We're just saying," Ciel defended.
"Oh really?" I grabbed my phone. "Let me call your boyfriends and tell them."
Chantelle gasped. "Jay, you wouldn't dare."
I smirked. "Oh, I will."
I unlocked my phone.
Ciel's eyes widened. "What are you going to do?"
"Call Yuri."
Before I could press it, Ciel lunged at me and started tickling me.
"Stop! Stop!" I screamed, laughing uncontrollably.
My phone flew from my hand.
Chantelle grabbed it.
"Chan! Give me my phone!"
"No!"
We started wrestling on the couch like kids.
Laughing.
Teasing.
Tickling.
For a moment…
The fear.
The blood.
The therapy.
Everything disappeared.
And it was just us.
Best friends.
Alive.
Happy.