--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
The sound of laughter and clinking glasses grew louder as we neared the designated brunch spot on the private stretch of beach. My heart was hammering against my ribs—not from passion this time, but from pure, unadulterated terror.
Keifer, on the other hand, was the picture of calm. He carried me with an effortless grace, his chin held high, looking every bit like the protective hero. If I didn't know he was the one who had actually "injured" me, I would have fallen for the act myself.
"Remember," he murmured, his breath tickling my ear as we rounded the final cluster of palm trees. "You tripped. You stretched the muscle. You're in pain. Look miserable."
"I don't have to act to look miserable, Keifer! I can't feel my toes!" I hissed back.
As soon as we stepped onto the sand, all eyes snapped toward us. The group was gathered around a long, low table draped in white linen, surrounded by plush floor cushions and a spread of tropical fruits and champagne.
"Finally! We thought you two were—" Aries started, his voice booming, but he stopped dead when he saw Keifer's grim expression and the way I was draped in his arms.
"What happened?" Gorya asked, jumping up from her cushion, her eyes wide with concern.
Keifer let out a heavy, choreographed sigh. He didn't stop walking until he reached the most comfortable-looking pile of pillows, where he slowly and carefully lowered me down like I was made of fine china.
"She had a bit of an accident last night," Keifer explained, his voice smooth and full of "innocent" concern. He looked at Aries, his gaze steady. "She was running on the seashore from me, after you guys left last night—also you know how Jay gets when she's excited about her birthday. She was still in those heels."
"From you??" Aries asked
"Yeah, she applied cake on my face and then she ran away like she did nothing wrong." Keifer explained.
I put on my best pained expression, biting my lip and leaning back into the cushions. "I... I didn't know how my leg twisted," I added, my voice small. "I tripped and fell. My legs just... they haven't stopped aching since."
Aries narrowed his eyes, his protective brother instincts warring with his natural suspicion. "Last night? Why didn't you come back to the mansion for ice to apply on it?"
"I carried her straight to the cottage," Keifer answered instantly, not missing a beat. "I spent the last few hours massaging her legs with some oil I had in my bag. I thought she'd be able to walk by morning, but it looks like she really did a number on her tendons."
"It's true," I chimed in, trying to suppress the blush creeping up my neck. "We didn't even bring my heels back. I discarded them out there because I couldn't bear to look at them after I fell."
"They're still out there by the tide line," Keifer added, pointing vaguely toward the distant dunes.
Gorya rushed over, kneeling beside me. "Oh, poor Jay! On your birthday! Let me see, do you need a bandage?"
"No!" I blurted out, a little too quickly. "I mean... Keifer already worked on them. They just need rest. Lots and lots of rest."
I caught Keifer's eye for a split second. He was looking at me with those big, innocent puppy-dog eyes again, but underneath the facade, I saw the devilish smirk he was hiding from everyone else. He was enjoying this way too much.
"Well," Aries grumbled, finally relaxing his shoulders, though he still looked a bit grumpy about the delay. "At least you're okay. Sit tight, birthday girl. We'll bring the buffet to you."
As the group turned back to the food, Keifer leaned down, ostensibly to adjust the pillow behind my head.
"See?" he whispered, his lips ghosting over my ear. "Told you I was a tactician. Happy birthday, Jay. Enjoy the service—you definitely earned it."
_________
The morning turned into a lazy, sun-drenched afternoon. While the others eventually migrated toward a makeshift volleyball court on the sand, I remained anchored to my "recovery station." Keifer had set me up on a pair of plush, adjustable beach chairs under a wide, cream-colored umbrella so the sun's rays wouldn't hit my skin.
He had been the perfect "nurse," bringing me plates of fresh mango, croissants, and chilled juice before joining the game to keep up appearances. I tried to keep my eyes open, watching the silhouettes of our friends jumping and diving in the distance. The rhythmic thwack of the ball and the muffled cheers of Section E and the others felt like a distant soundtrack.
But the combination of the ocean breeze, the rhythmic crashing of the waves, and the sheer physical toll of last night—and the morning—was too much. My body felt heavy, humming with a deep, bone-deep ache that no amount of brunch could fix. I didn't even realize my head had lolled to the side until the world went silent and I slipped into a dreamless sleep.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I spiked the ball over the net, winning the set, but my eyes immediately darted back to the umbrella. Jay was still. Her head was resting against the back of the beach chair, her mouth parted just a fraction, and the book she'd been "reading" had slipped from her lap into the sand.
She was out cold.
A wave of protectiveness—and a bit of a smug pride—washed over me. I knew exactly why she couldn't keep her eyes open. I jogged over, ignoring the call for a rematch. Up close, she looked exhausted; there were faint shadows under her eyes that I was entirely responsible for.
I carefully leaned down, sliding one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her out of the beach chair. She let out a tiny, soft hum in her sleep but didn't wake, her head naturally falling into the hollow of my shoulder. I began the trek back toward the cottage, my pace steady so I wouldn't jostle her "injured" legs.
"Hey, Keifer! Where are you taking her?"
I stopped as Thyme jogged up, wiping sweat from his forehead with his jersey. He looked confused, glancing between my face and the sleeping girl in my arms.
"The cottage," I said, my voice low and controlled. "She's exhausted. She didn't sleep a lot last night because she was in so much pain from that fall. I'm going to let her sleep on a real bed where it's quiet."
Thyme's expression softened into one of pure pity. "Man, she really did a number on herself, huh? Poor Jay. On her actual birthday, too. Yeah, go on. We'll keep the noise down over here so she can rest."
"Thanks," I muttered, moving past him before he could ask any more questions.
Once I got her inside the cottage, the cool air-conditioning hit our skin. I laid her down on the unmade bed—the very same place where we'd spent our morning—and started to strip off my sandy shirt.
She stirred as I pulled the light duvet over her. Her eyes fluttered open, hazy and glazed with sleep. "Keifer? Are we... back?"
"Go back to sleep, Jay," I whispered, sitting on the edge of the mattress and brushing a stray hair away from her forehead. "Others think you're recovering from your 'fall.' You've got at least three hours before anyone expects you to show your face again."
She let out a long, shaky sigh, her hand reaching out to weakly grab my wrist. "Stay? Just for a little bit? I feel like my legs are still on fire."
I looked at the door, then back at her flushed, sleepy face. I reached into the closet and pulled out that amber bottle of oil again. "I told you I had a few more things to show you for your recovery. Since you're so sore, I'm going to give you a proper massage while you drift off. No 'reindeer' business this time, aaa...atleast for now. Just me taking care of you."
I gently removed her clothes, my eyes lingering on the marks I'd left on her skin before I began. I poured the warm, lavender-scented oil into my palms and started to work on her thighs and core, kneading out the tension with firm, expert strokes.
"You're actually being nice," she mumbled into the pillow, her voice trailing off as the massage worked its magic.
"It's your birthday," I reminded her softly. "But don't get used to the pampering. Once those legs are 'healed,' I'm going to make sure you're just as sore all over again. And then I'll pamper you again."
"I hate you," she whispered, though she was smiling as she drifted back into a much-needed, deep sleep.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I was focused, my hands slick with the scented oil as I worked the tension out of Jay-Jay's inner thighs. She was finally starting to relax, her breathing turning deep and even. The room was quiet, save for the hum of the AC and the soft sound of my palms sliding against her skin.
Then, a heavy, rhythmic thud echoed through the room.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Jay-Jay's eyes flew open, her body jolting under my hands. "Keifer!" she hissed in a panicked whisper, clutching the duvet to her chest.
"Stay still," I commanded softly, though my own heart had kicked up a gear. I quickly pulled the covers up to her chin and grabbed my discarded shirt, pulling it on just as the door handle rattled.
I cracked the door open just a few inches, blocking the view of the bed with my shoulder. Standing there, still sweaty from the game and looking far too observant, was Aries.
"Aries," Isaid, my voice perfectly level. "What's up?"
He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "I didn't realize you were gone until the game ended. When I asked Thyme where you went, he said you'd taken Jay back to the cottage because she was 'hurting'." He squinted, trying to peer past me. "How is she? Is she awake?"
"She's resting," I said, keeping my tone hushed. "The massage oil helped, but the walk back from the beach chair really drained her. She's pretty much out of it."
Aries sighed, his expression shifting from suspicion to genuine brotherly worry. "I feel bad. I shouldn't have let her run around in those heels last night. I should've known she'd trip."
I felt a twinge of guilt—very small, but there—at how easily he was buying the lie. "It wasn't your fault, Aries. You know how stubborn she is once she gets an idea in her head."
"Tell me about it," he grunted. He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Listen, since she's sleeping, do you need anything? More ice? Some actual medicine from the main house?"
"No, I've got it under control," I said, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I'm just going to keep working on the muscle tension until she wakes up. The oil seems to be doing the trick."
"Alright. Well, don't let her miss the bonfire later. It's her birthday finale," Aries said, patting my shoulder before turning to head back to the beach. "Keep me posted, Keifer."
I waited until his footsteps faded completely before closing the door and locking it with a heavy click. I leaned my forehead against the wood, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Is he gone?" Jay-Jay's muffled voice came from under the covers.
I turned around to see her peeking out, her eyes wide. "He's gone. He wants to know if you need ice."
"I need a new identity," she groaned, flopping back onto the pillows. "He's so worried about me, Keifer. I feel like a criminal."
I walked back to the bed, a slow smirk spreading across my face as I reached for the amber bottle. "You're not a criminal, Jay. You're just a very well-celebrated birthday girl. Now, where was I? Right... your 'injury'."
I pulled the covers back down, and despite her mock-glare, she let out a long, satisfied sigh as my hands returned to her skin.