--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
The trail wasn't headed for the highest peak this time. Instead, the squad was veering off toward a massive, flat-topped rock formation that jutted out over the deepest part of the cove. It wasn't the tallest point on the island, but it was the most daring.
The air was crisp and smelled of salt and damp earth. Around us, the rest of Section E was a moving sea of flashlights and hushed, sleepy chatter. Ci-N was leading the pack, seemingly unaffected by the few hours of sleep we'd managed to catch on the beach chairs.
As the incline grew steeper, I felt my lungs beginning to burn. My legs felt like lead, and my breath was coming in short, ragged hitches. I stumbled slightly over a tree root, my vision swimming for a second as I tried to keep up with Gorya and Ella.
"Whoa, easy there," a low, steady voice murmured right behind me.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I felt her hand slip in mine and I stopped instantly, letting the rest of the group pass us. Jay-Jay was pale, her chest heaving as she leaned over, hands on her knees. The girl was a fighter, but she was clearly at her limit.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice laced with concern as I stepped closer to block the chilly morning wind from hitting her directly.
"Yeah... just... give me a minute," she panted, looking up at me with tired, glassy eyes. "I think... my lungs stayed... back on the beach."
I didn't even give her a chance to argue. I turned my back to her and dropped into a slight crouch. "Hop on."
"Keifer! No, I can walk, really—everyone is watching—"
"Jay," I interrupted, looking back over my shoulder with a playful but firm glint. "We have a sunrise to catch, and at this rate, you're going to be watching it from the dirt. Get on. That's an order from your favorite person."
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
I bit my lip, feeling my face heat up for a reason that had nothing to do with the hike. But looking at his broad shoulders and the steady, inviting way he waited for me, I couldn't resist. I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and hooking my legs around his waist.
With a grunt of effort that sounded entirely too easy for him, Keifer stood up, adjusting his grip on my thighs. He started walking up the steep trail as if I were as light as a feather.
"Better?" he asked, his head tilted back slightly toward me.
"Much," I whispered, hiding my smile against the nape of his neck.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I felt her relax against me, her chin resting on my shoulder. It made the climb ten times better. I wasn't just walking up a hill anymore; I was carrying my whole world.
As we broke into the clearing at the top, we caught up to the rest of the group. Gorya, Ella, and Percy were standing together, huddling in their hoodies, when they saw us.
"Oh, look at that!" Ella squealed, nudging Gorya. "Now that is service. Keifer is literally carrying her to the sky!"
Gorya looked at Thyme, who was currently busy trying to untangle his expensive designer hoodie from a thorn bush. "Hey, Thyme! Do you see that? Keifer's a gentleman. What happened to my ride?"
"I'm literally fighting a tree, Gorya!" Thyme barked back, though he looked over at us with a pout. "Keifer, you're making the rest of us look bad! This is an unfair advantage!"
"Maybe if you spent less time at the hair salon and more time at the gym, you could do it too," I called back, not breaking my steady stride.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
We reached the center of the big rock just as the sky began to bleed into a deep, bruised violet. Keifer gently let me down, but he didn't move away. He stayed right behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist to keep me warm.
The world went silent. Slowly, a thin, vibrant line of gold began to crack the horizon. The sky exploded into fire-orange, deep purple, and a soft, glowing pink. The ocean caught the light, a path of shimmering gold stretching from the sun all the way to the base of our rock.
"Look at the colors, Keifer," I whispered, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
He didn't answer immediately. I felt his arms tighten around me, and his chin came to rest in the crook of my neck. We stood like that for a long time, just watching the sun climb higher, turning the world from shadows into gold.
--: Keifer's POV: --
The light was hitting her face, making her eyes shimmer like honey. Everyone else was busy taking photos or shouting, but in this small circle of space where I held her, it was quiet. I could feel her heart beating, rhythmic and steady.
I leaned down, whispering against her ear. "I've been waiting for a moment where it was just us. But I don't think I'm going to get it today."
Jay-Jay turned in my arms, her hands coming up to rest on my chest. She looked up at me, the golden morning light reflecting in her pupils. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. The way she was looking at me—with that soft, unmasked trust—was an invitation.
I cupped her face, my thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone. "I don't care who's watching anymore, Jay."
Slowly, giving her every second to pull away if she wanted to, I tilted my head and pressed my lips to hers.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
It wasn't the frantic, hidden kiss from the cottage. This was slow, tender, and lingered like the warmth of the sun on our skin. My eyes drifted shut, my hands clutching the fabric of his hoodie. For a few beautiful seconds, the sounds of Section E faded into a dull hum, and it was just the two of us at the edge of the world.
Then, the reality of our friends hit us like a tidal wave.
"Whoooooo! Go get it Keifer!" Ci-N's scream shattered the romance.
"FINALLY! I thought we'd have to wait for the wedding!" MJ yelled, followed by a chorus of whistles and catcalls.
"My eyes! My innocent eyes!" Kavin joked, shielding his face while grinning.
I pulled back, my face burning. I tried to hide against Keifer's chest, but the teasing was relentless.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I kept my arm draped possessively around Jay-Jay's shoulders, a smug smirk tugging at my lips. I didn't mind the teasing. Let them talk.
But then, the atmosphere shifted.
"ENOUGH!"
The voice was like a crack of thunder. I looked over to see Aries standing a few feet away. His arms were crossed, his jaw was set so tight I thought his teeth might break, and his eyes were practically shooting real flames.
"Aries, it was just a kiss—" Ella started, trying to calm him down.
"I don't care!" Aries roared, stepping toward us. "Keifer! I told you to keep it respectful! Do you have to do that in front of everyone? She's my sister, you idiot! My little sister!"
"She's my girlfriend, Aries," I said calmly, stepping slightly in front of Jay-Jay. "Get used to it. The sun is up, the world is moving, and I'm going to kiss her whenever I want."
"I'll give you something to get used to!" Aries lunged forward, but Thyme and MJ quickly grabbed his arms.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy, Tiger!" MJ laughed, struggling to hold Aries' shoulder. "It's a celebration, not a boxing match!"
"Let go of me! I'm going to kill him! I'm going to throw him into the ocean!" Aries thrashed, his face turning a dark shade of purple.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
"Aries, stop! You're being dramatic!" I yelled, half-laughing and half-terrified as my brother tried to fight through the F4 just to get to Keifer.
"I AM NOT DRAMATIC! I AM PROTECTIVE!" Aries bellowed.
The tension was broken by Ci-N, who suddenly sprinted past everyone toward the edge. "IF ARIES IS GOING TO KILL KEIFER, HE HAS TO CATCH HIM IN THE WATER! TRADITION TIME! JUMP!"
Ci-N launched himself off the rock with a wild yell. Aries, fueled by pure rage and protective instinct, broke free from Thyme and MJ.
"WATSON! YOU'RE DEAD!" Aries screamed, and instead of walking away, he charged the edge and dove off in a perfect, angry arc.
I looked at Keifer, wide-eyed. "He's waiting for you down there, isn't he?"
Keifer laughed, that dark, thrill-seeking sound. He tightened his grip on my hand. "Probably. But he has to catch us first."
I watched them disappear into the waves, then I walked to the edge and looked down. My stomach immediately did a somersault. The water was turquoise and clear, but the drop... it looked terrifyingly high from up here.
"No," I whispered, taking a stumbling step back. "No, no, no. Keifer, that's too high. I can't do it."
--: Keifer's POV: --
I saw the color drain from her face. Her eyes were wide, fixed on the churning white foam below. The adrenaline of the kiss was gone, replaced by pure, paralyzing vertigo. She was shaking, her fingers digging into the fabric of her hoodie.
"Babyy, hey," I said softly, stepping in front of her to block her view of the drop. I took both of her hands in mine, and they were ice-cold. "Look at me. Don't look at the water. Just look at me."
"It's too high, Keifer," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm going to hit the water wrong. I'm going to drown. I can't."
"You aren't going to drown," I said firmly, my voice dropping into that low, grounding tone I knew she trusted. "I am right here. I am not letting go of your hand for a single second. We're going to step off together, and the moment we hit the water, I'll be the one pulling you up. I promise you, Jay-Jay. On my life."
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
I looked at him. His eyes were so steady, so full of that unshakable confidence. Down in the water, the others were calling our names, their voices echoing off the cliffs.
"I'm scared," I admitted, my lip trembling.
"I know you are," Keifer murmured, leaning in until his forehead touched mine. "But you're also the bravest person I know. Just one step, Jay. One step with me."
I took a deep, shaky breath, closing my eyes for a second. I felt his fingers interlace with mine, his grip like iron. He wasn't just offering a hand; he was offering an anchor.
"Okay," I breathed, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. "Okay. On three?"
Keifer smiled, a small, encouraging look that made me feel like I could fly. "On three. Don't think. Just jump."
We walked back to the edge. I didn't look down. I kept my eyes locked on Keifer's profile.
"One,"he counted.
"Two," I whispered, my legs shaking.
"Three!"