Jay POV
I was lying on my bed, scrolling through my phone, pretending I wasn't bored out of my mind. Recovery was basically just me vs. the ceiling. I had just opened another random video when the door swung open without warning.
Hex.
Of course it was Hex.
He leaned against the door like he owned the room. "By the way," he said casually, "Keifer's family is here."
I stared at him.
Keifer's… family?
Before my brain could fully catch up, his eyes dropped to what I was wearing, and he grimaced. "Also, you cannot go downstairs like that. That is sleepwear. You look like you're about to take a nap, not greet guests."
I looked down at myself. Oversized shirt. Comfy shorts. Peak recovery fashion.
"I look fine," I said, even though I already knew I didn't.
Hex smirked. "Sure. If 'fine' means 'just woke up.' Change. Or you'll embarrass me."
I threw a pillow at him, but he dodged it easily and walked out like he'd won.
Great. Keifer was here. With his whole family.
Why was my heart suddenly racing like I was the one running late?
I changed into a simple casual dress, nothing fancy, nothing obvious. Calm. Normal. Totally not overthinking. I took a deep breath and went downstairs.
The living room was full.
Hex was already laughing with Keagan and Keiren like they'd known each other forever. Angelo was talking with Aunty Serina, looking all serious and business-like. Aunty Gemma moved between the kitchen and the living room, and somehow Uncle Victor was helping her. That alone felt illegal.
Then I saw Keifer.
He was sitting quietly on the couch, phone in hand, looking bored in that effortless way of his. Without thinking, I walked toward him.
"Bored?" I asked.
He looked up and shrugged. "A little."
"There's a backyard," I said. "We could take a walk."
He stood up almost instantly. "Yeah. Let's go."
Outside, everything felt quieter. Cooler. Easier.
We walked slowly, talking about random things. The hospital. His family. Hex being annoying. I joked about how I'd escape if they kept me in bed any longer. He laughed, that low laugh that always made my chest feel weird.
Then my foot caught on something.
I stumbled.
Keifer grabbed my hand just in time. Relief washed over me—until he lost his balance too.
We fell.
He twisted, landing on his back so I wouldn't hit the ground hard. And suddenly his face was right there.
Too close.
Our lips touched.
Everything stopped.
My thoughts vanished. His hand was still holding mine. His breathing was uneven. For a second, the world didn't exist.
Then—
Giggles.
I knew that laugh.
"HEX!"
I pushed Keifer away and looked up. Hex and Keiren were standing there, watching us like they'd just seen the best show of their lives.
They took off running before I could murder them.
I groaned, covering my face. Keifer stood up and offered me his hand again, just as embarrassed as I was. We exchanged a look that said let's never speak of this and walked back inside.
Some moments didn't need words. They just needed distance.
Hex POV
The second Jay and Keifer went outside, Keiren leaned close to me.
"Secret," he whispered.
I frowned. "I don't like secrets."
"Keifer is falling for Jay."
I laughed. Hard. "Impossible."
Keiren smacked the back of my head. "Lower your voice."
"You're insane," I said. "That's not real."
"Don't deny it," he replied calmly. "It's obvious."
"What's obvious? Nothing is obvious."
He grabbed a pen and paper like he was about to teach a class. "First, Jay is the first girl my brother has ever brought home. Second, he risked his life for her. Third, he literally forced the doctors to put them in the same hospital room."
I crossed my arms. "Or maybe he just doesn't like being alone."
Keiren stared at me. "Fine. What do you want to do?"
"What do you mean?"
His smile made me nervous. "Get them together."
"No."
"No?"
"If Jay ends up with Keifer, she'll move to your house. I'll barely see her. Then she'll have kids. Then she'll love them more than me. Then I'll be forgotten."
Keiren covered his face and sighed. "How old are you?"
"That's not the point."
"When Jay gets married, you can move in with them."
I paused. "…Okay, that actually helps."
"Good. So what's the plan?"
He looked at me. "Do you have rope?"
"…Yes."
I went to the storeroom, grabbed it, and handed it to him. He tied it low around a small table in the backyard and crouched.
"Make sure they're close," he whispered.
We hid behind a bush like professionals.
"When they come," Keiren whispered, "I pull. Jay falls. Keifer catches. Magic."
"What if Keifer doesn't catch her and she gets hurt?"
"I'll pull gently."
Before I could argue, he covered my mouth. "They're here."
Jay and Keifer approached.
Keiren pulled.
Jay tripped. Keifer caught her.
I almost relaxed.
Then Keifer fell too.
Their lips touched.
My soul left my body.
I giggled.
Keiren grabbed my arm. "Let's go. Not good for our eyes."
We ran back inside, laughing like criminals.
Best. Plan. Ever. 😏✨