The drive to Keifer's house was quiet, with only the soft hum of the engine filling the space between us. Jayjay had already been dropped at her house, waving goodbye with that mix of cheer and shyness that made Keifer's fingers twitch nervously .I tried not to smirk too obviously, but the thought of him clutching her little hand just moments ago made me shake my head. Kids, seriously.
When we pulled into Keifer's driveway, I immediately noticed how well-kept his house was. Modern, spacious, and somehow… peaceful. Not that I doubted the chaos that ran through this family—between Keifer, his siblings, and all the messes they got into—but right now, it looked like a safe haven.
Ciel, ever observant, turned to Keifer mid-step. "Hey, can I use your washroom quickly?"
Keifer glanced at me, shrugged, and nodded. "Sure, it's upstairs Don't break anything."
Ciel's smile was quick and mischievous. "I'll try not to." She disappeared inside, leaving the two of us in the living room.
I noticed Keifer's siblings sitting at the dining table, quietly eating dinner. Keiren had his headset lying beside him, probably plotting which game he'd conquer next, while Keagan looked a little more relaxed, content with his plate of food. I couldn't help but check on them.
"You two okay?" I asked gently, crouching a little to meet their eyes.
Keiren's eyes lit up, and he practically bounced in his seat. "Yeah! Adrian, can you come over to our house again soon?"
Keagan tilted his head, curious. "Why? You liked it there?"
Keiren practically shouted, "Yes! The VR stuff, the games… everything! It's so cool! Jayjay and Kiefer and all of you… it's amazing!"
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "I see. You really enjoyed yourself, huh?"
Keiren nodded furiously. "Yeah! I want to play all the games again. Maybe even try that racing one you let us see!"
Keifer shot me a sidelong glance, smirking a little. "See? They're already begging for a repeat visit. You better be ready for it."
I shrugged, trying to hide the amusement bubbling up in my chest. "I'll see what I can do. Just don't burn the house down while I'm not there, alright?"
Just then, Ciel returned from the washroom, brushing her hair back casually. "Ready to go?" she asked, glancing between Keifer and me.
I nodded, giving Keifer a small smile. "Yeah, I think it's time."
Their dinner momentarily forgotten in the excitement of our visit. Kieran even yelled, "Come back soon!"
I glanced back at Keifer, noticing the careful way he straightened his wounded shoulder. The accident from the previous week had left him sore, but he carried himself like nothing had happened—like a true leader, even if his little brother had made him look soft for a few minutes earlier.
We stepped out of the house, the warm lights from inside casting long shadows across the driveway. It was quiet again in the car, but there was a sense of calm, a feeling that for now, everyone was safe and sound.
As we drove away, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this little family chaos was exactly what kept them all together—and what made people like Jayjay and even us outsiders feel welcome.
Sometimes, peace wasn't about the absence of trouble—it was about the little moments in between.