JAY-JAY POV
He started to remove his shirt, and now he was shirtless.
My breath caught instantly.
I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my face with both hands… but okay, fine, I peeked a little.
Just a tiny bit.
Keifer noticed, of course.
He gently pulled my hands away, his grip firm but careful.
"Why are you closing your eyes?" he asked, his tone calm, unreadable.
I stammered, heat rushing to my cheeks. "Because you're shirtless!"
He tilted his head, smirk tugging at his lips. "And?"
"And… it's distracting!" I blurted, louder than I meant to.
"So you think I'm distracting?" he asked, voice calm, eyes locked on mine.
"Yes, you are—when you're half‑naked," I blurted, heat rushing to my cheeks.
His smirk widened, slow and deliberate. "Interesting. So you do notice."
I gasped, grabbing the blanket and pulling it up to my chin. "Of course I notice! You're standing there like it's a modeling shoot."
He chuckled, low and steady. "Maybe I should keep the shirt off more often."
"Don't you dare," I snapped, turning away, though my heart was pounding so hard it felt like the whole room could hear it.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping just enough to make me shiver. "But if it distracts you… maybe that's the point."
"Keifer, go wear a shirt," I said, glaring at him as I pulled the blanket tighter around me.
He tilted his head, smirk tugging at his lips. "Can't? I always sleep without my shirt."
I gasped. "That's not an excuse! That's… that's a crime against my sanity!"
He chuckled softly, leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world. "So it bothers you?"
"Yes!" I blurted, my cheeks heating up so fast I thought they might catch fire.
"Well, get used to it," Keifer said smoothly, climbing onto the bed without hesitation.
My eyes widened. "Wait—what are you doing?"
He stretched out beside me, calm as ever, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Sleeping. What else?"
I pulled the blanket tighter around me, scooting an inch away. "You can't just—just sleep next to me like it's normal!"
He turned his head, smirk tugging at his lips. "It is normal. For us."
Well, there goes my sleep for the night.
Keifer leaned in and kissed me, and I responded instantly.
It was supposed to be just one kiss—but nothing ever stays "just one" with Keifer.
Especially not his kisses.
Before I knew it, it turned into more, into a full make‑out session.
I was in his lap in no time, his arms wrapped firmly around my waist, my hands tangled around his neck.
He finally broke the kiss, leaving me breathless.
Honestly, I really need to teach this guy what oxygen means.
But then he kissed me again, not giving me a chance to recover.
Our mouths moved together on their own, deeper, hungrier.
He bit my lip gently, coaxing me to open my mouth—and I did.
His tongue slid against mine, tasting, exploring, dominating every movement.
I clung tighter, lost in the chaos of it, knowing sleep was officially impossible tonight.
I gasped into his mouth when his hands slipped under my shirt, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down my spine.
He broke the kiss suddenly, pulling back just enough for me to see the flush on his face.
"We should stop before I lose control," he said, his voice low, ears burning red.
I nodded quickly, my cheeks probably as red as a tomato.
My heart was racing, my breath uneven, and I couldn't even look him in the eyes without feeling like I'd combust.
For a moment, silence filled the room—thick, heavy, but strangely comforting.
I pulled the blanket up to my chin, trying to hide my blush. "You're… impossible," I muttered softly.
Keifer smirked faintly, lying back beside me. "And yet, you're still here."
I turned to his "Keifer, can I ask you something?"
He turned his head, sensing the shift in my tone. "What do you want to ask?"
I hesitated, twisting the blanket between my fingers. "What's really happening with Keigan?" I asked softly. "You can tell me… if you're comfortable."
I added quickly, "You once said that me and Keigan were going through the same thing, and I just… I want to understand it."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Keifer's calm expression faltered, his eyes darkening slightly.
He leaned back against the headboard, exhaling slowly.
"Keigan…" he began, then stopped, as if weighing every word carefully.
I watched him, my heart pounding.
He knows something.
He's holding it back.
Finally, he met my gaze, his voice low and steady. "He has multiple personality disorder. It's when a person has—"
"Two different personalities," I finished softly.
He nodded. "When Keigan was seven years old… Kaizar took him. He made him watch things no child should ever see."
Keifer's eyes were red now, almost crying.
I reached out and squeezed his hands, grounding him.
"He forced Keigan into things," Keifer continued, his voice breaking. "Forcing him into raping women or murder people but he never done it so Kaizer would beat him."
The silence that followed was heavy, pressing against my chest.
My heart ached, not just for Keigan, but for Keifer too—for the pain he carried in telling me this.
I held his hands tighter. "You don't have to say more. I understand enough."
Keifer closed his eyes, exhaling shakily. "It's why Keigan isn't the same. Why he changes. He's been living with that ever since."
"I understand," I whispered, wrapping my arms around him. "I'll be there for him if he needs me… and I'll be there for you too."
Keifer stiffened for a moment, as if my words caught him off guard.
Then slowly, he relaxed into the hug, his forehead resting lightly against my shoulder.
His voice was low, almost breaking. "You don't know how much that means."
I held him tighter, feeling the weight he carried, the pain he tried so hard to hide behind his calm face.
"You don't have to carry it alone," I said softly. "Not anymore."
For the first time, his smirk was gone.
His eyes were red, vulnerable, and real.
Silence filled the room, but it wasn't heavy this time—it was warm, steady, like a promise.
And in that moment, I knew: whatever battles Keigan faced, whatever scars Keifer carried, I wasn't going to let them fight through it without me.
"Let's sleep. We have school tomorrow… and we have to meet Aries," Keifer said, his voice steady but softer now.
I nodded, pulling the blanket closer.
The chaos of the night still lingered in my chest, but his words grounded me.
He pulled me closer until his arms locked around my waist, firm and unyielding.
My hands tangled around his neck, my legs hooked into his like I was trying to escape and cling at the same time.
"Keifer—" I squeaked, half protest, half breathless.
He didn't budge.
Not even a twitch.
His grip only tightened, steady, calm, like he was daring me to wriggle.
"Too close!" I muttered, face burning, but I didn't move away.
He smirked faintly, eyes half‑lidded. "You say that… but you're not letting go either."
I groaned, burying my face against his chest. "You're impossible."
His laugh was low, rumbling against me. "And yet, you're tangled up in me."
The rhythm of his breathing matched mine, chaotic against calm, fire against stone.
And wrapped up like this, I knew sleep was gone for the night—because how could anyone sleep when Keifer was this close?
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🌹✨ Author's Note ✨🌹
HOW WAS THE CHAPTER? 👀🔥
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I want to see your reactions, theories, and emotions 💭💙.
GUYS… something BIG is about to happen in the next few chapters 💥.
Keep your eyes wide open, because the chaos is coming and you don't want to miss it 💔✨.