Jay POV
The TV was on, but I wasn't really watching it.
Some game show flickered across the screen. People shouting. Bright colors. Fake excitement. I had the remote in my hand, thumb tapping lazily, when I heard movement beside me.
A soft groan.
I turned my head just in time to see Keifer's eyes flutter open.
"Oh," I said quickly. "Hey. Welcome back to the world."
He blinked a few times, clearly confused, then squinted at the ceiling. "Why does everything feel… loud?"
"Because you're dramatic," I replied.
That earned me a weak laugh.
He shifted slightly, then frowned. "Where's my mom?"
"She went out to buy food," I said. "Said if she stayed any longer, she'd start interrogating the nurses."
Keifer smiled faintly. "Sounds like her."
There was a small pause. Not awkward. Just… careful.
"So," he said, glancing at the TV. "When we get discharged… what's the plan?"
I shrugged. "Sleep. For like three days straight."
"Respectable," he nodded. "I was thinking food. Real food. Not hospital air."
"Bold of you to assume your stomach will survive that."
He smirked. "I'm built different."
I raised an eyebrow. "You passed out."
"Strategically," he corrected. "To conserve energy."
I laughed, and he did too. The sound felt strange but good, like we were borrowing normalcy for a moment.
"I wanna go somewhere quiet," I said after a bit. "No fighting. No drama. Just… quiet."
Keifer nodded. "Beach, maybe. Or that old café near the highway."
"The one with the broken sign?"
"Adds character."
Before I could reply, the door opened.
Aunty Serina walked in, carrying food containers, her face lighting up the moment she saw us laughing.
"Well," she said warmly, "this is a beautiful sight."
Keifer groaned. "Uh oh. That tone means soup."
She smiled sweetly. "Correct."
She set the trays down and handed us bowls. The smell hit instantly. Peppery. Strong.
I picked up a spoon and took a small sip.
Instant regret.
I coughed. "It's hot."
Keifer scoffed. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm really not."
He dipped his spoon confidently and took a full mouthful.
Two seconds later, his eyes widened.
"…Okay," he said hoarsely. "That's hot."
I burst out laughing. "I warned you!"
Aunty shook her head, amused. "Both of you, drink water before you burn your throats."
Just then, Aunty Gemma stepped in with bottles of water. "I heard suffering," she said casually,
Aunty watched us quietly, eyes soft, like she was memorizing the moment.
For a little while, the hospital room didn't feel like a hospital at all.
It felt like home.