POV: Keifer
Jay was finally asleep. The tension in the room had melted away like ice under the sun, and I could feel the relief from everyone else—Angelo, Trisha, Aries, Aunty Gemma. Even they looked calm now that the storm that was Jay had temporarily passed out on the chair.
I stood silently, observing her. I had never seen Jay this angry. Never. The fire in her eyes when she was shouting about Hex… the way her fists clenched, her voice shaking with fury, the tremor in her shoulders—it made me realize just how important Hex was to her. Not just a friend. Not just a classmate. Someone she would literally lose control over if anything happened to him.
She's fierce. She's terrifying when she's mad… and she's mad for him. Hex… she really loves him. My chest tightened. I could feel the weight of that love. It wasn't just protectiveness—it was obsession, care, and an unshakable bond all rolled into one.
I glanced toward Nathan, who was sitting nearby, looking like he'd survived a hurricane. I leaned toward him quietly. "Who are the other two boys with you?"
Nathan grinned. "Oh, those? Friends. Carlos and Miguel. You'll meet them properly later."
I nodded, my eyes flicking back to Jay. Even in sleep, she looked tense. Her brow was furrowed, her hands curled slightly. She didn't relax easily.
Ci-N, standing nearby with his usual cautious expression, leaned forward. "Nathan… what did you give her? She's not even reacting to my touch."
I moved closer, gently shaking Jay's shoulder. Nothing.
"Stop!" Nathan hissed, pointing at me. "If you wake her, she'll kill me for what I gave her… and then continue shouting at everyone else—except you." He gave me a pointed look.
I raised an eyebrow. "What did you give her?"
Nathan smirked. "DreamDrop."
Aries blinked. "What?"
David tilted his head. "DreamDrop? How… how come I haven't heard of it before?"
Everyone else nodded in agreement, curiosity and disbelief written across their faces.
Carlos, still typing away on his laptop, smirked. "Because it's only made for Jay and Hex."
Calix leaned forward. "What's in it? How does it work?"
Hannah spoke up calmly. "There's a dissolvable micro-capsule hidden inside the candy. When it melts, the capsule releases a measured sedative compound that induces deep sleep for exactly… three hours."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why make it just for them?"
Nathan leaned back casually. "Because Jay and Hex have… anger issues. When they're mad, even we're afraid to get close. And sometimes they have trouble sleeping."
Ci-N shook his head in disbelief. "Hex… no, impossible."
Aunty Gemma chuckled softly. "Hex isn't like that. He's smart, mischievous sometimes, but a good boy."
Miguel, Hannah, Carlos, and Nathan started laughing, unable to hold back. Carlos turned to Aunty Gemma. "Forgive us for laughing."
They stopped, but the smiles lingered.
"You guys are funny," Carlos added.
David frowned. "Why?"
Nathan chuckled. "You guys don't know Hex at all. That's why. He's called Hex for a reason."
Calix tilted his head. "Huh? Why?"
Nathan glanced at Hannah. "How long do I have until you find him?"
Hannah checked her watch. "Twenty minutes."
"Perfect," Nathan muttered, settling beside Jay.
He leaned closer to my ear and whispered softly, almost reverently, "Jay and Hex are inseparable. Jay once saved Hex, Hex once saved Jay. Charles Navarro, also called Hex…"
I listened intently, hanging on every word.
Nathan continued now to everyone to recount Hex's legendary escapades. When Hex was 8, he renamed the community WiFi to "FBI Surveillance Van." At 9, he left fake treasure maps leading to cookies. At 8, he hacked a simple home gadget to make sparks—mini explosions. At 10, he played basketball with teens who humiliated him, so he hacked the scoreboard, game schedule, and gym music. Stats hilariously scrambled online.
Ci-N's jaw dropped. "Wow."
Carlos added, "Don't forget the glitter prank after the match—timed perfectly above the changing room door with a camera linked to the big screen. Crowd went wild."
I looked around the room. Everyone's mouths were open. Even I felt the weight of Hex's genius. That boy wasn't just smart. He was… chaotic brilliance incarnate.
Nathan didn't stop there. He told us how Hex had protected Jay after she'd been pushed by some teens so hex Leaves cryptic warnings for the teens:
"Next time you touch Jay, you won't like the consequences."
Small, unnerving "signs" appear where they hang out — objects slightly moved, trash scattered, messages in chalk.— also at just 7 years old, he used scraps to create a spring-loaded launcher and a smoke/flashing device. All in 20 minutes. Jay's safety had always been his mission.
Felix gawked. "20 minutes?!"
Nathan shrugged. "Believe it. He's no ordinary kid."
Drew asked, "That's all?"
"That's all I know. You must understand," Nathan replied.
I leaned closer, curiosity and awe battling inside me. And now I know why Jay exploded earlier. She isn't just protective. She is absolutely, irreversibly… invested in him. My responsibility just got heavier.
"Wait, what about the part where Jay and Hex couldn't sleep?" I asked quietly.
Nathan hesitated. "Umm… because…"
Hannah's voice cut in, sharp and clear. "I found Hex!"
Everyone leaned in, instinctively. She held her phone like a lifeline. "He's been kidnapped. Near the Blocleaf Café."
Rory smirked. "I know that place. Good stuff there."
They were all rushing out, except Aunty Gemma and Trisha. I bent down, careful not to wake Jay, and lifted her from the chair. She murmured slightly in her sleep but didn't wake.
She looks so small like this. And yet, that fury… that intensity… it terrifies and amazes me at the same time.
I carried her upstairs, the faintest smirk tugging at my lips. She looked fragile, almost delicate—but I knew her wrath could shake mountains if provoked.
I placed her gently on the bed. "Don't worry. I'll bring him back for you. I promise," I whispered, pressing a soft peck to her forehead.
As I walked downstairs, my mind lingered on her face. Even asleep, she radiated intensity, care, and… love. For Hex. That boy… he wasn't just important to her. He was everything.
She's fierce. She's terrifying. She's… unstoppable when it comes to Hex. And now, I'll make sure he's safe. No one else will touch him. If anything happens… I'll be the one to fix it. For her.