Chapter:15- Reunion Nobody Asked for..š
Keifer's POV
I wake up before her.Ā
Not because I'm particularly responsible.
Mostly because someone is currently using my arm as a pillow and has somehow managed to steal ninety percent of the blanket.
I look down.Ā
Jayjay is still asleep.
Her hair is everywhere. One hand is curled against my chest, and her face has that annoyingly peaceful expression she never has when she's awake.
I stare at her for a moment.
Then I remember.
Today.Ā Section-E.
I almost smile.
This is going to be entertaining.
I carefully pull my arm out from under her head.
She immediately frowns in her sleep.
I freeze.
Her hand reaches blindly across the mattress.
I put my arm back.
Her expression relaxes.
I stare at the ceiling.
"...Seriously?"
I try again.
This time, I succeed.
I stand.
Five seconds laterā
"Keifer."
I turn.
Her eyes are still closed.
"Where are you going?"
"Downstairs."
"Why?"
"Breakfast."
"No."
I blink.
"No?"
"No breakfast."
"Why?"
"Too early."
"It's eight."
"Exactly."
I stare at her.
"You were awake enough to ask where I was."
"I wasn't."
"You literally said my name."
"Dreaming."
"About me?"
"No."
"That hurt."
She opens one eye.
"Good."
I smile.
"Get up."
"No."
"Jay."
"Keifer."
"Section-E is coming today."
Her eyes open completely.
Silence.
Thenā
"...Oh."
I nod.
"Good morning."
She sits up so quickly the blanket falls off her.
"Today?"
"Yes."
"You said today yesterday."
"That's generally how dates work."
She glares.
"I hate you."
"I know."
She looks at the clock.
Then at me.
Then back at the clock.
"How long?"
"Rory said they're on schedule."
"How long?"
"About an hour."
She exhales.
"Okay."
I raise an eyebrow.
"Okay?"
"Okay."
She gets out of bed.
Takes two steps.
Stops.
Turns around.
"WAIT."
I already know.
"What?"
"They're actually coming."
"Yes."
"Like... physically?"
"No, Jay. They're going to arrive spiritually."
She throws a pillow at me.
I catch it.
"Violence before breakfast."
"You deserve it."
"Get dressed."
"I'm going."
"Good."
"And Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
She points at him.
"If you tell them anything embarrassing about meā"
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
She narrows her eyes.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Your face is doing the thing."
"What thing?"
"The I'm absolutely going to embarrass you later thing."
I smile.
"You're learning me too well."
Jayjay's POV
I stare at my closet.
For a ridiculous amount of time.
Not because I don't have clothes.
Because suddenly every single outfit feels wrong.
Too formal.
Too casual.
Too much.
Too little.
TooāĀ "Jay."
I look toward the door.
Keifer is standing there.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you're overthinking."
"I am not."
"You've changed outfits four times."
"Five."
He blinks.
"You admit it?"
"I've lost track."
He leans against the doorframe.
"You don't need to impress them."
"I know."
"They're going to recognize you."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're still you."
I look at him.
He shrugs.
"Unfortunately."
I grab a shirt.
"Get out."
"Why?"
"I'm changing."
"I've seen you change."
"KEIFER."
He laughs and leaves.
I shake my head.
Idiot.
I look at myself in the mirror.
Sixteen boys.
People I haven't seen in years.
People who knew me before everything became complicated.
Before the island.
Before Keifer came back into my life.
Before I learned how to turn every emotion into something useful.
Section-E knew me when I was just...
Jay.
I smile slightly.
Then my phone buzzes.
Rory:They're approximately one hour away.
I exhale.
Okay.
One hour.
I can survive one hour.
Probably.
Keifer's POV
Breakfast is peaceful.
Suspiciously peaceful.
Jay sits opposite me, staring at her coffee like it personally betrayed her.
"You've been quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"That's dangerous."
She kicks my leg under the table.
I grin.
"Violence again?"
"You deserve it."
"You've said that already."
"I'll keep saying it."
She takes a bite of toast.
"Do you think Ci-N still calls David Grandpa?"
"Definitely."
"Poor David."
"Poor Ci-N."
She laughs.
"And Kit and Mayo?"
"Still together."
"Unfortunately."
"Definitely."
"Blaster?"
"Still thinks he can sing."
She groans.
"That's terrifying."
"Very."
"What about Eren?"
"Probably has a girlfriend."
"Probably?"
"Definitely."
She laughs.
Then her expression softens.
"Yuri?"
I pause.
"Yuri will be Yuri."
She looks down.
I don't push.
Whatever happened between them belongs to a part of her life that existed before me.
And I'm not interested in competing with ghosts.
Not anymore.
I reach for my coffee.
Thenā
BANG.
The kitchen doors swing open.
We both jump.
A voice echoes through the room.
"WHERE'S THE FOOD?"
I slowly turn.
Jay freezes.
I freeze.
Rory walks in.
Behind himā
Drew.
I check my watch.
Five minutes.
I look at Rory.
He looks completely calm.
"Rory."
"Sir."
"You said one hour."
"I said approximately one hour."
"It's been five minutes."
"Yes."
Jay stands.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES?"
Rory considers this.
"Apparently they weren't needed."
Drew walks straight toward the breakfast table.
"I'm hungry."
Jay points at him.
"You're supposed to be here in an hour!"
Drew shrugs.
"I was hungry an hour ago too."
I close my eyes.
This is going to be a long day.
Then another voice comes from the hallway.
"JAY?!"
Jay's entire expression changes.
"Ci-N."
The next second, Ci-N runs into the kitchen.
"JAY!"
She barely gets around the table before he's hugging her.
"You're here!"
"I live here!"
"I KNOW!"
"Then why are you surprised?"
"Because you're actually here!"
He pulls away and looks at her.
"You look different."
"So do you."
"I'm nineteen."
"Still a baby."
"I'm literally an adult!"
"Sure, baby."
"KEIFER, TELL HER."
I look at him.
"She's right."
Ci-N looks betrayed.
"You're supposed to be my father!"
I nearly choke on my coffee.
Jay's eyes widen.
"WHAT?"
Ci-N points at us.
"You two literally act like my parents."
Jay turns toward me.
"This is your fault."
"How?"
"You encouraged him."
"I didn't."
Ci-N crosses his arms.
"I'm telling Rakki."
Jay immediately laughs.
"Go ahead."
His face turns red.
"Don't."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Rakki?"
"Stop saying her name!"
The kitchen explodes with laughter.
David walks in.
Holding a pillow.
He looks at everyone.
Then at Jay.
His expression softens.
"Hey."
Jay smiles.
"Hey, Grandpa."
He sighs.
"Still doing this?"
"Always."
He hugs her.
Then immediately looks toward the breakfast table.
"Can I eat?"
Drew raises his hand.
"Already eating."
David looks at him.
"Move."
Drew protects his plate.
"No."
David stares.
Drew stares back.
"Fine."
David walks away.
"Grandpa doesn't share."
Ci-N follows him.
"YOU'RE NOT MY GRANDPA."
"Good."
Jayjay's POV
At this point, breakfast has officially stopped being breakfast.
It's a battlefield.
Kit and Mayo are arguing over who stole whose hoodie.
Eren is sitting on the counter.
Josh is staring at everyone like he's documenting a crime.
Edrix is examining the security system.
Rory is pretending none of this is his responsibility.
Denzel is showing everyone pictures of Grazel.
Calix has already mentioned Mica six times.
Blaster is carrying his guitar.
I stare at it.
"No."
He looks at me.
"What?"
"Put it down."
"It's my emotional support guitar."
"Your guitar needs emotional support from you."
Everyone laughs.
Blaster looks offended.
"You haven't even heard me play."
"I remember."
"That was years ago."
"Your singing was bad then."
"It's evolved."
"Unfortunately."
Denzel laughs.
"She's still savage."
"She learned from us."
Yuri's voice comes from behind him.
"No. She was always like this."
I turn.
He's standing there.
Red hair.
Same stupid smile.
Rooster.
My chest tightens for a second.
He walks toward me.
"Hi."
"Hi."
He smiles.
"Still calling me Rooster?"
"Obviously. š"
"Thought you'd grow up."
"I did."
"Clearly not."
I laugh.
For a moment, it's easy.
Like no time passed.
Then he hugs me.
Short.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Missed you, Jay."
I smile.
"Missed you too."
He steps back.
His eyes flick toward Keifer.
Keifer looks at him.
They nod at each other.
Nothing more.
Yuri smiles slightly.
"Good to see you, Keifer."
"You too."
And then Ci-N yellsā
"ROOSTER HAS ARRIVED."
Yuri turns.
"CI-N."
"What?"
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"Correct."
Percy's voice suddenly echoes from the hallway.
"WHY IS EVERYONE EATING WITHOUT ME?"
I turn.
"Percy?"
He walks in like he owns the place.
Angelo follows behind him.
Percy spreads his arms.
"Surprise!"
I stare.
"You knew."
He grins.
"Obviously."
"You knew they were coming early?"
"Maybe."
I look at Rory.
Rory looks at Percy.
Percy smiles innocently.
I narrow my eyes.
"You're responsible."
"Technically."
"Percy."
He laughs.
"Okay, okay."
Angelo walks toward me.
"Morning, Jay."
"Hi."
He hugs me.
Then pulls back and looks at me carefully.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
He glances around the room.
His expression changes.
"Why is Drew eating three pancakes?"
Everyone looks at Drew.
Drew freezes.
"I was hungry."
Angelo sighs.
Percy points at him.
"That's why I brought Angelo. Someone needs to supervise you people."
Eren raises his hand.
"Respectfully, we don't need supervision."
Angelo looks at him.
"You absolutely do."
Eren lowers his hand.
"Fair."
Keifer's POV
I stand back for a moment.
Just watching.
Jay is laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not the small polite smile she gives strangers.
Not the controlled one she uses in meetings.
This is different.
Messy.
Loud.
Real.
Ci-N is arguing with David.
Denzel is showing everyone another picture.
Kit and Mayo are practically attached.
Drew is still eating.
Eren is flirting with someone who hasn't even responded.
Blaster is trying to convince Josh to listen to his new song.
Edrix has somehow connected his laptop to the house system.
Rory is watching him like he's waiting for a crime.
Eman walks in carrying a tray.
He takes one look at the kitchen.
"Who touched my food?"
Silence.
Drew slowly puts down a fork.
Eman looks at him.
"Drew."
"I can explain."
"No."
"Butā"
"Run."
Drew stands.
"Why?"
Eman picks up a spatula.
Drew runs.
The entire room erupts.
Ci-N screams with laughter.
Percy joins the chase.
Eren starts recording.
Josh doesn't even move.
Yuri just shakes his head.
Jay is laughing so hard she has to hold onto the counter.
I look at her.
And something in my chest settles.
This is what she needed.
Not a grand reunion.
Not speeches.
Not some carefully planned moment.
Just chaos.
The kind only people who truly know you can create.
She catches me looking.
"What?"
I shake my head.
"Nothing."
She walks over.
"You've been quiet."
"I'm watching."
"Why?"
I look around.
"Because this is your world."
She smiles.
Then points toward the chaos.
"My world is currently chasing Drew with a spatula."
"Exactly."
She laughs.
Then her shoulder bumps mine.
"Welcome to Section-E."
I smile.
"I think I've met them before."
"Not like this."
"Fair."
Suddenly Ci-N runs past us.
"KEIFER!"
"What?"
"JAY STOLE MY PANCAKE!"
Jay gasps.
"I DID NOT!"
Ci-N points at her.
"YOU DID!"
"It was on my plate!"
"It was mine!"
David shouts from somewhere behind themā
"STOP SCREAMING!"
Ci-N screams louder.
"GRANDPA DAVID!"
David throws a cushion at him.
It misses.
Hits Percy.
Percy turns.
"WHO THREW THAT?"
Everyone points at David.
David looks around.
"...I'm going back to sleep."
He walks away.
I look at Jay.
She looks at me.
We both start laughing.
And I realizeā
the island has officially lost all possibility of peace.
But for once?
I don't mind.
Jayjay's POV
I look around the kitchen.
My coffee is cold.
My breakfast is gone.
My house has been invaded.
My brother is arguing with Percy.
Angelo is trying to restore order.
Section-E has taken over every available chair.
Keifer is standing beside me, looking far too amused.
And somehowā
I'm happy.
Really happy.
I look at them.
"Guys."
Nobody listens.
I raise my voice.
"GUYS."
Silence.
Sixteen heads turn.
I smile.
"I missed you."
For onceā
nobody makes a joke.
Nobody teases me.
Nobody moves.
Then Ci-N walks forward.
He opens his arms.
"Come here, Mom."
I burst out laughing.
"You're dead."
He runs.
I chase him.
And the entire kitchen erupts again.
Because apparentlyā
Section-E doesn't do emotional reunions.
They do breakfast invasions.
And honestly?
I wouldn't have it any other way. š¤