Chapter — The Call From Home
Author's POV
Morning came slowly.
The common room was still quiet after the long movie night.
Blankets were scattered across the sofas.
A few cushions had fallen onto the floor.
The television screen was still paused on the final scene of the movie.
Somehow, everyone had actually managed to sleep.
For once—
there had been no alarms.
No emergency calls.
No arguments about missions.
No one running through the hallways.
Just sleep.
And then—
the peace lasted approximately ten more minutes.
"That's mine."
Percy's sleepy voice came from the dining area.
Aries looked up from his plate.
"No."
Percy stared at him.
"Give it back."
"I didn't take anything."
"You're literally eating it."
Aries looked down at the piece of toast in his hand.
Then back at Percy.
"This?"
"YES. THAT."
Aries calmly took another bite.
Percy looked personally betrayed.
"Aries."
"What?"
"You took my breakfast."
"You weren't eating it."
"I was talking."
"Exactly."
Denila nearly choked laughing.
Cora covered her face.
Luna shook her head.
Angelo looked completely unimpressed.
"Can you two survive one morning without fighting?"
"No," Percy and Aries answered together.
Jay laughed from her seat.
Keifer looked at her immediately.
She was sitting beside him at the long dining table, hair still slightly messy from sleep.
She looked rested.
Actually rested.
And that alone made him feel better.
Jay reached across the table and stole something from Keifer's plate.
Keifer looked down.
Then at her.
"Again?"
Jay calmly ate it.
"Yes."
"You have your own."
"I know."
"Then why are you eating mine?"
She shrugged.
"Yours looks better."
Percy immediately pointed at them.
"See? This is what I've been saying."
Keifer frowned.
"What?"
"She has officially claimed your food."
Jay smiled innocently.
"Maybe."
Keifer sighed.
"At least ask."
"I did."
"When?"
"Just now."
Everyone laughed.
Keifer shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Jay reached for another piece.
He moved the plate closer to her before she could take it.
"There."
She looked at him.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Aries watched them for a second.
Then looked at Percy.
"Should we start charging them for this breakfast entertainment?"
Percy nodded.
"Absolutely."
Jay rolled her eyes.
"You both need hobbies."
"We have hobbies," Aries replied.
"What?"
"Annoying you."
Jay stared at him.
Then threw a napkin.
Everyone laughed.
It was stupid.
Completely pointless.
And wonderfully normal.
For several minutes, that was all the room contained.
Arguments.
Laughter.
Food.
People stealing things from one another.
Jay smiling.
Keifer watching her quietly.
It felt like the kind of morning they should have been having all along.
Then—
Keifer's phone vibrated.
Once.
He ignored it.
A second vibration followed.
He glanced down.
The screen showed a message from home.
His expression changed immediately.
Not dramatically.
Not enough for everyone to notice.
But Jay noticed.
She always noticed.
Keifer opened the message.
His eyes moved across the screen.
Then stopped.
The message was short.
Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you.
Keegan's condition has worsened.
He has locked himself in his room for more than a day.
He hasn't allowed anyone inside.
Keifer didn't move.
For a few seconds—
everything around him seemed to become distant.
The laughter continued.
Percy was still arguing with Aries.
Denila was saying something to Cora.
Jay was reaching for another piece of food.
But Keifer couldn't hear any of it properly anymore.
His fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
Keegan.
He had been holding himself together.
Keeping himself under control.
But this—
this was different.
Keifer immediately stood.
The sudden movement made Jay look up.
"Keif?"
He didn't answer.
He simply walked away from the table.
Jay's expression changed.
She watched him cross the room and move toward one of the quieter corners of the base.
He stopped there.
Pulled out his phone.
Then called home.
The call connected after several rings.
"Sir?"
The familiar voice of the house staff came through.
Keifer kept his voice calm.
"What happened?"
There was a pause.
"We've been trying to reach you."
"I asked what happened."
His tone wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
The control in his voice was enough.
The maid took a breath.
"Keegan has been inside his room since yesterday."
"Locked?"
"Yes."
"Has he eaten?"
"Very little."
Keifer closed his eyes briefly.
"Has he spoken to anyone?"
"No."
His jaw tightened.
"Did you call a doctor?"
"We tried, sir. He refused to open the door."
Keifer looked down at the floor.
"How long exactly?"
"More than twenty-four hours."
Silence.
Keifer's expression remained controlled.
But his eyes had changed.
"Keep someone outside his room."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't force the door unless there's an immediate emergency."
"Understood."
"And call me the second anything changes."
"Yes, sir."
The call ended.
Keifer stood there for another few seconds.
Phone still in his hand.
His mind was already moving.
He had to go home.
Immediately.
Not tomorrow.
Not later.
Now.
"Keif?"
Jay's voice came quietly from behind him.
He turned.
She was standing several steps away.
Her expression was worried.
"What happened?"
Keifer looked at her.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he walked back toward her.
"Keegan isn't doing well."
Jay's face fell slightly.
"What happened?"
"He locked himself in his room."
"Since when?"
"More than a day."
Jay's eyes widened.
"Keifer…"
"He hasn't really eaten."
She immediately understood how serious that was.
"You're going back."
It wasn't a question.
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
Jay looked at him for a moment.
Then said quietly,
"Then I'm coming."
Keifer immediately shook his head.
"No."
Jay frowned.
"Why?"
"You just got better."
"And?"
"You need rest."
"I've rested."
"Jay."
"Keif."
They stared at each other.
Jay crossed her arms.
"I'm coming."
Keifer sighed.
"You're impossible."
"You knew that already."
A tiny smile almost appeared on his face.
Almost.
But the concern returned immediately.
"I don't want you exhausting yourself."
"I won't."
"You promise?"
Jay nodded.
"I promise."
Keifer looked at her for several seconds.
Then finally nodded.
"Fine."
Jay smiled faintly.
"Good."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"There's something else I need to tell you."
Keifer looked at her.
"What is it?"
"I was going to tell you after we finished our time here in New York."
"What?"
Jay took a small breath.
"I got permission to go to university for higher education."
Keifer's expression softened with surprise.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"Yes. I've been thinking about it for a while, and everything has finally been arranged."
"That's good, Jay."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"It is. My team is also going to come here after a month. They're going to attend college here too, so we'll all be together again."
Keifer studied her face.
"You were planning to stay in New York?"
"Yes. At least for university. I wanted to continue my education and be closer to my team when they arrive."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he said,
"Come with me."
Jay blinked.
"What?"
"Come home with me now."
She looked at him carefully.
"Keifer, I just told you I'm going to university here."
"I know."
"And my team is coming here in a month."
"I know that too."
"Then why are you asking me to come with you?"
Keifer stepped closer.
"Because you don't have to choose between your education and coming home with me."
Jay's expression softened.
"What do you mean?"
"You can come with me now, stay until things with Keegan are settled, and then return to New York when your university begins."
Jay looked uncertain.
"Would that be okay?"
"I'll make sure it is."
"Keif…"
"You wanted to continue your education here, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you will."
"And my team?"
"They can meet you here when they arrive."
Jay stared at him.
"You're really asking me to come with you?"
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
"Even though I'm supposed to start university here?"
"Especially because of that."
She looked down for a moment.
Then back at him.
"You don't want to go alone."
Keifer didn't deny it.
"No."
Jay's expression softened completely.
"Then I'll come with you."
Keifer released a quiet breath.
"Thank you."
Jay smiled faintly.
"But after Keegan is okay, I'm coming back to New York."
"I know."
"And I'm going to university."
"I know."
"And my team is coming too."
"I know, Jay."
She smiled.
"Good."
Keifer looked at her for another moment.
Then gently took her hand.
"Come on. We need to tell the others."
The Others Find Out
By the time they returned to the dining table, everyone had noticed something was different.
Percy looked at Keifer.
"What happened?"
Keifer didn't sit down.
"We're going home."
The room became quiet.
Aries immediately straightened.
"Why?"
"Keegan."
That was enough.
Aries' expression changed.
Angelo lowered his phone.
Percy stopped eating.
Jay stood beside Keifer.
"His condition got worse."
Percy exchanged a look with Aries.
"Then we're coming."
Keifer nodded.
"You, me, Jay, Angelo, and Aries."
Nobody questioned it.
They all understood.
Those five had a reason to go back.
Jay looked around the table.
"There's something else."
Everyone turned toward her.
"What?" Cora asked.
Jay smiled slightly.
"I got permission to attend university here for higher education."
Cora's face lit up.
"Really?"
Jay nodded.
"Yes. My team is also coming here after a month for college, so we'll all be together again."
Luna smiled.
"That's wonderful."
Alex nodded.
"You'll like it here."
Denila grinned.
"So you're staying in New York?"
"For university," Jay replied. "But I'm going home with Keifer first."
Percy looked at Keifer.
"You convinced her?"
Keifer shook his head.
"She decided to come."
Jay glanced at him.
"After he asked me."
Aries smiled.
"Of course he did."
Keifer ignored him.
But then—
Cora spoke.
"We're coming too."
Keifer looked at her.
"You don't have to."
"We know."
Luna nodded.
"But we want to."
Alex leaned back in his chair.
"I've never met Section E properly."
Denila immediately raised his hand.
"Same."
Percy looked between them.
"You seriously want to meet them?"
Denila grinned.
"Absolutely."
Cora smiled.
"Why not?"
Keifer looked at Jay.
Jay was already trying not to laugh.
Aries noticed.
He started smiling too.
Angelo looked at them.
"What?"
Jay shook her head.
"Nothing."
Percy slowly understood.
His expression changed into a mischievous smile.
"Oh."
Aries laughed.
"Yeah."
Cora frowned.
"What?"
Percy leaned back.
"You'll see."
Luna looked suspicious.
"Why are you all laughing?"
Keifer finally smiled.
"Nothing."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"That definitely wasn't a normal 'nothing.'"
Jay laughed quietly.
"Just come with us."
Denila looked excited.
"Deal."
Cora nodded.
"Then it's settled."
Keifer looked around the room.
"Everyone pack what you need. We're leaving for the airport soon."
No long preparation followed.
Nobody made a dramatic scene.
Everyone simply moved.
A few bags were gathered.
Phones were checked.
Necessary things were packed.
The base slowly shifted from relaxed morning mode into travel mode.
Jay returned upstairs to get her things.
Keifer followed.
The Hallway
Jay came out of her room pulling a small trolley behind her.
She tried pulling it down the hallway herself.
Keifer reached for the handle.
"I'll take it."
"I can."
"I know."
He took it anyway.
Jay looked at him.
"You always do that."
"Do what?"
"Help me even when I don't ask."
Keifer glanced at her.
"You're allowed to let people help you."
Jay went quiet.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
He pulled her trolley beside his.
They walked toward the elevator together.
Behind them came Percy, Aries, Angelo, Cora, Luna, Alex, and Denila.
Denila looked around.
"Wait."
Everyone stopped.
"What?"
He looked at Percy.
"Are we seriously leaving the underground base just to meet Section E?"
Percy nodded.
"Yes."
Denila smiled.
"This is going to be interesting."
Aries laughed under his breath.
"You have no idea."
Cora looked between them.
"You're making it sound terrifying."
Jay finally turned around.
"It isn't."
A pause.
Then she smiled.
"Probably."
Everyone laughed.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
The doors closed.
And within minutes, the entire group was moving toward the airport.
The Airport
The convoy reached the private airport without delay.
Black vehicles stopped one after another.
Doors opened.
Everyone stepped out.
The atmosphere was different now.
The excitement from their New York day was gone.
Not completely—
but enough.
Keifer looked toward the jet.
His mind was already back home.
Keegan.
His locked room.
More than twenty-four hours.
Something was wrong.
Jay quietly came to stand beside him.
She didn't ask another question.
She simply stayed there.
Keifer looked at her.
Then briefly glanced at the others.
Everyone was ready.
Cora and Luna stood together.
Alex was checking something on his phone.
Denila was still talking to Percy.
Aries and Angelo were discussing the quickest route after landing.
Jay stood beside Keifer.
Her hand lightly rested against the handle of her trolley.
Keifer reached down and took it from her.
"Come on."
Jay nodded.
Together, they walked toward the waiting jet.
Behind them, the rest of the group followed.
The peaceful New York chapter of their lives—
at least for now—
was over.
And none of them knew what was waiting for them back home.