The mansion was silent.
Not peaceful.
Just… still.
The kind of silence that feels expensive.
Heavy.
It was 5 AM.
Ci-n's eyes opened slowly.
For a second, he didn't move—just stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where he was.
Then it hit.
Jay's mansion.
He exhaled, turning slightly.
"Of course," he muttered under his breath.
Sleep wasn't coming back.
And his throat felt dry.
He got up quietly, slipping out of the room.
The hallway stretched long and dim, faint early morning light slipping through the tall windows. Everything looked softer at this hour—but also more… secret.
Like the mansion had a different personality before sunrise.
Ci-n walked toward the kitchen, footsteps light, controlled.
He grabbed a glass.
Filled it.
The sound of water pouring echoed slightly too much.
He took a sip—
And froze.
THUD.
His brows pulled together.
Another one.
THUD.
Rhythmic.
Controlled.
Not random.
Ci-n slowly lowered the glass.
"…That's not normal."
Curiosity kicked in instantly.
Of course it did.
He followed the sound down a side corridor—one he hadn't noticed last night.
The deeper he went, the quieter everything else became.
Until—
Only that sound remained.
THUD.
He reached a door.
Slightly open.
Light spilling out from inside.
Ci-n pushed it just a little more—
And stopped.
Jay.
The gym was massive.
Mirrors. Equipment. Space.
But none of that mattered.
She was in a plank.
Perfect form.
Body straight.
Still.
No shaking.
No strain.
Just holding it like time didn't exist.
Ci-n leaned slightly against the doorframe, watching.
"She's been doing that for a while…" he thought.
Without warning—
She dropped into push-ups.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each one clean.
Measured.
Controlled.
Ci-n's eyes narrowed slightly.
This wasn't casual.
This wasn't random.
This was training.
A light sheen of sweat caught the early sunlight, giving her that quiet glow—not dramatic, just real effort.
Real discipline.
Jay stood up smoothly, grabbing wraps and securing them around her hands quickly.
Like she'd done it a thousand times.
Then—
She stepped toward the punching bag.
The first punch landed.
THUD.
Ci-n flinched slightly.
Not visibly.
But internally—
Yeah.
That had power.
She didn't stop.
Left.
Right.
Hook.
Another.
Fast.
Sharp.
Precise.
The bag barely had time to move before she controlled it again.
Then—
The kicks.
A clean turn—
THUD.
Ci-n let out a quiet breath.
"…She's trained."
Not guessing.
Knowing.
Jay moved like this was routine.
Like this was normal.
Like she wasn't even at her limit yet.
Ci-n shifted his foot slightly—
Just a small movement—
Jay stopped.
The entire room went still.
Without turning—
"You're loud."
Ci-n huffed quietly.
"You're just too aware."
Now she turned.
Grabbing a towel.
Her breathing slightly heavier—but already controlled.
Already steady.
Her eyes landed on him.
Calm.
Sharp.
Like she'd known the whole time.
"You've been standing there for a while," she said.
Ci-n stepped inside, hands slipping into his pockets.
"No point hiding now," he replied.
A small pause.
Then—
"Didn't expect this."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?"
He shook his head slightly.
"More like… surprised."
Silence settled again.
But not awkward.
Just… observant.
Ci-n leaned against one of the machines, eyes still on her.
"You do this every day?"
Jay took a sip of water.
"Most days."
He let out a quiet scoff.
"That's not 'most days' training."
She looked at him.
Studying.
"You watch a lot for someone who just came for water."
Ci-n smirked faintly.
"Hard not to."
A pause.
Then he asked—
Straight.
Clear.
"What are you preparing for?"
Jay didn't answer immediately.
She walked past him, calm as ever, placing the bottle down.
Then stopped.
"It's not about strength," she said.
Ci-n's gaze sharpened.
"It's about control."
That word again.
He pushed off the machine slightly.
"Control over what?"
Jay turned just enough.
A small smile.
Not soft.
Not warm.
Just… knowing.
"Everything."
And for some reason—
At 5 AM, in a silent gym, with the sun just beginning to rise—
That answer felt heavier than anything else she had said so far.