Chapter: The Sound That Shattered
(Keifer's POV)
I don't live with my parents.
Never have, not really.
The house we were in?
It's technically mine. A place arranged, funded, supervised from a distance — but no one actually there.
So when the squad comes over, it feels less empty.
That day, everyone was at my place.
Section E chaos inside my quiet walls.
Shoes scattered near the entrance. Chips crushed into my carpet. Someone (probably Ci n) already touching things he shouldn't.
Jay was sitting on the floor near the center table, legs stretched out, arguing with Keigan about music.
Aries was leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded like a bodyguard.
Yuri stood beside him.
Keiran was sprawled on the couch upside down.
I was near the island counter, holding a glass of water, just watching.
Watching her.
She looked comfortable here.
Too comfortable.
Like she belonged.
And I didn't know if that scared me or made me want more of it.
"Okay," Ci n suddenly announced, clapping loudly. "Truth time."
"No," Aries said immediately.
"Yes," Keigan countered.
Jay laughed. "Why are you scared?"
Aries rolled his eyes. "I'm not scared."
"Then play," Yuri said quietly.
Something about his tone made me glance at him.
Too calm.
Too steady.
Ci n pointed dramatically. "One confession each. Something real."
"Stupid idea," I muttered.
Jay smirked at me. "Afraid, Keif?"
"No."
"Then relax."
I took a slow sip of water.
Keiran pointed at Yuri first. "You go."
Yuri hesitated.
That hesitation made something shift inside me.
"Come on," Jay teased lightly. "It's just us."
He looked at her.
Too long.
"I…" he started.
Aries straightened slightly.
"I like someone."
The room reacted immediately.
"OHHHHH," Keigan shouted.
"Who?" Ci n demanded.
Jay leaned forward with interest. "Tell."
Yuri swallowed.
Then he said it.
"I love Jay."
The world didn't go silent.
The world got louder.
Keigan gasped dramatically.
Ci n froze mid-bite.
Keiran sat upright instantly.
Aries' jaw tightened.
And Jay—
Jay stopped smiling.
My grip on the glass tightened.
I didn't feel it at first.
I just kept hearing it.
"I love Jay."
Not like.
Love.
Something hot moved through my chest.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something sharper.
Something protective.
Something possessive.
And before I could process it—
Crack.
The sound was small.
But loud enough.
The glass in my hand fractured.
Then shattered.
Pieces dropped to the floor.
A sharp sting tore through my palm.
Warmth spread immediately.
Blood.
Dark red.
Dripping between my fingers.
"Keif—!"
Aries rushed toward me.
"Bro, what the hell?!" Ci n shouted.
Keigan swore loudly.
I didn't feel the pain properly yet.
Just pressure.
Heat.
And the sound of footsteps.
Her footsteps.
"What happened?!" Jay's voice.
No.
Not her.
Not this.
I turned sharply.
"Don't come here."
She froze mid-step.
Then she saw it.
The blood dripping from my hand onto the white tile.
Her face went pale instantly.
"Keifer—"
"Stop," I ordered.
My voice was sharper than I intended.
"Don't look."
She shook her head and rushed forward anyway.
"I said don't—"
Too late.
She reached me.
Her eyes dropped to my hand.
The blood was pooling now, sliding down my wrist.
A few cuts were deeper than I thought.
The glass must've sliced across my palm when it broke.
Jay's breathing changed immediately.
Sharp.
Shallow.
"Keif— you're bleeding—"
"I know."
Aries grabbed a towel from the counter and pressed it against my hand.
"Hold this," he ordered.
I didn't move.
I was watching her.
Her face was draining of color.
"Jay," I said firmly. "Don't look."
She wasn't even blinking.
Her eyes were locked on the blood.
Her lips trembled.
"Stop," she whispered.
"I'm fine."
"There's so much—"
"It's nothing."
Her hands were shaking now.
"Jay," Aries warned softly.
She took another small step closer.
And then—
She screamed.
"STOP!"
The scream echoed through my living room.
Everyone froze.
Her body swayed.
And before I could even drop the towel—
She collapsed.
Right there.
On my floor.
"JAY!"
The pain in my hand finally registered fully.
But I didn't care.
I shoved Aries aside and moved forward.
Blood smeared across the tiles as I crouched beside her.
"Jay."
No response.
Her eyes closed.
Her breathing shallow.
"Move back," Aries said quickly.
"Shut up," I snapped.
"Your hand is bleeding everywhere."
"I don't care."
I touched her face gently with my uninjured hand.
Cold.
Too pale.
"Jay," I called again, softer.
Nothing.
Keigan was panicking. "She fainted— she actually fainted—"
"Water," Aries ordered Keiran.
Yuri stood frozen.
Guilt written all over his face.
I looked up at him.
And for the first time—
I felt real anger.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Because none of this would've happened if—
No.
That wasn't fair.
It wasn't his fault the glass broke.
It was mine.
I squeezed too hard.
Because I lost control for half a second.
Aries sprinkled water gently on her face.
"Jay," he called softly.
She stirred slightly.
Her lashes fluttered.
Relief hit my chest so hard it almost made me dizzy.
"She's waking up," Keiran said.
Her eyes opened slowly.
Confused.
Then they focused.
On me.
Specifically—
On my hand.
"Don't," I said immediately.
She tried to sit up.
Aries stopped her. "Stay down."
"You're hurt," she whispered weakly.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"It's just cuts."
Her eyes filled with tears instantly.
"Why would you do that?"
I didn't answer.
Because I couldn't say:
Because someone said they love you.
Because I couldn't handle hearing it.
Because I felt something ugly and raw and I didn't know what to do with it.
Instead I said, "It slipped."
She stared at me like she didn't believe it.
Aries wrapped my hand tighter with the towel.
"We need to clean this properly," he said firmly.
I didn't move.
I was still watching her.
She tried to get up again.
"I need to check—"
"No," I said sharply.
She flinched.
Regret hit me instantly.
"I mean…" I softened my voice. "You can't handle blood."
"I don't care."
"I do."
Her eyes locked with mine.
Even pale.
Even shaken.
She looked stubborn.
"I don't care," she repeated.
My chest tightened.
Because she fainted.
But she still wanted to come closer.
Yuri finally spoke.
"I'm sorry."
No one responded.
The room was heavy.
Different now.
Not chaotic.
Not loud.
Just tension.
Aries helped Jay sit on the couch.
Keigan grabbed the first aid kit.
I let Aries clean the cuts.
It hurt.
But not as much as seeing her fall.
When Aries poured antiseptic over the deeper slice, I clenched my jaw.
Jay noticed immediately.
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
"Liar."
Her voice was still weak.
But steady.
I looked at her.
She was watching my face carefully.
Not the blood anymore.
Just me.
"Why did you squeeze it that hard?" she asked quietly.
Everyone went silent again.
I didn't answer.
Because if I did—
It would change everything.
And I didn't know if I was ready for that.
So I just said,
"It broke."
But inside?
Something else had shattered too.
And I wasn't sure how to fix that yet.