Chapter: If She Doesn't Wake Up
(Keifer's POV)
"Jay."
Her name left my mouth like a prayer.
Like if I said it gently enough, she'd open her eyes.
But she didn't.
She was in my arms, completely still.
Too still.
"Jay," I said again, louder this time. My hands were shaking as I held her face. "Stop playing. This isn't funny."
She didn't move.
Her lashes rested against her cheeks. Her breathing was there—but faint. Too faint.
"Keif—" Ci N's voice sounded tense behind me. "Lay her down properly."
"I know what I'm doing!" I snapped without even looking at him.
I didn't mean to yell.
But I couldn't hear anything over the sound of my heart crashing inside my chest.
Aries was beside me in seconds.
"Move," he said firmly, but not harshly. "Let me check her."
"No," I shot back instantly, pulling her closer. "She's fine. She just—she just fainted."
My voice broke at the end.
Aries grabbed my shoulder. "Keifer. Let me."
I looked at him.
And I saw it.
Fear.
Real fear.
That's when it hit me.
This wasn't dramatic crying.
This wasn't Jay being emotional.
She had collapsed in my arms.
Because of something.
Because of someone.
Yuri.
My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
Aries carefully checked her pulse while Ci N moved the desks away. The whole Section E was silent—Blaster, David, Emman, Eren, Drew, Josh, Rory, Erdix, Mayo, Kit—none of them joked. None of them moved.
"She's breathing," Aries said, trying to stay calm. "But she's stressed. Really stressed."
Stressed.
That word felt too small for what I just saw.
I brushed her hair away from her forehead.
"Jay," I whispered, my voice shaking now. "Please wake up. Please."
Nothing.
Her hand felt cold in mine.
And that's when the fear turned into anger.
Hot. Blinding. Uncontrollable anger.
"This is because of him, isn't it?" I muttered.
No one answered.
They didn't have to.
I carefully laid her down on one of the benches, but I didn't let go of her hand.
"I swear," I said under my breath, "if Yuri did something—"
Aries looked at me sharply. "Keifer. Not now."
"When then?!" I exploded, standing up suddenly. "When she stops breathing?!"
"Keif!" Ci N grabbed my arm. "Calm down!"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "She ran in here crying like she was breaking apart! She said she didn't want to! What does that even mean?!"
The words echoed in the classroom.
I turned back to Jay.
Her face was pale.
Too pale.
My vision blurred.
I dropped back to my knees beside her.
"I fight with her," I whispered, my anger dissolving into guilt. "I fight with her every day. I push her. I get jealous. I act stupid."
My fingers tightened around hers.
"And she still ran to me."
My chest hurt so badly I thought I might collapse too.
"She chose me," I said quietly, tears finally spilling over. "Out of everyone… she ran to me."
My shoulders started shaking.
I didn't care who was watching.
I didn't care that Section E was seeing me cry.
"I can't lose her," I choked out. "I can't."
Aries crouched beside me again. His voice was softer now.
"You won't."
But I shook my head.
"You didn't see her face," I whispered. "She looked scared. Like someone trapped her."
Yuri's words from the past flashed in my mind. The way he looked at her. The way he spoke like everything was already decided.
My fists clenched.
"If he's forcing her into something…" My voice dropped dangerously. "I don't care who he is. I don't care about his family, his money, his power. I'll destroy him."
"Keifer," Aries warned quietly.
"I mean it," I said, standing again, my tears still falling but my eyes burning. "If Jay wakes up and tells me he's hurting her, I'm not staying quiet."
My voice shook—not from fear.
From rage.
Behind me, Ci N muttered, "This is bad…"
I didn't care.
I went back to her and knelt again.
"Jay," I whispered, pressing my forehead gently against her hand. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I fought with you. I'm sorry I didn't protect you sooner."
My tears fell onto her fingers.
"You don't have to fight alone," I whispered. "Even if the whole world stands against us… I'll stand with you."
My voice broke completely.
"Just wake up."
The classroom stayed silent.
And I stayed there on my knees—
Holding her hand.
Waiting.
Begging.
For her to open her eyes.