Chapter: The Tent That Became Our World
Jay's POV
The ride back to the retreat campus felt strangely quiet.
Which was very unusual considering the people inside the van were from Section E.
Normally, if you put us in a vehicle together, it would sound like a zoo that accidentally exploded.
But right now?
Silence.
Awkward.
Heavy.
And the reason was me.
I was sitting in the back seat beside Keifer while the others kept stealing worried glances at me like I was a fragile glass statue that might break if someone breathed too loudly.
It was honestly annoying.
Ci-N finally broke the silence.
"Jay… are you alive?"
I slowly turned my head toward him.
"…No Ci-N. I'm a ghost."
Blaster snorted.
"There she is."
Rory sighed dramatically.
"Finally. The devil has returned."
Kit clapped his hands once.
"Okay good. I was getting bored of the quiet version of Jay."
I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
David looked at me through the mirror.
"You fainted for twenty minutes."
"Congratulations."
"That's not something to congratulate!"
I leaned my head back against the seat.
"My body just needed a dramatic moment."
Drew shook his head.
"You scared us."
Josh nodded.
"Especially Keifer."
Immediately every head in the van turned toward Keifer.
And then toward me.
Oh no.
No no no.
I knew that look.
The teasing look.
Ci-N gasped loudly.
"OH MY GOD."
Blaster grinned.
"Here we go."
Ci-N turned around in his seat dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen… today we witnessed the rarest creature in existence."
Mayo raised his hand.
"What creature?"
Ci-N pointed at Keifer.
"A panicking boyfriend."
The entire van burst out laughing.
Keifer groaned.
"Oh my God shut up."
Felix leaned back in his seat.
"No seriously bro you looked like your soul left your body."
Rory nodded.
"I thought you were about to punch the doctor."
Blaster added,
"You literally carried her like she was your wife."
I crossed my arms.
"And?"
Everyone froze.
Ci-N slowly turned toward me.
"Did you just say and?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
Rory clutched his chest dramatically.
"Oh wow. Jay didn't roast him."
Kit whispered,
"This is serious."
I threw a water bottle at him.
"Shut up."
Everyone laughed again.
But beside me Keifer stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
I glanced at him.
He was staring out the window.
His jaw tight.
And suddenly the laughter in the van faded a little.
Because everyone remembered what happened earlier.
The blood.
Cyrus.
My fainting.
Ci-N cleared his throat.
"Anyway…"
Blaster clapped his hands.
"RETREAT CAMP LET'S GO."
And thankfully the van finally stopped near the tents.
Everyone got out stretching their arms and legs.
The cool evening air hit my face.
The campus lights were already glowing between the trees.
Tents were spread across the field.
The campfire area flickered in the distance.
It should have felt peaceful.
But the moment I stepped down from the van—
Keifer's hand grabbed my wrist.
"Careful."
I looked at him.
"I'm not a broken bone."
"Still."
He didn't let go.
Behind us Ci-N whispered loudly to Felix.
"Look at him."
Felix whispered back.
"He's acting like a husband."
I turned around slowly.
"What did you say?"
They both immediately looked away.
"Nothing."
"Absolutely nothing."
"Thought so."
But Keifer still hadn't released my wrist.
I looked down at his hand.
"…Keifer."
"Yeah."
"Let go."
"No."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You fainted today."
"And?"
"And I don't trust you not to collapse again."
My eye twitched.
"I am NOT a collapsing object."
Ci-N suddenly shouted from behind us.
"BRO JUST CARRY HER AGAIN."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Keifer glared at them.
"Shut up."
Then he turned back to me.
"You're staying in my tent tonight."
I blinked again.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"No I did not agree to that."
"You fainted."
"That was one time!"
Rory crossed his arms.
"Actually twice."
Traitor.
I pointed at him.
"You're dead later."
Blaster raised his hand.
"I support Keifer's idea."
"Of course you do."
Kit nodded seriously.
"Yes safety is important."
Drew added,
"And entertainment."
I groaned.
"I hate all of you."
Ci-N raised both hands proudly.
"We love you too."
Meanwhile Keifer was already dragging my bag toward his tent.
"HEY."
"You're staying there."
"You don't own me."
He turned back calmly.
"You fainted."
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
Because unfortunately…
He had a point.
Still.
My pride refused to accept defeat.
"…Fine."
Everyone gasped dramatically.
"WHAT."
"JAY AGREED."
"THIS IS HISTORY."
Felix wiped imaginary tears.
"Our baby has grown up."
I grabbed a pillow from the nearby bench and threw it at his face.
"DIE."
The teasing continued as everyone returned to their tents.
But eventually the noise faded.
The night grew quieter.
And soon it was just me and Keifer near his tent.
He unzipped the entrance.
"Come in."
I stepped inside.
The tent was small.
Just two sleeping bags.
A lantern.
And a backpack.
I crossed my arms.
"This is very suspicious."
He looked confused.
"What?"
"You lured me into your tent."
His eyes widened.
"Jay."
"What."
"I literally dragged you here because you fainted."
"Still suspicious."
He sighed.
"You're unbelievable."
I smirked slightly and sat down on the sleeping bag.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Outside the wind rustled the trees softly.
The distant sound of the others laughing near the campfire drifted toward us.
Then Keifer suddenly crouched in front of me.
His expression serious.
"Does your head hurt?"
"…A little."
He gently touched the bandage on my forehead.
My heart skipped for a second.
"You should rest."
"You sound like a grandma."
"I'm serious."
I looked away.
"I'm fine."
"No you're not."
I frowned.
"Keifer—"
"You fainted in my arms."
My chest tightened slightly.
He looked down at the floor.
"You scared me."
The words were quiet.
But heavy.
For once…
I didn't have a sarcastic comeback.
So instead I did the most natural thing my brain decided to do.
I lightly punched his shoulder.
"Stop being dramatic."
He blinked.
"You fainted."
"I woke up."
"You collapsed."
"I'm alive."
He stared at me.
Then suddenly he laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"I know."
For a moment the tension disappeared.
Then he sat beside me.
"Sleep."
"I'm not sleepy."
"You fainted."
"I swear if you say that again—"
"You fainted."
I shoved him.
"SHUT UP."
He grabbed my wrist laughing.
And before I could react—
He pulled me closer.
My face ended up inches from his.
My heart immediately started beating faster.
"…Keifer."
"Hmm?"
"You're invading my personal space."
"You're in my tent."
"That doesn't give you rights."
He smiled slightly.
"Still jealous?"
"Of what?"
"Honey Bee."
My eye twitched.
"Oh my God."
"So you admit it."
"I do NOT."
"You punched her."
"That was charity."
"For her nose?"
"She deserved it."
He laughed again.
Then suddenly he leaned closer.
Too close.
"Jay."
"What."
"You were really scared today."
My smile faded slightly.
"…Yeah."
He didn't tease this time.
He just wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
Pulling me gently against him.
"You're safe now."
For a moment…
I just stayed there.
Listening to his heartbeat.
Feeling warm.
Protected.
Outside the campfire laughter echoed through the trees.
But inside the small tent…
It felt quiet.
Calm.
Like the world had shrunk to just the two of us.
After a while I muttered softly,
"…If Yuri finds out I stayed in your tent he'll explode."
Keifer smirked.
"Good."
I rolled my eyes.
"Idiot."
But I didn't move away.
And slowly…
My eyes began to close.
Because for the first time that day…
I finally felt safe enough to sleep.