Chapter: The Hoodie Girl
(Keifer's POV)
For a long time, the only sound in my room was Jay's breathing.
Slow.
Soft.
Peaceful.
She was still curled beside me, one arm wrapped around my hoodie like she thought I might disappear if she let go.
I carefully moved her hand away from my shirt.
She stirred slightly.
"…Keif…"
"I'm here," I whispered.
Her fingers relaxed again.
She didn't wake up.
Good.
She needed sleep.
The doctor already said the snake bite wasn't serious, but after everything that happened today — the panic at the lake, the memories, the hospital, the bus ride — her body was completely exhausted.
I gently adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
Her hair was spread across my pillow.
And somehow…
Seeing her like that in my bed felt strange.
Not bad.
Just new.
I stood up quietly and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, I looked back one more time.
Jay was still asleep.
Curled into the blanket.
Safe.
I turned off the light and stepped out.
—
The moment I walked downstairs…
Chaos greeted me.
Section E was everywhere.
Cin was sitting on the floor eating chips.
Rory and Drew were arguing over who finished the juice.
Felix and Calix were throwing a pillow at Eren.
Denzel and Yuri were laughing loudly at something on someone's phone.
My living room looked like a disaster zone.
I crossed my arms.
"Why are you all still here?"
Cin pointed at the chips.
"Hospitality."
Rory grinned.
"We were waiting for Jay to wake up."
"She's sleeping."
Blaster stretched.
"Well then… I guess we should go."
Drew grabbed his bag.
"Yeah, retreat is over anyway."
One by one everyone started standing up.
Rory, Felix, Calix, Eren, Denzel, Drew, Yuri, Josh, Mayo, David, Kit, Blaster, Exdix…
The entire Section E slowly started leaving.
Cin followed them toward the door.
Then stopped.
Then turned around.
Then sat back down on the couch.
I stared at him.
"…Why are you sitting again?"
He shrugged.
"I'm staying."
"Why."
He pointed upstairs.
"Because I've been staying at Jay's house for weeks anyway."
Fair point.
Before I could argue—
Aries walked back inside.
Ella beside him.
Aries leaned against the wall casually.
"We're staying too."
I sighed.
"Why."
Ella smiled slightly.
"Because Jay shouldn't be alone tonight."
Aries smirked.
"And also because I don't trust you."
Cin nodded seriously.
"Yes."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Great."
So now my house officially had four unexpected guests.
The others waved from the door.
"BYE KEIF!"
"TAKE CARE OF JAY!"
"DON'T KILL CIN!"
The door finally closed.
Silence filled the house.
For exactly five seconds.
Then—
THUMP THUMP THUMP.
Two small tornadoes ran down the stairs.
Keiran and Keigan.
My twin brothers.
"BRO THEY LEFT?!"
"WHERE'S JAY?!"
"She's sleeping."
Keiran gasped dramatically.
"BRO WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO HER."
Keigan crossed his arms.
"We missed her."
Cin laughed from the couch.
"You two are obsessed."
They ignored him.
Aries was leaning on the wall scrolling his phone.
Ella was sitting quietly beside him.
The house finally felt calm.
Then suddenly—
A soft voice came from the stairs.
"…Keif?"
Everyone turned.
Jay was standing halfway down the stairs.
Her hair was messy.
Her eyes were still sleepy.
And she was wearing my hoodie.
The black oversized hoodie almost swallowed her completely.
The sleeves covered half her hands.
It reached almost to her thighs.
For a moment…
Everyone froze.
Cin blinked.
"…bro."
Aries raised an eyebrow slowly.
Ella tried not to smile.
Keiran and Keigan looked shocked.
Jay blinked sleepily at everyone.
"…why is everyone staring?"
Then suddenly—
"HIPANG JAY!"
Keiran and Keigan screamed together and ran toward her.
They jumped and hugged her instantly.
"We missed you!"
"Where were you!"
Jay laughed softly, still half asleep.
"I was sleeping…"
Keigan pointed at her hoodie.
"Is that Keif's?"
Jay looked down slowly.
Then at me.
Then shrugged.
"…maybe."
Cin clapped dramatically.
"BRO SHE STOLE YOUR CLOTHES."
Aries smirked.
"Classic."
I sighed.
Jay walked down the rest of the stairs slowly.
Still rubbing her eyes.
Still wrapped inside my hoodie like it was a blanket.
Then she walked straight toward me.
Without even thinking.
And leaned her head against my shoulder.
"…I'm still sleepy…"
Cin pointed at us.
"BRO LOOK."
Aries laughed quietly.
Ella shook her head.
Keiran whispered to Keigan.
"She really likes him."
Keigan nodded.
"Yeah."
Jay yawned quietly.
And mumbled against my shoulder.
"…why is everyone here…"
I looked down at her messy hair.
Then at the three idiots staring at us.
"Because apparently," I muttered, "my house is a hotel now."
Cin raised his hand proudly.
"Yes."
Aries smirked.
"Three days."
I groaned.
This was going to be a very long three days.