Chapter: My Safe Place
(Keif's POV)
The house had been noisy all morning.
Not normal noise.
Section-E-type noise.
Which meant chaos.
Apparently after everything that happened yesterday… Aries, Ella, and Ci n had decided to stay at my house for one extra week.
My peaceful house?
Destroyed.
Completely.
I was sitting on the living room couch while Keiran was playing with his toy cars on the floor. Keigan was leaning against the wall scrolling through his phone.
And Jay?
Jay was sitting on the other couch, trying to drink her juice peacefully.
Trying.
Keyword: trying.
Because Ci n had decided today was the perfect day to be annoying.
He suddenly leaned forward dramatically and squinted at Jay.
"Jay…"
She sighed already.
"What?"
He pointed at her suspiciously.
"You look different today."
Jay blinked.
"…What?"
Aries immediately joined the chaos.
"Oh wait I see it too."
Jay looked between them.
"What are you talking about?"
Keigan looked up from his phone and grinned.
"Yeah actually… something is different."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You all look like idiots right now."
Ci n leaned closer.
"No seriously."
He pointed at her face.
"Your eyes."
Jay froze.
"My eyes?"
Aries nodded dramatically.
"Yeah."
"They look more… dangerous today."
Jay rolled her eyes.
"Oh my god."
But they weren't done.
Keigan suddenly stood up and walked around her like he was inspecting a museum object.
"Hmmm…"
Jay glared at him.
"Keigan."
"Yes, Hipang Jay?"
"Sit down before I throw this juice at your face."
Ci n laughed loudly.
"See! Dangerous!"
Aries clapped once.
"Confirmed."
Jay slammed her glass on the table.
"Why are all of you acting like monkeys today?!"
Keigan smirked.
"Because Keif is here."
Jay blinked.
"…What?"
Ci n grinned.
"You're calmer when you sit with him."
Aries added casually,
"Yeah when Keif isn't around you threaten to murder people."
Jay crossed her arms.
"That is not true."
All three of them said at the same time—
"IT IS."
Jay stared at them.
Then slowly turned her head toward me.
I was sitting quietly on the big couch watching everything.
Completely entertained.
She squinted at me.
"You're enjoying this."
I shrugged.
"A little."
That was the wrong answer.
Jay suddenly stood up.
Ci n grinned mischievously.
"Oooo she's angry."
Aries whispered loudly,
"Barracuda mode incoming."
Keigan stepped back dramatically.
"Everyone hide."
Jay glared at all three of them.
"You guys are impossible."
Then—
Instead of yelling again…
She walked straight toward me.
Before I could even react—
She climbed onto the couch.
Then immediately curled into me.
Like a sleepy cat.
Her head rested against my chest while her arms wrapped around my waist.
I blinked.
"…Jay?"
She ignored everyone else and buried her face deeper into my hoodie.
"Mmm."
Ci n pointed dramatically.
"SEE!"
Aries laughed.
"Told you!"
Keigan clutched his chest.
"She went to her safe place!"
Jay groaned without even looking at them.
"Shut up."
I wrapped one arm around her automatically so she wouldn't slide off the couch.
She was warm.
Soft.
And already half asleep.
I looked down at her.
"You tired?"
She nodded slightly against my chest.
"Your friends are exhausting."
Ci n shouted from across the room.
"HEY!"
Aries laughed.
"That includes me too?"
Jay lifted one hand lazily without opening her eyes and flipped them off.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Keiran looked up from the floor.
"Kuya… why is Ate Jay always sleeping on you?"
I smiled slightly and ruffled his hair.
"Because she likes it."
Jay murmured quietly against my chest.
"Because he's warm."
Ci n gagged dramatically.
"DISGUSTING."
Aries covered his eyes.
"Too much romance."
Keigan shook his head.
"My kuya is finished."
I ignored them.
My hand slowly moved through Jay's hair while she curled even closer to me.
Her breathing was already slowing down.
She was falling asleep again.
Ci n whispered loudly,
"Bro… she literally uses you as a pillow."
I smirked.
"I don't mind."
Aries sighed.
"Of course you don't."
Jay shifted slightly and mumbled softly without opening her eyes—
"Keif…"
"Yeah?"
"Don't let them take me."
Ci n burst out laughing.
"WE ARE NOT KIDNAPPERS."
But Jay only snuggled closer.
"…Still."
I pulled her closer gently.
"No one's taking you."
Her grip tightened slightly on my shirt.
Satisfied.
And within a minute—
She was completely asleep again.
Aries shook his head.
"This girl sleeps more than a cat."
Ci n smirked.
"Bro is officially a human bed."
Keigan laughed.
"Kuya Keif = Jay's personal mattress."
I sighed but smiled slightly.
Because honestly…
If this was my job—
Being Jay's pillow…
I wouldn't complain at all.
Not even once.