Jay's POV — Morning
The sunlight slipped quietly through the curtains, filling the room with soft gold.
I was still sitting in the chair beside the bed.
I hadn't meant to stay the whole night… but somehow I had.
Keifer shifted slightly under the blanket, his brow tightening like the light was bothering him.
Then slowly, his eyes opened.
He stared at the ceiling for a moment, breathing unevenly.
"…my head," he muttered hoarsely.
I didn't say anything at first.
He rubbed his face tiredly and pushed himself up slightly before finally noticing me.
His eyes froze.
"Jay…?"
I gave a small nod.
"Morning."
For a second he just stared at me like he wasn't sure if I was real.
Then memory started to hit him.
Not clearly… but enough.
His expression slowly changed.
Embarrassment.
Guilt.
Regret.
"I…" His voice cracked slightly. "I was drunk."
"Yes," I said simply.
He looked away immediately, running a hand through his messy hair.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
The room went quiet.
I didn't answer.
Keifer swallowed hard, his fingers tightening against the blanket.
"Did I… say anything stupid?" he asked carefully.
I watched him for a moment.
"You talked," I said calmly.
He flinched slightly.
That tiny reaction told me everything.
He didn't remember the details… but he knew.
His shoulders slowly dropped.
"Of course I did," he said bitterly.
Another silence filled the room.
Keifer kept staring down at his hands like he couldn't bring himself to look at me.
"I probably made things worse," he said quietly.
I didn't respond.
Because the truth was…
He had.
But not in the way he thought.
He finally forced himself to glance at me again.
His eyes were red.
"You didn't have to bring me home," he said softly.
"You could've left me there."
I crossed my arms slightly.
"You could barely stand," I replied.
"That's not really something I ignore."
He nodded slowly, shame written all over his face.
"Right."
For a moment he looked like he wanted to say something else.
His lips parted slightly.
But then his eyes dropped again.
Because he remembered something else.
My friends.
"You weren't alone last night," he said quietly.
It wasn't really a question.
I leaned back in the chair.
"No."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"With your friends," he added.
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then he asked carefully,
"…guys too?"
There it was.
Jealousy.
Even after everything.
Even after five years.
I almost sighed.
"Yes, Keifer. Guys too."
He looked away quickly.
"I see."
His fingers curled slightly like he was trying to hide how much that bothered him.
But it showed anyway.
He let out a quiet breath.
"You seem happy with them," he said after a moment.
"They make you laugh."
I shrugged lightly.
"They're good friends."
Keifer nodded again, but something in his eyes dimmed.
He rubbed his face again, clearly trying to pull himself together.
"I'm glad," he said quietly.
"Really."
But the way his voice dropped at the end made it obvious it still hurt him.
And for a moment…
Just a moment…
My chest tightened.
But I didn't move.
I didn't soften.
Because forgiveness wasn't something he could get that easily.
Not after everything.
Keifer finally stood up slowly from the bed.
Still a little unsteady.
Still looking like someone who hadn't slept properly in years.
When he passed by me toward the door, he stopped for a second.
Not looking at me.
Just standing there.
"…thank you," he said quietly.
"For bringing me home."
Then he walked out of the room.
Leaving behind the silence…
And a weight neither of us were ready to face yet.
Jay's POV — Breakfast
The smell of coffee and toasted bread filled the apartment.
Hannah was already laughing about something Liam said, while Noel leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone. The morning sunlight poured through the large windows, making everything feel strangely peaceful.
Too peaceful.
I sat at the table with them, trying to focus on the conversation.
"Jay, you're zoning out,"
Hannah teased, nudging my arm.
"I'm not," I said, taking a sip of coffee.
"Uh-huh," Liam grinned. "Sure you're not."
Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind us.
Heavy.
Slow.
I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
Keifer.
The conversation at the table quieted slightly as he stepped into the kitchen.
He looked… different this morning.
His hair was still messy, his shirt slightly wrinkled, and his expression was tense like he wasn't sure if he even belonged in the room.
Hannah glanced at me.
Then back at him.
"Oh," she said politely.
"Good morning."
Keifer nodded once.
"Morning."
His voice was rough from the hangover.
His eyes moved across the table… and then stopped on Noel.
Noel looked up and smiled casually.
"Morning, man."
Keifer didn't smile back.
He just gave a small nod.
I could practically feel the tension building in the room.
I stood up to grab another cup of coffee.
"You should drink water," I said without looking at him.
"You're still recovering."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Yeah."
When I turned back around, Noel had leaned closer to me slightly.
"Jay, did you bring the sketches you were talking about?" he asked.
"I think so," I said.
I moved my bag onto the table and started looking through it.
While I searched, Noel leaned over my shoulder to see the papers.
His arm brushed lightly against mine.
It was innocent.
Completely normal.
But when I looked up—
Keifer was staring.
His jaw had tightened.
His hands were shoved deep into his pockets.
He wasn't saying anything.
But his eyes…
His eyes were burning with quiet jealousy.
I sighed softly.
"Found them," I said
placing the sketches on the table.
Noel smiled.
"These are amazing."
Hannah leaned forward. "Wait, let me see!"
Everyone gathered around the sketches, talking excitedly.
Everyone except Keifer.
He stayed near the counter.
Silent.
Watching.
After a moment Liam looked up.
"You want to sit?" he asked casually.
Keifer shook his head.
"I'm fine."
But his eyes kept drifting back to me.
Every time Noel laughed with me.
Every time he leaned closer to look at the sketches.
Keifer looked like he was forcing himself not to react.
Like he was reminding himself he had no right.
And maybe he didn't.
But the jealousy was still there.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
I noticed his stare again and finally looked back at him.
Our eyes met across the room.
For a moment neither of us moved.
Then he looked away first.
Running a hand through his hair like the whole situation was exhausting him.
And suddenly…
For the first time since last night…
I realized something.
Seeing me move on…
Was hurting him more than anything else.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hey guys,
Do you think jay should see keifer struggling and slowly starts forgiving him ?
Also I think jay should move back to London, but yeah sometimes going to Norway