Jay's POV — The Locked Door
The apartment felt strangely quiet when we got back.
No one spoke much after the walk. Even Hannah and Elise, who were usually the loudest, stayed unusually calm.
Keifer walked inside first.
He didn't look at anyone.
Didn't say goodnight.
Didn't even glance at me.
He just walked straight down the hallway.
My chest tightened as I watched him disappear into his room.
The door closed.
second later—
Click.
Locked.
I stood there for a moment before slowly walking down the hallway.
I stopped outside his door and knocked softly.
"Keifer?"
Silence.
I waited.
Then knocked again, a little louder.
"Please… can we talk?"
Nothing.
On the other side of the door I could hear faint movement. Maybe him walking around. Maybe just standing there.
"Keifer," I tried again quietly. "I know you're upset. But shutting me out won't help."
Still no response.
My hand slowly rested against the door.
"You don't have to forgive me," I murmured. "But at least talk to me."
Silence answered me.
After a long moment, I finally stepped away.
"Good night then," I whispered softly.
But even as I walked back to my room, something about the quiet behind that door didn't feel right
Midnight
I woke up suddenly.
The apartment was completely dark and silent.
At first I thought I had imagined the sound
.
But then I heard it again.
A broken breath.
Like someone gasping quietly.
My heart started racing.
The sound was coming from the hallway.
From Keifer's room.
I slowly stepped out of my room and walked toward his door.
His light was on.
Through the door I could hear him moving restlessly on the bed.
Then his voice came out in a strained whisper.
"No… wait…"
Another shaky breath.
"Jay… don't go…"
My chest tightened painfully.
He was having a nightmare.
His voice sounded desperate now.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
I stood frozen outside the door, my hand slowly lifting toward the handle.
Inside the room, his breathing became uneven again.
Like he was fighting something in his sleep.
And hearing my name come from his lips like that…
Broke something inside me.
I pushed the door open slowly.
The room was dim, only the bedside lamp glowing soft
Keifer was twisting in his bed, breathing unevenly like he was trapped inside the nightmare.
"I'm sorry…" he muttered hoarsely. "Please… don't leave again…"
Hearing that made my heart ache.
"Keifer," I said softly, walking closer.
He didn't wake up.
His hands clenched tightly in the sheets, his forehead damp with sweat.
"Keifer," I tried again, gently touching his arm.
He jolted awake suddenly.
His eyes darted around the room in panic until they landed on me.
For a moment he looked confused.
Then embarrassed.
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly, wiping his face quickly.
"I heard you," I replied softly.
"You weren't supposed to."
His voice sounded rough, like he had been crying.
I sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You were having a nightmare."
"It's nothing," he muttered, looking away.
But his hands were still trembling slightly.
"That didn't sound like nothing."
Silence filled the room.
He stared down at the floor for a long moment before speaking again.
"They happen a lot," he admitted quietly.
My heart sank.
"Since when?"
He hesitated.
Then whispered,
"Since you left."
The words hit me harder than I expected.
"You… have nightmares about
"Not about you."
He finally looked at me.
"About losing you."
The pain in his eyes made my chest ache.
"You should hate me," he continued quietly. "After everything I did."
"I don't hate you," I said softly.
He shook his head slowly.
"But I hate myself for it."
A tear slipped down his cheek before he quickly wiped it away.
Seeing him like this…
broken and blaming himself… made something inside me hurt deeply.
Without thinking, I reached for his hand.
He froze slightly.
But he didn't pull away.
"I'm here right now," I whispered.
His breathing slowly started to calm.
The tension in his shoulders eased just a little.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then he murmured quietly,
"I thought you would choose him."
"No."
My answer came instantly.
His eyes flickered toward me.
"I already told him no," I said gently.
He studied my face like he was trying to see if I was telling the truth.
Then he looked down again.
"I still don't deserve you."
I squeezed his hand lightly.
"This isn't about deserving."
He didn't respond.
But he didn't let go either.
He leaned his head on my shoulder
And sitting there beside him in the quiet room…
I finally began to understand how much pain he had been carrying alone.
A/N
Hey lovelies
I'm sick , 😫 fever and vomiting
I tried my best to post