The storm had almost passed. Only soft rain tapped against the courthouse windows now.
Inside the preparation room, Jay and Keifer were still sitting close at the table, files neatly stacked after hours of working together. The quiet between them wasn't awkward anymore. It was… comfortable.
Jay leaned back slightly, stretching her arms.
"I think we finished everything," she said.
Keifer glanced over the files, nodding. "Yeah. Looks like it."
For a moment neither of them moved. Almost like neither of them wanted to break the strange little bubble the locked room had created.
Then—
Click.
The door suddenly unlocked and swung open.
Jay jumped slightly.
Standing in the doorway were Percy, Jane, Keigan, and Keiren—all trying (and failing) to look normal.
Percy immediately straightened up. "Oh wow! Look at that! The door opened! Crazy!"
Jane pinched the bridge of her nose. "Percy… stop talking."
Keigan crossed his arms, trying to look cool but clearly staring at Jay and Keifer.
Keiren was even worse—his eyes were wide with curiosity.
Behind them stood Aries, watching silently.
Jay blinked at all of them. "…Were you guys standing there the whole time?"
Percy laughed nervously. "What? Nooo! Of course not!"
Jane muttered under her breath, "We absolutely were."
Keifer sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You people are terrible at spying."
Jay carefully stood up from the chair, her ankle still slightly sore.
Before she could lose her balance, Keifer instinctively placed a steady hand around her waist.
Everyone in the hallway froze.
Percy's jaw dropped.
Keigan whispered loudly to Keiren, "KUYA JUST DID THAT."
Keiren whispered back, "ATE JAY LET HIM."
Jay realized what was happening and quickly stepped away, clearing her throat.
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
Keifer raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "…Right."
Aries stepped forward then, his sharp eyes moving between them.
Jay immediately relaxed slightly when she saw him. "Aries."
Aries nodded once. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said.
His gaze shifted to Keifer for a moment. Not hostile exactly… but definitely a warning.
Keifer met the look calmly. Neither of them said anything.
But the tension was very clear.
As the group began walking toward the courtroom again, Percy quietly slid next to Jay.
"So… anything interesting happen in there?" he asked with a mischievous grin.
Jay gave him a flat stare. "We worked."
Percy looked unconvinced.
Jane smirked slightly. "Sure you did."
Jay groaned. "You guys are impossible."
Behind them, Keifer walked beside his brothers.
Keigan nudged him. "You like her."
Keifer didn't even look at him. "Shut up."
Keiren grinned. "You totally do."
Keifer sighed but didn't deny it.
As they reached the courtroom doors, Jay slowed slightly.
Keifer noticed immediately.
"You ready?" he asked quietly.
Jay took a breath. Then nodded.
"Yeah," she said.
For a moment, their eyes met again—no rivalry, no teasing. Just understanding.
Then they both pushed open the courtroom doors.
And stepped back into the case that started everything.