The hotel room was quiet again, the late afternoon sun now soft and golden through the curtains.
Keifer slowly woke, his eyes blinking open as the last traces of sleep faded. For a moment he didn't move, not wanting to disturb the peaceful stillness around him.
Then he noticed her.
Jay was still asleep beside him, curled slightly toward him. One of her hands rested lightly on his chest, rising and falling with his breathing, while her other arm was tucked between them.
Her hair was a little messy, strands falling across her cheek, and her face looked softer than usual—peaceful, unguarded.
Keifer smiled quietly.
She looks… cute, he thought.
He watched her for a moment longer than he probably should have, memorizing the small details—the way her lashes rested on her cheeks, the slight pout of her lips, the way she instinctively leaned closer to him even in sleep.
Then Jay stirred.
Keifer's eyes widened slightly and he quickly closed them, pretending to still be asleep.
Jay shifted again, mumbling softly as she moved closer. Her body pressed gently against his side, and she snuggled closer to him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Keifer had to fight the urge to smile.
Jay let out a soft sigh, her fingers tightening slightly in the fabric of his shirt.
Then she murmured quietly in her sleep.
"Keifer…"
His heart skipped.
Her voice was soft and dreamy, barely louder than a whisper.
"You're… my safe place."
Keifer's chest tightened instantly.
Jay shifted again, burying her face lightly against him as if seeking warmth.
"I like you… a lot," she murmured sleepily. "Don't… don't go anywhere."
For a moment, Keifer forgot how to breathe.
Those words—unguarded, honest, spoken without walls or teasing—hit him harder than anything she'd said while awake.
He stayed perfectly still, pretending to sleep, but inside his heart was racing.
A few minutes later Jay stirred again, this time waking slowly.
She blinked groggily and realized she was pressed against Keifer. Her arm was around him, her head resting against his shoulder.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Did I… move closer?
She carefully looked up at his face.
Still asleep.
Jay relaxed a little, smiling softly to herself.
Without thinking, she brushed her fingers lightly across his chest, tracing the faint lines of muscle through the fabric of his shirt.
"Good," she whispered quietly, thinking he couldn't hear.
"I like you too."
Then she snuggled closer again, resting her head back on him.
Keifer Gives Up Pretending
Keifer couldn't pretend anymore.
His arm slowly tightened around her waist, pulling her slightly closer.
Jay froze.
"…You were awake?" she asked slowly.
Keifer opened one eye, a small teasing smile forming.
"Maybe."
Jay gasped softly, immediately trying to pull away. "You heard—"
But Keifer gently stopped her, his hand resting at her waist.
"I'm glad I did," he said quietly.
Jay looked at him, her heart beating faster now.
"You really meant that?" he asked softly.
Jay hesitated… then nodded.
Keifer's expression softened completely.
"Good," he murmured.
He lifted a hand and gently brushed her hair behind her ear before leaning forward and placing a slow, tender kiss on her forehead.
Jay melted slightly into the touch, her hands instinctively resting against his chest again.
"You know," Keifer said quietly, looking down at her, "for someone who pretends to be tough all the time… you're pretty sweet when you're half asleep."
Jay rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips.
"Don't get used to it."
Keifer chuckled softly.
But his arm stayed around her waist, and she didn't move away.
Instead, she rested comfortably against him, her fingers lazily tracing patterns over his chest while his hand gently rubbed slow circles on her back.
Outside, the world was still uncertain.
But inside that hotel room, wrapped in quiet warmth and stolen moments, they allowed themselves to simply exist together.
And neither of them wanted to let go.