Keifer leaned comfortably against the headboard, watching Jay as she walked around the room fixing her hair in the mirror.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
"You know," he said casually, "I didn't know I was your safe place."
Jay froze.
Very slowly, she turned around.
"You were supposed to be asleep," she said, narrowing her eyes.
Keifer shrugged innocently. "I woke up at the perfect moment."
Jay grabbed a pillow and threw it straight at his face.
"You heard nothing."
"Oh no," Keifer said, catching the pillow easily. "I heard everything. 'Keifer, you're my safe place. I like you a lot. Don't go anywhere.'"
Jay's cheeks flushed red.
"I— I didn't mean that!" she said quickly. "I was dreaming!"
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
"Yes!" she said defensively. "And in the dream… I wasn't talking to you."
Keifer leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "Then who?"
Jay crossed her arms.
"…Snorlax."
Silence filled the room.
Keifer blinked slowly.
"The Pokémon?"
"Yes." Jay nodded firmly. "Snorlax is very comforting."
Keifer stared at her in disbelief.
"So you're telling me," he said slowly, "you confessed your feelings… to a giant sleeping Pokémon?"
Jay turned away dramatically. "Exactly. Not you."
Keifer groaned. "Jay, come on."
But she ignored him completely, grabbing her phone and pretending to scroll.
"Jay."
Nothing.
"Jay, seriously."
Still nothing.
Keifer sighed dramatically and slid off the bed.
"Okay fine," he said, walking over. "I'm sorry for listening."
No response.
He leaned closer.
"I apologize for overhearing your emotional confession to Snorlax."
Jay pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling.
But she still ignored him.
Keifer clasped his hands together dramatically. "Please forgive me."
Still silence.
"Jay Mariano," he said with exaggerated seriousness, "I am begging for forgiveness."
She finally looked at him.
"Too late."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Keifer sighed in relief and opened it. A hotel waitress stood outside with a tray of lunch.
"Room service," she said with a bright smile.
Jay sat on the bed while the woman brought the food inside.
As Keifer reached to take one of the plates, the waitress's fingers brushed his hand.
Accidentally.
But… they stayed there a little too long.
Jay noticed immediately.
Her eyes narrowed.
The waitress smiled sweetly at Keifer. "Careful, it's hot."
Jay stood up instantly.
"Your hand seems perfectly fine," she said coolly.
Both of them turned toward her.
The waitress blinked. "Excuse me?"
Jay crossed her arms. "You were holding his hand a little longer than necessary."
The waitress scoffed. "It was an accident."
"Sure it was."
Keifer immediately stepped between them.
"Okay—okay—everyone relax—"
But Jay stepped forward.
"You think I didn't notice?"
The waitress rolled her eyes. "Relax. He's not your boyfriend."
Jay's jaw tightened.
"Well maybe he should be," she shot back.
The waitress looked surprised.
Keifer froze.
The waitress huffed and quickly left the room, muttering under her breath as she shut the door.
Silence filled the room.
Keifer slowly turned toward Jay.
She suddenly looked very interested in the lunch tray.
Keifer folded his arms.
"…I thought you said you didn't like me."
Jay grabbed a fork. "I don't."
"You literally just fought someone over me."
"I was defending basic manners."
Keifer stepped closer, smirking again.
"Right."
Jay pointed her fork at him. "Don't start."
Keifer leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
"So… if you don't like me…"
Jay froze slightly.
"Why were you jealous?"
Jay looked up at him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she muttered quietly,
"…Eat your lunch, Keifer."
Keifer chuckled softly.
But the smile on his face said one thing clearly.
He didn't believe her for a second.