The waiting felt endless.
The red light above the operating room still glowed.
No one spoke anymore.
Not Percy.Not Aries.Not even Jane.
And Jay…
She was still staring at the door.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her hands trembled.
"I… I can't…" she whispered.
Jane noticed first. "Jay—"
But it was too late.
Jay's vision blurred.
The world spun.
And everything went black.
"JAY!" Percy shouted, catching her before she hit the floor.
Soft beeping sounds.
A quiet room.
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
"…Keifer…" she whispered immediately.
Jane was beside her. Percy stood near the window. Aries leaned against the wall.
Jay sat up suddenly.
"Is he awake?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Jay's heart dropped.
"…why aren't you answering me?"
Still nothing.
That was enough.
Jay pushed the blanket away and stood up, ignoring Jane trying to stop her.
"I need to see him."
Jay rushed through the hallway and opened the door.
There he was.
Lying still on the hospital bed.
Machines beeping steadily.
Unmoving.
Too quiet.
Jay's breath hitched.
"No…"
She slowly walked toward him.
Each step heavier than the last.
Jay reached his side and grabbed his hand tightly.
"Keifer…"
Her voice cracked instantly.
"You said you wouldn't leave me…"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I believed you…"
She pressed his hand against her forehead.
"You don't get to say things like that and just… just go silent on me…"
Her shoulders shook.
"I hate you… I really hate you…" she cried softly.
"But I… I can't do this without you…"
Her voice broke completely.
"…I love you…"
The words finally came out.
Raw.
Real.
Too late.
Or maybe… just in time.
A tear slipped from her eye—
Falling slowly—
Landing on Keifer's hand.
Silence.
Then—
A small movement.
Barely noticeable.
His fingers… twitched.
Jay froze.
Her breath caught.
"…Keifer?"
She tightened her grip on his hand.
"Keifer!"
Behind her, the door opened as Percy, Aries, Jane, Keigan, and Keiren rushed in.
"What happened?!" Percy asked.
Jay looked at them, eyes wide, filled with shock and hope.
"…his hand…" she whispered.
"It moved…"
Keiren stepped forward quickly. "I saw it!"
Keigan's eyes lit up. "He heard you…"
Aries exhaled slowly, tension easing just a little.
Percy let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Of course he did…" he muttered.
Jay looked back at Keifer, holding his hand tightly.
Her voice softer now.
Hopeful.
"Come back to me…"
The machines continued their steady rhythm.
But now—
It didn't feel like the end anymore.
It felt like…
A beginning.