Jay's POV..
The ride back felt quieter than usual.
Not uncomfortable. Not awkward. Just… different.
I sat beside Keifer, staring out of the window as the city lights blurred past. My thoughts kept circling back to the same thing over and over again.
I was really doing this.
Living with him.
Even now, it didn't feel completely real.
"You're thinking too much again."
His voice broke through my thoughts.
I glanced at him slightly. "Am I that obvious?"
"Always," he replied without even looking at me.
I rolled my eyes faintly, but a small smile still formed on my lips. "I'm just… adjusting."
"To me?" he asked.
There was a hint of something in his tone. Not teasing. Not fully serious either.
I didn't answer immediately.
"…To everything," I said finally.
He didn't push further.
But I could feel it—
That quiet understanding between us.
By the time we reached, the sky had already darkened. The house stood calm, almost too calm, like it was waiting.
The moment I stepped out of the car, my heartbeat picked up slightly.
This wasn't just a visit anymore.
I was staying.
Before I could take another step—
"Ate Jay!"
A small figure rushed towards me.
Keiren.
He almost crashed into me, hugging me tightly without hesitation. "You're really here!"
I let out a soft laugh, placing a hand on his head. "Yeah, I am."
Right behind him, Keigan stood.
Not rushing.
Not distant either.
Just… watching.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
I remembered the way he used to look at me before.
Cold. Distant. Almost like he didn't want me anywhere near.
But now—
It was different.
He shifted slightly, like he was unsure how to act.
Then, quietly—
"Ate… Jay."
The hesitation in his voice was small, but it was there.
Real.
I blinked, slightly surprised, before walking closer to him. "Hi, Keigan."
He looked away for a second, running his hand through his hair. "You're staying here now, right?"
I nodded softly. "Yeah."
A short pause followed.
Then he gave a small nod, almost to himself.
"…Good."
That was it.
But it meant more than anything else he could've said.
He was trying.
And I could see it.
Behind me, Keifer spoke, his tone casual but edged with something protective. "Don't make it weird."
"I'm not," Keigan replied instantly, but there was no hostility in his voice this time.
Keiren looked between all of us, clearly happy. "Now Ate Jay is with us every day!"
His excitement was so genuine that it made me smile again.
For the first time since arriving—
I felt a little lighter.
The rest of the evening passed more smoothly than I expected.
Dinner was simple, conversations even simpler. Keiren talked the most, Keigan stayed quieter but didn't leave, and Keifer—
He just watched.
Not in an obvious way.
But enough for me to notice.
Later that night, the house had gone quiet.
Everyone had settled in their rooms.
And yet—
I couldn't sleep.
I stood near the balcony, the cool air brushing against my face as I tried to clear my thoughts.
So much had changed in such a short time.
And even though I had agreed to all of it—
A small part of me was still catching up.
"Can't sleep?"
I didn't need to turn to know it was him.
Keifer walked up beside me, stopping just close enough for his presence to feel… familiar.
"Yeah," I admitted softly.
He leaned slightly against the railing, his gaze fixed ahead. "Regretting it already?"
I frowned a little. "No."
"Good," he said simply.
I glanced at him. "You didn't even let me finish."
"You didn't need to."
There it was again.
That confidence.
That certainty.
It should've annoyed me.
But it didn't.
"I'm just thinking," I said quietly. "Everything feels fast."
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Then he turned towards me.
"Do you want it to slow down?"
The question caught me off guard.
Because for once—
He was asking.
Not deciding.
I looked at him, really looked at him.
And then shook my head slowly.
"…No."
Something in his expression softened just slightly.
Not obvious.
But enough.
"Then stop overthinking," he said.
Before I could react, his hand reached out, gently taking mine.
Warm.
Steady.
My breath hitched slightly, but I didn't pull away.
Instead—
I let my fingers settle into his.
"You're here," he said quietly. "That's enough."
The way he said it—
It didn't feel like a statement.
It felt like something deeper.
Like I wasn't just staying in his house.
I was staying with him.
I looked down at our hands for a second before tightening my grip just a little.
"…Okay."
A faint smile touched his lips.
Then, slowly, he stepped closer.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
Just closing the distance naturally.
My heartbeat picked up as he lifted his free hand, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
"Still nervous?" he asked softly.
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't need to.
He already knew.
His fingers lingered for a moment before he pulled me slightly closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
My breath slowed.
The world around us faded.
And for the first time since everything started—
I didn't feel overwhelmed.
I felt… calm.
Safe.
Like maybe—
This was exactly where I was meant to be.
That night, when I finally lay down, sleep came easier than I expected.
Because even though everything had changed—
It didn't feel wrong.
Suddenly a hand wrapped around my waist and I knew it was of keifer. I can feel that comfortable touch of his .
He gently kissed my cheeks and we slept.