Jay's POV...
I wasn't expecting anyone.
Actually… I wasn't expecting anything.
The house was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Keifer had left for some meeting.
Keigan wasn't home.
Keiren was still at school.
And for the first time since everything happened..
I was alone.
I sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone absentmindedly, but my mind wasn't really there.
It kept going back.
To him.
To that stupid rule.
To that....
Ding dong.
I blinked.
Who could that be?
I stood up slowly, walking toward the door.
"This better not be something weird…"
The moment I opened it...
"JAYYYYYY!!!"
I didn't even get time to react.
Mica literally launched herself at me.
"MICA..WHAT..?!"
"How are you!" she yelled dramatically, hugging me tight.
Behind her
Rakki stood calmly like always.
Freya leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
And Ella smiled softly beside her.
I blinked.
"…what are you all doing here?"
"Surprise," Rakki said simply.
"You disappeared," Mica added, pulling away to look at me properly. "So we came."
"At his house," Freya said, raising a brow. "Bold."
My face heated instantly.
"I did not disappear."
"You did," Mica argued. "No texts, no calls..nothing."
"I was busy."
"With Keifer?" Freya smirked slightly.
I opened my mouth..
Then closed it.
"Wow," Freya let out a small laugh. "Speechless. That's new."
Ella stepped forward, gently nudging Freya. "Stop it."
Then she looked at me, smiling warmly.
"We just wanted to see you."
That softened something in me.
"…you could've told me."
"And ruin the surprise?" Mica gasped. "Never."
I stepped aside. "Come in before neighbors think something's wrong."
They walked in like they owned the place.
"Nice," Rakki said, glancing around.
"Rich rich," Mica added, already making herself comfortable on the couch.
Freya looked around more carefully, observing everything.
"…fits him," she muttered.
Ella sat beside Mica, still smiling at me like she was just happy to be here.
I stood there for a second, just watching them.
"Where is Grace?" I asked.
Mica said. "She is taking care of Grazel."
"Ok"
"So," Mica leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Tell us everything."
"No."
"YES."
"There's nothing to tell."
Freya snorted. "You're living in his house."
"That doesn't mean anything."
Rakki raised a brow slightly.
Ella just smiled knowingly.
"That means everything," Mica said dramatically.
I covered my face slightly. "You all are impossible."
"And you're blushing," Freya pointed out instantly.
"I am not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Say that again," Freya smirked.
I glared at her.
She leaned back, satisfied. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
Mica suddenly gasped.
"WAIT.. does he still do that thing?"
I froze.
"What thing?" Ella asked innocently.
"THE THING," Mica emphasized, wiggling her brows.
"No," I said quickly.
Rakki looked at me.
"You hesitated."
"I didn't hesitate."
"You did."
Mica smirked. "Now I'm interested."
I stood up immediately. "Who wants snacks?"
"DIVERTING," Mica shouted.
"SUCCESSFULLY," I shot back.
They followed me into the kitchen anyway.
"You cook?" Freya asked, leaning against the counter.
"Sometimes."
"For him?" she added.
I paused.
"…for myself."
"Hmm."
Mica nudged Ella. "She's gone."
"I'm not gone!"
"You're living with him," Mica said. "You're gone."
Ella laughed softly.
Rakki just watched quietly, but there was a small smile on her lips.
"You're happy," she said suddenly.
I blinked.
"…I am?"
"You are," she repeated.
Silence fell for a second.
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't need to.
They already knew.
Freya crossed her arms.
"Well… at least he didn't ruin you."
"FREYA...."
"What?" she shrugged. "I'm being nice."
"This is you being nice?"
"Yes."
I couldn't help it.
I laughed.
And just like that...
The tension disappeared.
We ended up back in the living room, snacks in hand, talking over each other like always.
Mica ranting about Calix.
Rakki casually mentioning Ci-n like it was nothing.
Freya pretending she didn't care about Edrix.....while clearly caring.
And Ella smiling whenever Aries came up.
"You all are so obvious," I said.
"You're worse," Freya shot back instantly.
I choked on my drink.
"See?" Mica pointed. "EXACTLY."
"I hate you all."
"You love us," Ella corrected softly.
I looked at them.
All of them.
And smiled.
"…yeah."
Outside, the sun was slowly setting.
Inside..
Laughter filled the house.
And for the first time in a long while..
It didn't feel empty.