The storm outside had finally slowed to a drizzle, but the locked preparation room still felt like its own little world.
Jay sat at the table, her files spread out, trying to focus. Her ankle still ached slightly, but after revealing her fear, the tension inside her chest felt… lighter.
Keifer stood nearby, quietly flipping through a file, watching her from the corner of his eyes. Not teasing. Not competitive. Just… observing.
Jay noticed. Immediately. And it made her uneasy.
"…What?" she asked, pretending not to care.
Keifer didn't answer at first. He just walked over and put a folder in front of her.
"Your argument for this section is incomplete," he said calmly.
Jay blinked. "…You care about my argument?"
Keifer smirked faintly. "I care about winning. But you make it harder when your points are sloppy."
Jay rolled her eyes. "…Harder because I'm sloppy, or because I'm you?"
Keifer raised an eyebrow, leaning closer, not threatening, just… close enough that Jay could feel his presence. "…Maybe both."
Jay flinched slightly at how near he was and quickly focused back on her papers. But her hands were shaking just a little.
Keifer noticed. Of course he noticed.
"Here," he said, leaning down to adjust a stack of papers on her side. Their hands brushed slightly. Jay froze.
"…Careful," she muttered, her voice quieter than usual.
"I am," Keifer said, still close. His hand lingered for just a second longer than necessary.
Jay's heart skipped. She quickly turned away, forcing herself to act normal.
Minutes later, Jay was struggling to open a jar of water she had grabbed from her bag. Her hands were slippery from nerves—and maybe the lingering anxiety from the storm earlier.
Keifer noticed immediately.
"Here." He took the bottle from her, twisting it open easily.
Jay blinked at him. "…Thanks."
"No problem," he said. He handed it back to her, but their fingers touched again.
This time Jay didn't pull away immediately.
Outside the Door
Percy, Jane, Keigan, and Keiren were crouched in their usual spy positions.
Percy whispered dramatically, "THEY'RE TOUCHING. I REPEAT—TOUCHING."
Jane sighed. "Percy. That's not news."
Keigan whispered, "Kuya is being… soft?"
Keiren nodded. "Ate Jay… she's letting him. Oh no."
Aries appeared silently behind them, glaring. "If he hurts her…"
Everyone froze. The threat hung in the air. Even Percy looked a little intimidated.
Back inside, the room had gone quiet. The papers were sorted. Arguments planned. And yet… the tension remained.
Jay shifted slightly, and Keifer noticed again. His gaze softened, almost imperceptibly.
"You're doing better than I expected," he said quietly.
Jay glared. "…What does that even mean?"
"It means you're handling things… well. Considering everything."
Jay looked down. "…Thanks, I guess."
Keifer's expression softened further. "…You don't have to pretend with me."
Jay's throat went dry. "…I know."
Another beat. A quiet one. Not teasing. Not arguing. Just… two people, inches apart, finally noticing the other in a way that wasn't rivalry.
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance. Jay flinched slightly.
Keifer placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "…I'm still here. You're safe."
Jay looked up at him. And for the first time in years, she believed it.
Outside the Room
Percy whispered, "SOMETHING HAPPENED."
Jane smirked. "Percy, just let it happen."
Keigan nudged Keiren. "Kuya is totally falling."
Keiren nodded. "Ate Jay… she's winning him over slowly."
Aries, silent as ever, just watched. Keifer's protective stance didn't escape him.
And somewhere behind the corner, Luke Reyes grinned widely.
"Oh, this is going to be excellent."