Jay woke up again.
Not fully—
just enough to realize one thing.
She wasn't alone.
At all.
Every corner of the room had someone.
Chair.
Wall.
Window.
Door.
Even the space near her bed—
occupied.
She blinked slowly.
"…Why is everyone still here…"
Immediate reaction—
"Because you're not stable."
"Doctor said observation."
"You're not moving properly."
"You breathe weird."
Jay stared.
"…I breathe weird?"
"Yes."
"…That's new."
She tried to adjust her blanket.
Just her fingers.
Barely a movement.
"STOP."
Jay froze mid-air.
"…It slipped."
"Let it slip."
"…But it's uncomfortable."
"We'll fix it."
Three people moved at once again.
Jay watched them adjust the blanket like she was a fragile artifact.
"…I can do that."
"No, you can't."
"…I literally just—"
"No."
Jay went quiet.
Then—
slowly—
she tucked her chin slightly into the blanket.
Only her eyes visible now.
Big mistake.
"…Why are you hiding?" Gorya asked.
"…I'm not hiding."
"…Then why only eyes?"
Jay blinked.
"…Cold."
"…You're not cold."
"…Emotionally."
Silence.
Kit turned away.
"…I'm done."
Kuya Angelo stepped forward again.
"You."
Jay immediately shrank slightly into the blanket.
"…No."
"Come out."
"…No."
"Come. Out."
"…Why do you sound like that…"
Too late.
He reached—
pulled the blanket down—
and grabbed her ear again.
"OW—!"
"You think hiding helps?" he snapped.
Jay grabbed his hand.
"…Kuya—wait—WAIT—"
"You scared everyone."
"…I know—"
"Then why do you keep acting like this?"
Jay paused.
Then softly—
"…because you're scary when you're mad…"
Silence.
Everyone paused.
Kuya Angelo blinked once.
"…What?"
Jay looked at him—
eyes soft—
voice small—
"…you look like you'll pull my ear again…"
"…I AM pulling your ear."
"…exactly…"
Her grip on his wrist loosened.
"…please let go…"
She didn't pout this time.
Didn't exaggerate.
Just—
quiet.
Soft.
"…it actually hurts…"
Kuya Angelo paused.
Longer this time.
Then slowly—
he let go.
Jay immediately covered her ear—
then leaned slightly to the side—
away from him.
"…mean…"
Percy let out a breath.
"…She's impossible."
Aries:
"She adapts."
Aum:
"…very fast."
Kanning:
"…too fast."
Jay didn't speak for a bit.
Then—
her fingers moved again.
Not big.
Not obvious.
She slowly reached sideways—
until her hand found Keifer's sleeve.
Held it.
Not tight.
Just there.
"…don't move," she murmured.
Keifer looked down.
"…I wasn't."
"…good."
She didn't look at him.
Just kept holding on.
Her mom stepped closer again.
"You're still not getting away with it."
Jay nodded lightly.
"…okay…"
"…you shouldn't have fought like that."
"…okay…"
"…you should've waited."
"…okay…"
Pause.
"…why are you agreeing so easily?" Percy asked.
Jay blinked.
"…less scolding?"
Silence.
She shifted slightly again—
just enough to rest her cheek sideways on the pillow.
Then—
very quietly—
"…can you all not shout…"
Her voice was soft.
Tired.
"…my head hurts…"
Instant silence.
Everyone froze.
Gorya:
"…does it really?"
Jay nodded slightly.
The room changed instantly.
Her mom checked her forehead.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?"
"…you were busy scolding…"
Tita Gema adjusted her pillow.
"Lie properly."
Kavin:
"Don't move too much."
MJ:
"Drink water slowly."
Kit:
"…breathe normal."
Jay:
"…I am breathing…"
"…better," Kit corrected.
Jay's grip on Keifer's sleeve tightened slightly.
She finally looked at him.
Eyes softer now.
"…you're still here…"
"…yeah."
"…good…"
Her voice faded slightly.
Then—
almost unconsciously—
she leaned just a little closer.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious.
Just enough to feel him there.
The scolding didn't stop.
The warnings didn't disappear.
But somewhere between the noise—
the care—
and her quiet little reactions—
Jay didn't need to argue anymore.
Because without even trying—
without fighting back—
she had already softened every single one of them.