Jay-Jay's POV
felt him pull me closer. My heart did this stupid little flip because of course I knew what he was up to. Instinct made me clamp my lips shut.
"Come on, just kiss or we'll make you do it," Ci-n teased, voice loud and desperate.
"Yeah — we will, so just do it," Felix egged on, already acting like a romantic director.
"Shut up, idiots!" I snapped, cheeks burning.
The whole room erupted into teasing laughter. Then—of all things—I remembered the PROFANITY RULE. Everyone froze for a second, and the sound shifted into goofy giggles. Keifer mouthed a single word at me: Profanity. I couldn't move. My throat went dry.
I flopped back onto the bed and turned my face away, dramatic and stiff. He didn't care. Keifer leaned closer anyway — IV tubing dangling and everything — like he'd risk a million tubes for one stupid, perfect moment.
He made me look at him. Quietly. Gently. Then he kissed me.
The room exploded. Cheering, clapping, camera phones flashing like confetti. Yuri walked out without a word. I shut my eyes and let the world be noisy for a second while my brain recalibrated from the kiss.
When he finally pulled away, Ci-n crowed, "First task done!"
"Second? Maybe after some years," Felix joked, scribbling nonsense on a paper like it was official. Wait, I thought it was the last?!
"Third and last — TREAT!" everyone shouted in unison. Oh.. I forgot about that.
"But—his IV broke," I blurted, scrambling up. "He needs—"
"I'll just call a nurse," Eren offered, already moving. David started to follow, but then he paused.
"I'll come with you," David said instead, because of course he would.
A few minutes later a nurse bustled in, patched the IV back up, tightened tape like an expert, and left with a curt nod. Crisis averted. The room settled into its usual chaotic peace.
"Jay, can you pass me my bag? My wallet's in there," Keifer asked softly.
I handed it over. He dug through with one good hand and pulled out crisp bills—ten thousand pesos in cash. He tossed it to David like a peace treaty.
"Have a nice day, and leave us alone," he said, checking the clock. "It's 6:37 PM."
They grinned, grabbed their snacks, and shuffled out, still chanting and fawning until the door closed. Just Keifer and me remained. The sudden quiet made me aware of every little beep and breath in the room.
He watched me as I sat in the chair beside the bed. "Why in the chair? Why not on the bed?" he teased.
I was about to smack his arm, but he blocked me with that infuriating, easy reflex he has. So I smacked him on the head instead.
"Ow—dang, that hurt, Jay!" he said, theatrically rubbing his temple.
"That's what you get," I stuck my tongue out. That's what you get, idiot! I'm lucky that Keifer can't really read my mind, if he did... yeah I pretty am dead!
My phone buzzed. Kuya Angelo. I opened it with a hand that was still shaking a little.
📩 From Kuya Angelo
[Where are you? The maids said you weren't home.]
I couldn't lie anymore. Not now. Not with everything that just happened. I typed fast.
📩 To Kuya Angelo
[I'm at the hospital.]
No sooner had I sent it than my phone rang. Kuya Angelo calling. My chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't just fear — it was the strange, steady kind of calm that came from knowing Keifer was awake beside me.