The mansion was silent that night — too silent for a house that currently held Section E.Which meant only one thing: they were definitely up to something.
In the middle of the hallway, Keifer stood like a general commanding a half-awake army."Alright," he whispered, "we've got five minutes before midnight. Everyone in position."
Percy yawned. "Bro, it's her birthday, not a war."
"Same thing," Keifer said seriously. "If she wakes up before we're ready, we die."
Cin snorted. "Bold of you to assume we're not dying already. It's midnight, Keifer.
"Adam whispered, "Yeah, boss, even the ghosts are asleep.""
Shh," Michael hissed, balancing a tray of cupcakes.
"You drop that frosting and Jay will feed you to her dogs."
David was tangled in streamers, Drew was arguing with Felix over balloon symmetry, and Calix had somehow mistaken wrapping paper for a cape.
Blaster held a sparkler .Inside the house. "Put that down before we set off the sprinklers!" yelled Aries.
It was chaos — the brand that only Section E could conjure.
Then the door opened.
Jay stood there in her oversized hoodie, hair a chaotic cloud. "If this is another prank—"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAY!"
Confetti burst, balloons exploded (one hit Angelo in the face), and Percy nearly fell over the cake.Jay froze, blinking like the scene in front of her was a fever dream.
"What—how—why are you people like this?"
Rafael smirked. "Because sleep is for emotionally stable people. Which we're not."tiger grinned. "And it was Keifer's idea."
Jay turned to Keifer, who was smiling, a small velvet box in his hand.Her tone softened. "You planned this?"
He stepped closer, eyes gentle. "Guilty."He opened the box — a silver ring glimmered inside, lined with sapphire stones, her initials carved in fine script.
"I bought it in London," he said quietly. "Was waiting for today to give it to you."
Jay blinked, speechless. "You—"
Keifer smiled faintly. "So… will you let me call you mine, officially?"
Silence.
Then Percy practically exploded. "HE DID IT! HE FINALLY DID IT!"Cin cheered. "Took him a whole season arc!"Felix clapped. "About time, man!"Rafael chuckled. "Slow burn romance unlocked."
Angelo crossed his arms. "Fine. She's an adult now. But if you even think of anything else—""Relax," Keifer interrupted. "I'm not suicidal."Aries sighed. "If she's happy, I'm fine. But if she cries—""—you break my nose, yeah, I know," Keifer said dryly.
Yuri said nothing. His smile didn't reach his eyes as he murmured, "Happy birthday, Jay," and set a small gift box beside hers.
Cin leaned toward Drew. "Yuri's smile just dropped ten degrees."Drew whispered back, "Bro's entering heartbreak arc."
Everyone broke into laughter again as Jay slipped the ring on, her eyes shining. "It's perfect, Keifer."
By the time the celebration ended, wrapping paper littered the floor, Percy was asleep on a pile of balloons, and Blaster had passed out with frosting on his cheek.
Jay was cleaning up when Keifer appeared at her door, leaning casually against the frame.
"You're still awake?" she asked softly.He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
She narrowed her eyes. "Keifer, it's three A.M."He smiled. "Just wanted to make sure my girlfriend is okay."
Jay's lips twitched. "You're impossible.""Persistent," he corrected, stepping in.
She tried to shoo him out. "You're not sleeping here.""I'm just going to sleep," he said quickly, raising both hands. "Promise. You think I'd risk dying before our first official date?"
Jay groaned but gave up. "Fine. But if you snore, I'm throwing you out the window.""Deal," he said, grinning as he slipped beside her on the bed.
The room fell quiet except for their breathing. His fingers brushed hers, warm and steady.
"Happy birthday again," he murmured."Thank you," she whispered.
For a while they talked softly — about Section E's madness, about how Adam once replaced Rafael's coffee with soy sauce, about how Percy had somehow befriended the mansion's security system. Laughter faded into quiet hums of contentment.
Then Jay's gaze drifted to Keifer's wrist.
A black-and-white braided bracelet.
She'd seen it before, but tonight, it caught her differently — same pattern, same thread as hers… as Adam's, Michael's, and Sam's.
"Keifer," she whispered, voice low, "where'd you get that bracelet?"
He looked down. "This? My mom gave it to me when I turned ten. Said it would protect me. Why?"
Jay's eyes widened slightly. Her heartbeat stumbled. Her own bracelet — given by her mentor — looked identical. Her mentor's name… the same name as Keifer's mother.
She smiled faintly, forcing nonchalance. "Nothing… it just looks familiar."He frowned. "You sure?""Yeah," she said softly. "Just thinking too much."
He chuckled, brushing her hair aside. "You always do. Rest now, birthday girl."
Jay smiled — small, distracted. Same name. Same design. Could it really be coincidence?
Her eyelids grew heavy, thoughts dissolving into sleep as Keifer's arm wrapped around her waist, warm and secure.
The last thing she saw before drifting off was the faint glint of twin bracelets — two threads of black and white, lying side by side.