The living room was full — noise, laughter, relief.
Jay and Lia sat between Kiefer and Kairav, finally breathing normally again.
Section E crowded around them, offering snacks, plushies, water bottles, and emotional support in every shape.
And then—
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Three loud knocks shook the front door.
Everyone froze.
Aries whispered,
"…Are we being raided?"
Josh held a pillow like a weapon.
"NOT AGAIN—"
Calix peeked out the window…
then groaned.
"Oh my god. It's TIGER."
Before anyone could react—
The door BLASTED open.
Tiger burst inside wearing a backpack, holding milk tea, and yelling:
"GOOD EVENING MY FELLOW DELINQUEEENTS—
HOLYY SHHH— WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!"
Everyone yelled at once:
"TIGER, KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN!"
"WE HAVE EMOTIONAL PEOPLE HERE!"
"BRO YOU'RE LATE!"
"WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING??"
Tiger looked around dramatically.
Jay's red eyes.
Lia's tired face.
Kiefer's protective arm.
Kairav hovering like a guard dog.
Everyone else looking like survivors of a natural disaster.
Tiger blinked twice.
Then shouted:
"AIN'T NO WAY—
I LEAVE YOU GUYS FOR FIVE HOURS AND YOU START A TELENOVELA WITHOUT ME?!"
He dropped his milk tea on the table and grabbed Rory's shoulders.
"BRO. TELL ME EVERYTHING. Who cried? Who fought? Who died?"
Rory deadpanned.
"No one died, Tiger."
"Someone LOOKS emotionally dead," Tiger pointed at Felix, who just raised his notebook.
Felix:
"I'm documenting trauma. Please don't touch me."
Tiger turned toward the couch.
Jay and Lia looked exhausted but smiling softly.
Tiger's face instantly softened —
rare, but real.
He lowered his voice (for once).
"Ay… you two okay?"
Jay nodded.
Lia gave a tiny smile.
Tiger stepped in front of them like a dramatic actor.
"If someone made y'all cry—
I will personally make that person rethink their entire existence."
Kairav cleared his throat.
"She already left."
Tiger's eyes widened.
"—OH. So she cried first?? GOOD."
Angelo snorted.
"Dude—"
Tiger cut him off by pointing dramatically at Jay.
"You cry BEAUTIFUL tears.
But I will not allow ANYONE outside this house to be the reason for those tears."
Jay laughed quietly.
Kiefer looked at Tiger like,
Thanks, bro.
Then Tiger pointed at Lia.
"And YOU—
you're too pretty to be stressed.
Anyone who stresses you? Cancelled. Blocked. Deleted from human history."
Lia finally smiled for real.
Kairav nodded approvingly.
Suddenly Tiger clapped his hands.
"OKAY. I'VE DECIDED."
He turned to the whole room.
"We are doing EMERGENCY SECTION E THERAPY SESSION—
hosted by me."
"NO," half the room groaned.
"Yes," Tiger insisted.
"This is important for your mental—"
Felix threw a pillow at him.
Mayo added another pillow.
Then Cin.
Tiger caught one mid-air.
"YOU CAN'T SILENCE ME!"
Jessica laughed.
"This is why you weren't invited originally."
Tiger gasped.
"You GUYS had a sleepover WITHOUT ME?!"
Mira shrugged.
"You always come uninvited anyway."
Angelo nodded.
"True."
Tiger dramatically fell on the couch between Lorenzo and Percy.
"You wound me. Emotionally. Spiritually. Physically."
Lorenzo shoved him.
"Move. You're heavy."
While the boys argued about snacks, therapy, and pillows—
Jay leaned into Kiefer's side.
Lia rested her head on Kairav's shoulder.
Tiger looked over at them, smiling slightly.
Then shouted at the room:
"OKAY EVERYONE—
NO MORE SADNESS TONIGHT.
Section E is officially on protect-the-girls mode!"
Everyone cheered.
Aries lifted a bag of chips like a trophy.
"TO PROTECTING JAY AND LIA!"
Cindy raised her drink.
"To never letting Kiara near them again."
Daniel nodded.
"To emotional safety."
Kit added,
"To whoever cries next — we comfort them immediately."
Eren whispered,
"To snacks."
Mica laughed.
"To family."
Freya snapped dramatically.
"To our mutyas!"
Tiger shouted louder.
"TO SECTION E — THE MOST CHAOTIC, BEAUTIFUL, LOYAL FAMILY EVER CREATED!"
The room erupted.
Jay smiled softly.
Lia exhaled with relief.
For the first time all day—
They felt safe.
Protected.
And loved.