Jay-Jay POV
Morning came the rude way.
Sunlight straight to the eyes, birds screaming like they had personal beef with me, and my brain waking up before my body signed the agreement.
I groaned and rolled over.
Bad idea.
Keifer was already awake.
Propped against the headboard. Hair messy. Shirt half-buttoned. Looking like someone who slept for four hours and still had time to overthink life.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?" I mumbled.
"Making sure you're real," he said.
I squinted. "That's creepy. Also flattering. Continue."
He snorted and looked away.
Silence stretched between us—not awkward, but not comfortable either. The kind that sat heavy, like something was waiting to be said but neither of us wanted to open the door.
I broke it first. "What time is it?"
"Too early for vacation behavior."
I sighed and buried my face in the pillow. Why does every serious conversation always start before breakfast?
Downstairs was already loud when we joined everyone. Plates clinking. Andrew arguing with Felix about cereal being a soup. Ci-n recording something for absolutely no reason.
Normal.
I should've felt better.
But then I saw Sienna.
She was laughing with Ciel, hair tied back, sleeves rolled up like she belonged there. Like she'd always belonged there.
And that weird feeling came back.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Just… awareness.
She noticed me looking and smiled. "Morning, Jay."
"Morning," I replied, matching her tone.
She glanced at Keifer. "Did you sleep okay?"
He answered politely. Too politely. "Yeah."
Why does that sound like a lie?
Yuri sat beside me, nudging my arm. "You're thinking again."
"I'm always thinking."
"That's the problem."
I elbowed him lightly, but my eyes drifted back to Sienna without permission.
She was asking questions. Casual ones. Where we'd go today. What everyone liked. Who preferred what.
Collecting information.
Stop it, Jay. You're spiraling.
After breakfast, people scattered—beach plans, naps, showers. I decided to take a walk instead.
Alone.
Or so I thought.
Footsteps matched mine.
I didn't turn. "If you're here to tell me I forgot something, I didn't."
"It's me," Sienna said.
Of course it was.
We walked side by side, waves crashing nearby. She spoke first.
"You and Keifer are close."
Statement. Not a question.
I shrugged. "Very ."
She nodded. "That kind of bond is rare."
Something in her tone made my chest tighten.
"And dangerous," she added lightly.
I stopped walking.
She didn't.
"…Dangerous how?" I asked.
She turned back, surprised. "Oh— I didn't mean it like that. I just meant people misunderstand closeness."
Her smile was back.
Perfect again.
"I should go," she said. "They're calling me."
She walked away.
I stood there longer than I meant to, staring at the ocean, heart doing that slow, uncomfortable twist.
Why do I feel like I just failed a test I didn't know I was taking?
Behind me, someone cleared their throat.
Keifer.
"How long were you standing there?" I asked.
"Long enough."
"…Did you hear?"
"Enough."
We didn't say anything else.
But as we walked back together, I knew one thing for sure:
This vacation wasn't going to be relaxing.
It was going to be revealing.