The first sign that everything was truly back to normal was Keifer stealing Jay's coffee.
Not sipping it.
Stealing it.
Jay stared at the empty mug in her hand. "You drank it."
Keifer didn't even look guilty. He leaned against the counter, calm as ever. "You weren't drinking it."
"I was emotionally attached to it," Jay shot back.
He raised an eyebrow. "It tasted emotionally neglected."
Jay scoffed. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he said, reaching for the cabinet, "you live with me."
She watched him pour himself another cup instead of fixing hers.
"You're unbelievable," she muttered.
Keifer glanced at her, lips twitching. "You're smiling."
Jay froze. "I am not."
He stepped closer, holding his mug just out of her reach. "You are."
She reached for it. He moved it higher.
"Keifer," she warned.
"Yes?" Calm. Dangerous.
"Give. Me. The coffee."
He tilted his head, amused. "Say please."
Jay crossed her arms. "Never."
Keifer took a slow sip, eyes locked on hers. "Tragic."
Jay lunged.
He laughed—actually laughed—as she tried to grab the mug, and in the process bumped into him. Coffee nearly spilled. She gasped. He caught the mug just in time, then steadied her by instinct, hands firm at her waist.
They froze.
Then Jay looked up. "You did that on purpose."
Keifer smirked. "Maybe."
She shook her head, laughing now. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"I missed this," he said simply.
Jay softened, then reached up and plucked the mug from his hand when he wasn't paying attention.
"Hey—"
She took a victorious sip. "Justice."
Keifer stared at her. Then slowly smiled. "You're bold today."
"Reformed," she replied. "I don't disappear anymore. I steal coffee."
He laughed again, shaking his head. "Dangerous combination."
Later that day, they ended up on the couch, feet tangled, both scrolling on their phones.
Jay glanced at him. "You've been unusually relaxed today."
Keifer hummed. "That's what happens when my house stops being emotionally silent."
Jay nudged him with her foot. "Rude."
"Accurate," he countered.
She smiled. "You know, you were kind of dramatic."
He turned to her, mock offended. "I was silently suffering."
"Oh please," she teased. "You were humming and ignoring me."
"That was my coping mechanism."
Jay laughed and leaned into him, head resting against his shoulder without hesitation now.
Keifer wrapped an arm around her easily, like it had always belonged there.
"This," he said quietly, "is better."
Jay nodded. "Much better."
No tension.
No overthinking.
Just comfort, teasing, and warmth filling the space where doubt used to live.
By the time Jay walked into the office, the damage was already done.
She hadn't even reached her desk when Freya leaned across the divider and whispered, way too loudly,
"So. You smiled at him."
Jay froze. "I smile at everyone."
Rakki swivelled his chair. "No. You smiled-smiled."
Ella didn't even look up from her screen. "And he waited for the elevator today."
Jay blinked. "That doesn't mean anything."
Mica raised an eyebrow. "Keifer doesn't wait. He calculates."
Jay sighed and dropped into her chair. "You're all dramatic."
Grace leaned in, grinning. "Then explain why he brought you coffee."
Jay opened her mouth to argue—
—and immediately closed it.
From the corner of the floor, Keifer walked past, calm as ever, holding a file. As he passed Jay's desk, he placed a coffee cup beside her keyboard without stopping.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't say a word.
Just left it there like it belonged.
The entire section went silent.
Then—
Rakki whispered, "Oh. It's that kind of back."
Jay's ears burned. "Can you all focus on work?"
Freya smirked. "We are. This is the work."
A few minutes later, Keifer called for a quick meeting.
Jay walked in, professional, composed, absolutely not looking at him more than necessary.
Keifer stood at the head of the table, explaining numbers, strategy, deadlines.
Very serious.
Very CEO.
Very unreadable.
Until Jay spoke.
"I think the projection for Q3 is slightly off," she said calmly. "We might be underestimating."
Keifer turned to her.
Paused.
Then said, "You're right."
Just that.
No explanation.
No challenge.
No ego.
The room blinked collectively.
Someone actually coughed.
Keifer continued like nothing happened. "We'll revise it."
Jay stared at her notes, pretending her heart wasn't doing something stupid.
After the meeting, as people filed out—
Ella murmured, "He never says 'you're right' that fast."
Rakki nodded. "He didn't even fight it."
Freya added, "He trusts her again."
Jay heard that one.
Later, when Jay went to the printer, Keifer was already there.
He glanced at her. "Your coffee's getting cold."
She smiled softly. "You remembered how I like it."
He shrugged. "Hard to forget."
She hesitated. "People are… noticing."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "Let them."
Jay laughed quietly. "You're enjoying this."
"I'm enjoying not pretending," he replied.
As she walked away, Keifer watched her for a second longer than necessary.
And from behind a glass wall, half the office collectively agreed on one thing:
Whatever had broken between them—
It was gone.
And honestly?
They were a little scared of how powerful Jay and Keifer looked when they were finally on the same side again.