The Fernandez house was loud enough to wake the dead.
Tita Gema was yelling at Percy for using her "imported, limited-edition, only-for-special-occasions" shampoo. Aries was threatening to sleep in the garage. Angelo was trying to assign rooms like a stressed-out kindergarten teacher. Jasfer was giving a house tour no one asked for. Serina was trying to calm everyone down. Keigan and Keiren were running around like they'd eaten sugar for dinner.
Jay?
Jay was done.
She escaped to her room, locked the door, and collapsed face-first onto her bed.
"Why is my life like this," she mumbled into her pillow.
Percy: "I need a room with natural lighting. My face deserves respect."
Aries: "Your face deserves silence."
Tita Gema: "NO SHOES ON THE CARPET!"
Jasfer: "Does this house have karaoke? For… research."
Angelo: "I'm moving out."
Serina: "No one is moving out."
Keifer: "Where's Jay?"
Everyone pointed upstairs.
Keifer didn't even pretend to hesitate.
He tried.
He really did.
But he'd loved Jay for years — long before the fights, the secrets, the heartbreak. And now she was right down the hall, after everything, after all the pain, after all the distance…
He couldn't sleep knowing she was alone.
So he got up.
Walked quietly down the hallway.
Stopped in front of her door.
He knocked softly.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
He sighed.
"Jay… I'm coming in."
He opened the door gently.
Jay was curled up on her bed, hair messy, blanket half off, hugging a pillow like she was fighting it in her sleep.
Keifer smiled.
She always slept like that — he knew, because he'd seen it before. Back when they were still them. Back when she'd fall asleep on his shoulder during study nights. Back when he'd carry her to the couch because she refused to admit she was tired.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"Jay," he whispered. "Are you awake?"
She didn't move.
He sat on the edge of her bed.
Jay stirred, eyes half-open.
"…Keifer?"
"Yeah. It's me."
She blinked sleepily. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep."
Jay yawned. "So you came to annoy me?"
Keifer smirked. "You love it."
Jay groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
Keifer gently tugged it down.
"Jay."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
He leaned closer.
"Jay."
She peeked out like an irritated cat.
"What."
Keifer's voice softened.
"I just wanted to check on you."
Jay blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then sighed.
"You always do that."
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I always have."
She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.
"Keifer… we've been through so much. I'm tired."
"I know," he said. "That's why I'm here."
Jay frowned. "To annoy me?"
"To stay with you."
Jay froze.
Keifer continued, voice low and familiar.
"I've loved you for years, Jay. That didn't stop just because things got hard."
Jay's breath caught.
She whispered, "I never stopped either."
Keifer's heart nearly stopped.
He lay down beside her — not touching, just close enough that she could feel the warmth she'd missed for so long.
"If you want me to leave, I will."
Jay shook her head.
"Stay."
Keifer smiled softly.
"Okay."
Jay lay back down, facing him.
Their hands brushed.
Neither pulled away.
Jay whispered, "You're going to get me in trouble."
Keifer whispered back, "You've been trouble since the day I met you."
She laughed quietly — the soft, sleepy laugh he'd missed so much.
He watched her, eyes gentle.
"Goodnight, Jay."
"Goodnight, Keifer."
A beat.
Then Jay added, barely audible:
"You always sleep better next to me."
Keifer's smile widened.
"And you always steal the blanket."
Jay kicked him lightly.
He caught her foot.
She laughed again.
And for the first time in a long time…
They fell asleep the way they used to:
Close. Comfortable. In love. Like nothing had ever broken them.