JAY-JAY POV
The door creaked open. Percy strolled in like he owned the place.
"Hugs without this handsome face?" he said. "Tragic. I'm not sad at all."
I stuck my tongue out at him. But I still pulled him into the hug.
Keifer followed. Then Areis. Then the rest. One by one, they filled the room like they were afraid to leave me alone with my thoughts.
The door opened again. Soft. Controlled. Like she didn't want to startle us.
Dr. Paralta stepped in. Clipboard in hand. Eyes sharp. Gentle. Like she'd seen this moment a hundred times and still hadn't stopped caring.
Jare sat beside me, hand still locked in mine. Keifer stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching her like she might say something unforgivable.
"Jay," she said. "Are you ready to talk about the treatment?"
I nodded. Didn't trust my voice to hold steady.
She pulled up a chair. Sat like she knew how to break bad news without breaking people.
"It's aggressive," she said. "But it's the only option we have."
I swallowed. "Will it hurt?"
She didn't flinch. Didn't soften it.
"Yes."
Jare's grip tightened. Keifer didn't move.
"You'll be tired. Nauseous. You might lose weight. You'll feel like your body is fighting itself."
I blinked. But I wasn't afraid of pain. I'd lived inside it before.
"But," she added, voice steady, "You'll be monitored every step. And you'll have them."
She gestured toward Keifer, Percy, Areis, Jare, and the rest of Section E.
After she left, the room didn't move. It just breathed. Like we were all holding something too heavy to name.
Ci-n stepped forward. His voice cracked halfway through.
"Don't worry, Jay," he said. "We'll be with you every step."
He was trying not to cry. I could see it in the way his jaw clenched. In the way his eyes refused to blink.
Section E nodded. Like what he said was law. Like they'd already decided I wasn't allowed to fall alone.
Percy sniffed. "Okay, but if you puke on me, I'm charging emotional damages."
I stuck out my tongue again. "Then don't stand so close, drama king."
Areis rolled his eyes. "Can we not make this about Percy's trauma?"
Keifer didn't speak. Just walked over. Sat beside me. Took my hand again.
Jare didn't let go of the other.
I looked at all of them.
At the chaos.
At the love.
At the people who refused to leave.
"I'm ready," I whispered.
No one cheered. No one clapped.
They just nodded. Like warriors. Like family.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any better— my stomach betrayed me.
"Kuya," I said, dragging out the syllables like a dramatic soap opera lead. I gave him my best puppy-doll eyes. The ones that usually worked.
"I'm hungry."
He didn't even blink. "No," he said. "You're not getting ice cream."
I gasped. Betrayal. Actual betrayal.
"You monster," I whispered.
Jare smirked. "Call me that again and I'll feed you celery."
I gasped. Actual horror. Real betrayal.
"Keifer," I said, turning dramatically toward him. "He's threatening me. With celery."
I fake-sobbed. Complete with trembling lip and tragic sniff.
Keifer leaned in, voice soft and syrupy. "Oh, my baby, don't cry."
I blinked up at him. "Can I have ice cream?"
He smiled. Sweet. Evil.
"No, baby."
I gasped again. "You too, Keifer?"
Jare snorted. "Drama queen."
Percy popped his head in. "Did someone say ice cream? Because I'm emotionally invested now."
"Keifer," I said, sweet as syrup.
"What?" he asked, already suspicious.
"I want to make a deal."
He tilted his head. Curious. Hooked. He was absolutely going to fall for it.
"What kind of deal?" he asked.
I motioned for him to bend down. He did. Of course he did.
I leaned in, whispered into his ear: "If you get me ice cream, I'll give you twenty kisses. Every day."
His eyes lit up like I'd offered him immortality. "Deal," he said instantly.
I smirked. Knew it.
"What the hell did she just say?" Areis asked, already bracing for impact.
Keifer straightened, smug. "Don't worry about it, brother-in-law."
Oh, he really wanted to die today.
"I'm not your brother-in-law," Areis snapped. "And my sister is not marrying you."
Keifer shrugged. "Yet."
"Shut up," Kuya Angelo snapped. "Let her rest for now."
Thank you. Rest is something I need. Something I haven't had in days. Not really.
One by one, they started to leave. Percy with a dramatic sigh. Areis muttering something about "finally." Ci-n gave me a quiet nod. Jare squeezed my hand before slipping out.
But Keifer stayed.
"Are you going to leave?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper.
He shook his head. "I also want to rest," he said. "With you."
I didn't argue.
Didn't tease.
Just shifted over, made space.
Because really— who's going to stop him?
He climbed in beside me.
Careful.
Gentle.
Like I was made of glass and fire.
I closed my eyes.
Felt his warmth.
Felt the weight of everything soften.
And for the first time in a long time— I let myself rest.