The bonfire crackled.
Section E scattered around the flames—some roasting marshmallows, some just talking, some (Ci-n) attempting to roast seventeen things at once.
Jay leaned against Keifer, warm and content.
Then—
"Hey."
Three guys from Section C approached. The same ones from the scavenger hunt.
Smirk Guy led the way. "Mind if we sit?"
Jay: "Actually—"
He sat anyway. His friends followed.
Smirk Guy: "We didn't get to properly introduce ourselves earlier." He looked at Jay. "I'm Marco."
Jay: "Okay."
Marco: "You're Jay, right? The J&S founder?"
Jay: "You know I am."
Marco: "Just making conversation." He leaned closer. "You're even more impressive in person."
Keifer's arm tightened around Jay.
Jay felt it. She also felt... something else. Pride? Anticipation? She wanted to see what Keifer would do.
Marco: "So what's someone like you doing with a guy from Section E?"
Keifer's voice was calm. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Marco: "Nothing. Just—you know. Some people are born into money. Others marry into it." He smirked.
Jay opened her mouth—
Keifer spoke first.
"I'm Keifer Watson."
Marco blinked. "Okay?"
Keifer: "Watson. As in Watson Enterprises. As in the company my mother built and my future wife now runs."
Marco's smirk faded.
Keifer: "I've had money my whole life. I just didn't feel the need to brag about it." He paused. "Until now."
Jay stared at him.
He was... bragging. For her.
Keifer continued, voice smooth. "So when you say 'someone like me'—what exactly do you mean? Someone who's been rich since birth? Someone whose family name opens doors? Someone who's been in love with Jay since we were seven and never once thought about her money?"
Marco's friends shifted uncomfortably.
Keifer: "Because if that's what you mean—then yeah. That's me."
Silence.
Then Marco laughed—nervous, forced. "Okay, man. Chill."
Keifer: "I'm chill. You're the one who sat down uninvited."
Jay was grinning.
She couldn't help it.
Keifer Watson—her Keifer—just casually destroyed that guy with facts and zero effort.
Marco stood. "Whatever. Not worth it."
He and his friends walked away.
The moment they were gone, Section E ERUPTED.
Ci-n: "KEIFER JUST MURDERED HIM! WITH WORDS! NO WEAPONS!"
Rakki: "That was beautiful."
Mica: "I'm crying. That was the hottest thing I've ever seen."
Calix: "Seconded."
Freya: "Did he just... brag about being rich?"
Edrix: "He did."
Freya: "And it worked?"
Edrix: "Apparently."
Rory: "I logged the whole conversation."
Drew: "New bet! How many more guys try to flirt with Jay before Keifer destroys them?"
David: "Unlimited. He's on a roll."
Eren: "Wait, what happened? Is Keifer rich?"
Josh nodded.
Eren: "Since when?"
Josh shrugged.
Baster started humming a "Keifer is a king" anthem.
Jay turned to Keifer, eyes shining. "That was..."
Keifer: "Too much?"
Jay: "Perfect."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "Never."
She kissed him right there.
More chaos from Section E.
Aries watched from across the fire. Ella beside him.
Aries: "He's growing on me."
Ella: "Keifer?"
Aries: "Yeah."
Ella: "That's sweet."
Aries: "It's not sweet. It's... acceptance."
Ella: "Same thing."
Aries: "It's really not."
Ella: "It is in my head."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "There it is."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
Later, as the fire died down, Keifer looked at Aries.
"Thanks for earlier. By the trees."
Aries shrugged. "Didn't do much."
Keifer: "You were there. That's enough."
Aries nodded.
Keifer: "Brother-in-law."
Aries choked. "What?"
Keifer: "You're going to be my brother-in-law. Eventually. When Jay and I get married."
Aries: "I'm no one's brother-in-law."
Ella: "You literally are. She's your sister."
Aries: "That's different."
Ella: "How?"
Aries: "I don't know. It just is."
Jay laughed. "He's in denial."
Aries: "I'm not in denial. I'm just—processing."
Keifer: "Process faster. Wedding's coming eventually."
Aries: "WHEN?"
Jay: "We haven't planned yet."
Aries: "Good. Keep it that way."
Ella: "You're adorable."
Aries: "I'm TERRIFYING."
Ella: "Terrifyingly adorable."
Aries: "I hate all of you."
The fire burned low.
Everyone headed to their cabins.
Cabin 3 settled in for the night.
Aries took the bottom bunk. Ella climbed to the top above him.
Jay took her bottom bunk. Keifer the top above her.
Quiet settled over the cabin.
Aries: "Goodnight, everyone."
Ella: "Goodnight."
Jay: "Goodnight."
Keifer: "Night."
Silence.
Then—
Aries: "Keifer."
Keifer: "Yeah?"
Aries: "If you hurt her—"
Keifer: "I won't."
Aries: "Good."
Ella: "Go to sleep, protective brother."
Aries: "I'm not—"
Ella: "Sleep."
Aries: "…Fine."
Quiet again.
Jay smiled in the dark.
Hours passed.
Then—
Jay's eyes snapped open.
Darkness. Strange ceiling. Panic rising.
Where—what—
The nightmare clung to her—Keizer's face, the warehouse, the fear of losing everyone.
Her breathing quickened.
She gripped her blanket.
Then—
A soft sound from above.
Keifer's voice, barely a whisper. "Jay?"
She couldn't answer. Couldn't breathe.
He was down in seconds—silent, quick, landing softly beside her bunk.
"Jay." His hand found hers in the dark. "I'm here. You're safe."
She grabbed his hand like a lifeline.
"Keifer—"
"Shh. I've got you." He sat on the edge of her bunk, pulling her gently against him. "It was just a dream. You're here. I'm here. Everyone's safe."
She buried her face in his chest.
He held her. Rocked her slightly. Whispered comfort.
Minutes passed.
Her breathing steadied.
Finally, she whispered: "Don't go."
Keifer: "I'm not going anywhere."
Jay: "Stay. Please."
He looked at her. At the fear still in her eyes.
Then he nodded.
He lay down beside her on the small bunk—pressed close, wrapped around her, safe.
Jay melted into him.
Keifer kissed her hair. "Sleep. I've got you."
Jay: "Jayfer forever?"
Keifer: "Jayfer forever."
She closed her eyes.
He held her all night.
Morning light streamed through the cabin window.
Section E had gathered outside, curious why their favorite couple hadn't emerged yet.
Ci-n: "THEY'RE STILL ASLEEP? IT'S 8 AM!"
Rakki: "Let them sleep."
Ci-n: "BUT I NEED TO SEE THEM!"
Mica: "Ci-n, no."
Ci-n: "CI-N YES!"
He crept toward the cabin door.
Rakki sighed and followed. "Someone has to control him."
Mica went too. Calix followed her.
Freya: "This is ridiculous."
Edrix: "And yet you're going."
Freya: "Shut up."
They all crept in.
There, on the bottom bunk—
Jay and Keifer.
Wrapped around each other. Peaceful. Beautiful. Absolutely disgusting in the best way.
Ci-n whipped out his phone. "DOCUMENTING!"
Rakki: "Ci-n!"
Ci-n: "PERCY NEEDS THIS!"
He snapped a photo. Sent it instantly.
Percy's response came seconds later:
Percy: THIS IS ART. THIS IS HISTORY. I'M FRAMING THIS.
Percy: ACTUALLY I'M MAKING T-SHIRTS.
Percy: JAYFER SLEEPING BEAUTY EDITION.
Mica: "He's going to make T-shirts."
Rakki: "Of course he is."
Freya: "I'd buy one."
Edrix: "Me too."
Freya: "Traitor."
Edrix: "Your traitor."
Freya: "Shut up."
Aries stirred on the top bunk. "What's happening?"
Ella, beside him: "Everyone's watching Jay and Keifer sleep."
Aries: "WHAT?"
He sat up too fast, hit his head on the ceiling.
Aries: "OW."
Ella: "Smooth."
Aries: "Shut up."
He looked down at Jay and Keifer. Still asleep. Still cuddled.
Aries: "They're—that's—"
Ella: "Adorable?"
Aries: "I was going to say 'disgusting.'"
Ella: "Same thing?"
Aries: "NOT THE SAME THING."
The noise finally woke Keifer.
He blinked. Looked up.
Section E was standing there. Staring. Ci-n still had his phone out.
Keifer: "…What."
Ci-n: "GOOD MORNING, BROTHER KEIFER!"
Keifer: "Why are you in our cabin?"
Rakki: "Ci-n wanted to document."
Keifer: "Of course he did."
He looked down at Jay. Still asleep. Safe. Peaceful.
He smiled softly.
Then—
He kissed her forehead.
"Good morning, my love."
Jay stirred. Smiled in her sleep. "Mm. Keifer."
Keifer: "Yeah. It's me."
Jay: "Love you."
Keifer: "Love you too."
Section E LOST IT.
Ci-n: "HE CALLED HER 'MY LOVE'!"
Mica: "AND SHE SAID IT BACK!"
Rakki: "I'M CRYING!"
Freya: "That was actually kind of cute."
Edrix: "Kind of?"
Freya: "Fine. Really cute."
Edrix: "There it is."
Rory: "I recorded that."
Drew: "New bet! How many times do they say 'love' today?"
David: "Fifty. Minimum."
Drew: "Bold."
Eren: "Wait, are they always like this?"
Josh nodded.
Eren: "Huh."
Baster started humming a "morning love" melody.
Jay finally woke fully.
She blinked at the crowd.
Jay: "Why is everyone in our cabin?"
Ci-n: "WE CAME TO SEE YOU SLEEP!"
Jay: "That's—that's weird."
Ci-n: "IT'S LOVE!"
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Not the same thing."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "Never."
He kissed her forehead again.
More chaos from Section E.
Aries climbed down from his bunk, rubbing his head. "I hate all of you."
Ella appeared behind him. "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
Ella: "Tss."
Aries: "NOT YOU TOO."
Ella: "Me too."
Jay laughed. Keifer smiled.
Section E filed out, still buzzing.
Ci-n: "PERCY NEEDS MORE PHOTOS!"
Rakki: "Ci-n, no more photos."
Ci-n: "CI-N YES MORE PHOTOS!"
Mica: "This is our life now."
Calix: "I've accepted it."
Freya: "I haven't."
Edrix: "You will."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Breakfast was chaos.
Everyone talked about the morning. About Jay and Keifer. About the "my love" moment. About Ci-n's documentation spree.
Percy had already created a group chat called "Jayfer Morning Files" and was demanding hourly updates.
Jay: "I can't believe this is my life."
Keifer: "You love it."
Jay: "I love YOU. The chaos is just... there."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Getting there."
He kissed her cheek.
Ci-n: "ANOTHER ONE! DOCUMENTING!"
Rakki: "Ci-n, eat your breakfast."
Ci-n: "EATING AND DOCUMENTING CAN HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY!"
Aries sat across from them, still rubbing his head.
Aries: "I have a bump."
Ella: "It's cute."
Aries: "It's not cute. It's a head injury."
Ella: "A cute head injury."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
And Section E chaos continued around them.
Perfect.