(Keifer's POV)
Breakfast should have been peaceful.
Normal.
Calm.
Instead…
I was watching something that was slowly testing my patience.
Jay had finished cooking.
The table was full of food.
Pancakes.
Eggs.
Toast.
Fruit.
Actual breakfast food.
Everyone immediately started eating like starving animals.
Blaster stacked pancakes like a skyscraper.
Felix was stealing bacon from Denzel's plate.
Ci N was narrating again for absolutely no reason.
Eman was still filming everything.
David was the only one eating like a civilized human being.
And Keiren?
Keiren had somehow claimed the seat right next to Jay.
Which meant he had her full attention.
Keiren:
"Ate Jay can you cut this?"
Jay took his pancake and cut it for him.
Jay:
"There."
Keiren smiled proudly.
Keiren:
"Thank you!"
Then he leaned against her arm like a small cat.
I watched this silently.
Keigen noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Keigen (quietly):
"You're doing it again."
Keifer:
"Doing what?"
Keigen:
"That look."
Keifer:
"What look?"
Keigen smirked slightly.
Keigen:
"The jealous one."
Keifer:
"I am not jealous."
Across the table…
Felix suddenly spoke.
Felix:
"You're staring again."
I glared at him.
Keifer:
"I'm eating."
Felix:
"You haven't touched your food."
I looked down.
My plate was still full.
Felix grinned like he had just won something.
Felix:
"Caught."
Blaster leaned forward.
Blaster:
"He's jealous of a ten-year-old."
Keifer:
"I am not jealous."
Meanwhile…
Jay was still focused on Keiren.
Keiren:
"Ate Jay look!"
He made a tiny pancake tower.
Jay gasped dramatically.
Jay:
"That's impressive."
Keiren looked extremely proud.
And for some reason…
That annoyed me.
Felix whispered loudly.
Felix:
"He's spiraling."
Blaster nodded.
Blaster:
"Stage three: emotional damage."
Jay suddenly turned toward me.
Jay:
"Keifer why aren't you eating?"
Everyone at the table looked at me at the same time.
Keifer:
"I am eating."
Felix pointed at my untouched plate.
Felix:
"No you're not."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
Jay:
"You're weird this morning."
Keiren suddenly spoke again.
Keiren:
"Ate Jay after breakfast can we watch cartoons?"
Jay smiled.
Jay:
"Of course."
Keiren cheered.
And that was it.
I put my fork down.
Keifer:
"Of course."
Jay blinked.
Jay:
"…what?"
Keifer:
"Nothing."
Felix started shaking from trying not to laugh.
Blaster whispered.
Blaster:
"HE'S SO JEALOUS."
Jay stared at me for a moment.
Then suddenly smiled slowly.
Like she understood everything.
Jay:
"Oh."
Keifer:
"Oh what?"
Jay leaned forward slightly.
Jay:
"You're jealous."
Keifer:
"I am not."
Jay rested her chin on her hand.
Watching me carefully.
Jay:
"You came into Keiren's room last night."
Felix slammed the table.
Felix:
"CONFIRMED."
Blaster raised his hands.
Blaster:
"WE HAVE PROOF."
I glared at them.
Keifer:
"Shut up."
Jay laughed softly.
Jay:
"You were jealous."
Keifer:
"I wasn't."
Jay leaned even closer.
Her voice softer now.
Jay:
"You're jealous because I hugged Keiren."
I didn't answer.
Which was apparently the wrong move.
Because Felix immediately shouted.
Felix:
"HE ADMITTED IT WITH SILENCE."
The entire table burst into laughter again.
Jay covered her mouth trying not to laugh too.
Jay:
"You're unbelievable."
Keifer:
"He asked you to sleep there."
Jay smiled teasingly.
Jay:
"So?"
Keifer:
"You're supposed to sleep next to me."
The room went silent.
For exactly one second.
Then everyone exploded again.
Blaster:
"POSSESSIVE."
Felix:
"INSANE."
Ci N dramatically pointed.
Ci N:
"TRUE LOVE."
Jay's cheeks turned pink.
But she was still smiling.
Jay:
"You're ridiculous."
Keifer:
"And you like it."
She rolled her eyes.
But didn't deny it.
Then she did something unexpected.
Jay stood up.
Walked over to my chair.
And leaned down slightly.
Before I could react…
She kissed my cheek.
Jay:
"There."
The room exploded.
Blaster nearly fell out of his chair.
Felix screamed.
Ci N started clapping.
Eman zoomed the camera again.
Keiren looked confused.
Keiren:
"Why are they loud again?"
Keigen calmly answered.
Keigen:
"Because they're idiots."
Meanwhile…
Jay walked back to her seat.
Completely calm.
Jay:
"Now eat your breakfast."
I stared at my plate.
Then at her.
And slowly…
I started eating.
Felix leaned toward Blaster whispering.
Felix:
"She controls him."
Blaster nodded seriously.
Blaster:
"Completely."