The mansion was quiet, the kind of quiet that made every thought sound louder than it should.
Jay sat alone in the lounge, a cup of tea resting between her palms, her shoulders slightly tense, her eyes fixed on nothing.
A soft knock broke the silence.
"Jay…?"
She looked up.
Keifer stood at the door.
Not smiling this time.
Not teasing.
He walked in slowly, as if he already knew she wasn't okay.
"You disappeared," he said gently. "I thought you might be here."
Jay forced a small smile. "I just needed… some air."
Keifer sat beside her, close enough that their knees brushed.
"You don't need excuses with me," he said quietly.
Jay's fingers tightened around the cup.
For a few seconds, she didn't speak.
Then her voice came out softer than she expected.
"I don't really know how to be happy, Keifer."
He turned to her fully.
"What do you mean?"
Jay swallowed.
"I know how to be responsible. I know how to listen. I know how to do what I'm told.
But… when you talk about happiness, when you laugh like it's normal… I feel like I missed something in life."
Keifer didn't interrupt her.
He only reached for her hand.
"Jay… you didn't miss anything," he said slowly.
"You were just never given the chance."
Her eyes burned.
"I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel anymore," she whispered.
"Sometimes I feel empty… and sometimes I feel scared, because with you I feel too much."
Keifer's thumb gently brushed over her knuckles.
"That's not a bad thing," he said softly.
"That just means you're finally alive."
Jay let out a shaky breath.
"I've never had anyone stay when I wasn't… useful."
Keifer's chest tightened.
He leaned a little closer.
"I'm not here because of what you give," he said.
"I'm here because it's you."
Jay looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"…Why?" she asked.
Keifer didn't smile.
He didn't joke.
He answered honestly.
"Because somewhere between your silence and your strength… I fell for you."
Jay froze.
"Keifer…"
"I love you, Jay," he said quietly.
"No contracts. No business. No pressure. Just… you."
Her breath caught.
"You shouldn't say that so easily."
"It's not easy," he replied.
"It's certain."
Jay's eyes filled before she could stop them.
"I don't know how to love properly," she whispered.
Keifer lifted his free hand and gently wiped her tear.
"Then we'll learn," he said.
"Together. Slowly. No rules."
Jay finally leaned into him.
Her head rested against his shoulder.
For the first time in her life… she didn't feel like she had to earn the space she was taking.
Keifer wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.
"You don't have to become someone else to be happy," he murmured.
"You just have to stay… Jay."
Her lips curved into the smallest, softest smile.
"I think… I want to try," she whispered.
Keifer rested his forehead lightly against her hair.
"That's all I'll ever ask."