Third Person :
Jay Jay hated boats.
She hated the way they rocked under her feet, the way the salt stuck to her skin, and most of all, she hated the endless open water — a reminder that she wasn't in control.
But Section E's team-building trip was mandatory, and so here she was: sitting cross-legged on a bench, tugging her hoodie tighter around her slim figure, watching her classmates chatter and take selfies.
She glanced sideways.
There, standing near the railing, camera slung around his neck like always, was Keifer.
He wasn't laughing like the others. He never did.
Instead, he was watching her — eyes dark, almost intense.
Jay Jay shivered, but not from the wind.
Ever since first year, Keifer had this strange way of looking at her — like she was something precious he couldn't touch but desperately wanted to.
She pretended not to notice, but deep inside, every glance from him made her heart stutter.
"Enjoying the show?" she muttered without looking directly at him.
Keifer didn't answer — but she heard the soft click of his camera.
A photo. Of her.
She turned to glare at him, but he simply smiled — a rare, quiet curve of his lips — and lowered his camera.
"You looked… perfect," he said under his breath.
Before Jay Jay could fire back a sarcastic reply, the ship jolted violently.
Screams erupted.
The sky, moments ago so bright, darkened as a sudden storm rolled in.
"Everyone below deck!" a teacher yelled.
The ferry rocked harder. Jay Jay lost her footing, and before she hit the ground, Keifer was there — grabbing her waist, pulling her against him.
"Stay close," he said, voice low, urgent.
For a moment, even amidst the panic, all Jay Jay could feel was Keifer's arms around her.
Strong. Unyielding. Warm.
Then another wave hit.
The world flipped — and Jay Jay was thrown into the cold, raging sea.
⸻
Darkness.
Salt.
Pain.
Jay Jay woke with a gasp, coughing up seawater.
Sand scraped her palms as she crawled up the beach, heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
She was alive.
"Jay Jay!"
She turned.
Keifer was running toward her, soaked and wild-eyed, looking like he'd just fought the ocean itself to get to her.
Without a word, he dropped to his knees and crushed her against his chest.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered harshly into her hair.
Jay Jay froze — shocked by the raw emotion in his voice.
Slowly, she pulled back just enough to look into his face. His eyes — normally so guarded — were wide open now. Vulnerable. Terrified. Desperate.
Something inside her cracked.
"I'm here," she whispered back.
Keifer's hands tightened on her waist as if afraid she might vanish if he let go.
They sat there for a long time — clinging to each other on a deserted island, the broken pieces of their old world washing away with the tide.