JAY-JAY POV
The ride back home was quieter than usual.
Not empty—just different.
Section E was together again, but after the trip, something had shifted in all of them.
Cin was now scrolling through old trip videos, laughing under his breath at random moments.
Rory was half asleep, still arguing with Felix about something even in silence.
Felix looked like he had accepted chaos as a permanent life condition.
Robin was unusually quiet for once.
Suspicious.
And Keifer…
Keifer sat beside me like always.
Calm. Present. Unmoving.
But not distant.
I stared out the window as the city came closer.
Home.
But now the word felt… bigger than before.
My phone buzzed.
Luka: I already miss you.
I smiled slightly.
Before I could reply—
Adrian: Don't forget to eat properly.
Then—
Robin: I'm emotionally unstable without you people.
I exhaled sharply.
"…Drama king," I muttered.
Cin leaned over.
"Who's crying first, place your bets."
"None of you are crying," I said immediately.
Rory raised a hand.
"I cried emotionally last night already."
"That doesn't count," Felix replied.
"It absolutely counts."
Keifer glanced at me.
"They are still loud."
"Yes."
"Normal."
I looked at him.
"…You say that like it's a diagnosis."
"It is."
That made me laugh despite myself.
LATER — CITY RETURN
The bus stopped.
Familiar streets.
Familiar noise.
Familiar everything.
We were back.
Section E stepped out one by one.
Cin stretched.
"Home is overrated."
"You've been gone two days," Rory said.
"And I suffered."
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did."
Felix sighed.
"Please stop talking."
Robin pointed at me.
"You'll miss us."
"I already regret you."
"That's love."
"It's not."
Keifer stood slightly behind me.
As usual.
Not saying much.
Just there.
We all started splitting paths.
Cin waved dramatically.
"GROUP CALL TOMORROW!"
"No," I said instantly.
"Yes," everyone else said.
I groaned.
"Traitors."
Cin laughed.
"I win."
Robin leaned closer.
"You're smiling."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm tired."
"That counts as happiness."
I shoved him lightly.
Which was our version of goodbye.
Then I turned.
Keifer was still beside me.
We both lived in the same city.
Same streets.
Same world.
Just different directions.
We started walking.
Side by side.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
After a while, I spoke.
"…It feels weird."
Keifer glanced at me.
"What does."
"Everything."
He nodded slightly.
"Good weird or bad weird?"
I thought for a moment.
"…Good weird."
"Then it's fine."
I bumped his shoulder lightly.
"You're weirdly calm."
"I am normal."
"That is a lie."
"It is not."
A pause.
Then I added,
"You smiled at Luka's videos."
"…No."
"Yes."
"That was observational analysis."
"Sure."
He didn't argue further.
Which meant I was right.
We kept walking.
City lights turning on around us.
And for the first time…
home didn't feel like one place.
It felt like people.
And all of them…
were still here.
Just not standing next to me all the time.
END OF CHAPTER 61 🌙✨