Jay‑jay
Manila taught me that weather changes faster than promises.
By late afternoon the island sky had gone from gold to charcoal — rain crawling across the sea in silver lines.
I stared out the window as the wind pressed against the glass.
The staff had already evacuated to the mainland. Only one villa kept its lights. Ours.
Keifer paced the entry hall, phone in hand, signal useless.
"The coast guard says the storm should pass by morning," he said.
"You mean we're stuck here," I answered.
He half‑smiled. "You always manage to phrase disaster better than I can."
Lightning cracked outside, shaking the windowpane. The air smelled like salt and memory.
Keifer
We'd been silent for hours.
The power tripped twice before the generator kicked in.
Jay sat on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, pretending to scroll through photos. There was something about the way she looked at the sea — as if every color in it hurt as if she remembered.
I made coffee because silence needed something to fill it.
When I placed a mug in front of her, she frowned. "You still remember how I take it?"
"Some things survive even if we don't deserve them," I said.
Her eyes met mine over the rim of the cup. The storm rattled the roof like it was reminding us we had nowhere else to run.
Jay‑jay
Wind pushed against the door again. I stood.
"We should check the shutters."
"Already did," Keifer said. "You can relax, Jay."
"Don't tell me to relax," I snapped, sudden and sharp — because the truth wasn't about the weather at all. "This isn't just another island, Keifer. It's yours. Last time I trusted something that was yours, I got destroyed."
"The one you gave me"
He looked at me for a long beat, rain reflected in his eyes.
"Then don't trust me. Just… talk to me."
"About what?"
"About anything that isn't hate."
For a second, I wanted to.
But lightning flashed again and the lights cut out completely.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Keifer
I found a flashlight in the storage chest. Its weak circle landed on her face — pale, uncertain, more human than she ever let herself be around me.
"Generator died," I muttered.
"Great," she said softly. "Now we can die in style."
Her sarcasm cracked into a small laugh halfway through.
I hadn't heard that sound in a year.
We sat by the window while rain stitched the world shut.
I wanted to apologize again, but she beat me to words — a quiet confession, almost lost in the storm.
"Do you ever wish it had been different?" she asked.
"Every day."
"Then why didn't you fight harder?"
"Because every time I fought, someone else got hurt."
She nodded once, gripping her mug so tightly the porcelain clicked. "That's the problem with you, Keifer. You think pain chooses sides."
Jay‑jay
Outside, thunder rolled across the water.
Inside, the look in his eyes was louder.
It wasn't the same kind of pull as before — not childish, not naïve. It was the ache of two people who knew exactly what they'd lost and still reached for touch anyway.
He took a breath. "Jay…"
"Don't," I whispered.
But when the next thunderclap hit, I flinched closer without meaning to. His hand caught mine halfway — steady, warm, familiar.
The sound between us wasn't the storm anymore. It was heartbeat and guilt and maybe, just maybe, a second chance trying to breathe.
"I'm tired of hating you," I said.
"Then stop," he murmured.
Tears burned suddenly behind my eyes. "It's not that simple."
"I know," he said — and pulled me into him before I could change my mind.
Keifer
Her head rested against my chest while the storm screamed outside.
Nothing about it felt like victory. It felt like survival — like two people clinging to what little warmth was left in a place built out of wind and regret.
"You don't have to forgive me yet," I whispered into her hair. "I just needed you to know I'm still here."
"You always were," she said softly. "That's what hurt the most."
When the thunder finally faded, both of us were still awake, watching the horizon blink with the last flashes of lightning.
Keifer
Her eyes drifted,she looked so peaceful like nothing in the world had ever effected her.
I wish I could …
It doesn't matter.
I kissed her forehead
and carried her in bridal style.
I sensed her eye lashes opening and starting to stare at me.
I looked at her really looked at her eyes.
I said "Your eyes are any man's dream"
She said "Shut up"but her face was heating up.
😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
Author note
Made it a bit romantic 🥰
👉 Next chapter she forgives him!