°♡˖꒰Author's꒱˖♡° POV
The drive to the airport was unusually quiet. Jay Jay sat in the passenger seat, her hand resting on Rosee's head as the dog let out a small, anxious whimper. The suitcase in the trunk felt heavier than it actually was—packed not just with clothes, but with the memories of the last few weeks.
As they pulled up to the departures curb, her father turned off the engine. He didn't speak immediately; he just looked at his daughter with a gaze that said everything he couldn't put into words.
"You have everything? Your passport? Your heart?" he asked, a small, teasing smile playing on his lips to hide the crack in his voice.
"I have it all, Papa,my heart is also here" Jay Jay whispered.
The sliding doors of the terminal hissed open, letting in the chaotic energy of travelers. Jay Jay turned to her father, and before he could say another word, she crashed into him.
The Hug.
She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of home—flour, old spices, and the soap he had used since she was a child. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing tight.
"Don't stay away too long, Jay Jay," he murmured into her hair. "The kitchen feels too big when it's just me and the dogs."
"I won't," she promised, pulling back just enough to look at him. "I'm happy to go back, but it hurts to leave you."
She knelt on the cold tile, pulling Rosee into a final embrace. The dog licked her cheek frantically. "Stay good for Papa, okay? Protect him while I'm gone." Rosee let out a soft huff, as if she understood the weight of the responsibility.
"I want to taste strawberry and honey one last time"little rosee said and"MWAH,MWAH,MWAH".
Jay Jay stood at the entrance to the security line, her backpack slung over one shoulder. She looked back one last time, seeing her father standing there, his hand resting on Rosee's collar.
"We will meet soon!" she called out over the noise of the terminal, waving her hand high.
"I'll call you as soon as I land!"
Her father nodded, waving back with a brave smile. "Go on! Your new chapter is waiting!"
As she stepped into the line and the crowd swallowed her up, Jay Jay felt the shift in her chest. She was leaving the safety of her father's kitchen and the quiet peace of the dogs, heading toward the Philippines—and toward whatever storm Keifer was bringing with him.
The humidity of Manila hit Jay Jay the moment she stepped out of the airport, a warm embrace that smelled of rain and jasmine. She pulled her face mask lower and adjusted her cap; she was a ghost in her own city, and for now, she wanted to keep it that way. Especially from Keifer.
She took a private car straight to the family compound. When the gate creaked open, she saw them—the people who were her world before the chaos began.
Ci.n was the first to spot her. He was across the yard, but the moment he saw the way she tilted her head, he dropped the hose he was holding.
"Jay Jay?!" he roared, his voice cracking with pure joy.
He didn't just run; he launched himself at her. Before she could drop her bags, Ci.n's arms were around her, lifting her off her feet. He squeezed her so hard she felt her ribs groan.
"Ci.n! I... can't... breathe!" she gasped, laughing through the lack of oxygen.
"I don't care! I'm never letting go!" he shouted, burying his face in her shoulder. "You're actually here! You're home!" He finally set her down but kept his hands on her shoulders, looking at her like she was a miracle. "I missed you so much I almost went to the airport just to stare at planes."
"I miss you too"
Angelo and Aries came running out next, followed closely by Tita and Lola, who were wiping their hands on their aprons.
"Wait, does the Kuya Angelo know?" Aries whispered, his eyes wide as he looked toward the driveway. "Does Keifer know you landed?
Jay Jay smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "He thinks I'm still on his schedule. He has no idea I caught an earlier flight and bypassed his security."
Angelo let out a low whistle. "You're playing with fire, Jay Jay. But man, it's good to have you back." He gave her a side-hug, his expression softening. "We missed our little brat."
Lola pushed them all aside, her eyes misty. "Enough talking! Look at you, you've gotten thin. Did they not feed you over there?" She cupped Jay Jay's face. "Tita, go start the rice. My apo is home."
Tita laughed, hugging Jay Jay tightly. "The house felt so empty without your noise. We'll keep the gates locked. If Keifer shows up, we'll tell him we haven't seen a soul."
They all gathered in the kitchen, the familiar clinking of plates filling the air. For the first time in months, Jay Jay felt the tension leave her shoulders.
"He's going to lose his mind when he finds out," Ci.n said, sitting right next to her, still refusing to give her personal space. He looped an arm around her neck, pulling her close again. "But for tonight, you're just ours. No meetings, no flights, no Keifer."
Jay Jay leaned into him, watching Lola serve the food. Out of sight, her phone buzzed in her pocket—likely a message from Keifer demanding to know her location. She didn't even take it out.
"Tonight," Jay Jay agreed, taking a bite of home, "he doesn't exist."
Jay Jay lay in her bed, the familiar scent of lavender and old books grounding her. The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the Manila moon. Tomorrow was a gauntlet: her mother in the morning, the "surprise" for Keifer at night, and then the return to the normalcy of school.
She felt a shiver of nerves. Her mother's gaze was always like a mirror—honest and sometimes difficult to face. As the anxiety began to tighten in her chest, a memory flickered in her mind. She could almost hear Keifer's low, gravelly voice vibrating against her ear from their last night together: "Don't look down, Jay Jay. You're my brave girl.I love you"
She took a deep breath, clutching her pillow. "Brave girl," she whispered to the empty room. "I can do this."
Morning arrived with the sound of roosters and the smell of strong barako coffee. Jay Jay found her mother on the veranda, looking out at the garden.
"You're home," her mother said, not turning around yet. Her voice was calm, but it carried the weight of months of missed conversations.
Jay Jay stepped forward, her heart thumping. "I am, Ma."
Her mother finally turned, her eyes searching Jay Jay's face for every secret she'd tried to hide. "You look different. There's a shadow in your eyes that wasn't there before you left."
Jay Jay felt herself shrink for a second, but then she remembered Keifer's words. She stood taller. "I've just grown up a little, Ma. A lot happened."
"Is it him?" her mother asked softly, stepping closer to tuck a stray hair behind Jay Jay's ear. "The man everyone whispers about? Keifer?"
Jay Jay hesitated, then nodded. "He's... complicated. But I'm not a child anymore. I'm handling it."
Her mother sighed, a mix of pride and worry. "Just remember, Jay Jay, you don't have to carry the world alone. You're home now. You're safe here."
"I know," Jay Jay replied, hugging her mother tightly. "But I have things I need to finish. Tonight... I have to see him."
After the emotional talk with her mother, Jay Jay spent the afternoon preparing. She looked at her school uniform hanging on the closet door—a symbol of the "normal" life she was supposed to lead.
She checked her reflection. She didn't look like the "little brat" Keifer mocked anymore. She looked like someone with a plan.
"First, I'll surprise him," she told herself, applying a light gloss to her lips. "I'll show him that he doesn't control my arrival. And then tomorrow, I go back to being a student."
The sun began to set, casting long, orange shadows over the compound. The time for the family reunion was over. The time for the "game" with Keifer was about to begin.
The mall was a blur of neon lights and luxury storefronts. Jay Jay walked with a new kind of confidence, her mind echoing Keifer's "brave girl" mantra. She stepped into a high-end boutique, her fingers trailing over delicate lace and silk. She picked out something "naughty"—a piece that was equal parts innocent and dangerous, perfectly designed to drive a man like Keifer to the edge.
With the small, sleek shopping bag tucked hidden in her tote, she took a taxi to the one place she knew she shouldn't be: Keifer's private estate.
The security guards at the gate recognized her immediately and let her through with silent nods. As she slipped through the heavy front doors, she didn't find Keifer—she found Keiren and Keigan in the lounge.
The room went dead silent for a heartbeat before both brothers jumped up.
"No way!" Keigan shouted, a massive grin splitting his face.
"Jay Jay!" Keiren laughed, reaching her first.
They both pulled her into a chaotic, three-way hug. It had been 17 days—seventeen days of Keifer's dark moods and the house feeling like a tomb. They squeezed her tight, swinging her slightly off the ground.
"You're actually alive!" Keigan teased, ruffling her hair. "We thought Keifer might have actually locked you in a tower overseas."
"I missed you guys so much," Jay Jay laughed, breathless from the affection. "Is he here? Tell me he's not home yet."
Keiren checked his watch, his expression turning mischievous. "He's at a late-night board meeting. He's been in a foul mood since he landed because he couldn't find you at the airport. He'll be back in an hour, and trust me, he's looking for blood."
Jay Jay smirked, clutching her shopping bag tighter. "Good. Because I'm going to be waiting in his room. I want to surprise him."
The brothers exchanged a look and burst into quiet, stifled laughter.
"You're insane," Keigan whispered, leaning in. "He's going to have a heart attack or lose his mind. Probably both."
"Don't you dare tell him," Jay Jay warned, pointing a finger at them both. "If he calls, or if he walks through that door, you act like you haven't seen me in weeks. Deal?"
"Deal," they said in unison, grinning like kids holding a secret.