Jay walked through the school corridor that afternoon, Kaisan skipping ahead with the phone pressed to his ear.
Her eyes caught someone at the far end of the hall.
Her breath hitched.
It was him.
Keifer.
The same Keifer she had loved. The same Keifer who had begged her to stay. The same Keifer with whom she had shared her heart… and with whom she had Kaisan.
Time seemed to stop.
Kaisan didn't notice, too busy talking, laughing, and gesturing animatedly into the phone.
But Jay froze, heart pounding, mind racing.
He looked up from the phone, and for a fleeting second, their eyes almost met—just a beat, a spark, a reminder of everything they had been to each other.
And then, before she could move, he turned slightly, his attention elsewhere.
Jay's chest tightened.
Her little boy… her Kaisan… was being pulled toward the man who was his father.
The man who had been absent, yet whose presence now made her son light up like she never could alone.
She whispered softly, almost to herself:
"It's… him. It's Keifer. All this time… it's him."
Her hand clenched instinctively, a mixture of longing, regret, and quiet hope surging through her.
Kaisan's small voice called out, pulling her back from the memory:
"Mom… Doctor Uncle said I'm the best! Isn't that cool?"
Jay knelt beside him, brushing a strand of hair from his face.
"Yes, baby… it's very cool," she said, voice soft, heart aching.
As she watched her son chatter happily, she realized the truth she had been avoiding:
Her son was going to his father again.
And maybe… maybe that was exactly where he belonged.
Keifer's eyes froze the moment he saw her.
Jay.
Standing there, calm, composed, carrying a small boy in her hand.
Time seemed to stop.
He remembered every moment—every night he had begged her to stay when she was pregnant, every tear he had shed, every promise he had made.
And now… she was here.
Single. Independent. Alive. And yet… she had a child.
His chest tightened.
He looked at Kaisan, bright-eyed and laughing, and then it clicked.
Kaisan… is mine.
His son.
The little boy he had longed to hold for years, the child Jay had carried and protected… was his.
Jay noticed him finally. Their eyes met, and Keifer's mind raced.
She had left him back then, but she hadn't run from her life. She had built something… and now, she was standing before him—unafraid, unapologetic, strong.
"Jay…" His voice trembled, low and full of emotion.
She tilted her head slightly. "Keifer."
The world seemed to shrink to just the three of them.
Keifer took a careful step forward, chest tightening.
He looked at Kaisan, then back at her.
"This boy… he's mine, isn't he?" His voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet firm with certainty.
Jay didn't answer immediately. She looked at Kaisan, then back at Keifer.
"Yes… Kaisan is your son," she said quietly, her voice calm but her heart hammering.
Keifer's knees weakened slightly. Relief, love, shock, and longing all collided inside him.
He knelt instinctively, reaching out slowly, afraid to break the fragile moment.
"Kaisan… baby… it's me… your dad," he whispered.
Kaisan froze, eyes wide, looking between the man on his knees and his mother.
"Dad?" he whispered, voice trembling.
"Yes, baby… I'm your dad," Keifer said softly, voice thick with emotion. "And I… I promise… I'll always be here now."
Jay watched silently, heart aching and soaring at the same time.
The man she had loved… the man she had once walked away from… was finally here, ready to claim his place—not just in her life, but in Kaisan's.
Keifer looked at Jay, his eyes soft but serious.
"Jay… I want to take Kaisan to my house for a day. Just the two of us," he said carefully.
Jay hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Okay… I trust you, Keifer."
He smiled, then added, almost shyly, "And… if you want, you can come too. I don't want him to feel strange or… alone."
Jay's heart skipped a beat. "I… I'd like that," she said softly.
The next morning, Keifer arrived at Jay's apartment. Kaisan ran to him immediately, small arms wrapping around his waist.
"Doctor Uncle! I mean… Dad!" he shouted, giggling.
Keifer chuckled, hugging him tight. "That's better, baby. That's exactly how I like it."
Jay followed behind, watching the reunion with a soft smile.
Keifer turned to her, eyes bright. "Are you coming, or… staying here?"
Jay smiled. "I'm coming. I want to see him happy."
On the way, Kaisan held Keifer's hand tightly, chattering non-stop.
Keifer listened patiently, occasionally teasing him, occasionally ruffling his hair, occasionally making him laugh so hard his small shoulders shook.
When they reached Keifer's house, Kaisan's eyes widened.
"Wow… it's so big!" he exclaimed, running around, exploring every corner.
Keifer laughed. "Careful, baby. Don't run too fast. This is our space today, so take your time—but safely, okay?"
Jay followed quietly, smiling at the small moments.
She noticed how naturally Kaisan fit here, how easily he laughed, how completely he let himself be a child with Keifer.
And Keifer… he was gentle, soft, patient—every move and word showing the fatherly care he hadn't been able to give before.
At lunch, Keifer served Kaisan his favorite meal.
"Here, baby. Eat up," he said.
Kaisan looked at him, eyes bright. "Thanks, Dad! You… you remembered!"
Keifer chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Of course I remembered. How could I forget my little guy's favorite?"
Jay sat beside them, heart swelling.
Seeing her son so happy, so loved, so safe… she finally understood.
The gap she couldn't fill as a mother alone… Keifer was filling it as a father.
And for the first time in years, Jay felt a sense of peace.