Chapter 39 – Departure
The morning came too fast.
JJ hated mornings today.
Especially this one.
The Fernandez mansion was awake before sunrise.
Lights on.
Voices low.
Security moving around more than usual.
Because today—
Mark Keifer Watson was leaving for London.
And nobody liked it.
Not even a little.
---
Chaos Before Goodbye
"WHY ARE THERE SIX SUITCASES?"
Cin stared dramatically at Keifer's luggage near the mansion entrance.
"Bro are you moving countries?!"
Keifer adjusted his watch calmly.
"It's called preparation."
"It's called rich people behavior," Rory corrected.
Felix was helping Keigan zip a backpack while Keiren refused to let go of Keifer's arm.
He looked seconds away from crying again.
JJ stood near the staircase quietly watching everything.
Trying very hard not to look emotional.
Failing horribly.
Percy noticed immediately.
"Baby sistah looks like someone stole her fries."
JJ glared instantly.
"Shut up."
Aries walked downstairs next adjusting his sleeves.
"You slept at all?"
Keifer answered honestly.
"No."
Neither did JJ.
But nobody said that aloud.
---
Angelo's Warning
Outside the mansion—
three black vehicles waited already.
Security.
Yuri stood beside one calmly dressed in black hoodie as always.
Like a professional assassin pretending to be a student again.
Angelo approached Keifer quietly before departure.
He looked cold as usual.
But his eyes carried something deeper today.
Protectiveness.
"London changes people," Angelo said calmly.
Keifer met his gaze directly.
"I know."
Angelo stepped closer slightly.
"If you come back acting like Kaizer…"
The silence after that sentence felt dangerous.
Keifer answered immediately.
"I won't."
Angelo studied him carefully for a long moment.
Then nodded once.
"Good."
And honestly?
That was probably the closest thing to approval Keifer would ever receive from him.
---
The Younger Brothers
Keigan finally hugged Keifer tightly.
Trying very hard to act mature about everything.
Failing immediately.
"…don't take too long."
Keifer smiled softly for the first time that morning.
"I'll try."
Keiren however completely broke.
He buried his face into Keifer's chest crying.
"I don't want you to go…"
JJ looked away instantly because suddenly her own eyes hurt too much.
Keifer knelt in front of both brothers carefully.
"Listen to me."
His voice softened completely around them.
"You stay with JJ, Percy, Aries, and Angelo."
Keigan nodded slightly.
Keiren sniffled hard.
"And protect JJ for me."
That made JJ blink immediately.
Keiren saluted dramatically through tears.
"Yes kuya."
Even Keifer laughed softly at that.
Then his eyes found JJ again.
And suddenly—
everything else faded.
---
The Goodbye Nobody Wanted
JJ stood near the gates quietly while everyone else moved around them.
Neither spoke immediately.
Because honestly?
Goodbyes were cruel.
Especially when both people wanted to say too much.
Keifer stepped closer slowly.
"You okay?"
JJ laughed weakly.
"No."
Honest.
For once just honest.
Keifer's expression softened painfully.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face gently.
"I'll come back before you know it."
JJ wanted to believe that.
God she wanted to.
But suddenly—
her dizziness returned again.
Sharp.
Brief.
She hid it instantly before he noticed.
Then smiled softly instead.
"You better."
Keifer studied her face carefully.
Like memorizing it.
Every detail.
Every expression.
Like he was scared distance might blur her somehow.
Then quieter:
"Take care of yourself."
JJ blinked immediately.
"…and you also eat food properly."
"You forget everything except food."
"That's fair actually."
Keifer smiled slightly.
But his eyes still looked sad.
Then suddenly—
he pulled her into his arms tightly.
And JJ immediately held onto him back.
Hard.
Like if she loosened her grip—
he would disappear already.
Nobody interrupted.
Not even Percy.
Because some moments deserved silence.
Keifer buried his face slightly into her hair breathing her in quietly.
JJ shut her eyes tightly.
Trying desperately not to cry.
"You promised you'd wait," he whispered softly.
JJ's chest tightened painfully again.
Because promises scared her lately.
Still—
she whispered back:
"I will."
Lie.
Truth.
Hope.
Fear.
All mixed together.
Keifer pulled back just enough to kiss her forehead slowly.
Then her nose.
Then finally—
her lips.
Soft.
Deep.
Emotional enough to hurt.
JJ melted instantly.
And for a second—
neither cared who was watching.
Not anymore.
When they finally separated—
both looked wrecked emotionally.
Cin wiped fake tears dramatically nearby.
"Cinema."
Rory shoved him aggressively.
---
The Departure
Eventually—
there was no more time left.
Keifer stepped toward the car slowly.
Then paused once more before entering.
Looked back at JJ again.
Always JJ.
And suddenly she realized something terrifying.
This boy loved her completely.
Without hesitation.
Without conditions.
And somehow—
that made her illness hurt even more.
Because she wanted time.
More time.
With him.
The car door closed.
Engines started.
And slowly—
the convoy disappeared through the gates.
Gone.
JJ stood there long after the cars vanished completely.
Silent.
Still.
Empty.
Percy eventually walked beside her quietly.
"…baby sistah?"
JJ smiled weakly without looking at him.
"It's weirdly quiet already."
Percy threw an arm around her shoulders gently.
"Yeah."
Even he looked emotional.
Aries stood nearby too unusually silent.
Because Keifer wasn't just Section E's president anymore.
He was family now.
And the house felt his absence instantly.
---
After He Leaves
That night—
JJ couldn't sleep.
Again.
She stared at her phone endlessly.
No messages yet.
Probably on the plane.
The room felt colder somehow.
Too empty.
Then finally—
her phone buzzed.
Keifer.
> Landed safely, wifey.
JJ smiled immediately through tears she didn't realize existed.
> Good.
London hasn't killed you yet.
Instant reply.
> Missing you already.
JJ stared at the message quietly.
Heart aching softly.
Then another message appeared.
> Good night, sleep well... don't eat your pillow considering it a sushi.
JJ laughed weakly finally.
And somewhere across the world—
Keifer smiled too seeing that typing bubble appear.
Neither of them realized it yet—
but distance was about to test them in ways love alone couldn't fix.