Jay-Jay (POV)
"JAY… WAKE UP!"
Jare's voice rang through the room as he yanked the bedsheet off me.
"Jare, Kuya… please… five minutes…" I mumbled, dragging the blanket back over myself.
"If you don't wake up now, breakfast's going to be over," he said.
I shot up instantly.
"I'm ready."
I rushed to freshen up and ran downstairs.
"Did you finally wake up?" Cole Kuya asked from the kitchen, flipping pancakes.
"Coco, add some sugar," Amy said casually while eating. "Kai doesn't like it when you burn everything."
Jare and Mia were already eating. Percy leaned against the counter, sipping coffee.
Mom and Dad were out traveling again—Cole said they needed the rest.
"I'm still not used to it… even after four years," I muttered under my breath.
"Good morning, my lady!" Kai yelled, launching himself straight into my arms like a tiny missile.
"Whoa—!" I caught him just in time, laughing as I spun him once. I ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead.
"I missed you so much, baby," I said, hugging him tight.
Cole smirked beside him."You two literally saw each other last night,"
Kai—Cole and Amy's son. They got married after we came to New York.
Amy walked in, took one look at us, and froze.
Then she slowly crossed her arms.
"…Amazing."A pause."I do all the hard work, and she gets the VIP treatment."
I gasped, clutching Kai dramatically."Excuse me? He ran to me. That's not my fault I'm his favorite."
Kai raised his hand like he was in class."I love you my lady."
Amy pointed at him like she'd just been stabbed emotionally."Say that again. Slowly. So I can process the betrayal."
"I choose—"
"DON'T," she snapped, turning away. "I don't want to hear it."
I smirked."Don't worry, Amy. I'll raise him well."
She turned back so fast I almost flinched."You? Raise him? You eat dessert before breakfast."
"That's called living life," I shot back.
Kai nodded."I want that life."
Amy pressed her fingers to her temples."Great. Fantastic. I've lost him."
Right on cue, Jare walked in, grabbed an apple, and took a bite.
"Why is it loud this early?" he asked.
Amy pointed at me like I was a criminal."Your sister is stealing my child."
Jare glanced at Kai in my arms, then at me.
"…Understandable," he said, taking another bite.
I grinned."See? He gets it."
Amy's jaw dropped."You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I'm on the side that makes sense," Jare replied lazily. "Kid has good taste."
I gasped dramatically."Finally, someone appreciates me in this house."
"Don't get used to it," he said immediately.
Percy walked in next, coffee in hand, half-asleep.
"What's happening?" he muttered.
"Jay kidnapped Kai," Jare said.
Percy took a sip."Ah."A pause."…Ransom?"
"I'll take snacks and unlimited hugs," I said proudly.
Kai tightened his grip on me."No ransom. I stay here."
Amy looked like she was about to file a legal case.
"COLE!" she yelled toward the kitchen. "COME GET YOUR SON BEFORE I LOSE CUSTODY IN MY OWN HOUSE!"
From inside, Cole's calm voice came—"Who has him?"
"JAY!"
A pause.
"…Then he's safe," Cole said.
I put a hand on my chest."I feel so trusted."
Amy stared into the distance."I married into the wrong family."
Mia finally walked in, took one look at the chaos, and immediately turned back.
"Nope. Not today," she said, trying to leave.
I pointed at her."Mia! Tell her I'm the better parent!"
Mia didn't even stop walking."I'm not getting involved in this custody battle."
Jare smirked."Smart woman."
Amy looked at Kai one last time."So that's it? You're leaving me for her?"
Kai thought for a second… then kissed my cheek.
Amy clutched her heart."I've been replaced."
I flipped my hair."It was bound to happen."
Amy pointed at all of us."All of you are useless."
Cole finally walked in, took one look at the scene, and sighed.
"…Why is my son starting a war at 8 a.m.?"
Kai smiled proudly in my arms.
"Because I chose my lady."
Silence.
Then—
Jare burst out laughing.
Amy walked out.
Defeated.
Jare married Mia—my college friend… my only real friend here.
Percy has a girlfriend, too. "Honey Bee Rider," he calls her.
Still hasn't introduced her.
Like I'm going to eat her or something.
I walked to the table and grabbed a pancake, stuffing it straight into my mouth.
"Mmm… Kuya, you nailed it," I said. "You should seriously open a restaurant."
"But don't invite Jay," Jare added. "She'll eat everything."
I slowly pointed my fork at him.
"Do you want to die?"
"Jay, eat fast," Mia said, trying not to laugh. "We need to go out. Did you forget?"
"No," I said immediately.
"Don't tell me you actually did," she said, narrowing her eyes.
I gave her a sweet smile—
And ran upstairs.
After getting ready, I came back down.
"Ready?" Mia asked.
I nodded.
"Where are you two going so early?" Amy asked.
"There's a new restaurant opening," Mia said smoothly. "We want to try it."
I nodded seriously beside her.
"Didn't you just eat?" Jare asked.
"That didn't fill me. I still have space."
He looked at me like I was insane.
"You eat too much. Do you even know your weight? Your face is becoming round like a football."
"What the—"
Before I could attack him, Mia smacked his head.
"I love you, Mia," I said, kissing her cheek.
We left before I actually killed him.
The truth?
That "new restaurant"—
It was ours.
Mia's and mine.
We both love food. So we decided to start something of our own.
Something that felt like home.
We spent the day checking locations.
By afternoon, Mia got tired and went home.
I still had one last place to check.
So I walked.
Halfway there, I stepped into a café.
Just to grab a drink.
A girl nearby was celebrating her boyfriend's birthday.
I glanced at the date.
February 29th.
Something—
Twisted inside my chest.
Sharp.
Sudden.
My head throbbed.
Like my mind was trying to remember something it couldn't reach.
I frowned.
"What…?"
I stepped out of the café quickly.
Shook it off.
And continued walking.
I texted the owner of the final location.
He sent me the address.
A bar.
I paused when I saw it.
For some reason—
My feet moved before my thoughts did.
And I walked in.
I don't drink often.
Only with Kuya or Mia.
Because apparently—
I cry.
A lot.
So when the bartender offered, I refused.
Instead, I ordered a non-alcoholic drink.
I took a sip—
It tasted good.
Too good.
Before I could think, I finished the entire glass in one go.
And then—
I started coughing.
"What was that?" I asked, my voice strained.
The bartender blinked."Madam… that's alcohol. It's not your order."
Too late.
A strange warmth began to spread through me—
Light.
Unsteady.
I felt… different.
As we talked, something caught my eye.
A small section of the bar.
Tattoo equipment.
"Why is there a tattoo counter here?" I asked.
The bartender smiled.
"He only comes two days in a month. He draws tattoos based on how people describe their loved ones."
I blinked.
"Seriously?"
"He's good," the bartender said. "Really good."
I don't know why—
But I walked toward him.
"Can I get one too?" I asked.
He glanced at me briefly.
"I only draw for people who are serious."
"I am serious."
He studied me for a moment, like he was weighing something unspoken.
"…Alright," he said quietly. "Tell me about him."
I didn't hesitate.
"My husband."
"Kiefer."
The name slipped from my lips as it had always belonged there—like I'd been saying it long before I ever met him.
"What's he like?" the artist asked.
A faint smile touched my lips.
"He's a jerk."
A soft laugh escaped me.
"Flirty. Shameless. Possessive… obsessive."
I shook my head slightly, amused by my own words.
"He was kind of an asshole when I first met him."
The artist didn't interrupt.
So I kept going.
"But when he loves…"
My voice softened, almost betraying me.
"He gives everything."
I looked down at my hands, fingers curling into themselves.
"His eyes change when he looks at me… like nothing else exists."
A breath slipped out.
"He never cared if I was messy… or ate too much… or acted crazy."
A small, helpless smile formed.
"Even when I hit him…"
I exhaled quietly.
"He just took it."
My chest tightened.
"He protects me. Understands me… even when I don't understand myself."
My voice dropped, more fragile now.
"He stayed… even when I pushed him away."
My fingers trembled slightly.
"He looked at my scars…"
A pause.
"…and didn't flinch."
Silence filled the room.
The more I spoke—
The more I felt.
Things I didn't understand.
Things I couldn't remember.
But somehow—
Still knew.
Then, softer—
"He held me anyway."
I swallowed.
"He's a man who values his pride more than anything…"
My lips parted slowly.
"But for me?"
My voice broke into something smaller, more honest.
"He kneels."
"He begs me to forgive him."
"And when I ask why…"
A fragile breath.
"He just says—'Because I love you.'"
My eyes blurred.
"He protects me. He never stays silent when someone disrespects me."
"He notices me… always."
"Even when I try to disappear."
My throat tightened around the words.
"…He's my king."
The artist glanced up.
"Then you want to be his queen?"
I shook my head gently.
"No…"
I looked down again, voice quieter—but steadier.
"He's the kind of man who would throw away his throne…"
A breath.
"…just to stand beside me."
"To protect me."
A faint smile returned, softer this time.
"He's never been afraid to love me out loud."
"He teases me endlessly… drives me insane…"
A small exhale.
"And somehow… he's still crazy about me."
"In his eyes…"
My voice almost disappeared.
"I am everything."
The artist watched me carefully.
"You chose a dangerous man."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Now tell me—how do you love him?"
I froze.
Because I didn't know.
Or maybe…
I knew too much.
"I…" I swallowed.
"I don't know how I love him."
A quiet, broken breath.
"I just know I can't stop… loving him."
My fingers tightened in my lap.
"But when he's near me…"
My voice softened again.
"I feel like I can win anything."
"Like I could fight the whole world…"
A tear slipped down.
"…and still be okay."
My lips trembled.
"I love him… even when I lose."
More tears followed, silent and unstoppable.
"When I need him…"
My voice barely held.
"He gives everything."
"Not halfway. Not carefully."
"Just… all of himself."
A pause.
"And yet…"
"All he ever asks…"
My chest ached.
"…is to be chosen."
"To be loved."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"So I decided…"
A breath.
"I want to be the one who loves every version of him."
"Every flaw. Every scar. Every inch."
My voice dropped into a whisper.
"And if it ever comes to protecting him…"
A stillness settled over me.
"I think…"
Another tear fell.
"I could die for him."
Silence.
The artist's expression changed.
Not surprised.
Not shocked.
Just… understanding.
"Don't die," he said quietly.
"If you love him… protect him by living."
He took my hand gently.
And began to draw.
I watched silently.
Line by line.
Until—
A name appeared.
Kiefer.
My breath hitched.
But something else caught my eye.
A chain.
Wrapped around his name.
Fading at the edges.
"Why is it like this? I asked softly. "Why the chain?"
The artist didn't stop moving his hand.
"It's fading," he said. "But it's still there."
A pause.
"It means… once you're his, you don't leave."
My fingers trembled slightly as I traced over the name.
"I hope I remember you…"
My voice cracked, barely holding together.
"I really like it."
Tears kept falling—
Even though I tried to stop them.
"How much?" I asked, reaching for my wallet.
He shook his head.
"No need."
I looked up.
"If you really want to pay…" he smiled faintly, "bring him next time."
A pause.
"I want to see the man you described."
My chest tightened again.
For no reason I could explain.
Everything suddenly felt—
Heavy.
Too heavy.
My head spun.
And before I could say anything—
Darkness swallowed me whole.
✨ Next Morning
My eyes opened slowly.
My head pounded.
"What… happened?"
I sat up, pressing my fingers to my temple.
"Did I hit something…?"
Then—
I saw it.
My hand.
Red.
Marked.
A name.
Kiefer.
I frowned.
"What is this…?"
I rubbed it.
Hard.
But it didn't fade.
Didn't smudge.
Didn't disappear.
My breath hitched.
"…Is this a tattoo?"
I stared at it—
And something twisted inside my chest.
Pain.
Warmth.
Something I couldn't name.
I touched it again.
Softly this time.
"Why does this feel…"
I swallowed.
"…like love?"
My heart started racing.
"AAAA—!"
I screamed.
The door burst open.
"What happened?!" Jare rushed in, followed by Percy, Cole, Amy, Mia—and even Kai.
I quickly hid my hand behind my back.
"A spider!" I said quickly. "A really big one!"
They all froze.
"…You scared me for that?" Jare groaned.
"Here," Percy said calmly, handing me honey water. "Drink."
I took it and nodded.
Trying to act normal.
Trying to ignore the name burning into my skin.
And my chest.
"How did I even get home…?" I muttered later.
"Hangover?" Percy asked casually.
I looked at him.
"Did you bring me home?"
"Nope."
And he walked away.
Just like that.
I got ready and went downstairs.
"Jay, eat," Mia said. "You didn't even have breakfast."
"I'm not hungry."
The table went silent.
"Did she just say she's not hungry?" Jare whispered.
I ignored him.
Grabbed my bag.
And left.
I went back to the bar.
Something was pulling me there.
Something I couldn't explain.
"Hey," I called out to the bartender.
He turned—and smiled.
"Jay-Jay."
"You remember me?" I asked.
He nodded.
"How could I forget? We became friends yesterday."
That felt… strange.
"Tell me where I got this," I said, showing him my hand.
He pointed.
The tattoo counter.
"Miss, you're back," the artist said. "Did you bring your husband?"
"I'm not married," I replied. "And I don't know who Kiefer is."
His expression shifted.
Confused.
Then I frowned.
"Why did you draw something like this when I was drunk?"
His brows furrowed.
"No… the way you described him…" he said slowly, "you loved him."
Before I could respond—
The bartender stepped in.
"Your husband came yesterday," he said. "Don't you remember?"
I froze.
"You even flirted with him… kissed him… and he took you home."
My mind went blank.
"What…?"
My fingers tightened.
"Why don't I remember him?" I whispered.
Panic started creeping in.
I turned quickly.
"Can I check the CCTV?"
The bartender hesitated.
Then shook his head.
"…They're not working."
I took a deep sigh...
Of course.
Nothing comes easy.
"Still…" the bartender added, leaning slightly closer, "he was really handsome."
A small pause.
"And the way he looked at you…"
He smiled faintly.
"Like he loved you."
My chest tightened.
For no reason I could explain.
I nodded slowly and pulled out my phone.
"I'll give you my number," I said. "If you see him again… call me."
He nodded.
I turned—
And walked out.
By the time I reached home, my head felt heavier than before.
I dropped face-first onto the sofa.
"What happened?" Percy asked from the side.
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
I turned my head slightly.
"Kuya…"
My voice came out quieter than I expected.
"Do you know someone named Kiefer?"
Silence.
Instant.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Everyone stopped.
Like time itself paused.
I frowned slightly.
"Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
Cole was the first to recover.
"…Nothing," he said calmly.
But his eyes—
They said everything.
Jare didn't even try.
He stood up abruptly and walked away.
Straight to his room.
His jaw is tight.
Angry.
Or hurt.
I wasn't sure.
Did I say something wrong…?
That feeling again.
The same one.
Every time I asked about my past.
About what happened four years ago.
The accident.
The scars.
The missing pieces.
They always said the same thing—
"You got hurt at an amusement park."
Simple.
Clean.
Too clean.
Because it never made sense.
There were gaps.
Too many.
And no matter how many times I asked—
They never filled them.
I stopped asking.
Because maybe…
I didn't want to know.
But now—
Now there was a name.
Kiefer.
And somehow—
It felt like everything led back to him.
My chest tightened again.
I looked down at my hand.
At the name carved into my skin.
My fingers brushed over it unconsciously.
"…Who are you?why would i call him my husband??" I whispered.
If my past is connected to him—
Then there's only one place that has answers.
Manila.
I've never gone back.
Not once.
Even when I asked—
They avoided it.
Changed the topic.
Shut it down.
If I asked Aries or Angelo—
They would come to me.
They always do.
But they never tell me everything.
Not really.
And Cole—
He won't answer.
Not about this.
Never about this.
That leaves only one person.
I lifted my head slowly.
Clyden Kuya.
If there's anyone who can take me there—
Who won't hide the truth from me—
It's him.
I stood up.
Decision settling into my chest.
Heavy.
Certain.
If the truth is waiting in Manila—
Then I'm going to find it.
No matter what they try to hide.
No matter what, I have to remember.
Even if it hurts.
I stared at my phone for a long time.
Then—
I called him.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Kuyaaaaaa…" I said, dragging the word out dramatically.
A soft chuckle came from the other end.
"Tell me, little hurricane."
I smiled faintly.
But it didn't last.
"I'll tell you…" I said slowly, "But you have to promise me something first."
A pause.
"…Where is this coming from?" he asked.
Then, softer—
"Fine. I promise."
I took a breath.
Steady.
Certain.
"I want to go to Manila."
Silence.
Not shocked.
Not confused.
Just—
Heavy.
Like he had been waiting for this.
"…Alright," he said finally.
No hesitation.
"Pack your bags. We leave in two days."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"If you want the truth… I won't stop you."
His voice changed.
Lower.
Serious.
"But you have to promise me something too."
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Whatever you remember… whatever you find out…" he said slowly, "you come to me."
A pause.
"Piece by piece."
My chest tightened.
"Even if it hurts?" I asked quietly.
"Especially if it hurts."
Silence filled the line again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
It was full of things he wasn't saying.
Things I was about to uncover.
"…Okay," I whispered.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
I was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts.
Who could it be…?
A soft knock broke the silence.
I turned my head.
Amy stood by the door, leaning casually against the frame.
"Let's go shopping," she said.
I frowned slightly. "Why now?"
Before Amy could answer, Mia popped up behind her.
"Let's go shopping," she repeated, more cheerful this time.
I studied them for a second.
Then I sighed softly.
"Okay… I'll freshen up and come."
They didn't say it out loud—but I knew.
They'd noticed how quiet I'd been.
This wasn't about shopping.
It was about me.
Cole (POV) Mariano Empire — Office
"Kuya… do you think she remembers him?" Jare asked.
Percy let out a quiet scoff. "Jare… even if she does, what are you going to do about it?"
Jare clenched his jaw but didn't respond.
I leaned back slightly, watching them both.
"Jare," I said calmly, "I know you don't like Kiefer."
He looked at me.
"But remember—he had his reasons."
A pause.
"That doesn't mean I agree with him."
Silence settled over the room.
We had a meeting scheduled—new deals, new investors. The usual.
We sat across from them in the cabin, listening as they presented their proposal.
I didn't even let them finish.
"I don't want to have a deal with you," I said flatly.
The man across the table stiffened.
"Mr. Mariano… we're offering you a very good price. We're in the same industry—we should be helping each other," he insisted.
I leaned forward slightly, my voice colder now.
"If I said no…"
A beat.
"…it means no."
I pushed my chair back, ready to stand.
Then he spoke again.
"I just heard… your sister and your wife were spotted at the mall."
A slow smile crept onto his face.
"Do you still want to cancel after hearing that?"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then I smiled.
Not amused.
Not surprised.
Just… sharp.
They frowned, confused by my reaction.
"For us," I said calmly, adjusting my cuffs, "threats are common."
I looked him straight in the eye.
"Go on."
A slight tilt of my head.
"Try something."
And with that, I walked out.
Because I didn't need to worry.
Mia and Jay were with my wife.
And more importantly—
The only person in this world who could bend me…
Who could truly affect me—
Was her.