Jay-Jay (POV)
He was looking at me.
Not casually.
Not like people usually look at strangers in a room.
But like he couldn't stop.
Like I was the only thing pulling his attention away from everything else.
Something unfamiliar stirred inside me.
Strange… and heavy.
I didn't even know what it was.
It was the first time I felt something like this—this tightness in my chest, this pull I couldn't explain.
I wanted to know him.
That much I was sure of.
But I didn't know anything about him.
Not his name for certain.
Not why my heart reacted before my mind did.
Just that—
He felt important.
Then someone spoke.
"What are you looking at, Kiefer?"
The name hit the air.
And everything inside me stilled.
He turned.
Slowly.
And looked at me.
Really looked at me.
Like, there was no one else in the room.
My breath caught.
Kiefer.
So… it was him
It's really him.
The name settled somewhere deep in my chest as it had always belonged there.
And suddenly—
Nothing about this moment felt random anymore.
"Jay," Someone said.
The moment my name left his mouth, something in him shifted—like joy slipping through control.
He practically jumped up and came toward me.
Too fast.
Too familiar.
Like seeing me had pulled him back into something he had been holding onto for a long time.
Before I could even react—
He hugged me.
It felt… normal to him.
Like this wasn't new.
Like my body was supposed to remember this.
But I didn't.
My hands froze mid-air.
Unsure.
Caught between instinct and confusion.
Should I hug him back?
Or step away?
My thoughts lagged behind the moment.
Then—
just as quickly—
He pulled away.
Like something in him finally caught up.
A small pause.
A breath he forced steady.
And then he smiled softly.
"Hey…" he said, quieter now.
"I'm C-in."
A simple introduction.
Like we were strangers.
But the way his eyes stayed on me—and the sadness in his voice—
told a completely different story
He hesitated for a second, then continued,
"We're celebrating our friend's birthday… do you want to join us?"
"No," I replied immediately.
Too fast.
Too certain.
But it wasn't because I didn't want to stay.
It was because I did.
Because something about this place… about them… about him—
was pulling me in like gravity, I didn't understand.
Especially his eyes.
Every time I looked at him, it felt like I was slipping closer to something I couldn't name.
Like if I stayed any longer—
I wouldn't know how to leave.
And I didn't trust myself to stop that feeling.
Not here.
Not with him watching me like that.
But then—
My stomach growled.
Loud.
Betraying me at the worst possible moment.
Shit…
I hadn't eaten properly since yesterday. Not when my mind had been elsewhere—caught on thoughts I couldn't explain, on a feeling I couldn't name.
Heat rushed to my face instantly.
Embarrassing.
I glanced down, hoping no one noticed—
But a few of them had already heard.
Soft chuckles broke through the silence.
Not mocking.
Just amused.
The tension that had been hanging in the air slowly loosened, as the room had collectively decided to breathe again.
And then I saw him.
Kiefer.
He was smiling.
Not loudly.
Not openly.
Just a small curve at the corner of his lips—like he was trying to hide it but couldn't.
For some reason…
That made my chest feel even tighter.
Everyone kept filling my plate.
More than I could eat.
More than I could finish.
"I can't finish all of this," I said, staring at the food as it had multiplied on its own.
"You can…" Kiefer's voice came from beside me.
Simple.
Certain.
Like he already knew me.
And for a second—
It felt like something inside my chest had been here before.
As this exact moment had already happened somewhere I couldn't remember.
My throat tightened.
My vision blurred slightly.
Tears gathered before I even understood why.
"Jay… are you okay?" Kiefer asked.
I nodded quickly.
Too quickly.
But my chest still felt full in a way I couldn't explain.
"It's the first time I've known you…" I said softly.
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…but my heart feels like it's already used to this warmth."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
And the moment they did—
Everything went still.
The noise.
The movement.
Even the air.
Like the world itself had paused—
just to listen.
"Just eat…" Kiefer said quietly.
He reached over and placed a piece of lechona onto my plate.
Like it was nothing.
Like he had done it a hundred times before.
My fingers stilled.
My breath caught slightly.
Because he didn't even ask.
He just knew.
What I liked.
What I didn't say.
What I would pick first without thinking.
My eyes stayed on him longer than I meant to.
Too long.
He didn't look away either.
Not immediately.
And there it was again—
that feeling.
Like I was the reason the room felt different for him.
Like my presence alone… made him quieter, softer, more present.
Almost like he was happy.
Just because I was sitting there.
Beside him.
"Stop staring at me," he whispered, leaning slightly closer.
Then, almost under his breath—but with a faint smirk tugging at his lips—
"I know I'm handsome… but try not to get lost looking."
My eyes widened instantly.
My brain stopped cooperating.
I literally forgot how to breathe for a second.
"Y-Yes, you're—no… nooo…" I blurted out immediately, shaking my head so fast it didn't even make sense.
Embarrassment burned up my neck.
I looked away too quickly, scanning the table as it could save me.
Adobo.
Perfect distraction.
I reached for it—
But he was faster.
His hand moved first, steady and effortless, and he served it onto my plate like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You want this," he said quietly.
Simple words.
Soft voice.
Too calm.
But the way he looked at me while saying it—
like he already knew I did.
My fingers froze mid-air.
Why is he like this?
So calm… so sweet… like he's doing everything just for me.
My thoughts completely short-circuited.
So I gave up.
And focused on the food instead.
Anything was better than looking at him right now.
Then—
The atmosphere shifted.
Footsteps.
Two more people walked in.
"Kuya… gir—" one of them started, like he was about to say something he wasn't supposed to.
But Kiefer cut him off immediately.
"Kiegen… Kieran… come here and eat."
His tone was casual, but firm enough to end the conversation before it even began.
They stepped in.
But I didn't miss it.
The moment they entered, the atmosphere changed again.
The older one—Kiegen—stopped.
Just for a second.
And looked at me.
Not like a normal glance.
Not like someone seeing a stranger at a table.
But like… he didn't believe I was real.
Like if he blinked too hard, I'd disappear.
Like I was something that didn't belong in this moment.
Or worse—
something that had already been lost.
I felt it.
That weight.
That stare.
But I didn't know what to do with it.
So I just kept eating.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like if I acted normal enough… I wouldn't have to answer any questions I didn't understand yet.
"Jay," Kiefer said, handing me his phone.
I glanced at the screen.
Angelo.
I was practically dead already.
Still… I answered.
"Kuya Angelo…" I said softly.
The moment my voice came through, the line exploded.
"JAY!" he shouted.
I winced slightly, pulling the phone a little away from my ear.
The table went still for a moment.
Even the air felt like it paused.
Angelo was still speaking, fast and sharp, like he had been holding his breath for too long.
"Why did you jump from your room?" he demanded. "And why didn't you call me?"
I frowned. "Kuya… you're acting old."
A beat.
"You took my phone and my wallet," I added, folding my arms. "And I needed to know things."
Silence.
Then his voice dropped, sharper now.
"Cole called. Kai was crying. Call him."
My fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"And when you come home," he continued, "we're going to have a serious talk."
Click.
The line cut.
I stared at the screen for a second longer.
"…I'm in trouble," I muttered.
Kiefer didn't respond immediately.
But I felt it.
His eyes were on me again.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Like he already knew I wasn't going anywhere.
"Can I make a call?" I asked Kiefer.
He nodded once.
So I did.
I dialed Cole.
The call connected instantly.
"Hello… my lady," Kai's voice came through instead.
My lips softened.
"Babee," I said.
The room changed.
I felt it immediately.
The air shifted the moment that word left my mouth.
Kai exhaled on the other end.
"I miss you, my lady… why did you leave without me?"
A small pause settled in my chest.
"I miss you too, babee," I said softly.
Then I added, "I'll come back soon… when I finish my work."
And I ended the call.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Strange.
Then—
A sharp crack shattered it.
My eyes snapped up.
The glass in Kiefer's hand had broken.
Wine spilled.
And blood—
Red, real—dripped from his palm.
But the moment our eyes met…
He hid it.
Quickly.
Like he didn't want me to see.
Like it didn't matter.
My breath caught.
"What have you done?" I said, stepping closer.
My voice rose without permission.
"Are you crazy?"
Before he could react, I grabbed his hand.
He didn't stop me.
I pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it carefully around the cut, tying it firmly.
"You're bleeding," I muttered.
Like it was obvious.
Like it mattered.
A voice broke the moment.
"So you're leaving for New York again?"
I turned slightly.
One of Kiefer's brothers was watching me.
I paused.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Silence dropped again.
He leaned back, frowning.
"Then why are you here after all this?"
The air snapped.
"KIEGEN!" Kiefer's voice cut through instantly.
Sharp.
Warning.
He wasn't looking at his brother anymore.
He was looking at me.
Like he was waiting—
To see if I'd disappear again. So his name was Kiegen; he left.
then
"Jay… do you have a boyfriend? " someone asked.
"No," I replied immediately.
Then my eyes drifted to Kiefer.
I didn't even know why.
"Then who were you talking to?" another voice followed.
"My nephew," I said. "My big brother Cole's son. I practically raised him."
A small silence fell.
And then—
I saw it.
Kiefer's shoulders eased.
Just slightly.
Like something inside him finally let go.
That small reaction… made something in my chest flicker.
Warm.
Strange.
I didn't understand why.
But I smiled anyway—softly, without realizing it.
Then I looked at him again.
"If you were worrying about me having a boyfriend…" I said lightly, almost teasingly, "I haven't had anyone for the last four years. And I don't know about my past."
"Why??" One of them asked
A pause.
"I don't know why," I added, quieter now. "Before… when I tried to think about it, it always felt like I already belonged to someone."
My fingers curled slightly.
"Or maybe… my standards are just too high."
The room went still.
Kiefer didn't move.
But his voice came out low.
"Good…" he muttered.
My brows furrowed slightly.
"…You remember."
I blinked.
"What?"
But he didn't explain.
And somehow—
The way he said it…
felt like it meant more than I could understand.
"So… how did you all become friends?" I asked.
"We were high school classmates," one of them replied. "Same section."
"All boys?" I tilted my head slightly. "Don't you have any girl classmates?"
"We do have one, our muthya," C-in said, exchanging a brief glance with Kiefer.
Something about that look made me pause.
Why was he looking at him?
"Then… why isn't she here?" I asked again.
The moment the words left my mouth—
The atmosphere shifted.
Kiefer stood up.
Without a word.
And walked out.
My brows furrowed.
"…Did I say something wrong?"
Silence answered me.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then someone spoke.
"No," a man said calmly. "Nothing like that."
He gave a small smile.
"By the way… I'm Yuri."
I nodded slightly.
But my attention wasn't on him.
It was still in the direction Kiefer had left.
Yuri followed my gaze for a second.
Then, quietly, he added—
"He loves her."
A pause.
"And he's still loving her…"
His voice lowered.
"But he can't reach her anymore."
The words settled in the air like something unfinished.
Something painful.
Jealousy.
And I didn't understand why…
But my chest tightened anyway.
That word… stayed with me.
She.
So he had someone.
Of course he did.
With that face… that jawline… that quiet way he carries himself.
Any girl would fall for him.
She must be beautiful.
The thought came in too fast.
Too sharp.
And suddenly—
My appetite disappeared.
The food in front of me didn't feel like food anymore.
Just weight.
Silence filled my mind even while the table stayed noisy around me.
They kept talking.
Laughing.
Asking me questions.
And I answered.
Somehow.
About me.
About small things.
And they told me their names too—one by one.
I listened carefully.
Memorized them.
Not because I had to.
But because it felt like… I already knew them.
Like they weren't strangers at all.
Like my mind was remembering something my heart had known before.
Kiegen (POV)
The moment I walked in, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Jay-Jay.
She was really here.
The woman who changed everything in our lives.
For a second, my mind went blank.
Then reality hit.
"She's going back to New York?" I asked.
She nodded.
That was it.
No hesitation.
No second thought.
My chest tightened.
"Then why are you here after all this?" I asked sharply.
"KIEGEN!" Kuya's voice cut through the air.
I didn't answer him.
I turned away and walked straight toward my room.
Because I couldn't stay there.
Not when I saw him like that.
Not when I saw Kuya.
I was angry.
Not alone.
But at everything she had left behind.
I knew it.
I saw it.
How much Kuya suffered.
How he still suffers.
I know because I've seen it.
Late nights.
Silent rooms.
A man who used to smile like he owned the world…
now sitting alone, holding her photo like it was the only thing keeping her breathing.
Crying.
Not loudly.
Just quietly breaking.
And then—
She returns.
Smiling.
Living.
Like none of it ever happened.
With her family.
Like time erased everything for her…
but not for him.
And still—
even after four years…
one smile from her…
And he looks alive again.
That's what made me angry.
A knock came.
The door opened.
Kuya.
He stepped in.
"Kiegen… why did you do that?" he asked calmly.
My jaw tightened.
"Because I don't want to see you suffer anymore," I said.
My voice cracked more than I wanted it to.
"I know you loved her… but why is she still here when she already left everything behind?"
Silence.
Then—
He pulled me into a hug.
Warm.
Familiar.
Safe.
"Kiegen…" he said softly. "Something changed."
"It's not like four years ago."
My breath hitched slightly.
"She came back to me," he continued.
"And I will make her fall for me again… I won't let her go this time."
A pause.
"She walked in again… whether she remembers or not… but don't hate her."
My grip on his shirt tightened.
"Promise me, Kuya…" I whispered. "You won't leave us."
He didn't hesitate.
He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
"I won't."
And then—
Someone else came in.
The small one.
The kid.
He hugged me, too.
No words.
Just warmth.
And for a moment…
I remembered.
He wasn't just Kuya.
To all of us…
He was everything we ever had.
Father.
Mother.
Home.
Our only family.