Jay-Jay (POV)
We looked around for food and ended up at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Dinner turned into laughter, teasing, and way too much food.
By the time we were done, the day was over.
Everyone started heading home.
"Jay, let's sleep together," C-IN said casually.
Everyone froze.
And then—
Everyone looked at him.
Before I could even react—
"What?" Kiefer cut in sharply. "What are you saying, C-IN?"
"I mean—I don't want to let go of her," C-IN said quickly. "We can just sleep in the same room… as we— " kiefer cutt him off
"C-IN," Kiefer interrupted, his tone dropping, "you're not a kid anymore."
Then his eyes shifted to me.
"And if Jay's sharing a bed…"
He paused.
"…it'll be with me."
Silence.
I blinked.
"Why are you both deciding this?" I said, crossing my arms. "Did I agree to anything?"
That shut them up.
"I'm going home," I added. "C-IN… we'll meet tomorrow. If you miss me."
He nodded immediately.
I hugged him, patting his head lightly before he left with David.
One by one, everyone else left, too.
Soon—
It was just Kiefer and me.
I turned to him.
"Kiefer… why would you say that?"
He didn't answer right away.
Just opened his car door like it was nothing.
"I mean…" he said, leaning slightly, "we did share a bed yesterday."
Then his gaze flickered to me.
"And I don't like sharing what's mine."
My heart skipped.
Before I could respond—
He got into the car.
Just like that.
Like, he didn't just say something completely insane.
"When did I become his?" I muttered under my breath, getting in beside him.
The drive started.
But my mind didn't.
It stayed stuck on that line.
It felt like just a few hours—
but somehow…
It had been two days.
Two days since I went home.
And everything—
felt different now.
Kiefer's car slowed and stopped in front of Angelo's house.
My stomach dropped.
I opened the door and stepped out.
And then—
I just stood there.
The house looked the same.
Nothing changed.
But my chest felt tight.
Because I knew.
Angelo would be mad.
And I ran away.
"Scared?" Kiefer asked.
I nodded.
"Do I really have to go inside?" I asked quietly.
"Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No… I can handle it."
I wasn't sure if I believed that.
Before I could move—
He suddenly pulled me into a hug.
Warm.
Close.
Like it was nothing.
Like it meant everything.
And then—
He kissed my forehead.
I froze.
"What are you doing?" I asked, staring at him.
"I thought maybe you needed it," he said simply. "If you get scared, come out. I'll be here."
My heart did something weird.
"But how would I contact you?" I asked. "I don't even have your number."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Tell me yours. I'll remember."
I hesitated for a second—
then told him.
He repeated it once, like he was locking it in.
I nodded.
Then turned toward the house again.
My stomach was still in knots.
But…
I was smiling.
Why am I smiling?
I don't even know.
I took a deep breath—
and walked inside.
Third person (POV)
Cole, Angelo, Aries, and Tia were already at the house.
Waiting.
No one said it out loud, but they all were.
The door opened.
Jay walked in.
Smiling.
Giggling under her breath like she was still carrying something from outside.
They all noticed.
Every single one of them.
Aries frowned slightly. "What happened?"
No answer.
Jay just walked in, still smiling to herself.
Like she wasn't even fully here yet.
Like part of her was still outside.
With him.
No one missed it.
They had seen Jay smile before.
Back in New York.
Many times.
But this—
This was different.
Her lips had smiled before.
But today—
Her eyes did.
They softened in a way none of them had ever seen.
And all of them understood it at the same time.
This wasn't just happiness.
This was because of someone.
Because of him.
Kiefer.
Jay, meanwhile, was bracing herself.
Her steps slowed as she looked at them—
expecting anger.
Expecting questions.
Expecting a storm.
But it didn't come.
Cole stepped forward instead.
Tapped her lightly on the head.
"Go get some sleep," he said.
Jay blinked.
Confused.
She looked at all of them—
one by one.
No anger.
No interrogation.
Just… quiet.
She nodded slowly.
Then turned—
and walked to her room.
The door closed behind her.
Silence filled the space.
No one spoke for a moment.
Then—
"She came a long way," Tia said quietly.
Aries exhaled, crossing his arms.
"And now…?" he asked.
Cole didn't answer immediately.
His gaze shifted toward the door.
Toward the direction Jay had come from.
As if he could still see it.
See him.
Kiefer.
Angelo finally spoke, his voice low.
"…we can't pull her away from him anymore."
No one disagreed.
Because they all saw it.
And none of them had the heart—
or the right—
to try.
Jay (POV)
I went to my room, freshened up, and changed.
For a moment, I thought about just sleeping.
But…
I knew I couldn't avoid it forever.
So I walked to Angelo Kuya's office.
I knocked once and stepped in.
He was already there.
Of course he was.
"I wanted to ask about my phone," I started.
He didn't look up immediately.
" Kiefer said you're staying with him," he said calmly. "Next time,Don't run. Just ask us."
I scoffed under my breath.
"Tss… I did ask you. You didn't allow me."
Big mistake.
He looked up.
Slowly.
"What did you say?"
Before I could even react—
He reached over and twisted my ear.
"Ow—!"
"Say it again," he said.
"Kuya—it hurts!" I winced, trying to pull away. "I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
He let go after a second.
I rubbed my ear, glaring at him.
"That's abuse," I muttered.
"That's discipline," he replied calmly.
I rolled my eyes.
But I didn't argue again.
Because…
I knew I deserved that one.
"Where is Cole, kuya?" I asked.
"He left," Angelo said. "Asked me to take care of you."
"Tss…" I muttered. "He didn't even say bye to me…"
I turned and walked back to my room.
Closing the door behind me—
The silence felt louder than before.
I sat on the bed and opened my phone.
The group chat was flooded.
Jare. Percy. Mia. Amy.
Messages stacked on messages.
Missed calls.
I didn't open them yet.
My eyes shifted to a new notification.
An unknown number.
I frowned.
It felt…
familiar.
Alive??
I blinked.
Then immediately pressed call.
It rang once.
Twice—
"Everything good?" he asked.
I froze for a second.
"I survived," I said, letting out a small breath. "Did you reach home?"
"Nope," he replied casually. "Still outside."
My heart skipped.
I stood up quickly and walked to the window.
Pulling the curtain aside—
There he was.
Leaning against his car.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Like he meant it when he said he'd stay.
He looked up.
Straight at me.
"Why are you still here?" I asked, softer now.
"Didn't I say I would be?" he said.
Like it was obvious.
Like it wasn't a big deal.
But it was.
It really was.
I held the curtain a little tighter.
I said.
"…you're crazy," I muttered.
But I didn't close the curtain.
"Hm… for you," he said.
I rolled my eyes, even though he could probably see it.
"Go home. It's cold… and it was already late last night," I said.
"Then can I come to your room?" he asked smoothly. "Maybe you can warm me."
"Asshole!" I hissed, my voice dropping so no one else would hear.
"I mean a hug, Jay," he added, grinning. "A warm hug."
I could see it from here.
That stupid smile.
"If Angelo sees you, he'll bury you alive," I warned.
"So…" he tilted his head slightly, still looking up at me, "you're not saying no if he doesn't see?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Hmm… you're shameless."
"Coming from you?" I shot back.
He laughed softly.
And for a second—
Neither of us said anything.
Just… looking.
Like the distance between us wasn't really there.
We kept talking.
About nothing.
About everything.
Like we'd known each other longer than we actually had.
Like this wasn't strange.
But it was.
We were strangers two days ago.
Now—
We were flirting like this meant something.
I didn't know what to call it.
Didn't know what we were.
But I knew one thing—
Being with him made me happy.
He finally got into his car.
I stayed by the window, watching.
He looked up one last time—
then drove off.
I didn't move until his car disappeared.
Only then did I close the curtain and fall onto my bed.
I buried my face in the pillow—
giggling.
Kicking the blanket like an idiot.
"What is wrong with me…" I mumbled.
"If you can't sleep, at least let others sleep!" Aries shouted from his room.
I froze.
Then I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh again.
"…sorry!" I whispered back.
But the smile didn't leave my face.
Not even when I closed my eyes.
Morning came.
I freshened up and stepped out—
but somehow…
My feet didn't take me anywhere else.
They brought me to Kiefer's place.
I didn't even question it.
I just walked in.
Like I belonged there.
Like I knew the place—
even though it was my first time.
It felt strange.
My legs moved as they remembered.
My heart felt… calm.
Safe.
For the first time in a while—
My mind was quiet.
I stopped in front of a room.
My hand rested on the doorknob.
I slowly pushed it open—
But a warm hand stopped me.
I turned.
Kiefer.
"Walking around like it's your house?" he asked, a small smile on his lips.
"Nothing… I was just looking for you," I said, avoiding his eyes.
Bad idea.
Because the moment I actually looked—
I froze.
He was in a towel.
Hair damp.
Water was still dripping down the side of his neck.
And he looked…
too good.
Way too good.
I swallowed without realizing.
"Jay… control your eyes," I muttered to myself.
His gaze didn't miss it.
Of course it didn't.
He stepped closer—
not enough to touch.
Just enough to make it worse.
"Find what you were looking for?" he asked, his voice lower now.
I forced my eyes back up to his face.
"Yeah," I said quickly.
Then paused.
"…maybe."
He smiled.
And I knew—
He knew exactly what he was doing.
Before I could react—
He moved.
My back hit the wall softly.
My breath caught.
And then—
click.
The door locked.
The door locked.
"Gago… why did you lock the room?" I asked, my voice not as steady as I wanted.
"I don't want anyone to interrupt us…" he said, then added, eyes on me, "Jay, you're really cursing a lot."
"So what if I want to? I will. It's my mouth," I shot back, glaring at him. "You got a problem with it?"
"Nope," he said easily. "You look cute when you do it…"
His gaze dropped—
slowly—
from my face to… everywhere else.
"…but maybe don't," he added, biting his lip slightly.
I crossed my arms.
"Asshole, what are you looking at?" I snapped.
"Nothing," he said, completely unbothered. "But if you keep doing that…"
He stepped closer.
"I'll have to stop you."
I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, really? And how are you going to do that?"
He tilted his head.
"Every time you curse…" he said softly, "you owe me one."
"One what?"
"A kiss."
I scoffed. "Why would I listen to you, asshole—"
He closed the distance.
Before I could finish—
His lips brushed mine.
My breath caught.
He pulled back just enough to look at me.
"See?" he murmured. "That's one."
I stared at him, stunned.
"You—what was that?!"
"I told you," he said simply. "You owe me."
"I didn't agree to that," I argued.
"You didn't stop me either," he replied.
I opened my mouth—
then stopped myself mid-word, pressing my lips together.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
I looked away, scanning the room—
anything to calm my heartbeat.
"Jay…" his voice softened.
"Eyes here."
I shouldn't have.
Because if I did—
I knew I'd get pulled in.
I didn't remember anything.
Not him.
Not us.
But my body—
It felt like it did.
Like it knew him.
His presence.
His warmth.
And I gave in.
I looked at him.
And the second I did—
I knew I'd regret it.
Too close.
I could feel his breath against my skin.
My heart started racing.
I pushed him lightly—
But my eyes betrayed me.
They dropped.
From his eyes—
to his lips.
I bit my lower lip without realizing.
The air between us shifted.
Something changed.
I stepped closer.
I didn't know what I was doing.
But if I didn't do it now—
I felt like I'd regret it.
So I did.
I closed the distance.
My lips met his.
Soft—
but not unsure.
Like something inside me already knew how.
Like this wasn't the first time.
He didn't pull away.
And neither did I.
My hand moved to his neck.
The other tangled in his hair.
Closer—
like I needed to feel that he was real.
He responded—
but slower.
Steadier.
Like he was holding something back.
Like he was afraid of something.
Like this meant more to him than he was letting on.
When I finally pulled back—
It wasn't because I wanted to.
I just needed air.
We were both breathing harder.
Too close.
Too aware.
His forehead was almost touching mine.
And for a moment—
Neither of us spoke.
But when I looked at him—
really looked—
I saw it.
Not just desire.
Not just surprise.
Something deeper.
Something heavier.
Something that looked like it hurt.
And suddenly—
I wasn't sure what I had just stepped into.