Kiefer (POV)
I stepped upstairs, closing the door behind me as I dialed.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Hello… Mr. Rider," I said.
"Kiefer," he replied sharply. "Why are you not answering my calls?"
"I've been busy," I said flatly. "Jay came to Manila. My attention was elsewhere."
A brief pause.
Then, more controlled—
"I see. We need to review the contract Clyden asked me to handle. I've gone through it—it's solid. Watson will benefit from this. I'll send it over with Honey. I need your signature to proceed."
"Send it," I said. "I'll sign."
We ended the call.
A moment later—
The door opened.
Without a knock.
"Honey," I said without turning, my voice cooling, "didn't I tell you to knock before entering?"
She didn't look bothered.
Instead, she crossed her arms, eyeing me.
"Your girlfriend may have lost her memory," she said lightly, "but she hasn't lost her attitude."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"Good," I replied.
Then I looked at her.
"The future Mrs. Watson should have some attitude."
She raised an eyebrow.
"But what is she doing here? Percy didn't mention anything."
"She ran away," I said simply. "She's trying to find her past."
A pause.
"And somehow… she ended up here."
Honey studied me for a second longer—
then handed me the documents.
"About time," she muttered. "Her brothers guard her like she's something breakable."
I didn't respond.
I signed the papers without hesitation and handed them back.
"Send it."
She nodded and left.
I walked downstairs.
My gaze moved instantly—
to the couch.
Empty.
Silence.
Too quiet.
"Jay."
No answer.
Something in my chest tightened.
"Jay."
Still nothing.
"JAY."
"Kuya," Keigen's voice came from the side. "She went outside."
I turned sharply.
"Why did you let her?"
He leaned back like it didn't matter.
"Because I'd rather not have a dead body in the house," he said casually. "I tried calling her."
A pause.
"She ignored me."
My jaw tightened.
"And ran."
I called her again.
No answer.
Once.
Twice.
Still nothing.
A quiet breath left me as I grabbed my keys and stepped out.
The air outside felt too still.
Too wrong.
I dialed again.
Pick up.
Where are you…?
Why do you always do this?
Why do you keep making me—
The line clicked.
She answered.
"Kindly explain why you're ignoring my calls and messages," I said, my voice low. Controlled.
"I just saw my phone," she replied.
A pause.
Too short.
Too careful.
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked. "Tell me, Jay."
For a second—
I hated how that question sounded.
Like I was the one waiting.
Like I needed an answer.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I was busy."
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Then lowered it slowly.
I didn't hesitate.
I called Rory.
"Bro," he answered.
"I want Jay's location," I said. "Now."
A pause.
"It's been a while since we tracked her," he said carefully.
"I don't care."
Another pause.
"Give me a minute."
The line shifted to silence as he made another call.
Every second stretched.
Too long.
Then—
"Kiefer…" His voice changed.
Tense.
Cold.
"What happened?" I asked, already moving.
"She's at HVIS."
I hung up.
Didn't think.
Didn't slow down.
I drove straight there.
The moment I stepped into the school—
Something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too familiar.
I went straight to the admin.
"She was here," they said. "But she hasn't left yet."
Of course, she hadn't.
My feet were already moving before they finished.
I didn't think.
I didn't question.
I just—
knew.
Section E.
By the time I reached the building, I was already running.
My chest is tight.
My mind is louder than it should be.
Please be there.
I reached the room—
and stopped.
She was there.
Standing near one of the chairs.
Tracing it slowly—
like it meant something.
Like it belonged to her.
She didn't even notice me.
"Why am I not remembering anything…?" she whispered.
And something in me—
broke.
Tears were falling from her eyes.
Uncontrolled.
And I knew—
this place…
did this to her.
Her body swayed.
Just slightly—
But enough.
I moved instantly.
Caught her before she hit the floor.
"Jay."
She didn't answer.
She just—
held onto me.
Like I was the only thing keeping her standing.
My arms tightened around her without thinking.
"I'm here," I said quietly.
Even if she didn't understand what that meant.
Even if she didn't remember.
I wasn't letting her fall again.
I lifted her without asking.
Without giving her a choice.
Her head rested against me—
too quiet.
Too fragile.
I pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
Not to claim.
Not to demand.
Just—
to ground her.
By the time we reached the parking area, I had already sent a message.
Found her. Section E. She was crying.
C-in replied almost instantly.
Mall. We'll meet there.
She sat beside me in the passenger seat.
Silent.
Lost somewhere I couldn't reach.
I glanced at her once—
just once.
She was thinking again.
Too much.
And she was lying earlier.
I knew that.
Of course I did.
But I didn't push.
Didn't ask.
Because I already understood something she didn't—
She didn't know what she was feeling.
So instead—
I stopped at a store.
Bought what I could.
Something simple.
Something she used to like.
Chocolates.
Because if I couldn't fix what was breaking inside her—
The least I could do…
It was supposed to make things hurt a little less.
When we reached the mall… she was finally smiling.
Laughing. Hugging everyone.
Like nothing had happened.
And I hated how easily she fit there.
I knew C-IN had a way with her—a way I didn't.
He made her feel light.
Safe.
In a way, I couldn't.
When she picked up the lollipop—
For a second, I thought…
She remembered something.
But she just unwrapped it and put it in her mouth like it was nothing.
Like it didn't mean anything.
I clicked my tongue.
So I teased her.
Kissed her.
And she ran away.
…Cute.
Annoying.
Addictive.
I used to wonder why guys tease the girl they love.
Now I get it.
I'm just the biggest asshole who likes seeing her flustered.
Then—
She bumped into someone.
"Miss, you look beautiful," the guy said, smiling like he had a death wish. "Can I get your number?"
"What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath.
"He's dead."
"Is he digging his own grave?"
"Wrong girl, idiot…"
"...What the hell?" she snapped.
He chuckled. "Why? Are you in a relationship?"
My mind went still.
"No…?"
That one word—
hit harder than anything.
No?
Then what am I?
Something in me dropped.
Then burned.
He handed her a flower.
And something in me—
snapped.
She said my name.
But I didn't hear it properly.
I just moved.
Fast.
My hand caught her wrist—
harder than I should have—
But I didn't stop.
I pulled her to me—
and kissed her.
Not slow.
Not careful.
Not asking.
I kissed her like she was mine.
Like she had always been mine.
Like I was reminding her—
of something she forgot.
It wasn't gentle.
It wasn't soft.
It was possession.
A claim.
A warning.
She's not yours.
She never will be.
How could he even think he had a chance?
After the way she looks at me—
after the way she stays close—
after everything—
"Don't answer like that," I said, my voice low.
Her breath was uneven.
"What answer…?" she whispered.
"The one where you sound like you're available."
A pause.
"You're not."
"Why?" she asked.
Isn't it obvious?
You have me.
"Do you love me?"
The question hit deeper than it should have.
Do I love you?
If I didn't—
Why would I still be here?
After everything?
After four years?
"Of course," I said. "Are you numb? Can't you feel that?"
"Then why?" she shot back, her voice trembling. "Why do you make me feel like I belong to you one moment… and the next, like there's someone else in your heart?"
I didn't answer.
Because I couldn't.
Not when—
They're both you.
"You always avoid it," she said. "Every time I ask."
Because I'm afraid.
Afraid that if I say it—
You'll break.
Or worse—
You'll leave again.
"What am I to you, Kiefer?"
My chest tightened.
Everything.
If you remembered—
I would have begged.
Apologized.
Gotten you back.
You would have been my wife by now.
We would have had children.
A future.
Everything—
We lost.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked.
My voice cracked.
I hated that.
"You kissed me… and now you're saying there's no one?" I continued. "You stay close to me… You look at me like I'm yours…"
My jaw clenched.
"And then you ask me what you are to me?"
A breath.
Sharp.
Broken.
"What about me, Jay? What am I supposed to think?"
A tear slipped down before I could stop it.
I hated it.
I hated this.
"I've been holding onto you for four years."
"…What?" she whispered.
"You think this is easy?" I let out a hollow laugh. "You think I can just forget?"
How do I forget you?
Even when you forgot me—
You still chose me.
Again.
Without knowing.
And now—
You're hesitating.
"They all act as they know me…" she said, her voice breaking. "Like I'm someone I can't even remember being."
She was crying.
And I—
couldn't fix it.
So I kissed her again.
Because I didn't know how else to make her remember.
She pushed me.
"Why?" I asked, my voice sharper now. "You can't let me kiss you?"
I looked straight at her.
"Is it because you don't like me…?"
Say it.
Say you love me.
Don't push me away.
"…Or are you abandoning me again?"
"Because I'm scared," she said.
Her voice broke.
"If I accept that I love you… I won't be able to stop."
My chest tightened.
She's scared—
just like me.
"And everyone says you love someone else," she continued. "So I'm trying to protect myself before I get hurt."
There is no one else.
Only you.
Always you.
But I couldn't say it.
Because if I did—
and you couldn't handle it—
I'd lose you again.
"I've only known you for three days," she whispered.
"I don't understand anything… but when you look sad, I want to know why."
"I want to protect you… But you won't let me in."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
There was only one answer.
I couldn't lose her again.
"Then fall for me," I said.
"Be mine."
"Don't lose me."
"Make me believe you won't let go."
"I don't care about anything else."
A step closer.
"I don't care about the past."
A breath.
"I want you."
My voice dropped.
"Only you."
She looked at me—
lost.
For a second, I thought—
She'd stay.
But then—
She ran.
I didn't stop her.
Because if I did—
and she said no—
I wouldn't survive it.
"What the hell did you do, Kiefer?" Yuri asked.
"Why did you make her cry?" David added.
"Kiefer," C-in said, more serious now, "she doesn't remember. You've loved her for four and a half years… she's only known you for three days. You can't pressure her like that."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" I snapped.
"She thinks I love someone else—"
My voice broke.
"—when I've been dying for her."
No one answered.
I went home.
Alone.
Thinking.
Over and over—
What I should have said.
What I should have done.
The next morning—
I went to her house.
It was empty.
"Sir," a maid said carefully, "if you're looking for Angelo, he's not here."
"Jay?" I asked.
A pause.
"They all left for New York this morning."
Silence.
I stepped outside slowly.
Looked up at the sky.
And let out a quiet breath.
So you ran again.
after Two day—
In London.
I stood by the window, staring outside, lost in my thoughts.
The silence was heavy.
Then—
ding.
The doorbell rang.
I frowned slightly and walked toward the door.
Opened it.
And froze.
"Jay…?"
She stood there.
Right in front of me.
Breathless.
Eyes steady.
Like she had already made a decision.
Before I could say anything—
She looked straight at me and said:
"Marry me, Kiefer."