đź–¤ Chapter: Before Me
Jayjay's POV
Everyone's gathered again.
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This time—
around Lia.
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She's sitting in the middle.
Phone in her hand.
Bright smile.
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"Wait, wait—look at this one!"
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She turns the screen toward everyone.
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A picture.
Old.
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Keifer.
Younger.
Smiling.
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Really smiling.
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And beside him—
Lia.
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Both covered in mud.
Laughing.
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"See? He used to actually smile!" Lia laughs.
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The room fills with reactions.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I don't move.
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Just watch.
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Because I've never seen him like that.
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Not that free.
Mama smiles.
"He was always happiest with you around."
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Ciel laughs.
"Yeah, we couldn't separate them back then."
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Jare adds:
"They were literally inseparable."
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Lia grins proudly.
"I still am, by the way."
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Everyone laughs.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
Something in my chest tightens.
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Not sharp.
Not painful.
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Just… quiet.
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Like something sinking.
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I glance at Keifer.
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He's looking at the photo.
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And for a second—
there's a small smile on his face.
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Soft.
Familiar.
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But not for me.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I didn't expect to feel like this.
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Looking at those pictures.
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It's… different.
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Lighter.
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Before everything got complicated.
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Before her.
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I don't mean it like that.
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But the thought still comes.
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More photos
Lia scrolls again.
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"Look at this one—he cried because I beat him in a race!"
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Laughter again.
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Keifer exhales.
"…you cheated."
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"I did not!" she argues playfully.
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They fall into easy conversation.
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Natural.
Effortless.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I feel it again.
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That distance.
Not physical.
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Something else.
Like there's a part of him I don't know.
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A part I wasn't there for.
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And maybe—
never will be.
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I stand up quietly.
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No one notices.
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They're still laughing.
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Still talking.
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Still looking at their memories.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I notice.
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Of course I do.
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She left.
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And suddenly—
the room feels… off.
She's by the window.
Looking out.
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I walk over.
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"…you okay?" I ask softly.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I nod.
Too quickly.
"Yeah."
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Lie.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I don't believe it.
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Not this time.
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"…you didn't like that," I say.
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She hesitates.
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Then quietly:
"…I just didn't know you like that."
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That line hits differently.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
"I mean…" I continue softly,
"…you were happy."
pause
"…really happy."
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I don't look at him.
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Because I don't know what this feeling is.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I step closer.
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Careful.
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"That was a long time ago," I say.
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But she shakes her head slightly.
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"…it still matters."
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Silence.
She finally looks at me.
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"…I wasn't there," she says quietly.
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Not accusing.
Not blaming.
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Just… truth.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
That's when I understand.
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This isn't jealousy.
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It's… feeling left out of something that mattered.
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So I soften.
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"…you're here now," I say.
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Not strong.
Not dramatic.
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Just real.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
That helps.
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A little.
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But not fully.
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Because it's not just about now.
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It's about…
everything I didn't get to see.
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đź–¤ Ending
We stand there quietly.
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Not arguing.
Not fixed.
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Just… understanding something new.
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And maybe—
that's the beginning of something deeper.
Jayjay's POV
Movie night.
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Everyone's in the living room.
Lights dimmed.
Snacks everywhere.
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I sit down quietly.
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Keifer's already there.
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So I take the spot next to him.
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Before I can settle fully—
Lia drops down on his other side.
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Close.
Comfortable.
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Like it's always been like that.
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The movie starts
At first, it's normal.
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Just watching.
Quiet.
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Then Lia leans slightly toward him.
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"Wait, remember this scene?" she says, nudging him lightly.
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He glances at her.
"…yeah."
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They start talking.
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Not loudly.
But enough.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV
I stay quiet.
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Looking at the screen.
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But I'm not really watching anymore.
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They laugh softly.
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She says something again.
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He laughs this time.
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Really laughs.
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And something in my chest tightens.
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Not pain.
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Just… that feeling again.
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I don't say anything.
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I don't move.
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Because I don't want to make it awkward.
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I don't want to be that person.
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So I stay still.
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Let them talk.
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Let him laugh.
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Even if it's not with me.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
I don't realize it at first.
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Lia's talking.
Same as always.
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I respond.
Out of habit.
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It's easy.
Familiar.
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But then—
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I feel something shift beside me.
I glance down.
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Jay.
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Her head tilted slightly.
Eyes closed.
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She fell asleep.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
Immediately—
my attention changes.
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The movie fades.
The voices blur.
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It's just her now.
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Her position looks uncomfortable.
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So I move.
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Slowly.
Carefully.
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I lift my arm—
and gently pull her closer.
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Resting her head against my shoulder.
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Adjusting slightly so she's more comfortable.
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My hand settles around her arm.
Light.
Protective.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV (half-asleep)
I don't wake fully.
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But I feel it.
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Warmth.
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Familiar.
Safe.
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So I relax into it.
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Without thinking.
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đź–¤ Keifer's POV
She leans into me more.
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Trusting.
Even like this.
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And something in my chest softens.
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I stop paying attention to anything else.
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Just stay like that.
Making sure she doesn't wake.
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Lia's POV (silent observation)
She watches.
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The way he adjusted.
Without thinking.
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The way his attention shifted completely.
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The way he didn't even respond to her anymore.
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And something in her expression changes.
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Just slightly.
[ Keifer's pov ]
Time passes
The movie continues.
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But I don't follow it anymore.
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I just sit there.
Holding her.
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Making sure she's okay.
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After a while—
I look down at her again.
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Still asleep.
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So I move carefully.
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"Hold this," I tell Jare quietly, passing him the remote.
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Then I stand.
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Gently lifting her.
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One arm under her legs.
The other supporting her back.
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She stirs slightly—
but doesn't wake.
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đź–¤ Jayjay's POV (soft)
I feel movement.
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But I don't open my eyes.
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Just… stay close.
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I carry her out of the room.
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Everyone watches quietly.
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No teasing.
No noise.
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Just… understanding.
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And behind me—
Lia stays still.
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Watching.
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Not saying anything this time.
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