(Jay's POV)
By the time the noise started feeling like too much, I didn't even realize when I slowed down.
The group was still ahead—Cin dragging Felix somewhere, Rory arguing again, Josh trying to keep some sense in all of it.
I didn't follow this time.
I just… stopped.
The lights around the park had started glowing brighter now, soft and warm against the evening sky. The music was still there, but distant enough to feel calmer.
"Walking away again?" Keifer's voice came from beside me.
"I didn't run this time."
"Improvement."
I glanced at him. "You noticed."
"I always do."
That answer came too easily.
I looked away for a second, then sat down on a low railing nearby. He didn't hesitate—just stood close, then leaned slightly beside me, not too far.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
It wasn't awkward.
Just… quiet.
Different from the chaos we had been in all day.
"I like this better," I said softly.
"This?" he asked.
"Yeah. When it's not so loud."
He nodded once. "You get overwhelmed."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
He looked at me.
I looked away.
"…a little," I admitted.
"Exactly."
I huffed slightly, but didn't argue further.
There was a pause again. A comfortable one.
Then the thought came back.
It had been sitting somewhere in my head for a while now.
I hesitated.
Then—
"Keif."
He looked at me immediately. "Hmm?"
I played with the edge of my sleeve for a second before speaking.
"Do you think… we should tell Aries?"
There.
I said it.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just watched me.
"About us," I added, a little quieter.
Another pause.
I let out a small breath. "He's… really nice to me, you know. Sometimes I feel like I should tell him. I mean—Kuya Aries always checks on me and all that…"
I stopped, realizing I was talking too much again.
"…I don't know," I finished.
He shifted slightly, turning more toward me now.
Not joking.
Not teasing.
Just listening.
"I want him to know," I said after a moment. "Not like—announcing or anything. Just… know."
This time, he answered.
"It's up to you, Jay."
Simple.
Calm.
No pressure.
"If you want to tell him, you can."
I looked at him.
"That's it?" I asked.
"What else do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Something more serious?"
He raised a brow slightly. "That was serious."
"It didn't feel like it."
"That's because you're overthinking."
"I'm not—"
"You are."
I paused.
Okay, maybe a little.
He didn't push it further.
Just stayed there, letting me think.
And somehow, that helped more than anything else.
"…what if he reacts weirdly?" I asked after a moment.
"He won't."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"How?"
"Because you said he's nice."
"That doesn't mean—"
"It does."
I looked at him, unsure.
He held my gaze for a second, then his expression shifted slightly.
Softer.
But lighter.
"If anything," he added, "just make sure he doesn't beat me up."
I blinked.
"…what?"
He shrugged casually. "I'd like to stay alive."
I stared at him for a second—
then laughed.
"You're not serious."
"I am."
"You're not scared of anyone."
"I'm not," he said calmly. "But I respect brothers."
I shook my head, still smiling. "Kuya Aries is not like that."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Less damage."
"You're impossible."
"And you're smiling again."
"I was already smiling."
"Not like that."
I rolled my eyes, but didn't deny it.
The tension from before—
it wasn't there anymore.
Just… calm.
And something else.
Something that felt like we were slowly moving forward—
without rushing it.
"Are you done discussing your secret meeting?" Cin's voice suddenly echoed from a distance.
"We can hear you from here!" Felix added.
"Oh my God," I muttered.
Keifer just sighed softly. "We should go."
"Yeah."
But neither of us moved immediately.
Just one second more.
Then—
we got up together and walked back.
Like nothing had changed.
And somehow—
everything had.
We had barely rejoined the group when Cin immediately pulled everyone into another argument about which ride to go on next.
"I'm telling you, that one again," he insisted.
"You almost cried last time," Felix said.
"I did not."
"You did."
"I slipped emotionally."
"That's worse."
I laughed, shaking my head as we started walking again. The park felt more crowded now, lights brighter, people everywhere. It was harder to move without bumping into someone.
Without realizing it, I walked a little closer to Keifer again.
He didn't say anything about it this time.
"Wait, excuse me—"
A voice cut through from the side.
I turned slightly.
A guy stood there, maybe a little older than us. His expression was… off. Not rude. Not exactly friendly either.
Just—
watching too closely.
"Yeah?" I said.
"Which ride would you recommend?" he asked, glancing briefly toward the rides.
It was a normal question.
But something about the way he looked back at me—
not at the rides—
felt strange.
"Oh… um, the roller coaster is good," I said.
"Hmm," he nodded slowly. "You screamed a lot on that one, right?"
I froze for a second.
"What?"
"You were there earlier," he said, a faint smile forming. "Front side. With your friends."
My grip tightened slightly around nothing.
"How do you—"
Before I could finish—
Keifer stepped in.
Not abruptly.
Not aggressively.
Just—
closer.
Close enough that I felt it immediately.
"She told you," he said calmly.
The guy's eyes shifted to him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
And then—
I recognized him.
That same face.
The one who had bumped into Keifer earlier.
The same look.
The same… something off.
My stomach tightened.
"You," I said quietly.
He smiled slightly. "We've met."
"That wasn't meeting," I replied.
"Accidents happen."
"That wasn't an accident," I said, sharper this time.
Keifer didn't move.
Didn't react outwardly.
But I felt it—
that slight shift in him.
More alert.
More still.
The guy's gaze moved back to me again.
Not even trying to hide it.
"You come here often?" he asked.
That was it.
The tone.
The way he said it.
Too familiar.
Too comfortable.
Before I could respond—
Keifer spoke.
"She's not answering that."
Calm.
Flat.
Final.
The guy looked at him again.
Then smirked slightly.
"Relax. Just asking."
"Don't."
That one word—
quiet.
But different.
The air between them tightened.
For a second, I thought something might actually happen.
But the guy just held Keifer's gaze for another moment—
then stepped back.
"Enjoy the park," he said casually.
And walked away.
I watched him go, my brows still furrowed.
"That was weird," I muttered.
No response.
I turned to Keifer.
He was still looking in that direction.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just—
focused.
"Keif," I said softly.
He blinked once, then looked at me.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine."
"That was the same guy."
"I know."
"And he was—"
"I know."
I frowned slightly. "You're too calm about this."
"I'm not calm."
"You look calm."
"That doesn't mean I am."
I paused.
Then stepped a little closer without thinking.
"He was being creepy."
"I saw."
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I."
A small silence settled between us.
Then—
"You stayed close," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"Just now."
I blinked. "That's what you noticed?"
"I notice everything."
I rolled my eyes slightly. "That's not the point."
"It is."
"How?"
"You didn't move away."
I stared at him for a second.
Then looked away.
"…I didn't feel like it."
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yes."
I frowned. "You're weird."
"And you're still here."
"I can leave."
"Try."
I didn't.
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING AGAIN?" Cin shouted from a distance. "ARE YOU COLLECTING SIDE QUESTS?"
Felix laughed loudly. "Leave them, they're in their own story!"
"Oh my God," I muttered.
Keifer exhaled softly, shaking his head.
"Stay near," he said quietly, just for me.
"I was already."
"Stay anyway."
I looked at him.
Then nodded slightly.
"…okay."
We walked back toward the group, but this time—
I didn't just stay close.
I stayed right beside him.
And Keifer—
he didn't look away from the crowd as much anymore.
Like he was watching.
Not just for himself.
But for me.