(Jay's POV)
By the time we got into the car, everything felt quieter.
Too quiet.
After all that noise, laughter, chaos—this silence almost felt unreal.
I leaned back, resting my head against the headrest, eyes closing slowly. My whole body felt heavy, like the day had finally caught up to me.
The car started moving.
Soft music. Low lights. Just the road ahead.
"Jay," Keifer said.
I didn't open my eyes.
"Hm?"
"You look tired."
"…hm," I murmured.
I heard him exhale softly.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Jay."
Something in his tone made me open my eyes this time.
"I want to tell you something, baby."
That wasn't normal.
I turned my head slightly toward him, still leaning back.
"…hm. Tell."
He didn't speak immediately.
That pause—
I knew it.
I sat up a little.
"What happened?"
His grip on the steering wheel tightened just slightly.
Then—
"That guy."
My body stilled.
"The one who bumped into me."
I frowned. "…yeah?"
Another pause.
Then he said it.
"He's one of my father's men."
For a second—
I didn't react.
Because my brain didn't process it.
Then it did.
And everything dropped.
"…what?"
I straightened completely now, staring at him.
"Keif, no—"
"I knew it," he said calmly. "The moment he hit me."
"That's not possible," I said quickly. "He was just some—"
"He wasn't."
I shook my head slightly, my voice rising just a little. "You're saying he was sent?"
"I'm saying he wasn't there by accident."
Silence filled the car.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Because I knew what that meant.
I knew exactly what his father was capable of.
"…and today?" I asked slowly. "When he talked to me…"
Keifer didn't hesitate.
"He was checking you."
My chest tightened.
Not confusion.
Not fear exactly.
Just—
that feeling of something going wrong.
"You should've told me," I said, looking at him.
"I didn't want to."
"That's not your decision to make."
"It is when it involves you."
I turned toward him fully now. "Keifer."
He didn't look at me.
Just kept his eyes on the road.
"I didn't want you thinking about it," he said. "Not today."
"That doesn't change the fact that it happened."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you say something when it happened?"
"Because I was handling it."
That answer—
so calm—
so him—
made it worse.
"You don't just 'handle' this," I said quietly. "Not when it's your father."
A small pause.
Then—
"I've been handling him my whole life, Jay."
That shut me up.
For a second.
Because I knew that too.
I looked away, pressing my lips together.
"…he knows about me now, doesn't he?" I asked.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
That one word settled heavy in the air.
I leaned back slowly, running a hand through my hair.
"Great," I muttered.
Silence again.
Then I looked at him.
"You're not taking this lightly, right?"
"I'm not."
"Good."
Another pause.
Then I added, softer—
"…because I'm not."
He finally glanced at me.
Just for a second.
"I know."
We stayed like that for a moment.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Then—
he spoke again, tone shifting just slightly.
"If your Kuya hears about this before I explain it—"
I frowned. "What?"
"I might not survive that conversation."
I blinked.
"…seriously?"
He nodded once. "I respect him. But I also value my life."
I stared at him for a second—
then let out a small breath.
Half annoyed.
Half… something lighter.
"You're not funny."
"I am."
"You're not."
"You're smiling."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I turned toward the window, hiding it.
But even then—
the thought stayed.
That guy.
His father.
And the fact that—
this wasn't random.
And for the first time that day—
the chaos didn't follow us.
Something else did.
(Keifer's POV)
By the time I pulled the car to a stop outside her house, the engine going quiet felt louder than anything we had said on the way.
She didn't move.
Neither did I.
I kept my hands on the steering wheel for a second longer than needed, eyes fixed ahead—but I wasn't looking at the road anymore.
I was thinking.
About the guy.
About my father.
About how close he stood to her.
Too close.
And how I didn't say everything.
I exhaled slowly.
"…we're here," I said.
"I know," she replied.
Of course she did.
She always did.
She opened the door and stepped out, and I followed a second later, closing the door behind me. The night air was cooler now, but it didn't do much.
Because my focus wasn't on anything around me.
It was on her.
She turned toward me, standing just a few steps away, and for a moment—neither of us said anything.
No noise.
No chaos.
Just this.
"You'll call me?" she asked.
"I always do."
"That's not what I asked."
I looked at her properly this time.
There it was.
That look.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Just… worry.
For me.
"I will," I said.
She nodded, but I could tell—
that wasn't enough.
"…and you'll be careful."
"I am careful."
"Keif."
The way she said my name—
quiet, but firm—
made something tighten in my chest.
I stepped closer.
"I'll be fine."
"You said that before."
"And I was."
"That doesn't mean—"
"Jay."
I cut in, softer this time.
Not stopping her.
Just… grounding her.
She went quiet.
But her eyes didn't.
They stayed on me, searching for something I wasn't saying.
She thinks I don't see it.
But I do.
I always do.
"…just be safe," she said finally.
And that was it.
That one line.
Simple.
But it hit harder than anything else.
Something in me shifted.
Without thinking, I stepped closer.
"Come here," I murmured.
And when I pulled her in—
I didn't hold back.
The kiss wasn't light.
Wasn't teasing.
It was slower.
Deeper.
Like I needed her to feel it.
To understand something I wasn't saying out loud.
Because if I said it—
I'd have to tell her everything.
And I'm not ready for that.
Not yet.
When I pulled back, I didn't go far.
My hand still holding her, keeping her right there.
Close.
Where I could see her.
Where I could make sure she was okay.
But then—
she moved.
Her arms wrapped around me suddenly, tightly.
Not loose.
Not casual.
Tight enough that I felt it instantly.
I didn't hesitate.
One arm went around her back, the other to the back of her head, pulling her in closer.
And then I heard it.
Soft.
Muffled against my chest.
"…be safe, Keif."
My grip tightened slightly.
"…I can't lose you. Please."
For a second—
I froze.
Not because I didn't understand.
Because I did.
Too well.
I pulled back slowly, just enough to look at her.
And that's when I saw it.
That small tear in her eye.
Damn.
"Hey—no, no, no," I said immediately, my voice softer than before. "Don't cry, Jay. Baby—"
"I'm not crying," she said quickly, wiping it away.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She got stubborn.
Of course she did.
"I'm not," she repeated. "It's just—nothing."
Nothing.
Yeah.
Right.
I didn't argue.
Didn't push.
Just looked at her.
Because I knew exactly what it was.
She feels everything.
Too much sometimes.
Too deeply.
And especially—
when it comes to me.
"I'm fine," she added, softer now. "Just… be safe, okay?"
I held her gaze for a second.
Then nodded.
"…okay."
She stepped back.
Small smile.
Forced.
I could tell.
And she turned, walking toward the gate like she didn't want to stay any longer.
Like if she did—
she'd break.
I didn't stop her.
I just stood there.
Watching.
Until she reached inside.
Until she was gone.
And only then—
I exhaled.
Running a hand through my hair, my jaw tightening slightly.
What I didn't tell her—
was bigger than what I did.
That man wasn't just "one of them."
He was sent.
To see.
To confirm.
To report.
And now—
she's involved.
My Jay.
Too soft.
Too honest.
Too easy to hurt—
even if she pretends she's not.
I looked down for a second, then back toward her house.
"…I've handled worse," I muttered under my breath.
But this—
this wasn't just about me anymore.
And that changes everything.
Because I can deal with anything coming at me.
But her?
No.
That's different.
My grip tightened slightly.
Not in anger.
In decision.
I won't let anything reach her.
Not him.
Not my father.
Not anyone.
Not this time.