Jay's POV — Back Home, But Not Really
By the time our car rolled back into the driveway, my entire body felt like it had been wrung out, dried, folded, refolded, and then thrown off a cliff.
Tita Gema opened the front door before we even stepped out.
"Ay, finally! My working children are home!"
She pulled us all into a hug, one by one, squeezing us like stress balls.
Aries escaped first.
I got trapped the longest.
(As usual.)
We dragged our suitcases inside and went straight upstairs. My room felt different after spending a week in my old province room — bigger, colder, too clean.
I dropped my bag with a thud.
Then I made the mistake of checking my phone.
63 messages.
29 missed calls.
17 group notifications.
I stared at the screen like it was about to bite me.
Most were from: – Section E
– Stella
– David
– Mom
– A few from zack(which I ignored because survival)
– And one very dramatic voice note from Percy
But I didn't open any of them.
Except one.
Ethan, my C&J manager.
The only person outside my family who knew where I'd been all week.
His message was short:
Ethan:
Everything is set for tonight.
Your reveal will be the final segment.
Already sent invites to the Watson's, Fernandez's, Mariano's, Hanamitichi's, Braseltons and other prominent families...
Me:
Okay.
Just reading it made my stomach twist.
Tonight.
Tonight… everyone would finally know.
No more hiding.
No more secrecy.
No more smiling like a liar.
C&J wasn't just a hobby anymore.
It was my brand. My work. My identity.
And after tonight…
Everyone would know who I really was.
I dropped my phone on the bed and rubbed my face.
I had planned to shower. Eat. Maybe sleep for a year.
But instead?
I grabbed my keys.
Because there was something — someone — I needed before I faced the world tonight.
Someone who made everything less scary.
Someone I missed so much it physically hurt.
I didn't even change clothes.
I just walked out of the house.
Kuya Angelo shouted from the hallway,
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING—"
I slammed the door before he could finish.
---
THE DRIVE
The closer I got to Keifer's house, the faster my heart beat.
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
Seven days.
Seven days without him.
Seven days without his stupid teasing, his warm hands, his quiet voice, the way he looked at me like he could read every thought I tried to hide.
I didn't even know what I was going to say when I saw him.
Hi?
I missed you?
Please hug me before I combust?
None of it felt enough.
I turned the last corner.
His house appeared.
I barely made it up the front steps before the door flew open.
Keigan stood there, wide-eyed.
"Jay?!"
Before I could answer, a blur of small arms crashed into me from behind him.
Keiren.
"HIIII ATEEE JAAAYYY!!"
I staggered back, laughing as he wrapped himself around my waist like a baby koala.
"I missed you!" he yelled directly into my stomach.
"I missed you too, baby," I said, ruffling his hair.
Keigan leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed.
"You didn't even text you were coming."
"I wanted to surprise him," I said.
He grinned.
"He's upstairs. In his room. And he's… uhh… in a mood."
"A mood?" I raised a brow.
"Corporate mood," Keigan clarified dramatically.
"The kind where he talks like a CEO and not like our kuya."
I snorted and gently pried Keiren off my waist.
"Okay, okay — where exactly?"
Keigan pointed.
"Second floor study, Door half-open. You'll hear him. Trust me."
They weren't kidding.
His door was slightly open, and his voice spilled into the hallway — calm, deep, and… stressed?
I stepped closer.
"I understand, sir," Keifer said on the phone, pacing slowly.
"Yes. I'll be there tonight. Watson Corp will have a representative at C&J Event."
My heart jumped.
He was going tonight too.
I held my breath.
"No, I don't need security," he continued.
"Yes, I'm aware it's a major collaboration event. Yes. I won't be late."
He sighed softly — tired.
Overworked.
Still polite.
My stomach twisted.
He didn't even know I'd be there.
He didn't know why the event even existed.
He didn't know it was my reveal.
And hearing him talk like this — so professional, so responsible — made something warm bloom in my chest.
He wasn't going for fun.
He was going for work.
For his family.
For his future.
I watched him, unseen.
His hair messy.
Sleeves rolled up.
One hand on his hip.
A frustrated scratch on his eyebrow.
God, I missed him.
He finally ended the call with a quiet,
"Thank you. See you tonight."
He sat at his desk and immediately started typing something on his laptop, fingers quick, jaw tight.
I tiptoed inside silently.
Each soft step made my heart pound.
I reached him.
Lifted my hands.
Covered his eyes.
"Guess who—"
He froze.
His hands instantly came up, grabbing my wrists — gentle, warm, familiar.
He didn't pull them away.
He didn't move.
He just breathed in sharply, like he already knew.
"Jay…?" he whispered.
The way he said my name—
A whole week of missing him punched me in the chest.
His fingers wrapped around my wrists, warm and careful — like he couldn't believe I was real.
Slowly… he pulled my hands away from his eyes.
And then he turned.
His breath left him.
"Jay."
Just my name — but it hit like a thousand fireworks.
Before I could smile, or tease him, or breathe, he stood up and pulled me straight into him.
His arms wrapped around my waist. Mine around his neck. His face buried in my shoulder like he'd been holding this in all week.
I melted.
Seven days of missing him dissolved instantly.
He held me tighter.
"I thought I was hallucinating," he muttered against my skin.
I laughed softly. "Do you usually hallucinate girls breaking into your house?"
"Only you," he said, lifting his head, eyes warm. "Always you."
God.
I didn't stand a chance.
He cupped my cheek for a moment, searching my face like he needed proof that I wasn't going to disappear again.
Then without warning—
He sat back in his chair… dragged me with him… and pulled me onto his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My arms flew around his shoulders to steady myself.
"Hi," he whispered, eyes locked on mine.
"Hi," I breathed.
His hand slid up my back, settling between my shoulder blades. The other rested on my thigh, firm and warm.
And then he leaned in.
His lips touched mine — soft at first, almost hesitant, like he needed a second to believe this was happening.
Then deeper. Warmer. Slower.
A week apart condensed into one kiss.
He exhaled against my mouth, fingers tightening slightly on my waist like he couldn't hold the feeling in.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested on mine.
"I missed you," he whispered.
"I know," I whispered back. "Me too."
He let out a soft laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
"You look tired," he said gently. "Really tired."
"You try surviving kuya Angelo's training," I muttered, making him smile.
He kissed my forehead this time — slower, longer.
"Rest here," he murmured. "Just… stay with me for a bit."
I nodded and settled against his chest, his arms securing me without even thinking. The steady rise and fall of his breathing had my eyes fluttering shut.
After a while, he spoke again, voice low and hesitant.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Mm?"
"There's an event tonight," he said, fingers tracing lazy shapes on my back. "A Watson Corp thing. They need a representative there, so I'm going…"
He paused.
"Do you want to come with me?"
My eyes blinked open.
If he knew where I was actually going tonight, he'd lose his mind.
I forced a small smile.
"I want to," I said honestly, "but I'm exhausted. And I kinda just want to sleep. In my bed. Without Angelo yelling about spreadsheets."
He breathed out a disappointed but understanding laugh.
"Yeah. Makes sense."
I leaned closer, brushing my nose against his jaw.
"You can go without me," I said softly.
He shook his head lightly and hugged me tighter.
"I still wish you'd come," he murmured into my hair. "But… it's okay. Just having you here right now is enough."
My heart melted into goo.
He pressed a soft kiss to the side of my head.
"Stay a little longer," he whispered. "Please."
I wrapped my arms around him again, settling into the warmth I had missed too much.
"Okay," I whispered back.
And for a moment…
There was no event. No reveal. No pressure. No secrets.
Just him.
Just us.
His heartbeat was steady against my ear.
For the first time in a week, my whole body relaxed — like every bone finally decided it could stop pretending to be strong.
We stayed like that for a while.
No words.
No rush.
Just breathing each other in.
But eventually… his hand stopped tracing shapes on my back.
"Jay?"
"Mm?"
"You're really not coming tonight?"
His voice was soft — not pressuring, just… hopeful.
Guilt pricked my chest.
If only he knew.
If only he knew he wasn't just going to the event —
he was going to my event.
The biggest moment of my life so far.
And he'd have front-row seats without even realizing it.
I swallowed and forced out the same lie.
"I'm really tired, Kei. I'll sleep early."
His fingers curled slightly against my waist.
A tiny reaction.
Barely there.
But I felt it.
He nodded eventually, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Okay. I won't force you."
His voice was gentle.
Too gentle.
I tightened my arms around him.
If I stayed any longer like this, I'd break.
I pulled back slightly. "I should go home and rest."
He looked up at me, eyes warm but reluctant.
"You can rest here."
I laughed. "With Kuya angelo at the house? No thanks."
"He'll understand."
"No, he won't."
"…true."
That made both of us laugh quietly.
He brushed his thumb across my cheek again — that soft, slow touch he always used when he didn't want to let me go yet.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah. Tomorrow."
He let his hands fall from my waist reluctantly as I stood, but before I could step away —
He caught my wrist again.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop me.
"Jay."
I turned.
His eyes held mine, honest and soft in a way that hit too deep.
"Please… don't disappear for another week."
My chest squeezed.
"I won't," I whispered.
He stood up, walked me to the door, and hugged me again — arms secure, head lowered to my shoulder like he wanted to memorize the feeling.
When we finally pulled apart, he kissed my forehead softly.
"Goodnight, princess."
I smiled.
"Goodnight, Kei."
I walked out of his room.
Down the stairs.
Past Keigan's dramatic wink.
Past Keiren yelling, "ATE JAY COME BACK TOMORROW OKAAAY?"
"Ofc keiren.. "
And then I was out the front door.
---
THE DRIVE BACK
The moment I was alone in the car, the lie sat heavy in my chest.
He thought I was going to sleep early.
Meanwhile…
My reveal was in less than three hours.
Ethan had probably already messaged me five times.
I started driving — slowly, carefully — but my thoughts were racing faster than the car.
Tonight, Keifer would walk into that event representing Watson Corp.
He'd sit in a guest seat.
He'd watch the stage.
He'd see the lights.
He'd hear the announcer call the final segment.
He'd hear my name.
And he'd learn the truth.
Not from me privately.
But with the entire business world watching.
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
What will he think?
Will he be angry?
Hurt?
Proud?
Confused?
All of the above?
I didn't know.
But one thing was certain:
Tonight was going to change everything.
For me.
For him.
For us.
I exhaled slowly as I pulled into my driveway.
"Okay, Jay," I whispered to myself.
"Showtime."