JAY-JAY POV
"Hi, Keigan," I said, trying to sound normal even though my brain was screaming abort mission.
"Hi, Jay," he replied, smiling at me.
And not the nice kind of smile.
The I‑know‑something‑you‑don't smile.
"Keigan, can I ask you something?" I blurted, because this question had been eating me alive.
He nodded slowly, like he was already bored.
"The key you gave me… why did you give it to me?" I asked, my voice wobbling.
Then I panicked and added, "I mean, let's be honest—you don't even like me."
"Like I told you already, if something happens to me, give that key to Kuya. The box is under my bed," Keigan said, his voice calm but heavy.
My eyes widened.
Oh god.
Why does he always sound like he's leaving a will?
"Keigan, I don't know what you're going through," I said, blurting it out before I lost my nerve. "But if you ever want to talk about it… I'm here."
"You don't understand," Keigan said quietly. "None of you do."
I took a slow breath, steadying myself. "You're wrong, Keigan. We're more similar than you think."
His eyes flickered, but I kept going, softer this time.
"You're scared of the part of yourself you can't control… the monster inside. Afraid that if it shows up, it'll hurt the people you care about." I lowered my voice, almost whispering. "I know what that feels like. I've been in that place too."
For a moment, the tension shifted.
His smirk faded, replaced by something unreadable, almost vulnerable.
I gave him a small, tentative smile. "You don't have to carry it alone."
He was about to say something, but Keifer suddenly came upstairs.
"What are you two talking about?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp enough to make me freeze.
"Nothing," we both said at the same time. Which, of course, made it sound ten times more suspicious.
Keifer narrowed his eyes but didn't push. "Fine. Dinner's ready. Come downstairs." He turned and left, probably to call Keiran too.
The silence returned, heavier now. I glanced back at Keigan, my chest tight.
"Look, Keigan," I said softly, "I might not be an expert, but I can help however I can."
He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he finally nodded. "Thanks. I will… if I need to."
"That's the least I can do because of how much—" I stopped myself mid‑sentence.
"How much what?" Keigan asked, eyes narrowing.
"Because of how much your Kuya helped me," I said quickly, covering it up.
He studied me for a moment, then simply nodded and went downstairs.
I stayed frozen, my thoughts louder than the silence.
Keifer appeared with Keiran behind him, calm as ever, like nothing was out of place.
But inside me, everything was.
This is all I can do… was tell him how much she helped me
I wanted to say it.
To spill everything right there, to let him know the truth.
But the words stuck in my throat, heavy, dangerous.
Instead, I forced a smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
Pretending I wasn't carrying a secret that could change everything.
Keifer's eyes brushed mine for a second, steady, unreadable.
And I thought, One day.
When the time is right.
I'll tell him everything—how she helped me, how much she mattered, how she saved me.
"Jay, come downstairs. You can dream about me later," Keifer said, his voice calm but carrying that teasing edge.
I smirked. "In your dreams, I'll be dreaming about you."
He froze for half a second, then that faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Careful, Jay. That sounded like a confession."
My cheeks burned instantly.
Wah.
Jay, control.
Control.
Don't let him win.
"Confession? Please," I scoffed, crossing my arms. "That was sarcasm."
Keifer leaned closer, his voice low, steady. "Then why are you blushing?"
I gasped, covering my face with both hands. "I'm not!"
He chuckled softly, rare and warm. "Fine. Keep pretending. Dinner's waiting."
And just like that, he walked off, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding like I'd just run a marathon.
I went downstairs and sat at the table.
Keifer sat at the beginning of the table like he was the king of the house, Keiran plopped down beside me, and Keigan sat across from us, his stare sharp as ever.
I picked up my spoon and started eating the dinner Keifer cooked.
"How is it?" Keifer asked, his tone calm but expectant.
"It's excellent," I said, smiling despite myself.
And just like that, his face lit up—not with a smile, but with that subtle look like he'd just won a war.
Oh my god.
He's acting like I just handed him a trophy for cooking rice.
Keiran rolled his eyes. "Kuya, it's just food. Chill."
Keifer shot him a cold glance. "It's not just food. It's proof."
"Proof of what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That you like something I made," Keifer said smoothly, leaning back like he'd just conquered the universe.
I groaned, covering my face. "You're impossible."
"Tss, stop flirting in front of me. It's disgusting," Keiran said, stabbing his fork into the rice like it was my face.
"Tell that to your brother," I shot back instantly, pointing at Keifer.
Keifer didn't even flinch.
He just leaned back in his chair, calm as ever, like he was watching a comedy show. "Don't drag me into this. I'm just eating."
Keiran groaned. "You're not just eating. You're staring at her like she's dessert."
I gasped. "Excuse me?!"
Keifer smirked faintly, the kind of smirk that made my stomach flip. "Well, you did say the food was excellent."
Keigan, who was sitting across from us, leaned back and said, "Tell me about it."
I froze mid‑bite. Oh great. Double team sarcasm. Just what I needed.
"Excuse me?" I said, glaring at both of them. "Do you two rehearse these lines or something?"
Keiran rolled his eyes. "No, it's just natural disgust."
Keigan smirked. "It's talent, actually."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Why am I eating dinner in the middle of a roast battle?"
Keifer, calm as ever, set his chopsticks down and looked at them both. "If you don't like it, don't eat. Simple."
Keiran muttered, "Simple? You're flirting at the table like it's a date night."
Keigan chuckled. "And she's blushing like it is."
My cheeks burned instantly. Wah. Jay, control. Control. Don't combust in front of the brothers.
I pointed my spoon at them. "One more word and I'm throwing this rice at both of you."
Keifer smirked faintly, leaning back like he was enjoying the chaos. "Don't waste the food. You said it was excellent."
"I'm done," Keiran said flatly.
"Me too," Keigan added, and the two of them left together, stomping off to their rooms like synchronized drama kings.
I finished my dinner quietly, then glanced at Keifer. He was already smirking, like he'd won another silent battle.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't look so proud. It was just rice."
He didn't answer, just leaned back in his chair, calm as ever, like he owned the whole night.
I sighed and went upstairs.
The hallway felt familiar, too familiar.
My feet carried me without thinking, and suddenly I was standing in front of that room.
The room I'd been in last time.
The room that still carried the weight of the Kiko incident.
The room that echoed with laughter from the New Year party.
Just as I was about to step into the guest room, Keifer's voice cut through the hallway.
"Stop. Don't sleep there."
I turned, raising an eyebrow. "Then where should I sleep?"
"In our room," he said, calm as ever.
"Our?" I repeated, my eyebrow climbing higher.
"Yeah. It's ours after our marriage," he replied smoothly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Idiot," I muttered under my breath.
"Come on. Let's go," he said, already moving toward me.
I shook my head stubbornly and reached for the guest room door. But before I could touch the handle, he scooped me up in bridal style.
"Keifer! Put me down!" I yelled, hitting his chest with both hands.
Of course, it didn't work. He was too strong, too steady, and way too full of muscles.
My heart was racing, my cheeks burning
We reached his room, and he laid me gently on the bed, his expression calm, unreadable.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
🌹✨ Author's Note ✨
🌹 So… how was the chapter? 👀
💫 Drop your reactions in the comments—I want to feel every bit of your shock, laughter, and tears 💭🔥.
But here's the real question… Who is SHE? 💔
Jay kept talking about being so grateful to HER… but who do you think she is? 👀✨
Comment your theories below—I'm dying to see your guesses 🌹🔥.