The courtroom of the Supreme Court of the Philippines was already full when Jasper Jean Mariano walked in.
Jay never walked quietly.
Her heels clicked confidently across the floor. Her black lawyer robe moved behind her like she owned the place.
Because honestly?
She almost did.
Youngest attorney to win three major cases in a year. Judges loved her. Reporters loved her.
And most importantly—
She loved winning.
Jay placed her files on the table and looked across the courtroom.
And there he was.
Mark Keifer Watson.
The golden boy.
Tall. Calm. Perfect suit. Perfect hair. Perfect annoying face.
He was already sitting there, reading his files like the world didn't exist.
Jay rolled her eyes.
"Of course he's early," she muttered.
Keifer slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
Instant irritation.
Jay smiled sweetly.
"Morning, Watson."
Keifer leaned back in his chair.
"Morning, Mariano."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
Jay hated that.
"Hope you prepared today," she said while opening her files. "Would be embarrassing to lose again."
Keifer raised one eyebrow.
"I thought you liked embarrassing yourself."
Jay gasped dramatically.
"Oh, please. The only reason you won the last case is because the judge liked your basketball highlights."
Keifer closed his file.
"I'm sorry my talents confuse you."
Jay leaned forward.
"I'm sorry you think you have talents."
Across the room, the other lawyers slowly started watching.
Because everyone knew this rivalry.
In law school they were Top 1 and Top 2 every semester.
Sometimes Jay won.
Sometimes Keifer won.
They never congratulated each other.
They only argued.
The judge walked in.
"Court is now in session."
Both lawyers immediately stood up.
Professional.
Calm.
Like they weren't just insulting each other two seconds ago.
Jay started presenting her argument first.
Her voice was confident.
Clear.
Every word sharp and precise.
Even the judge nodded in approval.
Keifer watched her carefully.
Not smiling.
Not reacting.
Just observing.
Jay noticed.
And it annoyed her.
After she finished, the judge turned to Keifer.
"Counsel Watson."
Keifer stood up slowly.
He walked to the center calmly, like he had all the time in the world.
Jay crossed her arms.
Show off.
Keifer began speaking.
His voice was deep and controlled.
His argument?
Dangerously good.
Too good.
Jay's eyes narrowed.
Oh he prepared.
He looked at Jay while explaining one point.
"And if opposing counsel had examined the evidence more carefully…"
Jay's eyebrow twitched.
"…she would realize the timeline contradicts her argument."
Some lawyers in the room gasped softly.
Jay slowly stood up.
"Oh?" she said sweetly.
The judge sighed.
"Counselors…"
Jay smiled politely.
"Your Honor, if Mr. Watson had read the entire document instead of the first page, he would know the timeline was corrected in Exhibit B."
Keifer blinked once.
Then slowly opened his file.
He flipped pages.
Jay crossed her arms proudly.
Got you.
Then Keifer pulled out a paper.
Exhibit C.
Jay froze.
Oh no.
He looked at her calmly.
"The updated correction is actually in Exhibit C."
The judge looked at the paper.
"Counsel Mariano?"
Jay slowly grabbed the document.
She stared at it.
Her eye twitched.
He added something.
Keifer smiled slightly.
Just a tiny smile.
Jay glared at him.
After court ended, Jay stormed outside the courthouse.
She was still angry.
Very angry.
Percy Jude Mariano was waiting outside with sunglasses and his usual dramatic energy.
He immediately stood up.
"Sunshine! Did you destroy him?"
Jay dropped her files into his arms.
"No."
Percy gasped.
"WHAT?"
Jay groaned.
"He added new evidence."
Percy frowned.
"That cheating tall basketball stick."
Jay started walking toward the parking lot.
Percy followed.
"You know what this means."
Jay sighed.
"What."
Percy grinned.
"You two clearly have tension."
Jay stopped walking.
She slowly turned.
"Percy."
He smiled proudly.
"I ship it."
Jay stared at him like she was deciding if murder was legal.
"Say that again and I will bury you in case files."
Percy laughed.
At the same moment, a black car stopped nearby.
Michael Aries Fernandes stepped out.
Tall.
Quiet.
Dangerously calm.
He looked at Jay first.
"You okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Just lost a point."
Aries looked across the parking lot.
Keifer was walking toward his car.
Their eyes met.
Aries' expression became cold.
Very cold.
Percy leaned toward Jay and whispered dramatically.
"Your bodyguard brother has entered murder mode."
Aries said quietly:
"If he hurts you, I will ruin him."
Jay sighed.
"He didn't hurt me."
Percy smirked.
"Yet."
Across the parking lot, Keifer unlocked his car.
But before getting in—
He looked back once.
Jay was talking to her brothers.
Laughing.
Chaos energy.
Bright.
Annoying.
Beautiful.
Keifer quickly looked away.
He got into his car.
And drove away.
Jay watched the car disappear.
She frowned slightly.
Percy noticed.
"Oh my god."
Jay groaned.
"Stop."
Percy grinned like a villain.
"Sunshine has a rival crush."
Jay smacked his arm.
"I HATE him."
Percy nodded dramatically.
"Ah yes."
He pointed toward the road.
"The beginning of love."
Jay threw a file at him.
Aries simply said one thing quietly.
"If he makes her cry…"
Percy finished the sentence happily.
"We bury him."
Jay walked away.
But her mind kept replaying one thing.
That small smile Keifer gave her in court.
And somewhere across the city—
Keifer was thinking the exact same thing.
About her.
The war had officially started.