KEIFER POV
I already hated this morning.
And it kept getting worse.
Mostly because Adrian existed too comfortably around Jay-Jay.
Like he naturally belonged beside her.
Like touching her space wasn't something he had to think about.
And the worst part?
Jay-Jay allowed it.
Luka was still laughing proudly after exposing me in front of everyone while Section E acted like this was the greatest entertainment of their lives.
Cin was recording voice notes dramatically.
Rory looked spiritually fulfilled.
Felix and Blaster were dying laughing.
Meanwhile I was sitting beside Jay-Jay trying very hard not to throw someone through a window.
Then Adrian casually reached over Jay-Jay's shoulder and wiped a tiny bit of syrup from the corner of her lip.
"Messy," he said softly.
Silence.
Complete silence.
My jaw tightened instantly.
Jay-Jay blinked once.
"…You could've warned me first."
"You never notice things when you're distracted."
"That sounds rude."
"It's true."
And somehow—
she didn't even argue properly.
That irritated me immediately.
Cin looked one second away from exploding.
"Oh my GOD."
Rory grabbed Felix violently.
"THIS IS BETTER THAN DRAMA."
Felix whispered loudly,
"Keifer looks homicidal."
"I'm calm," I said flatly.
Nobody believed me.
Especially not Adrian.
Because he looked at me for one second—
and smiled slightly.
Not mocking.
Not aggressive.
Just enough to make it obvious he noticed my reaction.
That made it worse.
Much worse.
Then Luka suddenly climbed onto Adrian's lap dramatically.
"Kuya Adrian used to brush Ate Jay-Jay's hair too!"
Jay-Jay immediately pointed at him.
"Luka."
"She cried whenever someone else touched her hair."
Robin almost choked laughing.
"That's STILL true."
Cyrus covered his face with one hand.
"This family is exhausting."
Meanwhile—
I was staring at Adrian.
Because he looked completely relaxed talking about things nobody else knew.
Old habits.
Old memories.
Things from a life before us.
Before me.
Then Adrian suddenly looked at Jay-Jay again.
"You still can't sleep without hugging pillows?"
I froze.
Section E froze.
Jay-Jay looked horrified.
"WHY are you talking?"
Adrian ignored her completely.
"You used to steal my hoodies too."
Robin screamed laughing.
"OH SHE'S DONE."
Blaster slammed the table dramatically.
"THIS MAN IS DESTROYING KEIFER."
I looked at him slowly.
"Do you want to survive today?"
"Not really."
Fair.
Jay-Jay grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it directly at Adrian.
He caught it easily.
Still smiling slightly.
"You're violent in the morning."
"You deserve violence."
"That's cute."
Silence.
Then Section E exploded.
Cin screamed into a cushion.
Rory fell onto the floor dramatically.
Felix pointed at me aggressively.
"BRO HE'S FLIRTING IN FRONT OF YOU."
I noticed.
Very clearly.
And unfortunately—
so did Jay-Jay.
Because the second she glanced toward me, she paused slightly.
Like she noticed how quiet I got.
Adrian noticed too.
Of course he did.
Then Luka betrayed humanity again.
"Ate Jay-Jay used to say she'd marry Kuya Adrian when she grows up."
The entire condo froze.
Completely.
Even the maids stopped moving.
Jay-Jay looked ready to pass away peacefully.
"That was when I was FIVE."
Robin was crying laughing now.
"And Adrian said yes every time."
I slowly turned toward Adrian.
Who looked completely calm while drinking coffee.
Like this situation wasn't destroying everyone mentally.
Then he casually said:
"She was adorable and now hot ."
That was it.
That was the final attack.
Because suddenly everyone in Section E started screaming again.
Even Yuri looked stressed.
And me?
Yeah.
I officially wanted to fight somebody.
Probably Adrian.
Definitely Adrian.
Especially when Jay-Jay accidentally smiled at him again.
Because somehow—
that smile bothered me more than all the flirting combined.
END OF CHAPTER 48