Jay-jay's POV
I don't want to ask. Even though I want to. It's confusing, but I really don't want to.
I don't want to bring up the accident. Even though I'm itching to know the truth. I already know parts of it, but not the whole thing. The complete story.
I'm such a meddler!
"We're here..." he said, stopping the car in front of my house. "...Should I pick you up tomorrow?"
"Probably not... I'll be with C-in. He still doesn't know." I explained.
"Ahh... Okay. Maybe next time."
I just smiled at him. I was about to open the car door when he suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Wait a second..." he said.
"What?" I asked.
He suddenly puckered his lips and closed his eyes. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you want a kiss from my fist?" I asked, and he immediately glared at me.
"Just one!" he said in frustration.
"You've already had plenty!"
"I'm just making up for it."
Making up for it?!
"What exactly are you making up for?" I asked, confused.
"B-because... Keifer has kissed you so many times, but I... only a few." he explained.
I immediately felt irritated by what he said. To me, it sounded like he was treating this like a competition.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked seriously.
"N-nothing... I'm just jealous." he answered like a child.
"You're acting like a kid... And this isn't a competition!" I snapped.
"Sorry..."
"Oh! Shut up already!" I said, holding out my arms for a hug.
He immediately smiled and hugged me. Of course, he took his time, holding on a little longer before letting go.
I opened the car door and got out. I waited for him to leave before heading toward our gate.
I was just one step away from entering when another car suddenly stopped in front of our house.
Who is this?!
The car door swung open, and standing there, glaring at me, was... Keifer.
"W-why are you he—"
Before I could finish, he grabbed my arm and dragged me toward his car.
"Get in!" he ordered.
I just stood in front of the car, glancing at our gate, which was still open, then at him.
If I ran inside, maybe he wouldn't be able to catch me. He wouldn't be able to enter the house either, since Aries and Kuya Angelo were inside.
"Don't even think about it..." I heard Keifer say, as if reading my mind.
Am I that obvious? He even figured that out.
Fine!
With a scowl, I got into his car—another new one! He got in right after me, and before he even started the engine, I grabbed onto whatever I could.
Damn it, this guy drives like he thinks he's a race car driver.
How am I supposed to survive as his passenger?
As he kept driving, I watched him. His eyebrows were furrowed again, and he looked like the world had pissed him off.
"W-where are we going?" I asked.
He didn't answer. He just kept turning left, right, and going straight ahead.
I looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to set—Kuya and the others were probably already worried about me.
I reached for my phone in my pocket. I was about to text C-in and Kuya, but Keifer suddenly snatched my phone and threw it onto the dashboard.
"I was just going to let Kuya know!" I said in frustration.
He still didn't respond-- his eyes stayed fixed on the road.
I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms in irritation. He's acting possessed again!
Annoying!
The drive took a long time. How long? I don't know.
All I know is that the sky is completely dark now. Pitch black—just like this place we ended up in.
Could he be planning something against me?!
We were on the side of the road. No houses. No lights.
It felt like we were in a newly built subdivision since we passed through a gate earlier.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"What did you and Yuri do?" he asked calmly, but I could hear the anger in his voice.
Uh-oh!
"W-we went to church," I answered hesitantly.
"What else?"
"We went grocery shopping and cooked."
"What else?"
I was starting to feel afraid. I had no intention of telling him everything — what if he got angry like last time? I didn't want that.
"W-we talked and looked at pictures."
"What else?"
"Nothing!"
"What. Else." he repeated firmly.
I swallowed hard. What is his problem this time?
"T-there's nothing else... Should there be?"
He stared directly into my eyes. That fear inside me was trying to overpower my courage again.
"Don't lie to me." he said.
I looked away and took a deep breath.
Damn it!
"W-w-we kissed—"
I didn't even get to finish my sentence.
He suddenly got out of the car, slamming the door so hard that I felt the whole vehicle shake.
He just stood there, staring off into the distance. His back was turned to me, but I could see him running his fingers through his hair multiple times.
I bit my lower lip. It was so dark outside, and the only light around us came from the car's headlights.
I had no choice but to step out of the car. I took a few hesitant steps toward him, but I stopped when he slightly turned to look at me.
"Keifer..."
"Why are you doing this to me?" he asked.
It felt like something punched me straight in the chest when I saw his eyes.
They were weak, vulnerable—like he had become a completely different person.
"...You're mine. Only mine. Everything about you is mine."
Enough!
"No... I'm not. I'm not an object, Keifer. You don't own me." I said calmly.
This needs to stop. He needs to stop—or we need to stop.
"Why? Because you like Yuri?"
Stop it already! Enough!
"Yes. That's why I accepted his marriage proposal." I said directly.
He took a step closer to me, locking eyes with mine.
"Liar."
My brows furrowed at his words.
"...You can't lie—"
"I'm not." I cut him off.
"—to me."
"I'm telling the truth." I insisted.
"And yet you responded to my kiss that night." he said bitterly.
Don't bring that up! I don't want to remember it.
"...You responded to my touch and moaned my name. And now you're telling me you like Yuri? Then what am I to you?"
No! I don't want to talk about that! That was a mistake!
"...You almost gave yourself to me! Tell me! HOW COME THAT YURI IS THE ONE YOU LIKE?!" he shouted angrily.
I couldn't hold back anymore. My tears fell uncontrollably.
"YES! I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT I FEEL! BUT I KNOW THIS IS WHAT'S RIGHT! IT HAS TO BE YURI! WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN US WAS JUST A MISTAKE!" I yelled back.
"You chose Yuri. Why?! Because of that FVCKING ENGAGEMENT?!"
"NO!"
"THEN WHY?!"
I wiped my tears away and took deep breaths, trying to calm myself.
My chest felt unbearably heavy.
I never thought we would end up like this.
"Because it's the right thing to do... I can't bear to think or see Yuri getting hurt again for the same reason."
I leaned back against the car as my knees weakened.
"...So even though I'm not sure, I accepted it. I want him to experience happiness."
"So you chose to sacrifice your feelings?" he asked calmly.
I didn't answer. I just sat on the ground, wiping away my tears.
"Ha! Yuri again!" he scoffed, making me look up at him.
"...The 'oh-so-genius kid.' The good boy, the heir of Hanamitchi. Yuri, the one loved and cared for by so many people."
He took a few steps away and looked up at the sky. I could see the frustration in every movement he made.
"...Why is it always about him?! Always?! When we thought Percy was dead, he was the first one everyone worried about! But me?! What about me?! NOTHING! No one even asked if I was okay. It was always about him! And now, even the woman that I love?!" he shouted in anger.
I couldn't understand what he was saying. Did he hold some grudge against Yuri?
I forced myself to stand while looking at him.
But I felt even weaker when I saw him crying.
Keifer...
"...Me! The one without a mother by my side, without a father to guide me — I've been taking care of my siblings for so long! And no one even asks if I'm okay!"
It felt like my heart was being crushed. I couldn't bear to see him like this.
Enough... This is hurting me too!
"...But him? Just a single scratch, and they almost rushed him to the hospital! They might as well worship him!" he added bitterly.
I didn't wait for him to say anything else. I rushed to him and hugged him tightly.
At the same time, my tears fell again.
"Enough! Please..." I pleaded.
"Don,t leave me too! Jay-jay!" he said, wrapping his arms tightly around me.
"Please..."
This is wrong! So, so wrong! But I realized... I can't even bring myself to make it right.
I always say we need to stop.
But how?
How, when it hurts us both?
I didn't want to make promises. I didn't want to say words I couldn't keep. Because maybe Ci-N was right — promises are meant to be broken.
But in this moment...
"No... I won't….I won't leave you." I said.
I felt him take a deep breath.
"I can't lose you..." he whispered.
I closed my eyes. I didn't care if this was still wrong. I was willing to make it right in any way possible.
"I love you so much, Jay..."
I clenched his shirt tightly.
Hearing those words from him felt different.
But what felt even more different was when I finally said...
"I love you too, Keifer."