Keifer's POV
Present....
She was crying.
I wanted to hug her and comfort her, but curiosity took over me instead.
Seriously?
What the hell is wrong with this girl?
I told her my past because I trusted her, but I never expected her to cry.
"S-sorry... I-I just couldn't help it," Jay-jay said.
I looked away and scratched the back of my head. "Please... Stop crying, Jay."
But she just cried even louder.
I smacked my forehead. "Jay..."
"Y-you're so brave," she said, making me stop and look at her. "...I thought my life story was already bad. But yours….yours is even worse."
Pity.
That's what most people feel or express toward me. Which I don't like. And never will. I thought she would say the same thing. But I didn't expect her response.
I held her cheek and wiped her tears.
"Thank you for listening to me."
"Thank you too... for trusting me," she said with a smile.
I kissed her forehead.
I laughed when she suddenly froze in place.
She looks so cute.
She avoided my gaze and cleared her throat. "H-how did you get Keigan back?"
"I didn't get him back... They came back a few years later. He was with his new wife." I released a heavy sigh. "...That's when I had enough and gathered the courage to kick him out of the house."
"That's why... You're the only child who kicked out your father."
I chuckled a little at what she said. "Unique, right?"
She nodded. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was already 10 p.m. Angelo and the others might notice her missing.
"I need to take you back. It's already late."
I started the engine. She was quiet the entire drive. I stopped the car at the same spot where I picked her up. I couldn't stop directly in front of their house. Someone might see us, and Jay-jay didn't want that.
"Here's fine. Goodnight." She said, about to open the door, but I stopped her. "...W-why?"
"You're no longer mad at me?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm not. Your story was so long, I forgot why I was upset."
I smiled and slowly moved closer to her. "Maybe... could we..."
"No!" She quickly said and covered her mouth.
You've got to be kidding me!
"I thought you weren't mad at me anymore?" I asked in disbelief.
"You smell like cigarettes!"
She was really serious about that. I could only look at her with annoyance, but she just smiled at me.
"...If you want a kiss, don't smoke. End of discussion!"
She opened the door and got out of the car. She didn't even look at me and walked straight into their gate.
I started the engine and drove back home. I had been driving for a few minutes when I heard my phone go off.
Text message.
I ignored it and decided to check it when I got home. I was in front of my house, waiting for the gate to open. My phone rang again—another text message.
Out of curiosity, I picked up my phone and opened the message. It was from Jay-jay.
Maybe she missed me already.
But I was wrong...
I looked at it twice, making sure I was reading it correctly.
From: Sexy Jay-jay
Message: 'He knows...'
'...Aries knows about us.'
Jay-jay's POV
I looked to the right, to the left, at the ceiling, and at all four corners of the room. As long as my gaze doesn't meet Aries' eyes. I'm here now in his room.
For the first time in history...
I feel like going to mass tomorrow. He's finally let me stay in his room. We couldn't stay in my room because Ci-N was there. We also couldn't stay outside, in case someone overheard us.
There are a lot of books in his room. I didn't know this horoscope guy reads? I thought all he cared about was his love for Ella.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" He asked calmly.
I pressed my lips together and looked down. I didn't know he saw me get out of Keifer's car. I was about to make an excuse, but he suddenly said it was the "second time." He saw the first one too. So here we are now, this interrogation thing.
"Jay..." He called my name.
I looked up at the ceiling. No dust, nice!
"Jay-jay..."
I looked at the floor. It was shiny, nice!
"Jay-jay!"
I looked at the corner of the room. A ghost, not nice!
Suddenly, he slammed the table, and I jumped in shock. I was ready to curse from the surprise, but luckily, I covered my mouth.
"What's wrong with you?!" He said irritably. "...Aren't you going to get yourself together?!"
"I'm fine!" I said.
Come on, just keep being difficult. In a little while, you'll get scolded by him.
You're not helping! You brain pests! Worms! Parasites! You're eating up the minerals in my brain! That's why I can't answer when there's a quiz!
"Are you even listening?!" Aries asked.
I nodded. "Yes! You said the electricity bill will go down."
In his frustration, he swung his hand at me. I quickly blocked it with my arm and moved slightly away from him.
He glared at me. He lowered his hand and then rubbed his temple.
"What's going on between you and Keifer?" He asked calmly.
He's acting like Kuya Angelo. They really are siblings.
"Be specific." My answer made him angry.
Suddenly, he came closer and grabbed me by the collar. "Are you really pushing me this far?!"
"N-no."
"Answer my question if you don't want me to tell Kuya!"
I felt fear. He really would do it. My tears started to well up, threatening to fall because of him.
"I-I can't say... There's no clear talk. We just like each other."
He let me go and looked at me seriously. "Do you really believe that?"
I stared at him, confused. "W-what..."
"He's just playing you!"
I froze. What does he mean, "playing me"? What is this horoscope guy talking about?
"...You're so stupid!" He shouted at me.
My tears, which had been waiting at the edge of my eyes, finally fell. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but I couldn't open my mouth.
"We're cousins, Jay! It's obvious that he's using you to get back at me."
Oh, that's right. They're not on good terms. But it never crossed my mind that Aries would say something like this to me.
"He wouldn't do that." I said firmly.
"Think about it!"
"He wouldn't do that! How would he use me?! Come on, tell me!" I said angrily, causing his eyebrows to furrow even more.
"I know Keifer. He's willing to do anything just to get back at those who wronged him."
I laughed bitterly. "That's your basis? How would he use me if we don't even get along?! You don't even care about me, do you?!"
He went silent, the furrowed brows fading, but he was still staring at me. I matched his gaze, but I couldn't stop my eyes from shedding tears.
I was the one hurt by what I said. It hurt because the Aries who used to visit me at home, who would always play with me, bring me gifts, and always tell me he would introduce me to his friends, is gone. That Aries has been replaced by one who doesn't care about me.
"I just know." He answered weakly.
He's right!
He's just trying to make Keifer look bad to me.
"I don't believe you." I said and immediately walked towards the door, but I stopped when he spoke again.
"I love you to infinity and beyond."
That's...
"...That's what he says to you too. Am I right?"
I faced him, a mix of irritation and confusion. How did he know that?
"...Because that's exactly what he said to Ella."
It felt like something stabbed me in the heart. My tears fell again, but before he could speak again, I quickly rushed out of his room.
I could barely breathe. My chest felt so tight. What's happening to me?
So what if he said the same thing to Ella? That doesn't mean he's fooling me. This horoscope guy is just overreacting!
Keifer wouldn't lie to me. He trusted me — he told me about his life, about what happened with his dad. So how could what Aries said be true?
I couldn't believe Aries would go this far just because of his anger toward Keifer.
But... what if it's true?
No! Keifer wouldn't do that. I walked back to my room. Ci-N was already asleep — I guess he got tired of waiting for me.
I grabbed my phone and texted Keifer.
A few minutes later, he called me. I took a deep breath to make sure he wouldn't notice that I had been crying.
"Hello..."
["Are you crying?"] He asked right away.
"H-huh?" I answered in a panic.
["Your voice sounds different. Did he say something that made you cry?"]
"Nothing... He just scolded me."
["I'll beat him up for you."]
My eyes widened at what he said. He's crazy!
"Stop it." I said, almost raising my voice.
I tried to hold back from shouting, afraid it might wake up that little brat again.
["I'm dead serious, Jay. If I need to face everyone in your family just to prove to them that I love you... I will."]
"Keifer..."
["Even if I have to fight Angelo and Aries. I'll fight."]
I smiled at what he said. That's why I don't believe Aries. I know he wouldn't do it.
"Thank you."
["Wrong!"] He said, raising an eyebrow. ["...You should say... 'I love you.'"]
I laughed lightly. What a fool!
"You're crazy."
I heard him chuckle lightly. ["...I love you, Jay. To infi----"]
"Keifer!" I cut him.
It wasn't that I believed Aries, but something about it still felt... off.
["Is there a problem?"]
"N-nothing... I just want to... like... something..."
["Jay?"]
"Let's change the ending of 'I love you.' It's too common now."
["Tss... So picky!"]
Instead of getting annoyed by the "Tss," I suddenly laughed. The way he said "picky" was so playful.
It wasn't that I believed Aries, but something about it still felt... off. He said irritably, which made me laugh even harder.
"You're so flirty."
["But You love me."]
Oh no!
I suddenly froze. He got me there-no comeback.
["...Here's one, so you can't complain. I love you, Jay, until scientists find the end of the universe."]
So long! This Snake King really knows his stuff. Where does he come up with this?
"Isn't the universe infinite?"
["Exactly!"]
I bit my lower lip, trying to hide my giddy smile. He really knows how to mess with me. And here I am, looking like an idiot — totally thrilled!
This is so cheesy... but I love it!
Suddenly, he went silent, and I could feel him getting serious.
["...Don't worry, Jay. If Angelo finds out about our relationship, I will talk to them. It might include a little punching."]
I laughed at his last statement, and so did he.
["...I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano, until scientists find the end of the universe."]
It sounds so nice. Like cheesecake... just kidding!
"Mark Keifer Watson. I love..." I felt a presence behind me, so I quickly turned around. "...CI-N!"