Keifer's POV
Present...
She was crying. I wanted to hug her and comfort her, but my confusion took over.
Seriously?
What the hell is wrong with this girl? I shared the story of my past because I trusted her, but I never expected her to cry.
"S-sorry... I just can't stop it," Jay-jay said.
I looked away and scratched the back of my head. "Please... Stop crying, Jay."
But she just cried harder. I slapped my forehead out of frustration.
"Jay..."
"You're so brave," she said, making me stop and look at her. "...I thought my life story was the worst, but yours is even more painful."
Pity.
That's usually what people give me, and it's something I've never liked.
I thought she was giving me that too—but I wasn't expecting what she said.
I held her cheek and wiped her tears. "Thank you for listening to me."
"Thank you too... for trusting me." She smiled.
I kissed her forehead and chuckled when she suddenly froze. She looked so cute.
She looked away and cleared her throat. "S-so... 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 by then." I sighed heavily. "That's when I'd had enough. I gathered the courage and kicked him out of the house."
"So that's why... You're the only kid who's ever kicked out their dad."
I let out a short laugh at what she said. "Different, right?"
She nodded. I glanced at my watch—it was already 10 PM. She might get noticed by her family, especially Angelo.
"I need to take you back. It's late."
I started the engine. She was quiet the whole ride. I stopped the car at the same spot where I picked her up. I couldn't drop her at the gate—they might see us, and Jay-jay didn't want that.
"Here's fine. Good night," she said and was about to open the door, but I stopped her.
"W-why?"
"You're not mad at me anymore?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Your story was so long, I forgot I was mad."
I smiled and slowly leaned closer. "So maybe I can now—"
"No way!" she quickly said and covered her mouth.
You've gotta be kidding me!
"I thought you weren't mad anymore?" I asked, shocked.
"You still smell like cigarettes!"
P3
She was dead serious. I could only look at her in annoyance, but she just smiled at me.
"If you want a kiss, stop smoking. End of story!"
She opened the door and got out of the car. She didn't even look back and went straight inside.
I started the engine and drove back home. A few minutes into the ride, I heard my phone ping.
A text.
I didn't check it right away—figured I'd look once I got home.
When I was already waiting in front of my house for the gate to open, another text came in.
Out of curiosity, I picked up my phone and checked the message. It was from Jay-jay.
Maybe she already misses me.
But I was wrong...
I looked at it twice just to make sure I read it right.
From: Sexy Jay-jay
Message: He knows already...
...Aries already knows about us.
⸻
Jay-jay's POV
I looked right, then left, at the ceiling, and at the four corners of the room. Anywhere but directly at Aries.
Right now, I'm in his room.
For the first time in history...
I feel like I should have a thanksgiving mass tomorrow. He actually let me stay in his room. We couldn't use my room—Ci-N was there. Couldn't talk outside either—someone might hear us.
There were a lot of books in his room. So this horoscope guy actually reads?
I thought all he did was obsess over Ella.
"You really won't talk?" he asked calmly.
I sealed my lips shut and bowed my head. I didn't know he saw me get out of Keifer's car. I was ready with an excuse, but he said this was the second time. He saw us before, too.
Now here we are: interrogation mode.
"Jay..." he called again.
Looking at the ceiling again. No cobwebs—nice!
"Jay-jay..."
Looking at the floor. It's shiny—nice!
"Jay-jay!"
Looking at the corner. Oh god, a ghost—NOT nice!
He suddenly banged the table, which startled me. I almost cursed out loud but quickly covered my mouth.
"What the hell!" he said angrily. "Can you stop messing around?!"
"I-I'm not messing around?"
Keep going. Be a smartass. You're gonna get a smack in a minute.
You're not helping!
Stupid brainworms! Parasites! Eating my brain's minerals! No wonder I can't answer quizzes!
"Are you even listening?!" Aries asked.
I nodded. "Yes! You said electricity bills are going down."
He got so pissed, he raised his hand like he was gonna smack me. I quickly blocked it and scooted away.
He gave me a death stare, then sighed and rubbed his temple.
"What's going on between you and Keifer?" he asked calmly.
He's acting just like Kuya Angelo. They really are brothers.
"Be specific," I answered—which made him even angrier.
He suddenly grabbed my collar. "Are you seriously testing my patience?!"
"N-no."
"Answer me. Or I'll tell Kuya!"
I felt scared. He would definitely do it. My tears started to well up.
"I-I can't say... There's no clear label yet. We just like each other."
He let me go and looked at me seriously. "And you believed that?"
I looked at him, confused. "W-what do you mean?"
"He's just using you!"
I froze. Using me? What the hell was this horoscope guy saying?
"You're so stupid!" he shouted.
The tears that were threatening to fall finally rolled down. I wanted to ask what he meant, but my lips wouldn't move.
"We're cousins, Jay! Isn't it obvious? He's just using you to get back at me."
Right... They are enemies. But I never thought Aries would actually say that to me.
"He wouldn't do that," I said firmly.
"Think, Jay!"
"He wouldn't do that! How could he even use me?! We don't even get along most of the time! You don't even care about me, do you?!"
He stopped. The anger faded, but he kept staring.
I stared back—but my tears didn't stop falling.
I was the one hurt by my own words. Because the Aries who used to visit me, play with me, bring me snacks, and say he'd introduce me to his friends—he was gone. Replaced by someone who couldn't care less.
"I just know," he said softly.
Right!
He's just trying to ruin Keifer for me.
"I don't believe you," I said and walked to the door. But I froze again when he spoke.
"I love you to infinity and beyond."
Wait...
That's what... That's what Keifer told me too.
"You guessed it, huh?" Aries said.
I looked at him, angry and confused. How did he know?
"Because those were the exact words he said to Ella."
It was like something stabbed me straight in the heart. My tears came again, but before he could say more, I quickly ran out of his room.
I could barely breathe. My chest was tight. What's happening to me?
So what if he said the same thing to Ella? That doesn't mean he's lying to me. Aries is just being dramatic!
Keifer would never lie to me.
He trusted me. He told me his life story—his pain with his dad. Why would he fake that?
I couldn't believe Aries would do this. Just to get back at Keifer, he'd say all that?
But... what if it's true?
No! Keifer wouldn't do that.
I walked back to my room. Ci-N was asleep. She probably waited for me and gave up. I picked up my phone and texted Keifer.
After just a few minutes, he called me. I took a deep breath so he wouldn't notice I cried.
"Hello..."
"Did you cry?" he asked right away.
"W-what?" I stammered.
"You sound different. Did he say something to make you cry?"
"No... He just scolded me."
"Then I'll beat him up for you."
My eyes widened. This guy's insane!
"Stop that." I nearly raised my voice. I was trying not to wake that annoying kid up.
"I'm dead serious, Jau. If I need to face your whole family just to prove I love you... I will."
"Keifer..."
"Even if I have to fight Angelo and Aries, I'll do it."
I smiled at that. That's why I don't believe Aries. I know Keifer wouldn't do that to me.
"Thank you."
"Wrong answer," he said, raising my eyebrow. "...You should say, 'I love you.'"
I chuckled. "You're ridiculous."
I heard him laugh lightly. "I love you, Jay. To infi—"
"Keifer," I cut him off.
I suddenly felt awkward. Not because I believed Aries—but because something felt strange inside me.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no... I just thought maybe... like... let's change the ending of 'I love you.' That one's too common now."
"Tss... So picky!"
Instead of being annoyed at the 'tss', I burst into laughter. His tone was just too flirty!
"Laugh it up... You're so happy," he said grumpily, which made me laugh even harder.
"You're so flirty."
"But you love it."
Uh-oh!
I froze. He got me there—no denying it.
"Fine then. So you won't complain: I love you, Jay, until scientists find the end of the universe."
Wow! That's long! Where did this snake king even get that from?!
"But the universe is infinite, right?"
"Exactly."
I bit my lower lip. His humor was something else. I probably looked like an idiot—blushing hard!
So flirty... I can't.
Then he went quiet. I could feel he got serious.
"Don't worry, Jay. If Angelo finds out about us, I'll talk to them. There might be a fistfight, though."
I laughed at that, and he did too.
"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano, until scientists find the end of the universe."
It sounded so sweet. Like cheesecake—just kidding!
"Mark Keifer Watson. I love—"
Then I felt someone behind me. I turned around quickly.
"...CI-N!"