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 only cried even louder. I just 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 that's what she'd give me too. I didn't expect what she said.
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 even chuckled because she suddenly froze in place. She looked so cute.
She looked away 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 their own father."
I chuckled a little at what she said. "Pretty unusual, 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, while 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 glance at me and walked straight through their gate.
I started the engine and drove back home. I had been driving for a few minutes when I heard my phone go on.
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 pinged 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 understood 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 church tomorrow. This is the first time he's let me stay in his room for this long. We couldn't talk in my room—Ci-N is there. We couldn't talk outside either; someone might overhear us.
There are a lot of books in his room. Does this horoscope guy actually 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 time too. So here we are now, this interrogation thing.
"Jay..." He called my name.
I looked up at the ceiling. No cobwebs, nice!
"Jay-jay..."
I looked at the floor. So 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 surprise. I was ready to curse from the shock, but luckily, I covered my mouth in time.
"What's wrong with you?!" He said irritably. "...Aren't you going to get yourself together?!"
"I'm fine!" I said.
Go ahead, keep being difficult. Next thing you know, you'll get a smack from 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 is going down."
In his frustration, he raised his hand to smack 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 just 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 a wave of fear. He really would do it. My tears started to well up, threatening to fall because of him.
"I-I can't explain it... There's no clear conversation. We just like each other."
He let me go and looked at me seriously. "And you believed him?"
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 when you and I 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 my eyes couldn't hold back the 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 an Aries 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 correct?"
I turned to face him, a mix of irritation and confusion. How did he know that?
"...Because that's the exact words that he said to Ella."
It felt like something stabbed me in the heart. My tears fell again, but before he could say anything else, 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 between him and 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, flustered.
["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, making me raise an eyebrow. ["...You should say... 'I love you.'"]
I let out a small laugh. This guy's such a goof!
"You're crazy."
I heard his soft chuckle. ["...I love you, Jay. To infi----"]
"Keifer!" I cut him.
I suddenly felt uneasy. It wasn't that I believed Aries, but something felt strange.
["Is there a problem?"]
"N-nothing... I just want to..uh... you know... like..."
["Jay?"]
"Let's change what comes after 'I love you.' It's too common now."
["Tss... So artsy!"]
Instead of getting annoyed by the "Tss," I suddenly laughed. The way he said "artsy" was so flirty.
["Keep laughing… You're enjoying this."] he said irritably, which only made me laugh harder.
"You're so flirty."
["And you love it."]
Oh no!
I 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 King of Ulupongs 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. This guy's really something else. And here I am, looking like a fool… completely smitten!
This is so flirty... bow!
He suddenly 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. Though it might come with a few punches."] I laughed at his last remark, 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!"