Mark Keifer Watson CEO of Watson Empire and billionaire. He was going for a meeting but due to excessive rainfall he had to stop his car and he moved into a bookstore.
The small bell above the bookstore door chimed as Keifer stepped inside, brushing raindrops from his jacket. The place smelled of old paper, vanilla-scented candles, and something else—something hauntingly familiar.
It was too quiet.
The town of San Alvero was a sleepy place. It wasn't on his travel list, not even on the map of memories he liked to revisit. But work brought him here—and fate? Fate was never subtle with Keifer Watson.
He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair and stepped between the wooden shelves. His eyes roamed over fiction titles, poetry anthologies, and classic novels—all things she would've hated.
"Jay never liked books."
The thought sliced into his chest like a sharp bookmark tucked where it didn't belong.
She used to complain that physics gave her migraines. Once, during college, she doodled over the face of a Shakespeare statue and called it "Baldy Bard."
Jay Mariano, the loudest girl in HVIS and University.
Jay Mariano, who couldn't stay quiet for five seconds without causing a scene.
Jay Mariano… who died in their third year.
Or so everyone believed.
He turned the corner, and his eyes landed on the girl behind the counter.
Slender fingers stacking a pile of books. Loose white shirt. Face tilted slightly down, tucked behind soft glasses and a curtain of dark hair.
She looked up.
His heart stopped.
Same eyes.
Those eyes that once rolled at him during group work. That once glared after he teased her. That once softened when he offered her his umbrella after a fight.
But those eyes were supposed to be gone. Buried. Grieved.
She looked away quickly, returning her gaze to the computer screen like nothing happened. Like she hadn't just pulled someone out of the grave with a single glance.
Her name tag read:
"Janna M."
Not Jay.
Not Mariano.
Janna.
The silence crackled between them as Keifer stepped closer, picking up a random book—ironically, an anthology of love letters. He opened it, flipping through the pages without seeing a single word.
"Excuse me, sir?" Her voice.
He forgot how it sounded—like sarcasm dipped in sugar. She used to talk like she was always about to start a fight or crack a joke. But now… now her voice was quiet. Careful. As if even her words were hiding.
He cleared his throat.
"Sorry," he muttered, handing the book over.
She scanned it, gave a soft nod, and slid the paper bag toward him.
"Have a nice day," she said politely.
He didn't take the bag. He didn't move. His fingers clenched.
"You work in a bookstore now," he finally said, not as a question. Just… disbelief.
Her hand froze for half a second. Then moved again.
"People change," she said, voice steady.
He leaned closer. "Some people don't. Some people never stop looking."
She flinched. He saw it. Just a tiny crack in her mask.
"Do I know you, sir?" she asked, eyes cold now.
He smiled—painful, bitter, broken.
"You used to call me the King of Ulplong. Remember?"
"Evryone called us best couple"
He lowered his voice.
"Tell me, Jay. If you are alive than why you never talked to me?"
Silence.
Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came. Then she looked away. Grabbed a second customer's order. Back to pretending.
Keifer picked up the paper bag. Turned toward the door. His voice was soft but clear before leaving:
> "For five years, I searched. Through cemeteries, case files, half-burnt hospital records.
If it's really you—my Mutya, my queen—then don't test me."
"Because if you're alive..."
"...then I'll find out why you're hiding from your king."
The bell rang as he exited. The rain had stopped.
Inside, Jay's hands were trembling.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but Keifer didn't care.
He reached his car, threw the paper bag into the passenger seat, and slammed the door so hard the whole vehicle trembled. His breath came in short, uneven gasps.
His fingers gripped the steering wheel—tight, white-knuckled—until he couldn't hold it anymore.
BAM.
He slammed his fist into the dashboard. Once.
Then again.
Then again.
> "You LIED to me, Jay!" he shouted, his voice breaking mid-word.
He punched the wheel, the window, anything in reach—his knuckles scraped, bruising already blooming like wild violets on his skin.
> "You faked your death?"
"You let me search for you like a desperate lunatic—for FIVE YEARS?"
His voice cracked, filled the small space of the car like thunder. Like grief.
Tears were burning behind his eyes, but Keifer Watson never cry he only cry because of his Mutya he was crying because She doesn't trusted him.
But now? Now he wanted to rip the world apart.
> "You're alive. You're alive. And still, you're lying to me," he said, more to himself than to anyone.
He slammed his head gently against the steering wheel, breathing hard.
And then, softly… brokenly… he whispered,
> "Why, Jay? I'm not mad because you lived.
I'm mad because you left me dead with you."
Silence.
Raindrops tapped against the windshield like the softest applause to his madness.
Then he laughed—a bitter, twisted laugh that didn't reach his eyes.
> "For you, my Mutya… my queen…"
"I would've burnt the whole world. You knew that, didn't you?"
He sat back. Closed his eyes. Let the pain settle in his chest like a familiar visitor.
Then he opened the glovebox.
Inside it—folded like a sacred page—was a photo of their college class.
She was there in the corner, grinning like a troublemaker. He was behind her, staring quietly.
He stared at the photo.
> "You said you didn't believe in love stories," he murmured.
"But you wrote the most painful one for us, Jay."
The engine roared to life.
He wasn't going to run away this time.
Keifer Watson was going to find out the truth.
And if Jay Mariano thought she could keep hiding…
She was about to remember who her King truly was.
---
🌸 Author's Note:
Sometimes, love doesn't fade.
Sometimes, it rots slowly—turning into madness, obsession, and heartbreak.
Keifer wasn't just in love with Jay.
He was in love with her chaos, her fire, her lies, her everything.
And now that she's alive… pretending to be someone else…
He's not just going to ask her why.
He's going to tear apart every answer until she has no choice but to say his name again.
This isn't just a love story.
This is what happens… When They Met Again.
Welcome to the madness. You're not ready.
–With love & pain,
Nephophlie-n6v (Apoorva_005)
🕯️ Teaser for Chapter 2: "Her Eyes Lied, But Her Hands Trembled"
She thought he wouldn't recognize her.
She thought hiding behind a name tag and silence would be enough.
But Keifer is back.
Keifer begins digging into "Janna M's" quiet life.
Jay's panic grows—because she saw him too.
And deep down… she knows he's not leaving this time.
Meanwhile, Keifer writes something in his old notebook:
"She once told me, 'If I disappear, don't look for me.'
Too bad, Jay. I was born to find you."