JAY'S POV
The moment breakfast was done, reality decided to slap me across the face.
My phone — buried somewhere in Keifer's blanket pile — started vibrating like it was fighting for its life.
I groaned. "Oh my god… I totally forgot."
Keifer looked up from washing the plates, eyebrow arched. "Who's that?"
I dug the phone out.
21 missed calls.
13 messages.
From: Kuya Angelo
From: Horoscope
And one from… Percy.
My stomach dropped to the floor.
"Oh no," I whispered.
Keifer straightened immediately, hands drying on a towel, expression shifting. "What do you mean 'oh no'?"
"They… they think I didn't come home last night."
He blinked, tension replacing all the morning softness. "You didn't."
"I KNOW," I hissed, pacing as my phone buzzed again, "but I was supposed to! I just fell asleep and—"
A loud knock suddenly echoed through the house.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
My heart jumped out of my body.
Keifer's jaw clenched. "Who the hell—"
The knock came again, louder this time.
"JAY! Open the door!"
My blood froze.
I knew that voice.
Angelo.
Keifer glanced at me, eyes narrowing. "Your brothers are here?"
Another voice joined, sharper, annoyed.
"Jay! If you don't open this door right now, I swear—"
Aries.
"Oh my god," I whispered, panic racing through me. "They're going to kill me."
Keifer moved immediately, stepping in front of me like he was preparing to fight a dragon. "No one's killing you."
"That's not what I meant!"
But he was already walking to the front door, shoulders squared, protective mode activated.
I ran after him, my heart beating in my throat.
Before I could stop him, Keifer pulled the door open.
And standing outside were—
Kuya Angelo
Kuya Aries
and Percy, arms crossed, glaring dead at me.
Angelo's eyes scanned me first — messy hair, wearing one of Keifer's shirts, clearly not home last night — and something in his expression snapped.
"Jay," he said in that low, disappointed voice that was so much worse than yelling, "what. happened."
Aries wasn't even subtle. "Why are you dressed like that? Did you sleep here?"
Percy's jaw tightened. "You're dead."
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Keifer stepped forward slightly, like a shield.
"She's fine," he said calmly. "She fell asleep here. That's it."
Aries scoffed. "Do we look stupid?"
Percy took a step toward Keifer. "Touch her again and see what happens."
Keifer didn't flinch. "Jay is the one who—"
"Keifer," I hissed, grabbing his arm. "Don't."
But he continued anyway, voice low, steady, protective to a fault.
"She was with Keigan and Keiren. The boys needed her. I needed her. And she wasn't leaving in the middle of the night."
Angelo stared at him. Then at me.
Then he let out a slow, deep sigh — the kind that carried worry, frustration, and relief all at once.
"Jay…" he said quietly, "you should've called."
My throat tightened. "I know… I'm sorry, Kuya. I didn't mean to… I just…"
I glanced at Keifer and felt my cheeks burn.
"I fell asleep."
Aries crossed his arms. "So you're telling me you're okay? Nothing happened?"
Keifer's jaw tensed like he wanted to say something reckless.
I elbowed him.
"YES," I snapped. "Nothing happened."
Percy mumbled, "I don't believe that for a second."
"Oh my god, Percy—"
Angelo stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Come home, Jay."
Keifer grabbed my hand at the same moment.
"We weren't finished talking," he murmured.
Angelo's eyes dropped to our joined hands.
The air went dead silent.
Aries: "Oh hell no."
Percy: "NO WAY."
Angelo: "Jay… what is this?"
I whispered, voice barely audible—
"I… don't know yet."
Keifer looked at me.
I looked at him.
And for the first time…
All three of my brothers realized something was happening.
Something real.
KEIFER'S POV —
Angelo's stare felt like a knife trying to peel me open.
Aries looked like he wanted to swing.
Percy looked like he was going to swing.
Jay stood behind me, gripping my arm like she needed to anchor both of us.
I kept my voice steady — for her.
"She's safe," I said. "She stayed because the boys needed her."
Angelo's jaw ticked. "You should've brought her home."
"She fell asleep," I replied, matching his tone. "I wasn't waking her at 2 a.m. and dragging her out."
Aries scoffed. "Convenient."
I stepped forward just enough to make it clear I wouldn't be pushed. "You think I'd ever hurt her?"
Percy muttered, loud enough for me to hear, "I don't trust anyone."
"Good," I shot back. "Then you'll see she's fine."
Jay squeezed my hand.
It was small. Quick. Soft.
But her brothers saw it.
Aries nearly combusted. "Why are you holding hands?!"
Jay squeaked, "I—I just—"
Angelo's voice cut through everyone. "Jay. Home. Now."
She looked at me, eyes soft and worried.
I wanted to tell her to stay.
To choose me.
To not walk away.
But I wasn't selfish.
"Go," I said quietly. "I'll talk to you later."
Her throat bobbed as she nodded and stepped toward Angelo.
Percy gave me one last stare that said I'll kill you.
Angelo gave me one that said prove yourself.
Aries gave me one that said absolutely not.
And Jay…
Jay kept looking back at me until the door closed.
And I hated that it hurt.
Jay's pov
The moment we stepped inside, Angelo closed the door and motioned us into the living room.
"Sit," he ordered.
I sat.
"First," he said, tone calmer. "We're not forbidding anything."
Aries choked. "WE'RE NOT?!"
Angelo ignored him. "We just need to understand what's happening."
I twisted my fingers. "Nothing happened."
Percy raised a brow. "You slept on his chest."
"I— THAT WAS— KEIGAN NEEDED ME— AND—"
"Jay," Angelo said softly. "Tell us the truth."
I exhaled. "We just slept in the same bed."
Aries threw a pillow. "NO!"
Angelo glared at him. "Stop."
Percy rolled his eyes. "If he hurts you, I'm burying him alive."
"Same," Aries added.
Angelo sighed. "Jay… be careful. But… you deserve to decide."
I stared at him. "So… you're not mad?"
"We're mad," Angelo said. "But we're not controlling."
Aries crossed his arms dramatically. "I'm controlling."
Percy nodded. "Same."
"SHUT UP," Angelo screamed at both of them.
I laughed for the first time in hours.
KEIFER TEXTS
My phone buzzed.
Keifer:
You okay?
Jay:
Yeah. They just lectured me.
Keifer:
About me?
Jay:
…Yes.
A pause.
Keifer:
Do they hate me?
Jay:
Aries does. Percy too. Angelo is neutral.
Keifer:
I'll change their minds.
My heart flipped.
---
KEIFER SHOWS UP
A knock hit the door and Aries groaned, "IF THAT'S HIM I SWEAR—"
Angelo opened the door.
It was him.
Keifer.
Standing there, hands in pockets, but eyes determined.
He didn't speak to Aries or Percy.
He looked directly at Angelo.
"Kuya," he said calmly. "Can we talk?"
The respect in his voice shocked everyone.
Aries froze.
Percy blinked.
Angelo slowly nodded. "Come in."
I stared at Keifer like he hung the moon.
He didn't touch me.
Didn't rush to me.
Didn't make it romantic.
He went straight to my brothers.
"I want to make something clear," Keifer began. "Jay helped my brothers last night. She saved them from a panic attack. I will not lie about why she stayed."
Angelo nodded slowly.
"But," Keifer continued, "I also won't lie about how I feel."
My heart stopped.
Percy's fists clenched.
Aries inhaled sharply.
Keifer looked at me.
Really looked.
"I care about her," he said softly. "I'm not asking for permission. I'm asking for trust. I'll earn it."
Angelo studied him for a long moment.
Then held out his hand.
"You get one chance," he warned. "One."
Keifer shook his hand.
Aries looked betrayed by life.
Percy muttered curses.
And I tried not to cry.
---
Jay POV-After the TALK
Walking into school felt like entering a battlefield.
Word spread FAST that I came with three brothers and Keifer Watson walked in beside me.
Keifer didn't let me walk alone.
He didn't hold my hand — respecting last night.
But he walked close.
Close enough our arms brushed.
Close enough people stared.
Section E froze when we entered.
Whispering.
Staring.
Judging.
Keifer's jaw flexed.
Percy's voice rang behind me, "MOVE IF YOU WANT TO LIVE."
Aries added, "YEAH, KEEP STARING, I'LL MAKE YOU BLIND."
Angelo, already annoyed: "Both of you shut up."
We finally reached our classroom.
Keifer opened the door for me.
I stepped in.
Silence fell like a dropped bomb.
Keifer leaned down slightly, whispering in my ear — low, soft, for me only:
"Don't worry. I'm right here."
I sat down.
He sat beside me.
And the entire class gasped.
SECTION E — FULL EXPLOSION
The gasp hadn't even fully died when—
DAVID:
"WHAT THE— JAY?! KEIFER? TOGETHER, WITH HER BROTHERS?!"
Cin slapped his arm.
CIN:
"David, shut UP— give me the details. NOW."
Eren leaned forward.
"I knew it. I KNEW there was something going on—"
Felix whispered dramatically,
"Did they… kiss?"
Cin:* "Of course they kissed— look at her face— she's glowing—"*
David pointed at Keifer like an offended pigeon.
David:"You. YOU. What are your intentions? State them. In MLA format."
Keifer didn't even flinch.
He just raised a brow.
Keifer:
"Jay."
Just her name.Firm.Claiming without touching.
The whole class shrieked like a live audience in a drama show.
Edrix grinned at me.
"DAMN KEIFER. YOU. ARE. DEADLY."
I hid my face in my hands.
Keifer smirked.
---
SIR ALVIN ENTERS
The door slammed open.
Section E snapped straight like soldiers.
Sir Alvin walked in, dead tired, coffee in hand, already regretting being alive.
Sir Alvin:
"If I hear ONE MORE SCREAM—"
He stopped.
Looked at Keifer.Looked at me.
Looked at Section E, who looked like they were witnessing a telenovela.
His eye twitched.
Sir Alvin:
"…You know what? I don't care."
He dropped his files on the desk.
Sir Alvin:
"Announcement. Exams are next week."
Groans.
Sir Alvin:
"And starting tomorrow: one week OFF for preparation. Use it wisely. "
He walked out again.
Class erupted.
---
LUNCH BREAK — COURTYARD (Author pov)
Jay and Keifer walked out together, trays in hand.
People stared. Whispered. Moved out of their way like they were royalty or weapons — honestly, both.
They sat at a table under a tree, finally getting a moment of peace—
Until someone's shadow blocked the sunlight.
Atall, buff Section B boy walked straight toward them.
He stopped right beside Jay, shadow falling over her tray.
"Hi," he said, smiling confidently.
"Are you new? Haven't seen you around."
Jay blinked.She didn't know him.Never seen him.
Not once.
"Uh… no, I'm not new."
He leaned closer.
Too close.
"Weird…" he murmured, eyes shamelessly scanning her.
"I'd remember a girl like you."
Keifer's head snapped up.
Fork down.
Expression gone.
Just… blank.
Dangerously blank.
The guy didn't even notice Keifer standing up slowly like a storm rising behind him.
Section E noticed though.
They froze mid–chew.
David: "Oh, hell no—"
Cin: "Someone grab a priest—"
The guy extended a hand to Jay.
"I'm Theo. What's your—?"
Keifer stepped between them so fast Jay didn't even see him move.
Theo's hand hovered in the air—awkward—ignored—rejected by gravity itself.
Keifer (calm, deadly):
"Touch her and I'll break it."
Theo blinked.
"So you're her boyfriend ,huh Watson?"
Keifer didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
His stance said enough:
Mine. Move before you die.
Theo scoffed. "Relax, man. I'm just talking."
Keifer's voice dropped into something dark and velvety.
"You were staring at her like you already owned her."
Theo raised a brow. "So like you do?"
Jay felt her breath lodge in her throat.
Keifer turned slightly — just slightly — eyes flicking to her lips, then back to Theo.
"Yes."
Theo's smile faltered.
Keifer stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Theo could hear — but Jay felt the effect.
"Walk away."
A pause.
"While I'm still telling you nicely."
Theo swallowed hard.
Then walked.
Fast.
Section E exhaled like a bomb had been defused.
---
AFTERMATH
Jay stared at Keifer.
Keifer rubbed a hand over his face, jaw tight, trying to calm himself.
Finally he muttered,
"…If looks could kill, that idiot would be buried already."
Jay blinked.
"You were jealous?"
He didn't deny it.
He didn't look at her.
He just sat down, voice low and rough:
"He was flirting with you."
"I didn't even know him—"
"That's worse," he snapped softly.
"He sees you once and acts like that?"
Jay didn't know what to say.
Keifer finally looked at her.
His eyes softened in a way that made her heart tumble.
Keifer (quiet):
"I don't want anyone thinking they have a chance with you."
Jay's breath caught.
He reached under the table and brushed his fingers against hers — testing.
She intertwined her fingers with his.
Keifer exhaled like he'd been holding air for minutes.
AFTER CLASS — WALKING TO THE PARKING LOT
The day dragged after lunch.
Jay tried focusing on lessons.
Keifer tried pretending he wasn't still annoyed.
Section E tried pretending they weren't staring every five seconds.
When the final bell rang, the entire room exploded with noise.
Jay packed her things slowly while Keifer got stopped by one of the boys from Section E, asking about practice.
Jay smiled a little, watching him talk — calm, collected, answering seriously.
That's when her phone vibrated.
Zack:Urgent. Found something.
River's in town.
Jay froze.
The color drained from her face.
Before she could process, another message popped up:
Zack:He was seen with Kaizer. Earlier today.
Stay alert.
Her throat tightened.
River. Here? With Kaizer?
That wasn't coincidence. That was a warning.
Jay inhaled deeply and glanced at Keifer — he was still talking to the boy, clueless, relaxed, unaware of the sudden storm hitting her.
She didn't want him to worry.
Not yet.
Quickly, she typed:
Jay:Send me the deets.Also inform Alex. Now.
Her hands trembled slightly, but she locked her screen and forced her expression to steady.
By the time Keifer turned back toward her, she was composed again — mostly.
Keifer: "Ready to go?"
She nodded, her voice steady despite the chill in her chest.
"Yeah. Let's go."
He smiled, reaching for her bag to carry it like it was nothing.
She smiled back, walking beside him.
But inside?
Her mind was already racing.
River.
Kaizer.
In town.
Why now?
What do they want?
She swallowed, keeping her pace casual as they approached the car where Aries and Percy were already waiting.
Keifer opened the passenger door for her.
She thanked him softly.
He didn't notice her pale face.
He didn't notice her clenched fist.
But he would.
Soon.
Because trouble was coming.
And Jay knew this was only the beginning....