*Continuation of Flashback*
Jay-Jay's POV
If someone told me that my second week at St. Celestine College would feel like the intro to a chaotic telenovela, I would've stayed home, hugged my pillow, and declared a national holiday called "Not Today, Universe."
But no.Here I was, walking across the marbled courtyard, clutching my books like emotional support objects, while everyone around me whispered like hyperactive bees.
Again.
I wasn't late.I wasn't doing anything.I just… existed.
Dane walked beside me, looking suspiciously stressed for a guy who usually treated life like a comedy show.
"Uy," I nudged him. "Ba't parang—ewan, parang may tinatago ka?"(Hey. Why do you look like—you know, like you're hiding something?)
He almost choked on his own breathing.
"H-Ha? Ako? Wala."(M-Me? Nothing.)He tried to smile. It looked painful."Zero. Nothing. Zip. Pure innocence."
"Dane," I said with the flattest voice I've ever used.
He kept walking.
"Dane." I stared harder.
He refused to meet my eyes.
"I swear I'll tell Clara you ate her snacks again."
"OKAY FINE."He stopped walking and raised his hands like he was being arrested."Just—wag mo muna sabihan si Keifer na may… weird stuff today."(Just—don't tell Keifer yet that there's… weird stuff happening today.)
My eyebrows shot up.
"Why? Ano na namang weird?"(Why? What weird thing now?)
Dane bit his lip.
"I don't know! People were setting up something sa front gate kaninang 7 AM pa."(People were setting something up at the front gate since 7 AM.)"May mga chairs, may red carpet-ish thing…"(There were chairs, and something like a red carpet…)
"What?" I blinked."Ano 'to, awarding ceremony? Graduation? Coronation?"(What is this, an awarding ceremony? Graduation? Coronation?)
He looked like he wanted to disappear into thin air.
"I tried to check," he whispered, "pero may mga lalaki in suits."(but there were men in suits.)"As in—suits. Parang bodyguards."(As in—suits. Like bodyguards.)"I swear, Jay, parang may artista na pupunta."(I swear, Jay, it's like a celebrity is coming.)
Okay.Great.My anxiety loved that.
"And you think… it has something to do with me?"
Dane didn't answer.
Because at that moment, a group of girls passed by us—loudly whispering:
"Siya 'yun, diba? 'Yung girl?"(That's her, right? The girl?)
"OMG, kawawa naman siya later."(OMG, I feel bad for her later.)
"Pero kinilig ako sa violin! Grabe!"(But the violin made me squeal! Wow!)
I stopped walking.
"VIOLIN?" I repeated. "What violin?!"
Dane grabbed my arm and pulled me forward like I was a runaway toddler.
"Wag ka na makinig. They exaggerate. Mga chismosa lang 'yan."(Don't listen. They exaggerate. They're just gossipy.)
But his hand was shaking.
Mine, too—just a little.
Classes were a blur.
My professor was discussing something important—something about pre-colonial literature, which I genuinely liked—but the entire class kept sneaking glances toward the door.
Even Dane kept fidgeting like he expected a UFO to arrive.
When the lunch bell rang, Dane was already hovering over my desk before I could stand.
"Jay," he said. "Listen… Promise, huwag ka mabibigla ha?"(Jay. Listen… Promise, don't be shocked, okay?)
"That is literally the worst way to start a sentence," I muttered.
He winced.
"Well… okay, pero you have to know—"(Well… okay, but you have to know—)
A loud scream exploded from outside.
Then—
"ANDITO NA SILA!"(THEY'RE HERE!)
Students rushed toward the hallway windows.
My heart froze.
Dane placed a hand on my shoulder like he was comforting a dying patient.
"Jay… breathe first."(Jay… breathe first.)
"WHY? WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"
But I didn't get an answer.
Because the universe decided to traumatize me immediately.
We stepped out of the building.
And at the center of the courtyard was a scene so dramatic I almost turned around and went home:
A luxury black car—glossy, sleek, the kind of car that screams "I am expensive, fear me."
A group of violinists—REAL violinists wearing formal attire.
And a boy stepping out of the car…
Tall.Stylish.Half-Filipino, Half-Japanese.Perfect hair.Perfect jawline.Perfect everything.
He carried a bouquet of imported long-stemmed white roses.
The crowd ERUPTED.
"OMG SHUN!""HE'S SO HANDSOME—WAIT, WHO IS HE LOOKING FOR?!""I SWEAR I'M GONNA PASS OUT."
Then his eyes landed on me.
Dane whispered:
"…and that's the part I was scared of."(…and that's the part I was scared of.)
My jaw dropped.
"No," I whispered."No. No, no, no—"
Too late.
Shun Takahashi — yes, that Shun Takahashi, whose family owns a hotel chain — began walking toward me with calm, K-drama-lead confidence.
His shoes clicked.The violinists played.The crowd parted like magic.
Dane leaned toward me and whispered urgently:
"I didn't know he'd go this hard."(I didn't know he'd do something this extreme.)
"DANE—WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" I hissed.
He held up his hands.
"He just asked for your full name kahapon!"(He just asked for your full name yesterday!)"I thought flowers lang! ONE flower! A note! Hindi ganito!"(I thought he'd bring flowers! Just ONE flower! A note! Not THIS!)
Before I could yell at him, Shun stopped just a few steps away.
He smiled sweetly.
"Jay-Jay," he said, smooth as butter. "Good afternoon."
The violinists swelled.
People screamed.
And I regretted waking up today.
I don't know what's worse—the fact that Shun Takahiro Reyes is standing in front of my classroom like a walking Dior advertisement…or the fact that people have literally pulled out their phones like they're waiting for a celebrity meltdown.
He smiles when I finally step toward him, the crowd parting like I'm some sacrificial lamb.
"Good afternoon, Jay-Jay," he says smoothly, voice warm like honey poured over glass. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
My classmates, traitors that they are, collectively whisper:
"Interrupting? He's the moment—"
"He came back again—"
"He's so fine—"
Someone actually sighs dreamily behind me.
Shun lifts the small, luxurious box in his hand. Matte black. Silver ribbon. Imported, obviously. Hand-wrapped, most likely by someone who gets paid in US dollars.
"I wanted to give you this," he says softly, stepping closer. "A small apology."
"Apology for what?" I choke out.
"For almost running you over with my motorcycle last week."
The crowd gasps again, because he says it like a cute little accident, as if manslaughter is a quirky hobby.
"That was my fault," I mumble quickly, ears burning. "I wasn't looking when I crossed."
"Still," he says, "I should've been more careful. And… I wanted to make it up to you."
He gently takes my hand—my hand—and places the expensive little box on my palm.
His fingers brush my skin, feather-light, intentional.
I can feel thirty pairs of eyes drilling holes through my skull.
"It's really fine," I whisper. "You didn't have to buy anything."
He tilts his head, watching my face like he's memorizing every detail.
"I didn't buy it because I had to," he says. "I bought it because I wanted to."
My heart jumps straight into my throat.
And the entire hallway erupts into tiny explosions of:
"Omg—HE SAID HE WANTED TO—"
"Jay is living the romantic drama life—"
"I swear this feels like a K-drama—"
Shun's smile deepens, noticing my embarrassment.
"Open it," he urges, voice soft but firm. "Please?"
I swallow hard, undoing the ribbon with shaking fingers. The lid lifts—
—and inside is a delicate silver bracelet, thin, elegant, and glowing like moonlight.
But there's more.
A tiny charm rests at the center: an origami crane.
I stare at it.
"That's—beautiful," I whisper. "You… didn't have to do this."
He answers instantly, softly:
"It reminded me of you."
My cheeks burst into flames.
The crowd's whispers turn into full-on squeals.
"What does that even mean?!"
"Is he flirting?!"
"Oh, he's definitely flirting—look at his face—"
Shun chuckles under his breath, amused by the chaos he caused. He lifts my hand again, asking silently for permission.
His eyes—light brown flecked with gold—lock onto mine.
"May I?" he murmurs.
I'm going to die.
But somehow, my brain nods.
He clips the bracelet around my wrist gently, his fingers lingering for just one second too long.
"It suits you," he says, voice husky enough to make my spine bend.
"T-Thank you," I manage to squeak.
He leans forward just a little, lowering his voice so only I can hear:
"You look very pretty today, by the way."
My brain blue-screens.
I physically cannot respond.
The entire hallway screeches like a zoo when feeding time starts.
"HE SAID SHE'S PRETTY—"
"I WANT TO PASS OUT—"
"KEIFER IS GOING TO MURDER SOMEONE—"
The mention of his name jolts me.
I glance over my shoulder instinctively—
—and freeze.
Keifer is standing at the end of the corridor.
Watching.
Expression unreadable.
Shoulders tense.
Jaw clenched.
He looks like someone just lit a match and tossed it into a room full of gasoline.
Shun follows my gaze and spots him too.
But instead of backing away, Shun's lips curl in a polite, unreadable smile—one of those "I acknowledge you, rival," expressions.
He murmurs, "Ah. Your boyfriend."
My stomach flips.
I nod.
He hums thoughtfully, as if taking notes.
Then Shun steps closer—not touching, but close enough that my heartbeat goes wild.
"I hope he won't misunderstand anything," he says quietly, eyes flicking to mine. "Because I genuinely enjoy your company, Jay-Jay."
My mouth opens. Nothing comes out.
Then—
He leans in, just a breath away from my ear.
"See you tomorrow."
And just like that, he steps back, gives me a soft bow—elegant, respectful, devastating—and walks away through the crowd, who part like they're witnessing royalty pass through.
Someone actually clutches their chest.
Another person whispers:
"Keifer is going to explode. I can feel it."
I swallow, gripping the bracelet around my wrist.
Keifer's still staring.Not speaking.Not moving.Just watching.
And I know the second I walk toward him…
…things will shift.
Keifer's POV
I saw everything.
From the moment that guy opened his stupid little box to the exact second he clasped that bracelet—on her wrist—my blood pressure skyrocketed so high I'm pretty sure I ascended.
Who the hell is he?
Who the hell does he think he is?
Standing there like some half-Filipino, half-Japanese Romeo with his pressed uniform, expensive shoes, and stupidly perfect posture—
I clench my jaw, waiting by the gate as Jay finally steps outside.
She's fiddling with the bracelet.
Great. She likes it.
Kill me.
She spots me and freezes for half a heartbeat.Then she approaches slowly, carefully… like she's approaching a very large, very annoyed dog.
"Hey…" she says gently.
Not helping.
I raise an eyebrow. "So. Busy day?"
Her eyes widen. "Keifer—"
"Talk."My voice comes out rougher than intended.
She winces, hugging her bag tighter."I—I didn't know he was going to show up—"
"No one 'just shows up' with a diamond-level gift bag and a speech rehearsed to perfection."
She flinches. Good.She should know I'm pissed.Not at her—never at her—but at that guy who thought he could step into my territory like he owns the place.
"Let me see it."I nod at her wrist.
She raises her hand slowly.The bracelet glints in the sunlight.
Origami crane charm.Custom design.Minimalist but expensive.
I inhale sharply.His taste isn't bad. That pisses me off more.
I reach out, brushing the charm with my thumb, and she shivers.
Good.At least I still affect her.
"It looks good," I mutter. "Too good."
"Keifer, it's just a bracelet—"
"Oh really?" I lean down, eyes locked on hers. "He didn't look like he was 'just' giving you something. He looked like he was confessing a crime of passion."
Her cheeks burn.
I exhale deeply, trying to restrain myself.
"You should've texted me."
"I didn't know what to do," she whispers.
"So you let him flirt and gift-wrap you like it's Valentine's Day?"The sarcasm snaps out before I can hold it back.
She makes a tiny frustrated noise."Keifer, stop making this sound like I cheated."
My chest cracks open.
"I never said you cheated," I say more quietly. "I just—hate seeing someone act like they can take you away from me."
Her eyes soften.
Damn.That shouldn't make my heart race.But it does.
Jay-Jay's POV
He's mad.Not the scary kind of mad—the I'm jealous and don't know how to handle it without punching something kind.
I look up at him carefully.
"Are you… angry at me?"My voice comes out smaller than expected.
He freezes.
"I'm not angry at you," he mutters. "I'm angry at the situation. At him. At the whole damn thing."
He exhales harshly.
"I showed up to pick you up and what do I see? Some imported prince giving you jewelry."
I blink.Imported prince???
"Keifer—"
"No," he cuts me off. "Let me finish."
He steps closer.
Too close.
I feel my heartbeat in my throat.
"You didn't see how he looked at you," Keifer says quietly. "Like he already decided you're his. Like he's entitled to you."
I flinch. "I—I didn't notice."
"I did."His voice drops low.Possessive.Raw.
He takes my hand gently.
Very gently.
"Jay-Jay… you're allowed to have guy friends. You're allowed to talk to people. I'm not controlling you."
I nod.
"But I need to know when someone crosses a line."
His thumb brushes my wrist—right over Shun's bracelet.
"And he crossed it."
My lungs stop working.
"Keifer…"
He meets my eyes, frustration fading into something softer.
"You should've told me you felt uncomfortable," he whispers.
I stare at him.
"But I—I didn't want to bother you."I bite my lip."You already do so much for me."
That's when something inside him snaps.
He grips my shoulders—gently but firmly.
"Jay-Jay. You are not a bother."His voice is so intense it feels like it cuts the wind."Never. To me. You understand?"
My chest goes warm and tight.
I nod slowly.
His jaw loosens, relief flickering across his face.
Then he murmurs, "Good girl."
My soul leaves my body.
Keifer's POV
She blushes so hard she looks like someone dipped her in rosewater.
I smirk.
"You liked that?"
"N-No—"Her voice cracks.She's lying.She loves it.
I lean in, lips dangerously close to her ear.
"Should I say it again?"
She squeaks. "No!"
Which obviously means yes.
I chuckle softly, slipping my hand into hers.
"Come on. I'm taking you home."
She looks away, still flustered.
"You're being too much…"
"And you're being too cute," I counter. "It's unfair."
She hides her face behind her hand.
God, she kills me.
As we walk, I glance at her bracelet again—and yeah.I hate it.
I hate that someone else put it there.That someone else made her blush.That someone else had the nerve to think he could stand in front of her class and give her a gift while I wasn't there.
I grit my teeth.
Jay doesn't notice.
But I've already made up my mind:
I'm meeting this Shun Takahiro Reyes.Face to face.Properly.
And when I do…
He'll understand exactly who he's dealing with.
Jay-Jay's POV
The bracelet feels cold on my wrist.
Too cold.
Shun steps back just enough to study my reaction, the sunlight catching in his half-Japanese features — sharp jaw, straight nose, lashes too long for a boy who apparently enjoys breaking the peace of my entire routine.
"Bagay sa'yo," he says softly.(It suits you.)
I force a tiny smile. "Thank you, but—"
Shun lifts a hand.
"Wait… there's something I need to do first."
My breath lodges in my throat.
Dane, beside me, stiffens. "Shun… wag ngayon."(Not now.)
But Shun is already moving.
He steps forward, posture straight, eyes burning with a confidence that feels… wrong. Wrong in a way that sinks sharp in my stomach and scatters a nervous tremor through my fingers.
Then—
He reaches into his bag.
And pulls out…
A small velvet box.
My heart stops.
No. No, no, no—
The chatter around us dies instantly.People turn.Phones lift.
Whispers rise like smoke.
"Is he—?""Hindi pwede, may boyfriend siya—" (He can't, she has a boyfriend.)"Grabe, ang kapal—" (Wow, the nerve—)
Shun slowly lowers himself to one knee.
"One knee?! Bro, STOP—" Dane hisses, grabbing his shoulder, but Shun shrugs him off.
My chest tightens.
"Shun—"
He flips open the box.
Inside is a slim, silver ring with a tiny gemstone.
The crowd gasps.
"Jay," he says, voice trembling — but not in fear. In determination. "Alam kong sandali pa lang tayo nagkakilala, pero… gusto kitang ligawan."(I know we haven't known each other long, but… I want to court you.)
I swallow hard, stepping back instinctively.
He reaches for my hand.
I pull it behind me. "Shun, no—"
He stands.
That's worse.
He steps closer.I step back again.
The air feels thick, like someone pressed a hand over my lungs.
"Please," Shun continues, voice too loud, too sure. "Give me a chance. I'll prove myself. Hindi ako basta-basta sumusuko."(I don't give up easily.)
"I'm already—" I try.
But he talks over me.
"I like you. A lot. Since the moment I saw you. And I know you feel something too—"
"I don't," I whisper.
He freezes—only for a moment.
Then he smiles, as if he didn't hear me at all.
"Hindi mo kailangan mahiya."(You don't have to be shy.)
Dane moves between us. "Dude, she said stop."
Shun glares. "This doesn't concern you."
"She's my friend," Dane fires back.
"And she's mine," Shun snaps.
His voice cracks the air.
My pulse spikes.
Everyone's watching now.Phones.Whispers.Breaths held.
Shun steps around Dane.
He reaches for my face. "Jay—"
I flinch back so hard I nearly trip.
Hands tremble.Vision blurs.
My heart beats too fast — too loud — like it's clawing to escape my chest.
"Stop," I manage, voice thin. "Please."
But he keeps coming closer.Too close.
He lifts his hand to cup my cheek—
And I choke on my breath.
Not because he touched me.
He didn't.
Because I saw something over his shoulder.
A figure.
A shadow.
A presence so familiar my knees weaken.
Standing at the entrance of the courtyard—
Broad shoulders tense.Jaw clenched like steel.Eyes trained on us like a storm ready to break.
Mark Keifer Watson.
Shun doesn't notice.
He leans in — too close, too fast.
"To prove my sincerity," he whispers, "let me—"
"NO!"My voice cracks as I stumble back.
Dane grabs my arm, steadying me.
Shun's hand freezes in midair.
For the first time, he looks shaken. Confused. Angry.
"Why are you acting scared?" he demands. "I'm just—"
His voice cuts.
Because his eyes finally follow my line of sight.
To the man walking toward us.
Slowly. Powerfully.
Jaw ticking.Hands curled into fists.A darkness rolling off him like thunder.
Keifer.
Shun steps back unconsciously — one step, then another — as Keifer closes the distance with frightening calm.
The crowd splits open like the sea.
Silence hits so hard it rings.
I can't breathe.
My fingers curl into Dane's sleeve without thinking.
Shun swallows audibly, trying to straighten himself. "W-What are you doing here? This isn't your—"
But Keifer doesn't even glance at him.
His eyes — dark, burning, furious — stay locked on me.
And when he finally stops just a few feet away, the air around us feels like it's trembling.
"Jay," he says quietly.
My heart drops.
This is it.
This is the moment before the storm.
The last second of oxygen before the world burns.
Keifer says my name again — soft, but heavy enough to crack through every sound in the courtyard.
"Jay."
I feel my entire body react.
My heartbeat stumbles.My grip on Dane loosens.My throat closes.
Shun shifts uncomfortably beside me, but no one is looking at him anymore.
Everyone's eyes are on us.
Keifer walks closer — slow, controlled, terrifyingly quiet. His steps echo like a countdown.
My chest tightens.
I want to run to him.I want to hide behind him.I want to drag him away before he does something irreversible.
But I can't move.
Not when he's looking at me like that.
Like he's memorizing every breath I take.
Like he's checking if I'm hurt.
Like he's two seconds away from tearing the entire campus apart.
"Kei…" I whisper.
His jaw flexes at the nickname.
Then he reaches out—
And cups my face with both hands.
Soft.Warm.Trembling.
But not from fear.
From fury he's trying — and failing — to contain.
"Did he touch you?" he asks quietly.
I swallow. "No, he didn't. I—"
"Did he scare you?"
My eyes sting. "I'm fine."
"You're shaking, My Queen."His thumb brushes my cheekbone."You are not fine."
My lips part, but no sound comes out.
Dane gently steps back, giving us space.
Keifer moves even closer, foreheads nearly touching, breathing uneven.
"I leave you for five hours," he whispers, voice low and raw, "and this is what I come back to?"
"It's not—"
"Don't lie to me."
I stop breathing.
Keifer's eyes burn into mine — hurt, angry, protective, terrified — all at once.
"Queen, look at your hands."He gently lifts one of my wrists.
My fingers tremble uncontrollably.
"I'm not mad at you," he says. "I'm mad because someone made you feel like this."
Emotion rises in my throat so fast it almost hurts.
"Keifer… not here. Please. People are watching."
"I don't care," he growls softly. "Let them watch."
And then—he pulls me into his arms.
Gasps erupt around us.
My cheek presses against his chest, and for a moment I forget how to breathe, how to stand, how to exist outside this moment.
His hand cradles the back of my head.
"I've got you," he whispers. "You're safe. I'm right here."
And God…I feel it.Every word.Every heartbeat.Every bit of him shaking with restraint.
But then—
A voice disrupts everything.
"Jay… can you step away from him for a moment?" Shun asks shakily.
Keifer's entire body goes rigid.
Slowly… painfully slowly… he turns his head.
Shun looks pale but stubborn, clutching the small ring box.
"Jay still hasn't answered me," he says. "I asked her a question. She hasn't given her answer yet."
Keifer's fingers tighten on my waist.
Oh god.
Dane mutters under his breath, "This guy has a death wish."
Shun clears his throat, trying to stand taller. "Jay, please. I'm not giving up just because your— your boyfriend suddenly appears."
Keifer's head tilts slightly.
Dangerously.
"My what?" he asks quietly.
"Boyfriend," Shun repeats, firmer. "You're her boyfriend, right? Fine. Then let her say it herself. Let her reject me properly."
The crowd grows louder.
Phones lift higher.
Everyone is holding their breath.
Keifer's hand slides slowly down my arm until he's holding my wrist — the same wrist wearing Shun's bracelet.
He turns it over.
His expression darkens.
Shun swallows nervously. "It's a gift. For her."
Keifer's voice drops to a cold, deadly softness.
"You put this on her?"
Shun nods.
Keifer exhales once — a slow, deep, terrifying breath.
Then he lets go of me and steps forward.
"Kei—"
His hand gently pushes me behind him without looking back.
Dane grabs my arm to stop me from stepping forward.
Students whisper in panic.
Shun tries to stand his ground, but he looks smaller now — a lot smaller — compared to Keifer's silent fury.
Keifer stops right in front of him.
So close Shun has to tilt his head up.
The tension is thick enough to choke on.
Shun tries to speak."I just wanted—"
Keifer cuts him off without a word.
Just one step closer, invading his space so aggressively Shun nearly trips backward.
I feel my stomach twist.
This is bad.This is so, so bad.
Keifer's voice is barely above a whisper, but the whole courtyard hears it.
"You approached my girlfriend."
Students gasp.
"You touched her."
My heartbeat spikes.
"You cornered her."
Dane whispers, "Oh, shit."
"You made her flinch."
Keifer's jaw flexes hard.
"And you made her afraid."
Shun stutters, "I-I didn't— I only—"
"You don't get to speak."
The courtyard freezes.
Keifer's eyes narrow, voice dropping to a lethal calm.
"You will get up—"
Shun blinks in confusion. "Get up? I—I'm already—"
Keifer leans in, face inches away, eyes almost black with rage.
"I said…"
He pauses.
The whole campus holds its breath.
"…Stand up. Now."