JAY POV — THE HOUSE THAT STILL REMEMBERED ME
Two days passed without incident.
Which, for my life, felt suspicious.
Keifer and I crossed paths like professionals who had learned how to hold something fragile without breaking it. Meetings were efficient. Conversations were clean. But every glance lingered just a second too long. Every accidental brush of hands felt deliberate.
We didn't talk about the future.
We didn't need to.
The present was steady. And for once, that was enough.
That evening, my phone buzzed while I was sitting on the edge of my bed at the villa, hair still damp, towel draped loosely around my shoulders.
Kuya Angelo:
Jay come for dinner tonight. Mom wants to see you.
I stared at the screen.
Not because I didn't want to go.
But because the Fernandez house carried weight. History. Versions of myself I had buried carefully and never fully escaped.
After a moment, I typed back.
Jay:
Okay. I'll come.
---
I dressed carefully.
Nothing sharp. Nothing defiant. A soft, neutral dress that covered more than it revealed. Something that said I'm not here to fight. Something that said I survived.
The Fernandez house looked unchanged.
Same gate. Same lights. Same faint smell of jasmine drifting from somewhere inside the garden.
It felt like stepping into a memory that hadn't noticed I'd been gone.
The door opened before I knocked properly.
"Jay."
Tita Gema didn't hesitate.
She pulled me into her arms, tight and grounding, like she was afraid if she let go I'd disappear again. I felt her shoulders tremble. Her breath hitch.
"You're here," she whispered. "You're really here."
"I am," I said, hugging her back just as firmly. "I'm here."
She pulled away just enough to look at my face, her hands cupping my cheeks like she used to when I was small.
"You look… lighter," she said. "Not untouched. But lighter."
I smiled softly. "I learned how to breathe again."
Her eyes filled instantly.
She took my hand and led me inside.
The dining room lights were warm.
And then I saw them.
Aries sat at the table.
Beside him was Ella—his wife. Her hand rested over her stomach, subtle but unmistakable.
Pregnant.
Our eyes met briefly.
He stiffened.
I didn't.
I smiled—small, distant, polite.
We didn't hug. We didn't speak. And somehow, that felt honest.
Then I saw her.
Jeana Fernandez.
My biological mother.
She stood near the window, hands clasped tightly like she was holding herself together by force alone. Tears shimmered in her eyes the moment she saw me.
I felt… nothing soften.
No anger. No longing.
Just a quiet, practiced distance.
I nodded once.
Moved past her.
"Jay," Kuya Angelo said from the head of the table.
He looked older. Calmer. Like a man who had learned what mattered and what was already lost.
"There are people I want you to meet."
A woman stepped forward first—warm smile, steady presence.
"This is Ion," Angelo said. "My wife."
She hugged me gently. Not invasive. Not hesitant. Just kind.
"It's really good to finally meet you," she said. "I've heard so much."
Her sincerity caught me off guard.
Then I noticed the child beside her.
A small boy, no older than five, legs swinging slightly from the chair, eyes sharp with curiosity.
"And this," Angelo said, smiling, "is my son. Micheal Adrian."
Adrian tilted his head. "Who's she dada?"
Angelo crouched beside him. "She's your tita Jay."
The word landed somewhere deep in my chest.
I knelt to Adrian's level.
"Hi," I said softly. "I'm Jay."
He studied me seriously, then smiled.
"Tita Jay," he decided.
I hugged him gently and kissed his forehead. "That's right."
Something inside me loosened.
Dinner passed slowly.
I sat beside Tita Gema. She touched my hand now and then, grounding herself. Asking about my work. My travels. My life.
I answered honestly—but carefully.
When my phone rang, I answered instinctively.
"Hey, Mom, how are you?.... "
The word echoed louder than I meant it to.
I felt Jeana flinch.
I turned slightly away and spoke softly to Reycee—about work, about nothing important, about love that didn't need proving.
When I hung up, the silence was heavy.
Tita Gema smiled gently. "She loves you very much, doesn't she?"
"Yes," I said simply. "She does."
Later, as dessert was served, Tita Gema asked quietly, "So Jay tell you're tita are you seeing someone, Jay?"
I froze.
Not because I was unsure.
Because I knew what the answer would disrupt.
"Yes," I said.
A pause.
"it's Keifer."
Angelo's spoon stopped mid-air.
"What?" His voice was sharp. "You're with him?"
"I love him," I said calmly. "We talked. We faced things. We're together."
Angelo stared at me for a long moment.
Then exhaled hard.
"If that's you want Jay ,i am happy for you but if he hurts you again,intentionally or unintentionally " he said flatly, "I will end him for you...."
I laughed despite myself.
Ion smiled. "Congratulations, Jay. I'm happy for you."
The room breathed again.
Later, Aries approached me near the hallway.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
We walked outside, down the familiar garden path—the same one where we used to race barefoot as kids.
"I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "For hating you. For resenting you."
I looked at him.
"You always knew," I said quietly. "About the wound."
He nodded. "I did."
"And you hated me for it."
"Yes."
I swallowed. "I didn't remember. Not then."
He studied my face. "You do now."
"Yes."
That was what broke him.
Not the truth.
The remembering.
"I never thought you'd remember," he whispered.
"I did," I said. "And I'm sorry. For all of it."
He pulled me into a hug, both of us shaking quietly.
"I'm sorry too," he said. "For not protecting you."
"I'm sorry, Kuya Ari..... " I whispered.
He stiffened.
Then held me tighter.
When I left, Tita Gema asked me to stay.
I couldn't.
As Jeana stepped forward, I stepped back.
"Ms. Fernandez," I said gently. "Please don't."
I walked away.
The villa was quiet when I returned.
Cole and Celeste were asleep.
My phone buzzed.
Keifer:
Good night, Jay. I love you until scientists find the end of the universe.
I smiled, eyes stinging.
Jay:
Good night. I love you too Keifer.....
And for the first time in years—
I slept without carrying ghosts.
-------
Sunday mornings were supposed to be quiet.
That was the theory.
Reality was apparently a full-blown ambush.
I woke up slow and heavy, sunlight warming my legs, my brain still tangled in sleep. No alarms. No office. No responsibility. Just the promise of doing absolutely nothing.
Perfect.
I dragged myself out of bed in my shortest shorts and a loose, oversized T-shirt—soft, worn, familiar—and shuffled toward the living room, half-asleep enough to ignore the fact that there were voices downstairs.
That felt like a future problem.
The couch came into view.
My sanctuary.
I jumped onto it dramatically, face-first, limbs flopping like I'd just survived a war.
"I need coffeeeeee," I yelled into the cushion, voice whiny and unashamed. "Cole. Use your magic hands and summon me a cup."
Silence.
Then—
laughter.
Not one voice.
Not two.
Too many.
I froze.
Lifted my head slowly.
Turned.
The kitchen was full.
Full.
Eman leaned against the counter, arms crossed, amused.
Cin stood beside him, grinning like he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
David and Eren hovered near the coffee machine like it was sacred ground.
Mayo was mid-laugh, Kit nearly choking on his drink.
Felix was already filming.
Calix looked entertained.
Edrix looked confused but committed.
Rory was openly laughing.
Yuri smiled politely, because of course he did.
And there—calm, devastating, entirely too awake—
Keifer Watson.
Beside him, Celeste, hand over her mouth, eyes bright with betrayal.
Every single one of them was staring at me.
I blinked.
"…why," I croaked, "are there twelve men and one traitor in my house?"
Cin waved. "Good morning, Jay."
Felix lost it completely.
Before I could process further, footsteps thudded down the stairs.
Cole.
Hair wrecked. Hoodie half-zipped. Eyes barely open.
He didn't even register the room.
He walked straight to the couch.
Collapsed next to me exactly the same way.
Groaned.
"Jayyyyy," he mumbled. "Make coffee. It's your turn."
The room exploded.
I turned to him.
He turned to me.
We stared.
Then we both screamed.
"WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE—" "WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE—"
We bolted.
Full sprint.
Back toward our rooms, yelling accusations, slamming doors, dignity in absolute shambles.
Five minutes later, we returned—presentable, awake, deeply embarrassed.
We sat next to each other on the couch like emotional support siblings, accepting coffee cups that were handed to us with far too much satisfaction.
"Rough morning?" Rory asked innocently.
"I will never recover," I muttered.
Keifer sat beside me then.
Close.
Natural.
His hand rested on my thigh—casual, warm, grounding. Not possessive. Just… there. His thumb brushed once, subtle, reassuring.
My shoulders relaxed without permission.
Cole noticed immediately.
His eyes flicked down. Then up.
He leaned in and whispered, "Explain. Later."
I elbowed him.
Introductions followed.
Cole stood, instantly charming. "I'm Cole. Jay's best friend. Human shield. Professional overthinker."
Mayo grinned. "We like him already."
The energy shifted into something easy—jokes overlapping, coffee refills, teasing flying freely. Cole fit in like he always did, adapting without trying, matching humor, reading the room.
For the first time, my worlds didn't clash.
They blended.
After breakfast, Cin clapped his hands. "Truth or dare."
I sighed. "Of course you'd say that."
We sat in a loose circle in the living room, sunlight spilling across the floor, laughter still lingering.
Celeste looked straight at me. "Jay. Truth or dare?"
"Truth," I said cautiously.
She didn't hesitate. "Are you happy?"
The room went quiet.
I looked around.
At Cole, steady and familiar.
At Section E, loud and loyal and real.
At Keifer—watching me like the answer mattered more than anything else.
"Yes," I said softly. "I am."
Keifer smiled.
Not wide.
Not loud.
Just sure.
And for the first time—
Sunday felt like home.
Cin spun the bottle like he had a personal vendetta against everyone's peace.
It clattered, slowed, wobbled—
—and landed on Felix.
Felix grinned. "Finally. Dare."
Cin didn't even think. "Post your worst selfie to the group chat. Caption it 'peak masculinity.'"
Felix protested for exactly three seconds before doing it.
Phones buzzed.
Eman wheezed.
Mayo slid off the couch laughing.
David actually had tears in his eyes.
"Delete it," Felix begged.
"No," Yuri said calmly. "This is history."
The bottle spun again.
Edrix. Truth.
"What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever cried over?"
Edrix stared at the ceiling. "…a grilled cheese sandwich."
Silence.
Then absolute chaos.
"HOW?" Rory yelled.
"I dropped it," Edrix muttered. "Cheese-side down."
"That's valid," I said immediately. "I'd cry too."
Keifer laughed softly beside me, knee brushing mine. I felt it more than I should have.
The bottle spun.
Jay.
Oh no.
Cin leaned forward like a villain. "Truth."
I narrowed my eyes. "Be kind."
He smiled. "No."
Felix cut in. "Who was your first crush?"
I relaxed slightly. "Easy. A fictional character."
"Which one?" Kit asked.
"…Draco Malfoy..."
Yuri nodded. "Respectable."
Keifer chuckled under his breath, and I felt stupidly proud of that reaction.
Spin.
Spin.
Spin.
The bottle slowed—
—and stopped on Keifer.
The room shifted.
Not dramatically. Just… attention sharpened.
"Truth or dare?" Mayo asked.
Keifer glanced at me first.
"Truth."
Felix grinned. "Ohhh no."
Cin tilted his head. "Keifer… the last time you saw Jay and Cole together—"
I froze.
Keifer didn't.
"—was at the award show," Cin continued smoothly. "When they kissed."
The air went still.
Keifer's jaw tightened just a fraction.
He didn't look at me this time.
He looked straight at Cole.
"Why?" he asked calmly.
Simple word.
Loaded meaning.
Cole blinked.
Then leaned back, amused as hell.
"Oh," he said. "You wanna refresh the memo?"
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "I wanna hear it."
Cole laughed. Not defensive. Not awkward. Just honest.
"Relax, Watson," he said. "I'm not interested in Jay like that."
I glanced at him sharply.
"She kissed me on impulse," Cole continued. "She wanted you to see."
Keifer's eyes flicked to me now.
Cole shrugged. "Didn't mean anything. She was making a point."
Silence.
Then Keifer exhaled slowly.
Not angry.
Relieved.
"…Thank you," he said.
Cole grinned. "Anytime. She's terrifying when she wants to be."
"HEY," I protested.
Felix clapped. "This is better than Netflix."
The game rolled on after that—lighter, louder, safer.
Rory had to text his ex "hope you're hydrated."
David had to sing a breakup song to a lamp.
Cin admitted he once cried over a couple kissing....
"That was character development," I said firmly.
Lunch came together somehow—takeout containers, shared bites, conversations overlapping. By the time they left, the house felt warm in that exhausted, lived-in way.
Cole and Celeste grabbed their bags.
"We've got work," Celeste said regretfully. "Try not to traumatize each other."
"No promises," Cin replied.
The door closed behind the last of them.
Quiet settled.
Not empty.
Comfortable.
Keifer dropped onto the couch and—without asking—rested his head in my lap.
The weight of him was grounding.
I ran my fingers through his hair slowly, deliberately. He melted instantly, breath evening out, eyes closing like he trusted the moment completely.
"You okay?" I asked softly.
"Yeah," he murmured. "Just… content."
I smiled, leaning back.
He shifted closer, arm wrapping around my waist, forehead pressing into my stomach like he belonged there.
I kissed his hair.
We didn't talk after that.
Didn't need to.
Sunlight moved across the room. His breathing stayed steady. My fingers stayed in his hair.
Somewhere between warmth and quiet—
—we fell asleep like that.
Together.
And for once, nothing felt fragile.
Just real....