That evening, the house was loud as usual.
Laughter echoed from the living room.
Pans clinked in the kitchen.
It felt safe. Familiar.
Then the doorbell rang.
Jay didn't think much of it—until Keifer's mom answered.
"Ivy?" she said pleasantly. "Come in, dear."
Jay's steps slowed.
Ivy stood at the doorway, smiling politely, hands clasped in front of her.
"I was looking for Keifer, aunty," she said gently.
Keifer's mom wiped her hands on her apron.
"Oh, he's upstairs, I think."
Ivy hesitated, then smiled again.
"Actually… I wanted to ask if I could borrow him for the evening?"
The words landed heavier than they should have.
Jay felt it in her chest.
Keifer's mom blinked, clearly confused.
"Borrow him?"
"Yes," Ivy laughed lightly. "Just for a while. There's something I wanted to talk about."
Jay stood frozen near the stairs.
For a moment, Keifer's mom looked unsure.
Then she smiled, warm and trusting.
"Oh," she said kindly, "that's fine. Go ahead."
Jay's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"Thank you, aunty," Ivy said, relief flashing across her face.
She moved further inside the house like she belonged there.
Jay swallowed.
Borrow him.
The words echoed in her head.
From the stairs, Keifer appeared, confused.
"What's going on?"
Ivy's eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
Jay watched the way Ivy looked at him.
And for the first time—
The house that had always felt like home
felt… unfamiliar.