Living under the same roof as Aries was exhausting.
Jay-jay stood in front of the mirror inside her new room at Angelo's house. The house was quiet, warm, almost too peaceful.
Aunt Gemma was downstairs cooking.
Angelo was probably working on something in the living room.
And Aries was leaning against her bedroom door.
"You're staring," she said without turning around.
"You're avoiding me," he replied calmly.
She finally faced him. "We live in the same house. That's impossible."
Aries sighed. He wasn't her cousin.
He was her brother.
But she didn't remember.
And maybe that was the only reason she could still look at him without guilt.
"Just don't get close to Keifer," he said.
Jay-jay rolled her eyes. "Again?"
"He's not someone you should trust."
"And you are?" she shot back.
That hit something.
But Aries didn't react.
"I'm serious, Jay."
She grabbed her bag and brushed past him.
"I don't need another guardian. Angelo is enough."
Aries watched her walk away, jaw tight.
He couldn't protect her from everything.
Especially not Keifer.
Meanwhile, across town...
Keifer sat alone in his dark living room.
The Watson mansion felt empty.
Too big.
Too silent.
His father hadn't lived there since his mother died. Keizer Watson chose business trips and money over his sons long ago. The housekeeper came and went. His brothers stayed mostly in their rooms.
Keifer learned early how to survive alone.
He stared at an old photo frame on the table.
His mother smiling.
Before everything broke.
Before blood stained the marble floors.
Before his father destroyed their family.
He looked away.
Weakness was expensive.
And he couldn't afford it.
Morning at HVIS was never quiet.
Luxury cars filled the parking lot Section A's territory.
Aries stepped out of his black sedan smoothly, adjusting his watch. Calm. Controlled. Untouchable.
Across the lot
A silver sports car engine roared slightly louder than necessary.
Keifer.
He stepped out slowly, sunglasses on, posture relaxed but dominant. The type of person who didn't need to announce his presence — the air shifted on its own.
Their eyes met across the parking lot.
No words.
Just history.
Just hatred.
And then,
A white SUV pulled in behind Aries' car.
Jay-jay stepped out.
Angelo was driving.
Aries' expression softened slightly when he saw her. Keifer noticed that.
Interesting.
Jay-jay didn't notice the silent tension as she adjusted her bag and walked toward the building.
But both boys were watching her.
Jay-jay walked into Section E like she owned it.
Cin waved at her dramatically.
Eman was arguing with Drew about groceries.
Blaster was strumming his guitar.
Normal chaos.
Then Keifer spoke.
"Sit here."
She glanced at him. "You're really obsessed with that seat."
"It has the best view."
"Of what?"
"Of you."
A few boys whistled.
Jay-jay raised an eyebrow. "Try harder."
But she sat beside him anyway.
Across campus, Aries watched from the second-floor hallway of Section A.
His eyes followed every movement.
Keifer noticed.
Of course he did.
He leaned closer to Jay-jay.
"You know your cousin hates me, right?"
She scoffed. "You both hate each other. It's exhausting."
"What if I told you I have a reason?"
"Everyone has a reason."
He studied her profile.
"You don't ask questions."
"I do," she said softly. "I just don't expect honest answers."
That line stayed with him.
Because she wasn't wrong.
After,
Classes ended.
Students flooded the campus.
Aries was already leaning against his car, waiting.
Keifer stood near his own vehicle, keys spinning around his finger.
Jay-jay walked down the steps.
"You don't need to wait," she told Aries.
"I'm driving," he replied simply.
Keifer smirked. "She can ride with me."
Aries' jaw tightened. "She won't."
Jay-jay looked between the two luxury cars.
"You both think I can't book a ride myself?"
Neither answered.
She walked past them.
But Keifer moved first.
"Get in," he said, opening his passenger door.
Aries stepped forward. "Jay."
The air turned heavy.
Jay-jay exhaled sharply. "Stop making everything a competition."
She looked at Keifer.
Then at Aries.
"I'm going with Angelo."
As if summoned, Angelo's car pulled up near the gate.
Jay-jay walked toward it without another word.
Keifer shut his car door slowly.
Aries got into his own car.
But before engines started,
Keifer called out, "You can't protect her forever."
Aries replied calmly, "And you can't control her."
Engines roared.
Two cars left the parking lot in opposite directions.
The war wasn't loud.
It was controlled.
Calculated.
And Jay-jay was unknowingly standing in the middle of it.