You're All I Care About
Keifer was sitting outside the hospital room when Aries returned.
Still bruised. Still bleeding a little from the lip he hadn't bothered to clean properly. Still silent.
Aries stopped just a few feet away.
This time, he didn't yell.
Didn't swing.
Just folded his arms and said, "You're lucky she asked me not to kill you."
Keifer didn't flinch. "I know."
"You're also lucky she loves you."
"I know."
Aries took a breath, jaw ticking. "You get that this isn't a movie, right? You don't get to risk her life like that just because you didn't want to tell her the truth."
"I didn't plan for any of this—"
"But you let it happen," Aries snapped. "You let her fall into your mess without giving her a choice. That's not protecting her. That's being a coward."
Keifer didn't speak.
Because he agreed.
Aries stepped closer, eyes sharp. "I don't care how much she loves you. If you hurt her again — even accidentally — I will make you regret it."
Then, softer:
"Earn her. Or leave."
And just like that, Aries walked away.
Jay was half-asleep when Keifer slipped back into her room.
She turned her head slowly, wincing. "Did my brother threaten your bloodline again?"
Keifer chuckled, quietly. "Not all of it. Just the part that likes lying."
She smiled. "Fair."
He walked to her side, sat down. Took her hand and pressed it to his chest.
His heart was racing.
"You scared me," he said. "You could've died."
"But I didn't."
"Because I got lucky."
"No," she whispered. "Because you came."
Silence passed between them.
Then she asked, "What happened to them?"
Keifer hesitated, but this time… he didn't lie.
"They're in prison now. Two are in critical condition. They won't be coming back. Not to you. Not to me."
Jay nodded, quiet. Processing.
Then softly: "Good."
He brushed her hair back gently. "You don't have to be strong right now, Jay."
Her lip trembled. "Then will you be strong for me?"
His voice broke. "I will."
The nurse said visiting hours were over.
Jay's mom said he should go home and rest.
He didn't.
He stayed.
Curled into the chair beside her bed, her fingers tangled in his. Whispering things like:
"I'll take you home soon."
"You'll never walk alone again."
"You're safe."
Jay drifted off to the rhythm of his voice.
To the feeling of his thumb brushing her wrist.
To the warmth of finally letting someone stay.
And Keifer?
He didn't sleep.
He just watched her.
Watched her breathe.
Watched her live.
Because for the first time since this started…
He wasn't pretending anymore.
End of Chapter