KEIFER'S POV — WHEN I STOP LETTING IT SLIDE
I saw the smile.
That was the mistake.
Jay doesn't smile at her phone in class—not like that. Not the soft, unguarded kind that sneaks out when you forget the world is watching. The kind that means whoever's on the other side knows her well.
Too well.
She typed fast. Paused. Smiled again.
Then laughed.
Quiet. Bright. Real.
My jaw tightened.
Felix leaned over. "Bro… who's got her that happy?"
I didn't answer.
Didn't trust my voice.
Ms. Carly cleared her throat. "Ms.Mariano, care to share with the class?"
Jay looked up, startled—still smiling. "Sorry, miss."
The bell rang before anything else could be said.
Jay was on her feet instantly—bag slung over her shoulder, already moving. No glance back. No hesitation.
I stood slower.
Measured.
Outside, the crowd parted just enough for me to see her at the gate.
With him.
Tall. Confident. Too comfortable.
She ran.
Actually ran.
Straight into his arms.
He laughed and lifted her like it was normal. Like he'd done it before.
Something sharp twisted in my chest.
Felix swore under his breath. Rory went quiet. Edrix stiffened.
I didn't react.
I watched.
She pulled back, said something that made him grin wider—then she got into his car.
Black. Sleek. Not a ride you forget.
The door closed.
Engine on.
She didn't look back.
That was it.
I turned and walked to my car.
"Keifer—" Felix started.
"Get in," I said.
No anger.
No rush.
Just final.
They didn't argue.
I slid into the driver's seat, hands steady on the wheel. The engine purred to life as Jay's car pulled out onto the road.
I followed.
Not close enough to be obvious. Not far enough to lose her.
Felix glanced at me. "You okay?"
"I trust her," I said.
And I meant it.
Then I added, eyes fixed on the road—
"But I don't trust surprises."
The city blurred past us as I stayed locked onto the car ahead.
I wasn't chasing.
I wasn't spiraling.
I was just… making sure.
Because the way she smiled today—
That wasn't nothing.
And until I knew what it meant,
I wasn't letting it go...
---
JAY'S POV —
Percy drove like the city owed him space.
One hand on the wheel, the other casually resting near his jaw as if there were invisible cameras documenting his arrival back into Manila.
I watched him from the passenger seat, arms crossed, pretending I wasn't smiling.
"So," he said, glancing at his reflection in the rearview mirror for the fifth time in ten minutes, "be honest."
"Oh no," I muttered. "Here it comes."
"Did you miss this face?"
I turned fully toward him. "Percy, you missed me so much you flew halfway across the world, and somehow you've still made this about you."
He gasped, scandalized. "That hurts."
"Good."
He laughed anyway—deep, easy, familiar. God, I'd missed that sound. Percy was chaos wrapped in confidence, ego stitched together with loyalty so fierce it scared people who didn't know him.
"So, how's the company been? Heard it cracked money out of that tough as a Nutcracker Wilton group"
"The company's doing amazing," he said, suddenly serious. "Investors are lining up. Expansion's solid and that Wilton,he is wrapped around my fingers ,But—" he shrugged, eyes flicking to me, "—it doesn't feel right without you checking my work every damn second."
I swallowed. "You never listened to my corrections."
"I implemented every single one," he protested. "Eventually."
I laughed, shaking my head.
We pulled into a newly built restaurant—glass walls, warm lights, modern but understated. Neutral territory. Safe.
Inside, the smell of grilled food and something citrusy wrapped around us. We slid into a booth near the window. Percy ordered like he owned the place. I let him.
For a while, it was just us eating bread rolls and teasing each other like the world hadn't cracked open in the last twenty-four hours.
Then he leaned back and asked, quietly—
"So. How's it been here… really?"
There it was.
The question that wasn't casual.
The one that came from the person who knew exactly how much I carried without complaint.
I stared at the table for a long moment.
Then I spoke.
"They used me."
Percy's smile vanished instantly.
"Who."
"The Fernandez family," I said. "Angelo. All of them."
His jaw clenched. I watched anger sharpen his features like it had muscle memory.
I told him everything.
About Fer Corp bleeding money. About secret negotiations. About how I was presented like a solution, not a person. How they smiled at me while planning behind my back.
How I fixed it anyway.
"I poured JJM resources into stabilizing their company," I said. "I saved it. And they thanked me like I was a hired consultant."
Percy leaned forward, elbows on the table. "How dare he."
"I moved out," I added quietly.
That did it.
He swore under his breath, hand slamming lightly against the wood. "Come with me. Back to New York. Now JAY. "
My chest tightened.
"I can't," I said. "Not until I'm eighteen. Angelo's still my legal guardian remember."
The fury in his eyes softened—just slightly.
"I hate that,Jay you shouldn't put up with this.." he said. "But I'm proud of you."
I blinked. "For what?"
"For not letting them own you."
Something in me cracked at that.
And then—
I saw them.
Reflected in the glass.
Across the street.
Five idiots pretending to be deeply invested in a laminated menu outside a café that had been closed for ten minutes.
Cin. Felix. Rory. Edrix.
And—
Keifer.
My stomach flipped.
He wasn't laughing.
Wasn't talking.
Just standing there, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes locked on me like I'd committed a crime by existing near another man.
Percy followed my gaze and burst out laughing.
"They followed you?"
"Classmates," I said dryly.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "One of them looks like he's deciding whether to flip a table."
"That's my boyfriend," I murmured.
Percy's eyebrows shot up. "Boyfriend."
"Yes."
"Tall. Angry. Looks like he bites?"
I smiled despite myself. "Emotionally? Yes."
Percy's grin turned wicked. "So possessive."
"Please don't," I warned.
"Oh, I absolutely will."
Before I could stop him, he reached across the table and laced his fingers with mine.
I stiffened. "Percy."
"Relax," he whispered. "I'm your brother. This is my job."
"Your job is to be insufferable."
"And excellent at it."
He brushed his thumb over my knuckles deliberately and said—loud enough for the glass to carry—
"You didn't tell me you'd gotten even prettier."
I laughed, playing along, leaning closer. "Stop flirting."
"Never," he replied smoothly. "I flew across the world for you."
Across the street—
Cin froze.
Felix's mouth dropped open.
Rory muttered something that definitely sounded like what the hell.
Edrix looked genuinely alarmed.
And Keifer—
Keifer stepped forward.
His shoulders squared. His eyes darkened.
Percy noticed immediately.
he leaned across the table and rested his chin in his hand.
"So," he said loudly, smiling at me, "are you going to admit you missed me or keep pretending you're emotionally stable?"
I laughed despite myself. "You're insufferable."
Across the street—
Keifer shifted.
Cin whispered something. Felix's eyebrows shot up. Rory leaned closer to the window.
Percy leaned in more, lowering his voice just enough to sound intimate.
"You didn't answer my question," he said. "Did you miss me?"
I rolled my eyes, playing along. "Obviously."
He reached across the table and flicked my forehead. "Good. Because I missed you more."
I risked another glance.
Keifer's shoulders were tense now.
His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack.
Percy noticed instantly.
"Oh wow," he murmured. "That one's taking this personally."
"Please stop poking the bear," I muttered.
"No," he said happily. "I like bears."
The restaurant door opened.
I didn't need to look.
I felt him.
Keifer's presence hit like pressure.
"Jay."
I looked up.
Keifer stood there, expression controlled but eyes burning.
"Hey," I said calmly.
His gaze flicked to Percy. Then back to me.
"Didn't know you were busy," he said.
Percy smiled politely. Too politely.
"And you are?" Percy asked.
"Keifer," he replied shortly.
Percy stood, offering his hand. "Hi,I'm Percy."
Keifer hesitated—then shook it.
The tension was sharp enough to cut glass.
Cin, Felix, Rory, and Edrix hovered awkwardly near the door pretending not to stare.
Percy glanced at them, then back at Keifer. "heyy,so what's going on!?."
"Study thing," Keifer said flatly.
Percy nodded. "Fun."
He turned to me. "I'll give you a minute."
Keifer's eyes snapped to me.
"Jay, you okay?
"I'm fine," I said quickly. "We're just catching up."
Percy squeezed my shoulder gently. "Text me if you need me."
Then he walked away toward the counter.
The boys immediately rushed over.
Cin stage-whispered, "BRO??"
Felix stared between me and Percy. "WHO IS THAT."
Rory squinted. "He looks rich."
Edrix nodded solemnly. "Definitely rich."
Keifer didn't say anything.
He just looked at me.
Carefully.
Like he was afraid of the answer.
"Friend," I said evenly. "Family, actually."
Something in his chest loosened—just barely.
"Oh," Felix said. "Okay."
Cin elbowed him. "WHY did you sound disappointed."
Keifer exhaled slowly. "We should go."
Rory blinked. "We just got here."
"We're leaving," Keifer repeated.
The boys exchanged looks but didn't argue.
As they turned away, Keifer leaned in close enough that only I could hear.
His voice dropped. "We'll talk later. ."
I smiled softly. "okay."
"See you," he added, neutral enough for anyone watching.
"See you," I replied.
They left.
Percy returned to the table, eyebrows raised.
"So," he said. "That was painful."
I sighed. "He doesn't know."
Percy smirked. "He cares."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah."
Percy leaned back. "When am I meeting him properly?"
"Soon," I said.
His grin turned dangerous. "I can't wait."
Somewhere outside—
Keifer stood in the night air, fists clenched, heart racing, trying to convince himself that whatever he just felt—
Meant nothing.
And failing miserably.