JAY'S POV
I knew something was wrong the moment I saw him.
Angelo stood near the entrance of the camp grounds, arms crossed, posture rigid in that way that meant guardian mode, not kuya mode. Sir Alvin was beside him, Aries a step behind — quiet, observant, already reading the situation.
My stomach dropped.
Not because I was scared.
Because we hadn't spoken.
Not since the engagement mess.
Not since the dinner where everything polite had gone unsaid and everything important had been swallowed.
I handed my bag to Felix, told them I'd be back, and walked toward him alone.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Angelo's eyes locked onto me instantly.
Sharp. Assessing. Searching.
I stopped a few feet away.
"Kuya," I said, neutral. Careful.
"Jay," he replied, voice tight. "Come here."
I didn't.
That made his jaw clench.
Sir Alvin cleared his throat gently. "We'll give you two a moment."
Aries hesitated, glanced at me once, then followed him away — but not before throwing Angelo a don't mess this up look.
Silence fell.
Thick. Loaded.
Angelo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Cyrus and Ray's parents contacted me."
There it was.
I didn't flinch. "About?"
"You know exactly about what," he snapped — then stopped himself, forcing his voice down. "They said you and your… friends beat them badly."
I tilted my head. "Did they tell you why?"
He looked at me hard. "Did they touch you?"
The question hit harder than I expected.
"…Who?" I asked, even though I knew.
"Cyrus. Ray," he said, stepping closer now. "Did they lay a hand on you?"
My guard went up instantly.
"I handled it," I said coolly.
"Jay."
"I said I handled it."
His fists clenched. "That's not an answer."
I met his eyes. "They tried. They failed. End of story."
For a second, I thought he might explode.
Instead—
He pulled me into a hug.
Sudden. Tight. Protective.
I froze.
Angelo never hugged.
Not like this.
Not unless something was really wrong.
He checked me like I was breakable — hands on my arms, my shoulders, eyes scanning for bruises I didn't have.
"Are you hurt?" he asked quietly. "Anywhere?"
I swallowed. "…No."
His shoulders sagged.
"I should've been there," he said, voice rough. "I should've protected you. I failed you."
That cracked something.
"Kuya—"
"I was angry," he continued, cutting himself off. "I was controlling. I didn't listen. And you got hurt because of it."
I looked away. "I didn't need saving."
"I know," he said softly. "But I still should've stood beside you."
Silence again.
Then he sighed. "I'm sorry, Jay Jay, for this for everything I have put you through.. I know I am not worthy of your trust again but please give me a chance... "
I looked back at him.
Really looked.
And nodded.
"I forgive you."
He sniffled....
His arms tightened briefly, then loosened.
That's when—
"Wow."
A voice behind us.
Lazy. Amused.
Dangerous.
Keifer.
Angelo stiffened instantly, turning as I did.
Keifer stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable but eyes sharp as blades. He took in the hug, the proximity, the moment — and smirked.
Keifer's smirk was deliberate.
Calculated.
The kind that said I know exactly what I'm walking into and I don't plan on backing down.
Angelo's body went rigid beside me.
"You," Angelo said flatly.
Keifer inclined his head, mock-polite. "Angelo. Been a while."
"Not long enough," Angelo replied.
I exhaled slowly.
Keifer's gaze flicked to me, brief and checking, then back to Angelo. "What did you do?"
The question was calm.
But it wasn't casual.
Angelo noticed.
His jaw tightened. "That's none of your concern."
Keifer smiled wider. "Funny. She seems to think otherwise."
I shot him a warning look. "Keifer."
He didn't take his eyes off Angelo. "What? I asked a question."
Angelo stepped half a pace forward, placing himself subtly between us. Protective. Territorial. Old instincts flaring.
"You don't get to insert yourself into her life like this," Angelo said quietly. "Especially not after everything."
Keifer tilted his head. "Everything?"
The word carried weight. Challenge.
"You think I don't know who you are?" Angelo continued. "What your name carries?"
Keifer's smile thinned. "And you think I don't know yours?"
The air sharpened.
Sir Alvin shifted somewhere in the distance. Aries glanced back once, alert now.
I stepped forward before either of them could push this further.
"Stop."
Both of them froze.
I looked at Angelo first. "You came because of Cyrus and Ray. That's handled."
Then at Keifer. "You didn't need to come over here."
His eyes softened slightly — just for me. "I wanted to."
Angelo noticed that too.
"Jay," Angelo said, voice low, "this isn't a game."
"I know," I replied evenly. "That's why I'm standing here."
Keifer chuckled under his breath. "She's got steel in her spine. Always did."
Angelo's glare snapped back to him. "Don't talk like you know her."
Keifer took a step closer.
Now they were squared off.
Playful on the surface.
Dangerous underneath.
"I do know her," Keifer said calmly. "Better than most."
Angelo's hand flexed at his side.
That was it.
I reached back, grabbed Keifer's wrist firmly.
"Enough," I said. "Both of you."
Keifer looked down at my hand, then at my face.
Something shifted.
He relaxed — just a fraction.
"For you," he said quietly.
Then he leaned in, voice low enough that only I could hear. "You okay?"
I nodded once.
That's when he did it.
He stepped around Angelo without apology, cupped my face gently — deliberately — and kissed me.
Not rushed.
Not heated.
A statement.
When he pulled back, the silence was deafening.
Angelo looked like he'd been struck.
"You think this is funny?How dare you Watson!!" Angelo snapped, anger breaking through. "Kissing her like that in front of me?"
Keifer didn't even blink. "No.I don't think it's funny.."
Then he met Angelo's eyes head-on.
"I think it's honest."
Angelo took a sharp step forward. "You don't get to decide what's good for her."
I moved instantly, placing myself between them.
"That's enough," I said, voice firm now.
"Keifer — go."
He hesitated. Just a second.
"Jay—"
"Go," I repeated.
He searched my face, then nodded once. "I'll be nearby."
As he turned to leave, Angelo muttered, "Stay away from her."
Keifer paused.
Looked back over his shoulder.
A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. "That's not happening."
Then he walked away.
Angelo stood there breathing hard, anger simmering beneath control.
"You're playing with fire," he said quietly.
I looked up at him. "No, kuya."
"I'm finally choosing my own burn."
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then, tired — resigned — he stepped back.
"It's late," he said. "We'll talk later."
I nodded.
As he walked away, I felt it settle deep in my chest —
Nothing between us was unresolved anymore.
And nothing was going to stay hidden...
I found him near the tents like nothing had just exploded.
Keifer was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, expression calm in that infuriating way that meant he knew exactly what he'd done and had zero regrets about it.
I walked straight up to him.
"You're unbelievable," I hissed.
He smiled. Soft. Dangerous. "Missed you too."
"You kissed me in front of my kuya."
"I kissed you," he corrected. "Your kuya happened to be in middle..."
"That is not how this works."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You told me to go."
"I told you to stop provoking him."
"You grabbed my wrist," he said lightly. "I'm easily encouraged."
I shoved his chest—not hard, just enough to make a point. "You're impossible."
He leaned down, eyes sparkling. "And yet."
I glared at him. He grinned wider.
Behind us, someone very pointedly cleared their throat.
Twice.
Loud.
Felix. Of course.
"Hi," Felix said sweetly. "Just checking—are we about to witness Round Two or can we all sleep in peace?"
Cin added, "Because my heart can't take more romance-based violence today."
I stepped back immediately, mortified. "Nothing is happening."
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Yet."
"KEIFER."
Yuri sighed. "Go to sleep. Both of you."
David nodded. "Before someone actually gets murdered."
That did it.
We separated, reluctantly, and everyone drifted off to their tents—teasing echoing, whispers following, the night slowly settling back into calm.
Except I didn't sleep.
By 4 a.m., the camp was quiet in that eerie, pre-dawn way. No laughter. No footsteps. Just crickets and soft wind and bad ideas forming fully-formed plans in my head.
I sat up.
Smiled.
Oh, I had a plan.
I slipped out of my tent barefoot, careful not to wake anyone, and padded across the grass toward Keifer's.
His tent flap was half-zipped.
Of course it was.
Inside, he was sprawled on his sleeping bag like sleep itself had personally knocked him out. One arm thrown over his head. Hair messy. Mouth slightly open.
Criminally peaceful.
I crouched beside him, biting my lip to keep from laughing.
Then I spotted it.
A leaf.
Perfect. Light. Evil.
I picked it up carefully and brought it to his face, tracing it gently along his cheek.
Nothing.
I brushed it over his nose.
He shifted, frowned, then—
Snorted.
I clapped a hand over my mouth.
I dragged the leaf lightly along his jaw.
He laughed in his sleep. Actually laughed.
"No… no… stop," he mumbled.
I froze.
Then slowly lifted my phone and hit record.
I brushed the leaf over his lips.
He smiled.
SMILED.
And whispered, half-asleep, "Jay…"
I almost dropped the phone.
Then he swatted weakly at the air, rolled onto his side, and giggled.
GIGGLED.
I was silently dying.
I leaned closer and whispered, "Keifer."
He hummed.
I traced the leaf again.
He scrunched his nose. "Cheater," he murmured. "You always cheat."
I had tears in my eyes.
I backed away carefully, leaf still in hand, video safely recorded, heart pounding from laughter and affection and the ridiculousness of him.
As I stood to leave—
His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
I yelped silently.
His eyes were still closed.
"Thought you could escape?" he murmured.
"…You were asleep."
"One eye open," he said smugly.
I crossed my arms. "You were giggling."
"Fake," he replied. "Mostly."
I leaned down, whispering, "I have proof."
That made his eyes open.
Slow.
Dark.
Amused.
He tugged me closer gently. "Delete it."
"Nope."
He looked with at me with the look I know you won't even if I begged you...
"Menace," he murmured.
I smiled against his shoulder.
"Sleep," he said.
"With you?" I asked.
He paused.
Then nodded.
"Yeah, obviously with me Or do you wish to sleep with someone else? "
I chuckled....
And just like that—
the sun still hours away—
the night let us keep one more secret...
Morning came too fast.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, warm and golden, like it didn't know chaos followed us everywhere. We were halfway through breakfast—paper plates, questionable eggs, loud opinions—when Sir Alvin approached.
That alone quieted the table.
Sir Alvin never walked toward Section E without reason.
He cleared his throat. "Alright. I need your attention."
Cin froze mid-bite. Felix slowly lowered his cup. Keifer's shoulder brushed mine, instinctive.
"The camp committee," Sir Alvin continued, "has been informed about yesterday's incident at your school."
Silence.
My chest tightened.
"They've decided," he said carefully, "that Section E is officially banned from participating in all remaining camp activities."
For one second, no one reacted.
Then—
"WHAT—"
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING—"
"THIS CAMP IS LITERALLY NOTHING WITHOUT US—"
"SO WE JUST… EXIST??"
Cin stood up dramatically. "Sir. With all due respect. There is nothing left."
Felix nodded. "We've already been emotionally traumatized. You can't just leave us bored on top of that."
Sir Alvin pinched the bridge of his nose like he'd been expecting this. "I'm aware."
Cin's eyes lit up suddenly. "Then—hypothetically—if we are banned from camp activities…"
Felix leaned forward. "…could we tour the town?"
That did it.
The table exploded.
"A TOWN TOUR??"
"YES—"
"CIVILIZATION—"
"FOOD—"
"COFFEE—"
Everyone was already halfway to planning outfits.
Except me.
Something inside me shifted.
The town.
My stomach sank.
This town didn't just know me.
It remembered me.
Faces. Whispers. Old versions of myself that I'd buried for a reason. The last thing I wanted was to walk into familiar streets with unfamiliar eyes watching.
I opened my mouth—
But Sir Alvin spoke first.
"That's acceptable," he said. "You'll be allowed to tour the town."
The screams were immediate.
"LET'S GOOOO—"
"BEST PUNISHMENT EVER—"
"CAMP COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR NOTHING—"
Sir Alvin raised a hand. "Under one condition."
Silence snapped back.
"You maintain the curfew. No exceptions."
"Yes, sir!" they chorused instantly.
Cheers erupted again, louder this time. Plans flew. Cin was already assigning food stops. Felix was talking souvenirs. Blaster wanted street photos. Someone yelled about thrift shops.
I stayed quiet.
Keifer glanced at me, noticing immediately.
"You okay?" he murmured.
I forced a smile. "Yeah."
But my fingers curled around my cup a little tighter.
Because excitement buzzed all around me—
And all I could think was:
This town knows my name.
And I wasn't ready for it to remember me out loud.