Jay's POV
Night felt different at home.
Not hospital quiet.
Not chaos loud.
Just… still.
I was lying in bed, finally in my own room. The ceiling fan hummed softly. The window curtains moved slightly with the breeze.
I should be sleeping. The doctor literally said rest.
I turned to my side.
That's when I heard it.
A faint sound.
Tap.
Against my window.
I froze.
Tap.
Again.
Please let it be a tree branch. Please let it be a cat. Please do not let it be a horror movie situation.
Slowly, I pushed myself up from bed. My back still felt tender, but manageable.
I walked toward the window.
No one there.
I frowned.
Maybe I imagined it.
I unlocked it and pushed it open slightly. Cool night air brushed my face.
Nothing.
I turned around.
And then—
There was a shadow right behind me.
I gasped and stumbled backward.
I would have fallen if two arms hadn't caught me.
Strong. Familiar.
I looked up.
Keifer.
He winked.
My heart nearly left my body.
"What are you doing here?!" I whisper-shouted.
"To visit my wife," he replied smoothly.
This boy will be the end of me.
I stepped out of his arms quickly, straightening myself.
"Why didn't you use the front door?"
He shrugged casually. "Angelo just arrived. I didn't want everyone seeing me first. I wanted you to be the first."
My stomach did something weird at that.
I sighed. "Wait. Angelo and Mom are back?"
"Right before I came," he said.
"Oh."
So that's why the house felt fuller.
He leaned casually against the wall like he owned the place.
We started talking softly. Nothing serious. Just teasing. Just him being him.
At some point, he moved closer.
Too close.
I stepped back.
He stepped forward.
I stepped back again.
And then—
My legs hit the edge of the bed.
We both lost balance.
And fell.
Onto the bed.
He landed partially over me, catching himself with his arms so he didn't put weight on my injuries.
For a second—
We just stared at each other.
Close.
Too close.
Why is he this close? Why is my heart doing that again?
His expression softened.
My breathing felt louder than it should.
His hand was beside my head.
His face inches from mine.
And then—
He leaned in.
Our lips met.
Soft at first.
Careful.
Like he was asking without words.
I didn't pull away.
My fingers curled slightly into his shirt.
The kiss deepened a little. Still gentle. Still controlled. But no longer hesitant.
This is dangerous.
He was still too close.
Way too close.
After that kiss, my brain had officially stopped working.
"Why are you staring?" Keifer whispered, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
"I am not staring," I said quickly.
"You are. And I like it."
Why does he talk like this?!
He leaned closer again.
"You know," he murmured, "I almost didn't come."
"Then you should've stayed home."
He smirked. "But I missed my wife."
"I am not your wife."
He tapped my nose lightly. "Denial looks cute on you."
Before I could argue, he traced his thumb slowly along my cheek.
"You cried earlier," he said softly. "I didn't like that."
"That's none of your business."
"It is. Everything about you is my business."
My heart betrayed me by beating louder.
A knock exploded against the door.
"JAY!"
I jumped.
Keifer didn't.
"Open up! Angelo is back and he wants to see you now!"
Aries.
"Get up," I whispered urgently.
Keifer didn't move.
Instead, he smirked.
"Let him wait."
"Keifer!"
Keifer lowered his voice dramatically. "Should I say hi?"
"If you speak, I will push you out the window."
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
He leaned closer again just to annoy me. "If I fall, I'm holding you with me."
"KEIFER!"
He chuckled quietly. "You're cute when you panic."
The door handle turned.
The door opened.
And there stood Aries.
His eyes locked on the scene.
Me on the bed.
Keifer still hovering over me like he had not heard a single thing.
Silence.
Then—
"Mark. Keifer. Watson."
His voice was deadly calm.
Keifer slowly turned his head like he had all the time in the world.
"Oh. Good evening."
Aries stepped inside.
"Why are you on my sister?"
Keifer looked down at me thoughtfully. "Gravity."
Aries' eye twitched. "Explain. Now."
Keifer sat up but didn't move away completely.
"She almost fell."
"I did not—"
"And as a responsible future husband, I caught her."
"STOP SAYING THAT ,YOU ARE JUST ADDING MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE!" I snapped.
He winked at me. "We'll discuss that later."
Keifer looked over his shoulder. "Hi, brother."
"I am not his brother-in-law!" Aries barked.
Keifer tilted his head. "You will be."
"Over my dead body."
"Strong words. I respect it."
Aries pulled him harder.
"Get. Out."
Keifer didn't resist. Instead, he kept talking.
"You know," he said casually, "you should knock louder next time. We didn't hear you."
Aries froze. "Didn't hear me what were you doing what?"
Keifer looked innocent. "Talking."
My face burned.
"YOU—" Aries couldn't even finish.
Keifer grinned. "Relax. We were just bonding."
"On the bed?"
"It's comfortable."
Keifer twisted slightly to look back at me.
"Lock your window," he said softly. "Or I might visit again."
"You are not visiting again!"
He winked. "We'll see."
Aries pulled him out.
As they walked down the hallway—
"You think this is funny?"
"Very."
"I will break your legs."
"Then how will I climb windows?"
"THERE WILL BE NO MORE WINDOWS."
"You're passionate. I admire that brother ."
"I AM NOT YOUR FAMILY!"
"Yet."
I buried my face in my pillow.
Why do I like him.
Why.
And why is my life like this.
My soul nearly left my body.
I am finished. This is how legends die.
As their voices faded down the hallway, something fluttered near the window.
A soft sound.
Paper hitting the floor.
I turned.
A folded sheet lay near the window.
I walked over slowly.
My heart started beating differently.
I looked outside.
A car was driving away.
Fast.
Headlights disappearing down the street. That was not here for romance.
I picked up the paper.
My fingers hesitated.
Who threw this?
Why?
I was about to unfold it—
When Keifer's voice echoed dramatically from the hallway.
"WIFE! Please come and help your baby or else I can't give you babies!"
My face burned instantly.
"SHUT UP!" Aries shouted somewhere in the distance.
I looked at the paper in my hand.
This feels important.
But the yelling continued.
I placed the folded paper on my table.
"I'm coming!" I called back.
Then I left my room.
To save my so-called baby.
The paper remained.
Unopened.
Waiting.
End of Chapter 🌙✨