JAY-JAY POV
I came back from my bathroom and Keifer had already left.
Thank God.
I went downstairs and saw the kids eating.
I smiled — today was Saturday, which meant no work.
YAY.
I walked over and kissed each of their foreheads.
"Moarning, Ma," Kevin mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Did you not sleep yesterday?" I asked.
"I did… but someone woke me up at six o'clock," he said, glaring at Keira.
"Sorry, Kuya. I just happened to wake up and I was a bit bored," she said, shrugging.
I chuckled.
Meanwhile, Kade was eating like he was trying to win a trophy.
"Kade, slow down, hon. That's all yours," I said, patting his back.
Then I looked around.
Where is that kwanan?
"Mama, there are two ladies in the living room," Kevin said, pointing.
"What?" I asked, already walking over.
And sure enough—
Tita.
And Mama.
Both of them were sitting on my couch.
"Ma," I breathed.
"Jay," she said, standing up immediately and pulling me into her arms.
The second I felt her hug — warm, familiar, safe — something inside me cracked.
Four years of holding everything in… and suddenly I couldn't anymore.
"Jay, where were you for four years? You know how worried we were for you," Tita said, coming closer, her voice trembling even though she tried to sound stern.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, hugging Mama tighter as the tears finally spilled.
She pulled back just enough to cup my face, wiping my tears with her thumb.
"Don't cry, my child," she murmured, her voice soft but full of hurt. "You're here now. That's what matters."
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.
I wanted to say everything — the fear, the pain, the nights I cried alone, the kids, the struggle, the reason I left — but the words got stuck in my throat.
Mama brushed my hair back gently, studying my face like she was memorizing it all over again.
"You lost weight," she said quietly. "And your eyes… they look tired."
Tita stepped closer, her expression softening.
"Jay… we thought something terrible happened to you," she said. "We looked everywhere."
My heart twisted.
"How do you guys know where I was?" I asked, genuinely confused.
Mama sighed softly. "Well… we watched that interview you gave. And Angelo helped me. And here we are."
Of course.
Of course Kuya Angelo would get involved.
He always did.
I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to say anything else. My legs felt weak, so I walked over and sat on the couch.
Mama and Tita followed me with their eyes — not angry, not scolding… just relieved.
Relieved and hurt at the same time.
I sank deeper into the cushions, suddenly feeling small under their gaze.
"We saw three little kids… who are they?" Tita asked, her voice careful but trembling.
"My kids," I said.
Silence.
I could feel their confusion hit the room like a wave.
Tita blinked.
Mama's eyebrows slowly lifted.
Both of them stared at me like I'd just spoken in another language.
I swallowed.
"Keifer's and mine," I added quietly.
That did it.
Their eyes widened at the exact same time — like synchronized shock.
Tita's hand flew to her chest.
Mama's mouth parted, but no sound came out.
For a moment, they just stared at me.
At me.
At the daughter who disappeared for four years.
At the daughter who came back with three children who looked suspiciously like a certain man.
Tita finally found her voice.
"Jay… anak… you have three children with Keifer?"
I nodded, my throat tight.
Mama sat back slowly, processing, her eyes softening with something between heartbreak and relief.
"You raised them alone?" she whispered.
And just like that, the guilt I'd been holding for years pressed down on my chest again.
I nodded.
Mama reached for my hand.
Tita reached for my other hand.
"Where are they?" she asked.
"In the dining room," I said, pointing. "Devouring the food."
Right on cue, the kids came running in like a tiny stampede.
"Ma, who are they?" Kevin asked, blinking up at Mama and Tita.
"I'm your lola," Mama said gently.
"Really?" Keira asked, eyes wide.
Mama and Tita both nodded.
Kade squinted at them, head tilted like he was analyzing a puzzle.
"But you look like Mama's sister," he said.
Tita gasped dramatically.
Mama laughed.
"I'm telling you, Percy taught them this, not me," I said, raising my hands like I was innocent.
Tita narrowed her eyes. "Percy? As in that Percy?"
"Yes, Tita. That Percy," I said, already bracing myself.
Mama shook her head, smiling. "Of course he did. That boy always had a mouth on him."
Keira perked up. "Tito Percy said Mama used to be the boss of everyone."
Tita snorted. "Used to? She still is."
Kevin nodded seriously. "Tito Percy said Mama is scary when she's mad."
Mama burst out laughing.
Tita covered her mouth, trying not to.
I glared at the ceiling.
"Again," I said, pointing at the kids, "Percy. Not me."
Kade, still chewing, added, "Tito Percy also said Mama can beat up a dinosaur."
Tita choked.
Mama slapped her knee.
I wanted to evaporate.
"Oh my goodness," Mama said, wiping tears from laughing. "Jay, your children are… something else."
I sighed dramatically. "Welcome to my life."
Keifer came and everyone froze well Mama and Tita did
"So Keifer lives here?" Mama asked, eyebrow raised like she was already judging my life choices.
I nodded, rolling my eyes so hard I nearly saw my soul leave my body.
Keifer glanced at me but stayed silent.
Good.
Silence suits him.
Tita leaned forward, eyes sharp. "What are their names?"
Before I could even inhale, that kwanan stepped forward like he was hosting a press conference.
"This is Kevin," he said, pointing proudly.
"Kade."
"And Keira."
He said it like he was reading off a trophy list he won.
Mama and Tita stared at him like he'd just confessed to a crime.
The kids stared at him like he'd just stolen their snacks.
And I stared at him like I was two seconds away from throwing a pillow at his head.
"Jay, anka, we have to go. We'll come another day and take these troublemakers with us," Tita said, grabbing her bag.
I nodded and hugged both her and Mama tightly.
"See you guys later," I said.
The kids rushed in for their own hugs, practically tackling Mama and Tita.
Keira leaned in and whispered something in Tita's ear — whatever it was made Tita chuckle.
Definitely about food.
That girl is my clone.
"Jay, she has your food habits," Mama said, shaking her head.
"Well, I got that from you. They got it from me," I shot back.
Mama rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
They left after that, waving as they stepped out the door.
The house fell quiet.
Too quiet.
The kids turned around slowly… facing me and Keifer like we were the judges on some reality show.
I narrowed my eyes. "What."
"Ma, did you kiss Papa yet?" Keira asked.
I blinked.
My soul left my body.
Came back.
Left again.
"What?" I asked, louder this time.
Keifer's face lit up like someone handed him a trophy.
Of course he'd be happy.
Of course.
"Nothing," Kade said casually, swinging his legs. "You kiss our foreheads but never kiss Papa."
"Yeah," Kevin added, nodding like a tiny judge. "All my friends' mamas kiss their papas."
I stared at them.
Then at Keifer.
Then at the ceiling, praying for strength.
Keifer was trying so hard not to smile, but the corners of his mouth were already betraying him.
I pointed at the kids. "Who taught you this nonsense?"
"Everyone," Kade said proudly.
Keira nodded. "Tito Percy said Mama used to kiss Papa all the time."
I was going to strangle Percy.
Keifer raised an eyebrow, smug.
I glared at him so hard he actually looked away.
"Okay, enough," I said, clapping my hands. "No more talking about kissing."
"But Ma—"
"No."
"But Papa—"
"No."
"But—"
"NO."
The kids exchanged a look that said this conversation is not over.
And Keifer?
He was still smiling.
I hated how good it looked on him.
Then I remembered him not eating with us this morning
"Are you not gonna eat?" I asked, trying to sound casual even though my stomach tightened a little.
He looked at me — really looked — and for a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Something tired.
Something heavy.
"No, I'm not hungry," he said quietly.
Before I could say anything else, he turned and walked toward the kids.
Just like that.
He just… left.
The kids immediately swarmed him, shouting "Papa!" like he was a jungle gym, and he let them climb all over him with that soft smile he only ever showed them.
But I kept staring at his back.
Why do I care?I don't.
I refuse.
Don't care about him, Jay.
Don't start that again.
Don't be stupid.
He is only here for the kids.
That's it.
That's the whole story.
He's here because he's their father.
And you?
You're just the mother.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
So stop caring.
Stop noticing when he doesn't eat.
Stop wondering why he looked tired.
Just stop.
Because caring is dangerous.
Caring is how you got hurt last time.
Caring is how you lost everything.
So no.
No more caring.
…
Then why does your chest feel tight?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2 days has past and Keifer still haven't eat yet
KEIFER POV
Two day passed.
One whole day.
And I still hadn't eaten.
Not a bite.
Not even water, if I'm being honest.
I wasn't hungry.
Not for food, at least.
I won't eat until she forgives me.
It's stupid.
Childish.
Dramatic.
But I don't care.
I didn't tell her why I wasn't eating.
Then it would look like I'm forcing her to forgive me.
And that's the last thing I want.
I don't want her forgiveness because she feels guilty.
I want it because she chooses it.
Because she sees I'm trying.
Because she believes me.
So I kept my mouth shut.
I walked downstairs, trying to act normal, trying to pretend the weakness in my legs wasn't real.
And there she was.
Jay.
Sitting on the floor with the kids, laughing at the chaos they were creating.
Her hair messy, her smile bright, her voice soft in a way I hadn't heard in years.
She looked… happy.
Happy without me.
I smiled at them — at her — even though my chest tightened.
Then the room tilted.
Just a little.
Then a lot.
My vision blurred at the edges, and I blinked hard, trying to steady myself.
Nope.
Nope.
Not today, Keifer.
Not in front of her.
Not in front of the kids.
I gripped the railing, pretending I was just stretching my hand.
Then, out of nowhere, everything went black.
No warning.
No time to steady myself.
Just—
darkness.
My knees gave out before I could stop them.
The floor rushed up to meet me, and for a second, I felt nothing.
Then the voices came.
Faint.
Far away.
Like they were underwater.
"Keifer!"
Her voice.
Sharp.
Panicked.
The kind of panic she only gets when she's scared for real.
Then another voice, smaller, trembling—
"Papa!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was playing with the kids when Keifer suddenly collapsed.
One second he was standing.
The next—
he hit the floor.
"Keifer!" I rushed to him, dropping to my knees. I tapped his cheeks lightly, panic rising in my chest. "Keifer, hey—wake up. Come on."
Nothing.
His eyes stayed closed.
His breathing was shallow.
His skin felt cold.
My heart dropped.
I called the doctor immediately, voice shaking, and with the kids' help, I got him into the room.
The doctor arrived fast, thank God.
"Mrs. Watson," he said as he stepped inside.
I froze.
Mrs. Watson?
What—
No.
Not now.
"Yes, doctor," I said quickly, pushing the thought aside. Right now, last names don't matter. Pride doesn't matter. Anime doesn't matter.
He does.
The doctor checked Keifer's pulse, his eyes narrowing with concern.
"Looks like Mr. Watson didn't eat for two days," he said. "His body is weak."
Two days?
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Keifer's pale face, his lips dry, his breathing uneven.
And suddenly, anger and fear crashed into me at the same time.
"Why would he do something so stupid?" I whispered, more to myself than to the doctor.
The doctor sighed. "Stress, emotional strain, guilt… people do strange things when they're overwhelmed."
I swallowed hard.
"And one more thing… I think he forgot to take his medication," the doctor said gently.
My eyebrows pulled together. "Medication?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes. He's been dealing with depression for the past four years. From what I can see, he hasn't been consistent with what was prescribed to help him manage it."
My breath caught.
Depression?
For four years?
The same four years I was gone.
The doctor continued, his voice calm but serious. "He's under a lot of emotional strain. His body is exhausted, and he's not in a good place right now. Make sure he rests… and that he has support around him."
Support.
I looked at Keifer lying unconscious on the bed — pale, weak, nothing like the stubborn, loud, annoying man who always acted like nothing could touch him.
Four years.
Four years of him breaking quietly while I was breaking somewhere else.
I didn't know what to say.
I didn't know what to feel.
All I knew was that the sight of him like this hurt more than I expected.
"Thank you, doctor. I will take care of him," I said quietly.
The doctor nodded and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
The room felt too still.
Too quiet.
Too heavy.
Then Keira tugged on my shirt.
"Ma… will Papa be okay?" she asked, her voice small, eyes wide with worry.
I forced a smile — the kind that hurts because you're holding back everything else.
"Go to Mabel and ask her to prepare soup and bring it here," I said gently.
Keira nodded and ran downstairs, her little footsteps echoing through the hallway.
The moment she disappeared, I let out a shaky breath and turned back to Keifer.
He looked so pale.
So still.
So… unlike himself.
I went to him and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Why would you do this to yourself, Keifer…" I whispered, even though I knew he couldn't hear me.
My fingers hovered over his hand but didn't touch.
I didn't trust myself to.
I stared at him, really stared, and for the first time… I saw it.
The weight he'd been carrying.
The exhaustion in his face.
The quiet moments when he thought no one was looking.
The way he'd been trying so hard with the kids.
The way he never complained.
The way he kept smiling even when he was breaking.
Four years.
Four years of him falling apart quietly while I was trying to survive somewhere else.
And I never noticed.
I never asked.
I never looked close enough.
Maybe I didn't want to.
Because if I looked too closely…
I'd see that he wasn't the only one who got hurt.
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered. "Why didn't you say anything?"
My voice cracked, but he didn't move.
Of course he didn't.
I stood up and went straight to the guest room. If the doctor said he hadn't taken his medication, then I needed to find it. Now.
I opened the drawer beside the bed.
His pills were there — the ones the doctor mentioned.
But right beside them…
I froze.
A bottle of sleeping pills.
My stomach dropped.
What the hell?
Was he not sleeping? Was he struggling alone?"Keifer…" I whispered to the empty room, "what were you going through all this time?"
For the first time in years, I felt something I didn't want to feel.
Fear.
Not for me.
For him.