Chapter 63: The Watson Brothers
Jay-Jay's POV
After everything—everything—that just got revealed, my brain was already at full capacity.
So of course, that's when Keifer's phone rang.
Keifer glanced at the screen.
"Oh, shoot."
He muttered something under his breath that I definitely wasn't meant to hear.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Who is it?"
He hesitated for a second.
"…My brother."
I blinked.
"You have a brother?"
Before he could answer—
"Actually," Yuri cut in, sipping his drink like this was casual tea, "he has two."
I turned to him.
"…Two?"
That was new.
Very new.
Across the room, Angelo—who almost never looked worried—suddenly did.
"Are Keigen and Keiren okay?" he asked, already tense.
Keifer ran a hand through his hair.
"I hope so."
He looked at Angelo.
"Can I answer it?"
Angelo didn't even hesitate.
"Put it on speaker."
Keifer sighed.
"Fine."
He answered the call and placed it on speaker.
A voice came through immediately.
Male. Young. Probably early twenties. A little panicked.
"Kuya, do you know where Keiren is?"
Keifer straightened.
"No. Why?"
A pause.
Then—
"He isn't with you?! Shit! He said he was with you!"
Keifer frowned.
"He was never with me. I'm at my girlfriend's place."
There was a beat of silence.
Then—
"Kuya… since when do you have a girlfriend?!"
I bit back a smile.
Keifer rolled his eyes.
"Since we got together?"
"Kuya, you really don't tell me anything, do you," the voice groaned.
"The only girlfriend I remember was in high school. That Jay-Jay girl you didn't explain to."
I perked up immediately.
"Aw, your brother knows about me?"
Silence.
"…Wait," the voice said slowly. "Who is that?"
Keifer exhaled.
"Yeah. My girlfriend. Jay-Jay."
There was a pause.
Then—
"Don't tell me you got back together with your ex girlfriend."
My smile dropped.
Ex?
"You know what?" Keigen continued. "I'm surprised she forgave you. And at least you built a little alcohol tolerance after that breakup."
I turned my head very slowly toward Keifer.
"What does he mean by that?"
Keifer suddenly looked like he wanted to disappear.
"He didn't tell you?" Keigen added, way too casually. "He drank himself till' he passed out for like two weeks."
I blinked.
"…What?"
My brain short-circuited.
Two weeks?
Keifer avoided my gaze.
Angelo suddenly clapped his hands loudly.
"Okay. Silence."
His tone cut through everything.
"What happened to Keiren?"
Even I flinched a little.
Keigen cleared his throat.
"…Hi, Angelo."
"Focus," Angelo snapped. "Where is he?"
I raised my hand slightly.
"Wait—your brothers know Kuya Angelo?"
Keigen sounded confused now.
"Kuya Angelo? Why Kuya?"
Angelo answered flatly.
"Jay is my younger cousin."
Another pause.
"…Okay," Keigen said. "Wow. That's new."
"Focus!" Angelo repeated. "Where the hell is Keiren?"
"Yeah… typical Angelo," Keigen muttered. "Straight to the point."
A sigh.
"I don't exactly know… but Kuya Keifer might have his location."
Twenty minutes later—
We were in a car.
Because apparently, this night wasn't chaotic enough.
Keifer sat in the driver's seat, jaw tight, checking his phone.
"Got it," he said. "Mall."
"Of course it's the mall," Yuri muttered. "Why is it always the mall?"
The mall was still open, lights bright and people everywhere.
We split up to search.
And honestly?
I didn't know what I was expecting.
But it wasn't—
Him.
"Keiren?" Keifer called out.
A boy turned around.
And I swear—
I froze.
Because standing there was basically a younger, softer, baby version of Keifer.
Same eyes.
Same features.
Just… less sharp.
Less guarded.
More… innocent.
I stared.
"…Oh my God."
Keifer walked up to him immediately.
"What are you doing here?"
Keiren shrugged.
"I told Keigen I was with you."
"You lied."
"I panicked."
Keifer sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Don't do that again."
Keiren nodded quickly.
"Sorry, kuya."
Then his eyes shifted.
To me.
He blinked.
"…Wait."
Oh no.
"Are you—"
"Yes," Keifer said quickly. "Don't start."
Keiren grinned.
"You're Jay-Jay."
I smiled awkwardly.
"Hi."
He looked between us.
Then back at Keifer.
"…Wow."
"Don't."
"You actually got her back?"
"I said don't."
I tried not to laugh.
Yuri leaned over to me and whispered:
"Copy-paste but less trauma."
I choked.
Accurate.
Very accurate.
Keiren suddenly stepped closer, studying me like I was some kind of rare species.
"I heard about you," he said.
"All good things, I hope."
He shrugged.
"Depends who you ask."
Keifer lightly shoved him.
"Okay, that's enough."
Keiren laughed.
Then looked at me again.
"…You're prettier in person."
I blinked.
"Thank you?
Keifer frowned.
"Alright. That's enough talking."
Keiren grinned wider.
"Relax, kuya. I'm just saying."
I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling.
Because honestly?
Seeing this side of Keifer—
The older brother.
The one who worries.
Who shows up.
Who clearly cares—
It felt… different.
And as we walked out of the mall together, Keiren chatting non-stop beside us
I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
There was a lot more to Keifer Watson than I thought.
And somehow…
That made everything even more complicated.
Chapter co-written by Ayesha and Andi