Jay's POV
The celebration had wound down, plates cleared, laughter quieter now as Tita Gemma brewed coffee in the kitchen. I was helping stack cups when Aries suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the hallway with a frown that made my stomach drop.
"Jay," he hissed, voice low but urgent. "What the hell is that?"
His eyes were locked on my neck.
I froze, hand flying up instinctively to cover the spot where Keifer had kissed me too eagerly last night . A hickey. Small, but obvious in the bright hallway light. Shit.
"Aries, wait—"
He spun around, jaw clenched, already scanning the room for Keifer. "watson I'm going to kill you," he muttered, fists balling. "I'm gonna beat his ass right now."
"Aries, no!" I grabbed his arm, yanking him back before he could storm off. My heart was pounding, cheeks burning with embarrassment. "It's not what you think!"
He stopped, glaring down at me, but didn't pull away. "Then what is it? He marked you up like you're his property?"
"It's... we're together," I stammered, still covering the spot. "It's not like that. He didn't force anything."
Aries' expression darkened even more, protective anger flashing in his eyes. He took a step toward the living room where Keifer was chatting with Kuya Angelo, but I threw myself in front of him, hands on his chest.
"Please. Aries. Stop."
He halted, breathing hard, staring over my shoulder like he was imagining throwing punches. For a long second, the hallway was silent except for our breathing. Then his gaze dropped back to me, softening just a fraction as he really looked at my face — the panic, the way I was practically begging.
"You really love him, don't you?" he said finally, voice quieter now, almost resigned.
I swallowed, nodding before I could stop myself. "Yeah. I do."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, tension easing from his shoulders but not gone completely. "Fine. But don't cross the line, Jay. Not with him. Not ever. You're still our little sister, hickey or no hickey. He steps wrong, I will beat him up. Intindihan mo?"
"I know," I whispered, relief flooding me. "Thank you."
Aries gave me one last stern look, then ruffled my hair roughly — his way of saying truce. "Cover that shit up next time. Tita sees it, double the sermon and if kuya sees that well may he rest in peace ."
I laughed despite myself, shoving his hand away. "Noted."
He snorted, glancing past me at Keifer, who was pretending not to notice our drama from across the room. "Lucky bastard."
As Aries walked off, I caught Keifer's eye. He mouthed, You okay? with a worried frown.
I nodded, smiling faintly, but mouthed back, You're dead later.
His smirk returned instantly, like he'd take that bet.
Family protection — annoying, intense, but unbreakable. And somehow, Keifer was still standing in the middle of it all.