CHAPTER — YOU SCARED ME
Jayjay's POV
I shouldn't have stayed late.
That thought kept repeating in my head as I walked down the quieter part of the campus.
Most students had already left. The corridors felt too empty. Too silent.
My grip tightened around my bag.
Footsteps.
Behind me.
I slowed.
They slowed.
My heart started beating faster.
I turned slightly—
And froze.
A man. Someone I didn't recognize. But the way he looked at me—
It wasn't right.
"Jayjay Mariano," he said, a slow smile forming.
My chest tightened.
"How do you—"
"I've been looking for you."
My steps moved back instinctively.
"Who are you?"
He ignored that, stepping closer.
"Your family has made a lot of enemies."
My stomach dropped.
"And you," he continued, eyes scanning me, "are a very easy way to get to them."
Fear crept in, cold and sharp.
"Stay away from me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He laughed.
"And what are you going to do?"
Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist.
I flinched hard. "Let go—!"
His grip tightened, pain shooting through my arm.
"You're coming with me."
"No—!"
I tried to pull back, panic rising fast.
His hand moved—
Too close.
Too wrong.
"Don't touch me—!"
Before anything could happen—
He was thrown back.
Hard.
I stumbled, breath shaking—
And then I saw him.
Keifer Watson
Standing between us.
His expression wasn't cold.
It was dangerous.
"What did you just do?" his voice came out low.
Deadly.
The man tried to recover. "You don't want to get involved—"
Keifer didn't let him finish.
The punch landed hard.
I flinched.
The man hit the ground.
And Keifer didn't stop.
Another hit.
Then another.
"Keifer…" I whispered.
But he didn't hear me.
Or maybe he just didn't stop.
"Touch her again," he said quietly, "and I won't stop at this."
The man groaned, barely conscious.
Silence fell.
My breathing was uneven. My hands still shaking.
Keifer turned.
His eyes landed on me.
And for a second—
Something shifted.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
"…No."
My voice came out softer than I expected.
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And a small thought slipped in—
At least this idiot is good for something.
I quickly looked away.
"I'm fine," I added.
But my hands were still trembling.
He didn't say anything.
He just stepped forward—
And suddenly, I was pulled into him.
My breath caught.
His arms wrapped around me tightly. Firm. Protective.
"You scared me."
His voice was low, rough, right above my head.
I froze.
This was new.
He had never—
My hands hovered in the air for a second.
Unsure.
Then slowly—
I moved.
Resting them lightly against him.
Holding onto his shirt just a little.
Not fully.
Not tightly.
Just… enough.
"I'm fine," I whispered again.
Softer.
He didn't let go immediately.
His grip tightened slightly, like he needed to make sure I was really there.
"I told you not to stay out too long," he muttered.
I almost rolled my eyes.
Almost.
"Don't start," I said quietly.
But my voice didn't have the same sharpness as before.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me.
His hands still on my arms.
Gentle.
"Did he touch you?" he asked.
I stiffened.
"I'm fine," I repeated, avoiding his eyes.
A pause.
Then slowly—
He let go.
The space between us returned.
I looked at him for a second.
Then away.
"…Thanks."
The word came out quiet. Reluctant.
But real.
---
Keifer's POV
I saw him touch her.
And everything went red.
One second his hand was on her—
The next, he was on the ground.
I didn't think. Didn't stop.
The only thing in my head was—
He touched her.
My fists clenched as another punch landed.
"Touch her again… and I won't stop."
I meant it.
I would've done worse.
For her.
I straightened slowly, breathing uneven, then turned to her.
She was shaken.
Quiet.
Trying to hide it.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
But I could see it.
The tremble in her hands.
The way she couldn't fully steady herself.
Something tightened in my chest.
Before I could think—
I pulled her into me.
"You scared me."
The words came out raw.
Unfiltered.
Because they were true.
The thought of something happening to her—
I tightened my hold slightly.
And then—
She moved.
Slowly.
Hesitantly.
Her hands rested against me.
Not fully hugging me.
But not pushing me away either.
And that—
That was enough to make something shift inside me.
She stayed.
"I'm fine," she whispered.
Softer now.
I didn't let go immediately.
Because for a moment—
I didn't want to.
I pulled back slightly, looking at her.
"Did he touch you?"
She avoided my eyes.
My jaw tightened.
But I didn't push.
Not now.
I let her go slowly.
Even though I didn't want to.
"…Thanks."
I paused.
Because that word—
From her—
It meant more than it should.
I looked at her for a second longer.
Then said quietly,
"Stay close next time."
Not an order.
Something else.
Something new.
Because now—
This isn't just control.
It's her.
And I'm not letting anything happen to her.
Not again