Jayjay'sPOV
I woke up, and every single scene from yesterday started playing in my head like a movie on repeat. I hated how much I actually liked it—the flirting, him calling me "baby," and the way he looked me in the eye and said he was crazy for me. Why did I enjoy it so much? Was I actually falling for that idiot?
Well, if I was, I guess it was fine. We were going to end up as husband and wife anyway. I used to think that if we didn't fall for each other, I'd just kick him out of the room on our first night and file for divorce the next day. I didn't even want to see his face back then. But now, everything has changed. I want to see him every day, and if a day goes by without him, I feel... upset. Maybe everyone was right. Maybe I am falling for him.
But I'll never let him know that, I thought, shaking my head. No way.
"Stop overthinking, Jayjay," I muttered to myself. "Get ready for uni or you'll be late and that 'horoscope' of yours will leave you behind."
I took a quick shower and, for some reason, felt like dressing up. I picked out a light pink office shirt and a skirt, finishing the look with my favorite heels. When I walked downstairs, Percy spotted me and immediately broke into a grin. I raised an eyebrow.
"Someone's going to faint today," he teased. I looked at him, totally confused. "I mean, my sister looks so gorgeous that Keifer is going to pass out the second he sees her."
I could feel my cheeks burning instantly. "Shut up, Percy, or I'll throw this fork at that 'handsome' face of yours," I threatened, grabbing one from the table. He raised his hands in mock surrender, and I huffed, sitting down.
"No good morning for your papa, baby girl?" my dad asked with a smile. I walked over and gave him a big hug.
"Good morning, Papa. Sorry, I forgot because of your annoying son," I said, sticking my tongue out at Percy. He did the same back.
"Good morning. Now eat before Aries leaves you," Papa said.
"Actually, I'll drive my own car today," I announced. Percy's eyes went wide.
"No, Papa, don't let her! She speeds so much she's going to get into an accident!"
"Oh, come on. Think positive thoughts," I said, dismissively finishing my breakfast. After saying my goodbyes, I headed to my car. Yeah, I was going to overspeed—mostly because I loved the rush.
I reached the university early—so early I beat my own white blood cells. And then, I saw him. He saw me too, and he literally froze in his tracks. His eyes scanned me, moving from a look to a full-on stare. He marched over, grabbed my hand, and dragged me into an empty corner.
"What the hell?" I snapped as he pinned me against the wall. He leaned in until we were eye-to-eye.
"That's my line," he said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous vibration.
"Huh?"
"Why the hell are you dressed like this?" he demanded.
"What are you even talking about?"
"You look insanely beautiful. Every single boy out there was looking at you," he hissed, his eyes dark. "I want to poke their eyes out for watching you."
I froze for a second, then pushed against his chest. "Why does it even matter to you?"
"Because you're my fiancé. You're mine."
"I'm not a thing that you can own, Keifer."
"Fine. Then you're mine and I'm yours. Equal," he countered. I bit my lip hard to keep from smiling. I actually succeeded—thank God.
"Neither of us are things, so stop this stupid talk," I said, trying to push past him. He caught my arm and pulled me back. "What now?"
"I need... something," he said, acting like a literal child. It was actually kind of cute.
"What? A chocolate? A nap?" I teased.
"No. I just need you to stay right here for a second," he replied, stepping into my personal space. He didn't touch me, but he leaned his head down until his forehead was inches from mine. I could feel the warmth radiating off him. "Because I missed you. From last night until this morning... it felt like an eternity without seeing your face."
I was frozen, my heart drumming against my ribs. We just stood there in that quiet corner, the air between us thick with everything we weren't saying.
When we finally pulled back, he was smiling at me. It wasn't his usual smug or teasing smirk—it was sweet, satisfied, and filled with something I didn't want to believe but secretly hoped for: love.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry you cried because of me."
I noticed a single tear slip from his right eye. My heart skipped. Was he actually crying for me? Why? I reached up and gently wiped the tear away, my fingers lingering on his cheek.
"I don't deserve a pure soul like you," he said, looking at me with so much raw emotion it was almost hard to watch. "But I will work until I am deserving of you."
I just stared at him, my throat tight.
"Please... say something," he urged.
"Keifer," I whispered. That was the only word I could manage to get out.
He didn't wait for anything else; he pulled me back into a hug, tighter this time. "Sorry," he repeated, his voice muffled against my hair.
"It's okay," I said softly, rubbing his back to comfort him.
When we finally separated, we shared a small, genuine smile. I turned and walked away quickly—I had to. If I stayed there any longer, I was going to fall for him even harder than I already had. Does he truly love me? The question echoed in my mind as I walked down the hall.
My thoughts were interrupted when I spotted my "white blood cells"—my gang. The second they saw me, they all yelled in unison, "JAY!" and practically tackled me with a group hug.
"Why do you guys always yell my name the second you see me?" I asked, laughing as we finally pulled apart.
"Why are you blushing?" Ella asked, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.
"I'm not," I replied quickly, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Girlie, you totally are. Don't lie to us," Freya chimed in, leaning closer to inspect my face.
"Why don't you guys understand? I'm not blushing!"
"Jayjay, you are. Your cheeks are literally pink," Rakki said, pointedly.
"Wait, what?" I rubbed my cheeks frantically. "It's... it's just makeup!"
"We all know you hate wearing makeup, Jay," Mica said, crossing her arms. I let out a long, defeated sigh.
"Tell us what happened between you and Keifer. The scene just now, and actually, everything from Friday until this morning," Grace demanded.
I knew there was no point in hiding it from them. I sighed again and explained everything—the bickering, the crying, the hug, and the way he looked at me. By the time I finished, they were all staring at me with wide eyes.
"Girl, you're falling for him," Ella said softly.
"I know," I replied.
The second the words left my mouth, all of them slapped their hands over their mouths in shock. I was just as shocked as they were—did I really just admit that?
"I mean—I know that I'm not falling for him!" I tried to backtrack, but they all shook their heads. They weren't convinced for a second. I groaned and dropped my head. "Okay, fine. Yes. I am."
"We saw that video of you two in the painting room, by the way," Rakki said, changing the subject slightly but with a teasing glint in her eyes. "The one where you both showed your middle fingers to that boy and girl."
"Loyal," Freya commented.
"Very much," Mica added.
"Sooooooooo much," Grace finished.
They spent the rest of the morning teasing me relentlessly. I was starting to regret telling them everything, but I couldn't help the small smile on my face. After the teasing finally died down, we headed into class just as the lecture was beginning.
"So, Ms. Mariano," the professor said, pausing in the middle of his lecture. I looked up from my notebook, blinking.
"Yes, sir?"
"Should I call you Ms. Mariano... or Mrs. Watson?" he asked.
I froze. My friends immediately started nudging me playfully under the desk. "OHHHHHH!" the entire class yelled in unison. I was about to stammer out a reply when a deep, familiar voice echoed from the doorway.
"Sir, we aren't married yet. Just call her Ms. Mariano."
It was Keifer. A small smile tugged at my lips—I couldn't help it. He actually took a stand for me.
"OHHHHHHHHHH!" the class erupted again as he gave a casual nod and walked away.
"Shut up, all of you!" I yelled. Surprisingly, they actually listened. The rest of the lectures went by normally, and soon it was lunchtime. I headed to the cafeteria, scanning the crowd until I saw the man I was looking for.
"Keifer, why were you outside my classroom earlier?" I asked as I approached his table.
"I was just passing by when I heard the question and the cheering. I don't want anyone else teasing you except me, so I decided to shut them up," he said simply. I smiled, touched by the gesture.
"Thank you," I said, sitting down and starting on the food he had already ordered for me. He didn't say anything; he just let me eat. I didn't turn to look at him, but I could feel his intense gaze burning into me the entire time.
When lunch ended and my gang and I were heading back to class, Keifer caught my arm. "I need Jayjay for a moment," he told my friends. They all nodded, though I could practically see the teasing comments dancing in their eyes. He dragged me to a corner. Again.
"Can you stop dragging me into corners?" I asked, exasperated. He just shook his head. I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing.
"When are you coming for dinner?" he asked.
"None of your business," I countered, turning to walk away. He pulled me back instantly.
"It is my business. Everything related to you is my business," he said. My heart skipped a beat. I just stood there, looking at him.
"What are you even going to do with the time?"
"I need to be ready so I can welcome you," he said. My heart skipped another beat.
"Keifer, that's not necessary."
"It is," he snapped, his tone firm.
"Okay, fine! 7:30 or 8:00," I finally gave in.
"See? How simple was that? You were just being dramatic," he said with a smirk. My jaw dropped.
"Me? Dramatic?" I pointed a finger at myself. He nodded. "Fine! If I'm so dramatic, then don't dare talk to me!"
I tried to leave again, but—you guessed it—he pulled me back AGAIN.
"No," he said.
"Yes! Because I'm dramatic!"
"No, you're not. Please... don't stop talking to me," he pleaded. I shook my head, but then he made this incredibly cute face—the kind I just couldn't say no to.
I sighed and nodded. He gave me one last look before heading off. Wow. Just... wow.
The rest of the lectures were either boring or spent dodging teasing from everyone—students, friends, even teachers. Why me? I finally drove home and collapsed in my room. Since it was Monday, Felix and Ci-n had to leave last night for school, so the house felt quiet. I didn't even feel like eating; I just wanted to rest before the big night.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Oh my god, who is banging on my door like it's a drum?" I groaned, forcefully dragging myself out of bed. I stumbled over and flung the door open. There he stood, fully dressed and looking entirely too put-together: Aries, the Horoscope.
"What is your problem? Papa! He won't let me sleep!" I yelled, my voice still thick with exhaustion.
"HOI, ARIES! LET MY PRINCESS SLEEP!" Papa's voice thundered from downstairs. I gave Aries a smug look and was about to head back to my bed when he spoke up.
"It's seven o'clock," he said, loud enough for Papa to hear too. "We have to leave soon."
My eyes snapped wide open. Seven?!
"I know my princess will get ready in time, so you just let her sleep, you brat!" Papa yelled back, clearly not realizing how late it actually was.
"Oh, so I'm a brat and she's a princess? That's so unfair, Papa!" Aries complained. Papa just ignored him. Aries turned back to me, his expression serious. "Get ready. And wear a dress—not your hoodie or those baggy jeans."
I stuck my tongue out at him and slammed the door right in his face.
After slamming the door on the Horoscope's face, I stood staring into the depths of my closet. It was a sea of baggy jeans, hoodies, shirts, and jackets. Hidden among the chaos were only two dresses. I grabbed the black one without hesitation—black is my favorite, after all. My closet is basically a shrine to black and white.
I pulled on the dress, stepped into my black heels, and headed downstairs. The family was already assembled, looking like they were ready for a royal portrait. Mom was stunning in a red gown, and Papa looked sharp in a black suit with a red tie. Aries was matching Papa perfectly.
Then Percy appeared with his girlfriend, Honey. Wow, she looked beautiful in her red dress—she and Mom were perfectly coordinated. Percy was also matching the rest of the men in the family.
"Shall we go?" Papa asked, looking around. We all nodded.
"Wait, wait," I said, holding up a hand. "Percy is going in his car with Honey?" They all nodded. "And Aries is taking his own?" Another nod. "Then I'm not being the third wheel to Mom and Papa. I'll drive my own car."
"No!" they all shouted in unison.
"Papa..." I gave him my best pleading look. He sighed, giving in almost instantly.
"Fine," he said. I clapped my hands in victory.
"But Papa—" Percy started to protest, but Papa cut him off.
"No buts or ifs."
We all headed out to the driveway. They all started their engines, but I waited. I needed them to get a head start because I had no intention of driving at a "normal" pace. Once they had a bit of a lead, I slammed my foot on the gas.
I sped through the streets, the engine roaring as I caught up to them in no time. I zoomed past the family car and pulled up alongside Percy. He had been leading the pack, but within seconds, I surged ahead. I didn't look back; I just focused on the road, leaving them all far behind in the distance.
I stood outside the Watson mansion, leaning against my car and waiting for the rest of my family. I definitely wasn't going in alone. Percy pulled up first.
"Baby sister, great driving skills," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I just mimicked his expression right back at him. Then Aries arrived; he hopped out and gave me a high five—even he had to respect that I'd won the race. Finally, Mom and Papa pulled in.
"Jayjay, you were speeding," Mom said, giving me a stern look.
"Don't scold my princess here," Papa jumped in. Mom gave him a bombastic side-eye that made him clear his throat quickly. "Umm... let's just go inside!"
The massive front doors opened, and the Watson family was there to welcome us. But my heart sank a little—he wasn't there. He promised he would be, but I didn't see him anywhere. I was lost in my thoughts until Tita greeted me. I snapped out of it, greeting her and Tito warmly. I saw Keigan and ruffled his hair.
I noticed Tito, Keigan, and the men in my family were all matching in black and red, while the moms were in red. I couldn't help but wonder what Keifer was wearing. Suddenly, a small figure launched himself at me.
"Ate Jay!" Keiran squealed.
I realized everyone had already moved into the main hall, leaving just me and Keiran at the entrance. I hugged him back tightly, but then a deep voice vibrated from behind him.
"Get your ass off her. You're ruining her dress."
It was Keifer. Keiran giggled and scrambled inside, leaving us alone. I looked at Keifer and couldn't help but smile. He was wearing a full black suit with a black tie—completely different from the others. We were matching again. This time, I wasn't annoyed at all; I was actually happy about it.
"So, you came," he said, stepping closer.
"I didn't want to, but the Horoscope ruined my sleep, so I had to," I lied.
"That Aries is dead meat. How dare he ruin your sleep?" Keifer's expression went dark, and I realized he was actually serious.
"Hey, I was joking! Don't go killing my brother," I said, stepping toward him to calm him down. He looked at me with those eyes—the ones that always seemed to be asking for something. "What do you want, Keifer?"
"A hug."
"No!" I turned to walk away, but he did his usual move: he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a nearby room, closing the door.
"No one will see us in this room," he said, looking down at me, his voice low. "But you shouldn't be afraid anyway. We're engaged, Jay."
He stepped closer, cornering me against the door. He didn't grab me, but he leaned one arm against the wood right next to my head, hovering over me. I could hear his heart beating fast—or maybe it was mine. He leaned down, his breath brushing against my hair as he whispered, "I missed you so badly."
I didn't move. I couldn't. I just looked up at him, trapped in his shadow, realizing that the way he was looking at me right now felt more intense than any hug ever could.
"Keifer come on let's go now or they will wonder where we are gone" I said and didn't want for his reply.
I grabbed his hand and led him out of the room. As soon as we reached the main hallway, I let go and hurried over to where Keiran had disappeared, trying to catch my breath.
As I walked into the dining room, Keifer followed close behind me, his presence like a shadow. We tried to look casual, but Keiran had other plans.
"Why isn't Kuya wearing red and black? And why isn't Ate Jayjay in red like everyone else?" Keiran asked, his voice ringing out innocently.
"We don't know, dear," Mom said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Maybe they both decided to match with each other on purpose."
I cleared my throat, feeling the heat rise to my neck. "Mom, we don't even talk. It's just a coincidence."
The whole table erupted in laughter.
"You do talk!" Keiran insisted, looking at the adults. "Just now, Kuya told me to get my ass off Ate Jay because I was ruining her dress!"
The room went dead silent for a heartbeat before exploding again. Keifer's face went stiff. "Keiran," he warned, his voice dropping an octave, but Keiran just stuck his tongue out, completely unfazed.
I tried to hide my face, laughing silently into my hand.
"So, you're enjoying this?" Keifer whispered harshly in my ear, leaning in close.
"No," I whispered back, a smirk playing on my lips. "I'm enjoying you getting insulted by a kid."
But the parents weren't done with us.
"Oh, so he's worried about her dress now?" Tita teased, leaning toward my mom. "Remember when they used to just throw pillows at each other? Now he's a protective gentleman."
"It starts with the dress, Keifer," Papa added with a wink, "and ends with you waiting outside for her for twenty minutes like a statue. We saw you by the fountain, son."
"Exactly!" Aries chimed in, grinning. "I've never seen Keifer stand still for that long unless there was a mirror involved. I guess Jayjay is his new favorite reflection."
"Even the colors are suspicious," Tito laughed, gesturing between our matching black outfits. "It's like you two have your own secret dress code. Are we even invited to this wedding, or are you guys going to elope in matching hoodies?"
"I bet they have each other's photos as lockscreens," Percy whispered loudly to Honey, making everyone laugh even harder.
I felt like my face was going to melt. I looked at Keifer, and for once, even he looked completely flustered. His ears were bright red, matching the shade of my mom's gown. We both stared down at our plates, suddenly very interested in our napkins, while the teasing continued around us like a storm.
"Jayjay, how are your studies going?" Tito asked between bites.
"Not bad, but not good," I replied honestly. Everyone burst out laughing because I sounded exactly like Jisoo.
"And Keifer, how are yours?" Papa asked.
"Good," Keifer answered, his usual cool composure back in place.
"Why don't you tutor Jayjay?" Mom suggested with a mischievous glint in her eye. "She's honestly terrible at Chemistry."
"Mom, no!" I groaned.
"Maybe they'll just work on making their own chemistry," Percy joked. I didn't even hesitate—I delivered a sharp kick to his foot under the table. He winced, but the table kept laughing.
The rest of the dinner was a blur of teasing and blushing. Once the plates were cleared, the adults retreated to the living room—the dads probably arguing about politics while the moms swapping recipes. The kids disappeared to play, leaving me, keifer, Aries, Percy and honey to hand out in keifer's room.
We ended up on the floor playing Uno, but Keifer was being a total menace. He was cheating so much it was ridiculous. My solution? Every time I caught him sliding an extra card or peeking, I'd grab a handful of his hair and tug. He'd straighten up instantly, yelping and promising to play fair. But then, I tugged a little too hard.
In a split second, Keifer lost his balance and landed right in my lap.
The room went dead silent. My heart stopped. Keifer's eyes were wide with shock, staring up at me, and I was looking down at him, completely frozen. For a moment, the whole world disappeared. It was just the two of us, wondering how we'd ended up in this position.
"OOOOOOOOOOO!"
The chorus of teasing from the others snapped us back to reality. Keifer scrambled off me, clearing his throat, and I frantically rearranged the cards, pretending I wasn't shaking. We tried to continue the game like nothing had happened, but the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Eventually, the others drifted out of the room—I don't even know why, they probably just wanted to leave us to it—and suddenly, it was just me and Keifer, alone in the quiet of his room.
We were still sitting on the floor, the cards scattered around us, forgotten.
"Jayjay," he called out.
"Hmm?" I replied, keeping my head down.
"Don't you ever think that my care, my affection, or my love for you is fake," he said. I finally turned to look at him. His expression was heavy—sober in a way that made my chest tighten. "If you ever believe that... I think I might lose it. I don't know what I would do."
He was so serious it was scary. I didn't know how to handle that kind of intensity.
"Hmm," I said again. I was trying to play it cool because the air in the room was becoming far too awkward for me to handle.
"Jayjay, are you even listening to me?" he asked.
I nodded, but I couldn't look him in the eye. I turned my back on him, scooting my sitting self a little further away. I just needed space to process whatever he was saying.
I nodded, but I couldn't look him in the eye. I turned my back on him, scooting my sitting self a little further away. I just needed some space to process what he was saying.
"Jay," he called softly. Too softly. It sent a chill down my spine.
"Hmm." I really didn't want to talk anymore.
Suddenly, I felt him move closer, sitting on the floor right behind me. He didn't touch me, but I could feel the heat radiating from him. His breathing was heavy, and I could hear him shaking. It was like he was carrying a weight he couldn't describe.
I didn't turn around, but I stayed as still as a statue, leaning back just enough so he could feel my presence. I stayed there, acting as his anchor in the silence until his breathing finally slowed and the shaking stopped.
My mind raced to the research I'd done on panic attacks. I remembered that when someone's breathing gets heavy and they start shaking, they're either completely exhausted or spiraling into a panic attack. I knew one thing for sure: when someone gets a panic attack in front of you, you have to comfort them.
So, I stayed still. I didn't push him away. I let my presence be his anchor. After a while, his breathing finally slowed, and the shaking stopped. I turned around slowly to face him. Our eyes met, and he gave me a small, tired smile. I couldn't return it. I was too worried—why was he having a panic attack?
"Jayjay, can you give me your phone?" he asked suddenly.
I nodded and handed it over.
"Unlock it," he said, handing it back so I could do it.
"It's my birthday," I said instead of taking the phone. I didn't have anything to hide, and it was okay if he knew. He looked confused for a second, then his eyes widened as he realized he actually remembered the date.
He unlocked it easily and went straight to my contacts. After a minute, he handed it back.
"What was that for?" I asked, looking at the screen.
"Nothing. I just added my number to your emergency contacts," he said.
"Why?"
"Jayjay, just do as I say. You remember those guys you beat up the first time we met?" he asked, his voice low. I nodded. He reached out and took both of my hands in his. "Please... if you see any of them anywhere near you, just call me."
He looked genuinely worried, and that scared me more than his previous seriousness.
"Keifer, what is happening?" I asked, my heart beginning to race.
"I'll tell you when the time is right," he said softly, reaching up to pat my cheek gently.
We stayed like that, sitting on the floor in the silence of his room, just staring at each other while a million questions ran through my head. I don't even know when he leaned in so close that our shoulders were almost touching, but I didn't move away. He looked at me with so much sincerity, his gaze lingering on my hair like he wanted to reach out but was holding himself back. I hated how much I liked having him so close to me. I hated that I was actually falling for this idiot.
Just then, Mom's voice echoed from downstairs, calling for us. We pulled apart and headed down to the living room.
"Are we leaving now?" I asked, looking at my parents.
"No, dear," Mom said, her expression turning serious. "Your Tita and Tito have some business problems to handle, and it's the same with us. The four of us have to leave the country for three days. Aries and Percy are coming with us, too."
"Why Aries?" I asked, confused. "I know Percy is already involved in the business, but why the Horoscope?"
"Because he needs to start understanding how the business works," Mom explained. I nodded. It made sense. Next year, it would probably be my turn to learn the ropes. Though, I did wonder why I even needed to understand business when I was apparently destined to marry a billionaire.
"Okay, fine," I said.
"And you," Tita added, stepping forward with a smile, "are going to stay here with the Watsons."
"What? No, Tita, it's alright! I can stay home alone," I insisted.
"No, it's not safe for you to be in that house by yourself," Keifer said firmly. Everyone else nodded in agreement. I looked around the room, realizing I was completely outnumbered. I couldn't do anything else, so I just nodded.
"Fine," I sighed. What else was I supposed to do?
"What about my clothes? I can't sleep in this dress," I pointed out. Before anyone could answer, I added, "So, I'll just go home now since I don't have any of my stuff here."
Almost everyone in the room slapped their foreheads at the same time. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Yes," Keifer replied firmly. "You are staying here, Jay."
"But my clothes?" I asked again, trying one last time to escape.
"I'll order some hoodies and trousers for you online right now. That's your style, right?" he said.
After that, we chatted for a bit longer until the parents and my brothers finally left.
Now, it was just me and Keifer. Again. Keiran and Keigan were already fast asleep, so I couldn't even use them as an excuse to run. Wait, I have one more move.
"Keifer, I need to sleep. Can you show me the guest room?" I asked. He just grinned widely.
"What are you laughing?"
"You already know where the room is," he said.
"I don't. I only know where your room is."
He smirked. "Well, we're engaged. We can just share a room."
He was finally back to the "teasing" Keifer. Thank god. But now, it was my turn to mess with him. I started fake-crying immediately.
"This is exactly why I didn't want to stay here!" I wailed, dramatically dropping to my knees. Ouch. Note to self: the Watson's floors are way harder than ours.
Keifer knelt down in front of me and gently lifted my chin. "I know you're acting, Jayjay."
I stopped the fake tears and glared at him. "So you think I'm being dramatic?"
"I never said that."
"I never said that."
"Saying I'm 'acting' is basically calling me dramatic!"
"Huh?" He looked genuinely confused.
"Don't talk to me," I huffed, crossing my arms and turning my face away.
"Jay," he said softly. I didn't budge. "Jayjay, please... I'm already so stressed."
I looked back at him, my annoyance fading into curiosity. "Am I giving you stress?"
He shook his head.
"Then tell me why you're stressed. Why were you behaving like that in the room earlier?" I asked.
"What way?"
"Like you were terrified that something was going to happen to me."
"I told you," he said, his voice dropping. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
"I told you," he said, his voice dropping. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
I stood up, dusting off my dress. "Fine. Now show me the room."
"I was serious about sharing," he said, standing up with me. "You sleep on the bed, and I'll take the couch."
That wasn't the worst deal, but why couldn't he just let me have my own room? What was wrong with him? He wasn't acting this clingy this morning. Something was definitely up.
We went into his room, and I immediately flopped onto the bed.
"Wait, what am I going to wear?" I sat up, realizing the flaw in his plan. "You haven't ordered my clothes yet. My car is outside, my keys are in my bag, my bag is right here... so I'm going."
I jumped off the bed and bolted for the door, but he was faster.
I jumped off the bed and bolted for the door, but he was faster. He grabbed my arm and steered me back, making me sit on the couch. "First of all," he started, ticking points off on his fingers, "I have an oversized hoodie. It'll basically be a tent on you. I also have some trousers I bought yesterday that you can wear. Second of all, you aren't going home until your parents get back. And third of all..." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a warning. "If you try to run, I swear you'll never see that black car of yours again."
My jaw dropped. "Hoi! Don't you dare touch my car! I love that car more than anyone, gago!"
He paused, narrowing his eyes. "What's this 'gago'?"
I swallowed hard. "I... I don't want to tell you."
"Jayjay," he warned.
I swallowed hard. "I... I don't want to tell you."
"Jayjay," he warned. When I shook my head again, he took a pillow and throws at me.
"Hey!" I shrieked, laughing as I grabbed another pillow to defend myself. We ended up in a full-blown pillow war, dodging and weaving around the room. In the chaos, I tripped over a rug and started to tilt backward. I shut my eyes and waited for my head it to hit the floor but, it didn't happened.
I slowly opened my eyes and realized his hand was tucked firmly under my head, cushioning the fall. He was hovering just inches away, staring at me with an intensity that made the room feel very, very small.
"IDIOT!" I yelled, pushing him away as hard as I could. I scrambled to my feet, and he stood up right after me, dusting himself off.
"Why can't you just say thank
you?" he asked, looking amused. "Because I don't want to!" I snapped, trying to ignore how fast my heart was beating.
"Or maybe you want to say, 'Thanks, babe.' I wouldn't mind that either," he whispered, leaning in close. I shoved his chest, putting some distance between us.
"Heck off," I muttered.
"Ouch!" He gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "You broke my heart, Jayjay. It's shattered." I couldn't help it-I burst out laughing. He was being so ridiculous.
"Omg, stop acting. Just give me the clothes. I'm so uncomfortable in this dress."
"Then why did you wear it in the first place?" he asked, turning toward his walk-in closet.
"Because Aries told me to wear a dress instead of my hoodies and baggy jeans," I said, flopping back down on the bed.
"And why did you listen to him?" He called out from inside the closet.
"I don't know," I replied honestly.
I really didn't. Usually, I'd just ignore the Horoscope, but for some reason, I'd actually tried to look "nice" tonight.
"You should have worn whatever makes you comfortable," he said, stepping back out. He tossed a bundle of fabric at me. It was a pair of trousers and a hoodie-both pitch black.
Perfect. At least he knows my color palette.
I went to the bathroom to change, and when I stepped back out, the room was freezing. Keifer had turned on the air-conditioning and was already sprawled on the couch. He had one arm draped over his eyes, looking exactly like a tired Asian mom after a long day.
I climbed into the massive bed and pulled the blanket up to my chin, but I was still shivering. I got up to lower the AC temperature, but then it felt too hot. I turned it back up, but then I was freezing again. I glanced over at Keifer and noticed him shifting uncomfortably; the couch was way too small for his height.
I sighed. I guess I have no choice. I walked over and shook his shoulder. He moved his arm and looked up at me. "What?"
"Keifer, look... the couch is too small for you, and I'm freezing on that bed. So... can you just come to the bed?" I asked hesitantly.
A smirk immediately played on his lips. "So, you want me to hug you?"
"No! I just want you to sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch," I countered.
"No way. Your back will hurt if you sleep here. Go back to bed and sleep, Jay."
"Okay, then you sleep on the right side and I'll stay on the left," I suggested. He shook his head, about to argue, but I gave him my best "cute" look-the one that usually works on Papa, mama, Percy and Aries, usually everyone.
He melted instantly. Woohoo! I don't even know why I wanted him on the bed or why I was so happy about winning, but I didn't have time to think about it. He stood up and moved to the bed, lying down stiffly on his side. Не stayed perfectly still, one hand on his stomach and the other over his face.
Meanwhile, I was still shivering.
"Keif," I whispered.
"Hmm?" he replied, his voice thick with sleep.
"I'm feeling col-achoooo!"
Oh, great. Now I was actually sneezing. He sat up so fast it nearly gave me whiplash.
"Wait, I'll turn the AC off," he said, reaching for the remote.
"Noooo, it'll be too hot then!"
"You're catching a cold, Jayjay," he insisted. He was about to get up, but I held his wrist so tight.
"Just... stay right here," I muttered, shivering.
Keifer didn't get under the blankets. Instead, he went to his closet and grabbed the thickest, heaviest duvet from his closet and wrapped it around me until I was a giant, warm cocoon.
Then, he moved the plush armchair right against the side of the bed so his face was level with mine.
He sat down, pulling his own blanket over his legs, and rested his hand on top of my duvet "cocoon"-not touching me, but letting me feel his steady weight so I wouldn't feel alone.
"I'm right here, Jayjay. Just sleep," he whispered. I watched him through heavy eyelids until my breathing evened out. Just before I drifted off, I heard him murmured, "Sleep well, my queen."
The End 🌸
Guys tell me if you guys want me to continue this book along with the first one or should I end it first?