Jayjay'sPOV
Why did my waist feel so heavy? I slowly blinked my eyes open and realised that he had thrown his pillow at my waist. He was sleeping peacefully, looking so calm and... cute.
I don't know why I like this guy—no, why I love this guy—but I do. And looking at him now, I knew I wouldn't regret it. The way he comforted me, the way he worried about my health, the way he genuinely cared... I had completely fallen for this idiot.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered open. I panicked and squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to still be asleep. A second later, I slowly opened my eyes. He was sitting up now, looking down at me with a soft expression. I sat up quickly, my heart racing, and looked back at him.
"Good morning," he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Morning," I replied, smiling back before I could stop myself.
"Jayjay," he called out softly, his voice calm and steady.
"Hmm?" I replied.
"Please don't worry about that dream anymore," he said, looking straight in my eyes. "It was just a dream, nothing else. It isn't reality."
I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my chest. "Good," he whispered. He stood up from the bed headed toward the bathroom.
He left me sitting there with burning cheeks and a grin that made me feel like an idiot. I grabbed a pillow, buried my face in it, and started rolling around on the bed. My stomach felt like it was doing somersaults.
Is this what they call butterflies? Is this... love?
He stepped out of the bathroom with water still dripping from his hair. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt and grey trousers, but somehow he looked damn handsome and hot at the same time. Eww, Jayjay, what are you even thinking? Stop it.
"Why are you slapping your own head?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
I realized I was actually hitting myself to try and shake the thoughts out. "Am I?" I asked, trying to act like I hadn't noticed. "Maybe."
He looked at me, completely confused. "Are you losing your mind?"
"Shut up!" I shouted and threw a pillow at him. He caught it effortlessly. "You still haven't ordered my clothes?!"
"Not yet," he said casually. So. CASUALLY.
"Why the hell not?!" I grabbed another pillow and chucked it. This time it hit him square in the chest.
"Ah, Jay... you've wounded my heart," he said, clutching the pillow to his chest and acting all dramatic.
"Stop being a drama queen no drama king and order them now!" I threatened, reaching for the third pillow.
"Okay, okay, wait!" He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. His voice shifted instantly into a deep, authoritative tone that made me shiver a little. "I need clothes for my fiancée. Yes, hoodies and jeans. Some tops, too." He glanced at me and covered the speaker. "What's your size?"
"Small," I whispered.
"Size small," he said back into the phone. "And listen—if my fiancé doesn't like the clothes or if they don't fit her perfectly, I'm going to destroy your entire company. Clear? Good. I need them quickly; I don't like to wait."
He hung up and looked at me. "You can come down for breakfast in what you're wearing for now," he said. I nodded, still a bit stunned by his 'boss' mode, and hurried into the bathroom to take a shower.
After finishing my shower and doing my full skincare and hair routine, I headed downstairs with Keifer. We kept talking about random things, and he told me a story about Aries and Percy that was so hilarious I couldn't stop laughing. I was laughing so hard I didn't even realize we had reached the dining room until I found myself sitting in the chair right beside him.
A moment later, Keigan and Keiran walked in. They greeted us, and we greeted them back. Keifer and I picked up our conversation again, but I noticed Keiran wasn't sitting down. He was standing by the table, arms crossed over his chest, looking pouty.
"What's wrong, Keiran? Why aren't you sitting?" I asked.
"You're talking to Kuya and laughing with him, but you aren't talking to me at all," he huffed. Ohh god this child is only 5 years old and jealous.
"Oh! Well, come here then," I said, patting the seat next to me. "Sit beside me and we can talk."
He immediately brightened up and hopped into the chair. He started rambling about everything that happened at playschool, and just by the way he told his stories, I could tell he was exactly like a mini-Keifer.
"Stole my fiancé," I heard Keifer mutter under his breath.
Keigan, who was mid-bite, suddenly choked on his breakfast. I reached over and stepped on his foot under the table to get him to stop being so dramatic, but he just rolled his eyes and kept eating, looking completely unbothered. I should've wear my pencil heels and stepped on his foot with them, then he would probably be bothered.
From the look on his face, I could tell he was beyond jealous.
"And then, just like that, I got my toy back!" Keiran finished proudly. I laughed and ruffled his hair.
"I'm proud of you, Keiran. I'm glad you stood up for yourself," I said, making him beam with a huge smile.
Just then, the doorbell rang. A maid went to check it and returned a moment later with a large package. My clothes. Keifer and I both stood up and walked over. She handed me the box and left. I opened it right there—they were exactly my style. Lots of black and white, with a few other colors mixed in.
"Thank you, Keifer," I said. Without thinking, I started to lean in for a hug, but I caught myself at the last second and pulled back. "Sorry."
"Why sorry? I want that hug," he muttered in a low voice, making sure the kids couldn't hear.
I rolled my eyes and jokingly hit his stomach with my elbow.
"Ouch, Jay! That actually hurt," he groaned, though he was definitely exaggerating. "Now I definitely want a hug. I want a hug!" He was acting like a toddler insisting on a chocolate bar. I couldn't stop laughing; he looked so ridiculous. Before I could say another word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a nearby room, closing the door behind us.
"Keifer, what is going on?" I asked once we were alone.
"Jayjay, I want a hug," he repeated stubbornly. I literally slapped my forehead.
"Seriously, Keifer?"
"I'm dead serious! You didn't give me a morning hug, so I want it now." he said, and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
"A HUG?" I whisper-shouted.
"Hmm, just a hug then," he bargained. I shook my head, but he wouldn't let it go. "Please? Please?"
I started laughing again. The most arrogant guy in the city was standing here begging for a hug like a kid asking for candy. "No, no, no, no."
He suddenly looked down, appearing genuinely upset. A wave of guilt hit me; I realized he probably never acted this way in front of anyone else.
"Not a hug but i can give something else" i said and he looked at me confused. "I like your style" i said and his ears went pink. "I like the way you behave in front of me' o said and his ears turned red this time.
" You know i was just teasing you about the hug but Thank you," he said quickly, then turned and walked out of the room before I could even process what had happened.
Since I was already in a private room with my new clothes, I just locked the door and changed there. I picked out a white top with grey trousers and a matching grey jacket. Yeah, I'll admit it—I wanted to match with Keifer.
I went back to his room to grab my bag and phone, but he was already gone. When I got downstairs, the kids were standing by the door, ready to leave. I asked them where Keifer was, and Keigan told me he was already in the car waiting. Wait—yesterday was Tuesday, which means today is Wednesday. We have to get to uni!
We all headed out and I hopped into the back seat with the kids. Keifer glanced at us through the rearview mirror with a raised eyebrow.
"Am I your driver?" he asked, looking at the three of us. We all shook our heads in unison. "Then Jayjay, come to the front."
"I'm staying here," I said firmly.
"Then everyone is going to be late," he said stubbornly. Well, if he's stubborn, I'm stubborn 2x. I didn't budge an inch.
Keigan checked his watch, looking worried. "Kuya, we really are getting late."
"Then tell your Ate to come to the front," Keifer replied smoothly.
Both kids turned to look at me with pleading eyes. I really didn't want them to be late because of our petty argument, so I huffed and climbed into the passenger seat. I slammed the door shut so hard the entire car shook.
"Whoa, Jay, calm down," Keifer said, suppressed amusement in his voice. I gave him a death glare that could have frozen fire.
"Shut up and just drive," I snapped, looking straight out the window. "I only came up here so the kids wouldn't be late. That's it."
He just nodded, a small smirk playing on his lips, as he started the engine.
After a few minutes of driving, Keigan spoke up from the back. "Ate, do you know you're the first person to ever tell Kuya to shut up... and have him actually do it?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Keigan, shut up unless you have a death wish," Keifer muttered, but he didn't sound angry at all. He just rolled his eyes and kept driving.
We dropped off Keigan and Keiran, but Keifer didn't start the car again. He just sat there. What the hell is wrong with this idiotic guy?
"Start the car! We're going to be late!" I said, full-on panicking about the time.
He didn't answer. Instead, he suddenly suddenly looked at me straight in the eye and that was creeping me. For a split second, my heart stopped, he pointed at my seat belt, i turned quickly and buckled it immediately.
"You could have just said it without being dramatic" I muttered, trying to find my voice.
"Yeah, i could have," he replied, pausing for a beat. "But I want to be dramatic for my fiancée."
It wasn't teasing. It wasn't like he was playing a game. It sounded... real. I don't even want to say it; I don't want to assume things, but his voice was so soft.
"Next time, just come and sit in the front. Don't argue," he said as he finally started driving, his eyes focusing on the road.
"There will be no next time," I said, turning to look out the window to hide my face.
"There will be."
"There will not be."
"We have to get married, and then we'll be together for a lifetime," he said calmly. "So, there are going to be a lot of 'next times.'"
I whipped my head around to look at him. He was actually looking back at me with a look that made my stomach do somersaults.
"Keifer, focus on the road, you idiot!" I yelled.
He just laughed—a genuine, rich laugh—and turned his attention back to the traffic. Oh my god, that man is insane.
The second we arrived at uni, I didn't even wait for him to park. I scrambled out of the car and ran toward my classroom. I needed to get away from him and his "lifetime" talk before my heart actually exploded.
I burst into the room, but my usual gang wasn't there—only Rakki.
"JAY!" she yelled from her seat. The entire class turned to look at me.
"JayFer!" the students chanted in unison.
"Screw your 'JayFer'!" I snapped, storming over to my seat.
"Ohh, that was savage," Rakki chuckled as I sat down.
"Why do you have to yell my name every single time you see me?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"I don't know! It just happens before I can stop it," she replied with a shrug.
"Anyway, where is everyone else?"
"Busy with their boyfriends. And Ella is with Aries," she said.
"I didn't know Ella was with Aries today. Well, good for them, they need the time together," I noted. "Wait, why didn't you go with Yuri?"
"He had to go to Japan for some business," she said, her voice dropping sadly.
"Let that idiotic stupid come back—I'll break his bones for leaving you alone here," I growled. Rakki burst out laughing.
"Oh, my dear boyish-loves-to-fight Mrs. Watson, please don't beat up my boyfriend!" she teased, grinning from ear to ear.
I started to laugh, but then the words registered. What did she just call me? "RAKKI!" I yelled.
She bolted out of the classroom, and I went charging after her. I was gaining on her when I suddenly froze. A familiar figure was standing in the hallway. Keifer.
I was about to approach him, but then I saw her. A girl was standing dangerously close to him. My heart didn't just sink; it dropped straight to my stomach. She reached out and touched his arm, and he turned toward her. He said something, but they were too far away for me to hear.
Rakki stopped running and put a hand on my shoulder. "Girl, is everything alright?"
I couldn't speak. I just pointed at them.
"What the heck?!" Rakki yelled.
I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt the hot tears hit my cheeks. Rakki's shout made Keifer turn around. Our eyes met for a split second, and he immediately started walking toward me, his expression shifting.
But I couldn't face him. Not now. I turned and ran the opposite way, sobbing. Stupid Jayjay. Dumb. Screw you, Jayjay. Why did you actually think he liked you?
Rakki was right behind me. We didn't stop until we reached her car in the parking lot.
"Let's go to my apartment," she said firmly. I couldn't even argue; I just nodded. I needed to get away from this place before I saw him again. Rakki lives in an apartment because uni is so far from her house.
As the car pulled away, I looked back one last time. He was just standing there, watching the car disappear before turning back into the university. Jerk. Flirt. Idiot. Stupid, dumb man.
"Jayjay, please... just let him explain," Rakki pleaded from the driver's seat.
"Explain what?!" I snapped, my voice shaking. "That girl was standing so close to him. She touched his arm and he didn't even move! Rakki, I saw it with my own eyes. I can't... I just can't."
Before I knew it, we were at her apartment. We went inside, and the image of them together replayed in my mind like a broken record. I felt my legs give out. I fell to my knees and just sobbed. Rakki brought me a glass of water, but I couldn't even reach for it. I was frozen, trapped in that one moment in the hallway.
Rakki sat on the floor beside me. "Jayjay, did you apply mascara today?"
"Yeah," I choked out. "For the first time."
"Stop crying," she said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because your tears have turned black, and they're staining my white carpet," she said, pointing down. I looked at the floor; she was right, her carpet was ruined. "Don't cry for a scumbag."
"But he—"
"No 'buts' and no 'ifs.' Stop crying." She cupped my cheeks in her hands. "You don't need to cry for a cheater. And look, if you think deep down he isn't one... then you have to let him explain. Well i also think that he isn't a cheater"
"Rakki, how can I?" I cried, more tears escaping. "I saw it myself. I could listen to his explanation if someone else told me, but I saw it!"
She wiped my face and forced the glass of water into my hands. I finally took a sip. Just as she stood up, my phone started vibrating. It was him.
"Screw you, Watson!" I yelled, throwing the phone across the room. It hit the wall but didn't break—thank god.
Suddenly, the front door burst open like someone had kicked it. And someone had. Keifer.
"Jayjay!" he breathed, rushing over to me. He dropped to the floor and tried to make me look at him but i just wiped my tears and then looked at him.
"Jayjay, please... let me explain," he begged.
"Keifer, go. I don't want to hear another lie," I said, my voice cold. He tried to grab my hands, but I hide them back before he could touch them and looked at Rakki. I don't want this man touch me, eww.
Rakki stepped in, using the exact words I'd told her in the car. "Keifer, she needs time. My best friend is having a mental breakdown, and you are the reason."
"Rakki, please. I just want to explain myself," Keifer said, his voice desperate.
Rakki sighed and looked at me, then back at him. "Fine. If you want to explain, do it. I'm leaving. But if my best friend has one more tear in her eye... it won't just be me. Aries and Percy will kill you."
She gave him one last threatening look and walked out, closing the door.
"Jay—"
"Go away, Keifer," I cut him off, yelling now. "I don't want to hear your lies. Get out of my sight!"
He didn't even flinch. "Jayjay, please," he said again, his eyes searching mine.
"Fine. Go ahead. Tell me," I said, my voice cold as ice. I sat there, arms crossed, waiting for the lies I was sure were coming.
Flashback:Keifer's POV
I was standing in the hallway talking to a classmate when this girl approached us. I didn't like her vibe from the start—she was acting like a total "pick-me." I tried my best to just ignore her.
"Keif, are you even listening to me?" she asked, stepping uncomfortably close to me.
"Excuse me, miss," I said, my voice hardening. "I have a fiancée, so stay in your limits. And don't call me by that nickname—only my fiancée is allowed to call me that."
Instead of backing off, she reached out and touched my arm.
"Can't you understand English? Get out of my sight or I'll have the administration handle this," I snapped, but she didn't even flinch.
"You think your fiancée will even see us? No way," she said with a smirk.
"What the heck?!" someone suddenly yelled. I whipped my head around and saw Rakki and Jayjay. Jayjay was crying. My heart stopped. I had to explain. I started walking toward her immediately, but she turned and ran in the opposite direction.
I tried to chase after her, but by the time I got outside, she was already in Rakki's car, and they were speeding away. I stood there watching the car disappear, my blood boiling because of what that girl had caused.
I went back inside, my face like thunder. I spotted another classmate, Jason. "Jason, take that girl to the Head's office and tell them everything that happened," I commanded.
Before Jason could even call out female classmates for this , the girl spoke up again. "She doesn't even love you! Why do you care about her?"
At that, I lost it. "Shut the up! You're going to regret every word. You won't be staying in this university for another day," I yelled. I don't usually yell at girls, but I couldn't stand hearing a single bad word against Jayjay.
I turned to my friend who was good with tech. "This is Jayjay's number—track her. Now."
He nodded, seeing how serious I was. After three agonizing minutes, he showed me the location of an apartment. "Send that to my phone," I said. I sprinted to my car and drove like a maniac to get to her.
End of Flashback
Jayjay's POV
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you," I whispered, new tears welling up in my eyes—this time from relief.
"Hey, hey... don't cry. It's not your fault; it was that girl's fault," Keifer said softly. He knelt down at my eye level and our eyes met.
We stayed like that for a long time, the silence finally feeling peaceful. When he eventually pulled back to dry my face one last time, he had that familiar, annoying smirk on his face.
"What?" I asked, suspicious.
"You were jealous," he stated.
"No, I... I wasn't!" I stammered. (Okay, I totally was.)
"You were," he repeated, his smirk growing wider.
"I wasn't jealous! I was upset because I thought you were cheating on me," I argued. He just nodded, but that smirk wouldn't budge. "Stop smirking!"
"Fine, fine," he laughed. "Should we head back to the university now?"
"Rakki! Come on, let's go," I called out. Keifer looked at me, completely confused.
"Why Rakki?"
"Because I'm going with her," I said simply.
"No, you're going with me," he corrected.
"In your dreams!" I shot back. Rakki walked over, and I grabbed her hand. We were about to head for the door when Keifer grabbed my other hand. "What is your problem now?" I asked irritated.
"You're going with me," he said, pulling me toward him.
"No! She said she's going with me!" Rakki argued, pulling me back.
"She's my fiancée!" he snapped, yanking me his way.
"She was my best friend first!" Rakki yelled, yanking me back again.
They were literally bickering like children, pulling me back and forth like a human rope.
"I am not a rope! Stop pulling me!" I yelled, and they both let go instantly. I straightened my jacket and gave Keifer a pointed look. "I'm still a little mad at you, so I'm going with Rakki."
I stormed out of the apartment. As I walked away, I peeked back and saw Rakki sticking her tongue out at him.
"Told you—best friend wins!" she taunted. Without even looking back, she tossed her spare keys over her shoulder. "Lock the door when you leave, Watson!"
Once we got to her car, I held my hand out. "I'm driving."
Rakki shrugged and handed me the keys—she clearly didn't know about my "express" driving skills yet. I got into the driver's seat and started off normally. But as soon as we hit the main road, I slammed the gas.
"JAYJAY, SLOW DOWN!" she screamed, clutching the dashboard.
I just laughed, feeling the adrenaline wash away the last of my sadness.
"YOU'RE TAKING OUT YOUR ANGER ON MY CAR!" she shouted as I drifted around a corner.
Before she could have a complete heart attack, we were already pulling into the university parking lot.
"From where the hell did you learn to speed like that?!" Rakki gasped, clutching her chest as we stepped out of the car.
"Back when I didn't drive, Percy and Aries used to pick me up and drop me off. They always sped like maniacs, so I just picked it up from them," I said with a shrug. "Guess what? I'm even faster than they are."
We both laughed, but my smile vanished the second I spotted her. Claire. My blood started to boil. I didn't even think; I just marched straight toward her. Before she could even open her mouth, I landed a solid punch right on her nose.
She hit the ground hard. "There you go, idiot. How dare you flirt with my fiancé?"
She scrambled to her feet, clutching her face. "You idiot!" she screamed, lunging forward to slap me. I caught her wrist mid-air and twisted it back.
"Don't you dare curse at me and touch me with your filthy hands. Don't forget who I am," I hissed.
She screamed in pain, and I let her go, only to land a sharp slap across her face.
"That's for flirting with my fiancé!"
Slap. "That's for getting close to him!"
Slap. "That's for touching him!"
Slap. "That's for badmouthing me!"
Slap. "That's for cursing me!"
And one last, heavy slap. "And that is for underestimating me."
She stared at me, blood trickling from the corner of her lip. "Who even are you?" she spit out.
"She is Keifer's fiancée," Rakki stepped up, her voice booming. "The one and only daughter of Mariano. The one whose family invested in this university. Don't ever underestimate her—her protectors will kill you."
"And who are these 'protectors'?" Claire asked mockingly.
"Aries, Percy, Keifer, her cousins, me, Ella, Mica, Grace, Freya... and for people like you" she pointed at her "herself is enough," Rakki said, lifting Claire's chin with her thumb. "She doesn't even need backup for a girl like you, Claire." Rakki gave her a shove, sending her back to the dirt.
I grabbed Rakki's hand. "It's enough for now. When the other girls get here, we'll handle the rest."
"I will take Keifer from you!" Claire shrieked, standing up again.
That was it. I lost my temper completely. I turned back and started slapping her again and again, over and over. Suddenly, a hand caught my wrist.
"Jayjay, that's enough," Keifer said calmly. I whipped my head around to glare at him, but his expression was soft. "I'm not saying this because I care about her. I'm saying it because I care about you. Your hand is going to start hurting from slapping through a hundred layers of makeup."
The crowd that had gathered around us burst into laughter. My face went red as I realized just how many people were watching. Shoot. Without saying a word, I grabbed Keifer's sleeve with one of mine and Rakki's hand with the other, dragging them both away from the scene as fast as I could.
The End 🌸