Jay POV
Finally...
After what felt like the longest journey ever, we reached the place where the yachts were supposed to dock.
The dock.
Yeah, that's what it's called.
The moment the yacht touched the dock and I stepped down...
I froze.
Because standing there...
Was a whole line of my protective brothers.
Seriously.
It looked like they were waiting for a war.
And honestly?
Knowing them...
They probably were.
First one to step forward was Percy.
I immediately noticed it.
The tension in his eyes.
He was trying so hard to act normal, to smile like everything was fine.
But I knew him.
He got to know about the attack.
He knows Victoria had tried something.
And he was scared.
He just didn't want to show it.
He walked towards me and opened his arms slightly.
"Heyyy baby sista..."
His voice was softer than usual.
"You okay? Nothing happened to you, right?"
I smiled.
"Yeah Percy, I'm completely fine."
His shoulders relaxed a little.
Then he leaned closer and whispered in my ear.
"But we're definitely talking about this secret romantic island escape."
I blinked.
"What?"
"I'm only gone for one day..."
He looked at me dramatically.
"ONE DAY."
"And I come back to find out my little sister disappeared to a private island with her boyfriend?"
I tried not to laugh.
"Seriously?"
He shook his head.
"It's not like I'm against your love life or anything..."
He paused.
"But you know your 18th birthday is coming, right?"
His expression became serious.
"You know what's happening."
I sighed.
"Yeah Percy, I'm sorry but—"
Then I suddenly pointed behind me.
"It was him."
Everyone looked at me.
Including Keifer.
I pointed at him dramatically.
"He did this."
A confused expression appeared on Keifer's face.
"He kidnapped me."
I continued.
"He forced me to go."
Keifer's eyes widened.
"Jay—"
Before he could defend himself...
A voice came from behind.
"You fucking bastard."
Oh no.
I knew that voice.
I slowly turned around.
Kuya Angelo.
Oh no.
No no no.
Jay, do something.
Or else he is actually going to break My Keifer's perfect jawline.
Then another thought came.
Wait.
Why am I protecting him?
I'm supposed to still be angry at him.
Remember?
Kuya Angelo started walking towards Keifer.
Fast.
Very fast.
Keifer immediately stood straight.
Probably because he knew exactly what was coming.
"You took my sister—"
Kuya Angelo raised his fist.
And before I could think...
I stepped between them.
"Kuya..."
I looked at him with my best puppy eyes.
The same ones that usually worked.
"I know you're worried about me."
I grabbed his arm.
"But don't hit him."
I smiled awkwardly.
"It's useless anyway."
Everyone looked confused.
I continued.
"He's thick-skinned, you know."
I fake laughed.
"One punch won't do anything."
A few people tried to hide their laughs.
Even Felix looked away.
Kuya Angelo stared at me.
Then at Keifer.
Then back at me.
His expression clearly said:
Are you seriously defending him right now?
I ignored it.
I quickly dragged Kuya Angelo a little away from Keifer, making sure there was enough distance.
When I looked back...
Percy was giving me the biggest side eye ever.
Of course.
Because five seconds ago...
I was blaming Keifer.
And now...
I was protecting him.
I looked away.
What?
That's just how it works.
When someone you love is in danger...
Your anger disappears for a moment.
Because no matter how much you fight...
No matter how annoyed you are...
Your heart always chooses them first.
And apparently...
My heart was still choosing Keifer.
Before I could even process that thought...
A new voice cut through the dock.
"Where is he?"
Everyone turned.
Oh no.
Not him.
Aries.
(A/n: now aries and jay are on good terms same as the og book scenes)
My brother walked forward, his expression completely different from Percy and Angelo.
Percy was worried.
Angelo was angry.
But Aries?
Aries looked like he had already decided someone was about to die.
His eyes immediately landed on Keifer.
And before anyone could react...
He grabbed the collar of Keifer's shirt.
"You asshole."
The entire dock went silent.
"How the fuck did you take my sister away?"
His grip tightened.
"What did you do with her?"
My eyes widened.
"Aries—"
But Keifer didn't even move.
Not even a little.
Which was honestly terrifying.
Because anyone else would have immediately pushed him away.
But Keifer?
He just looked down at Aries' hand on his collar.
Calm.
Too calm.
Then slowly...
He took off Aries' hand from his collar.
Everyone froze.
Because somehow...
That was more intimidating than if he had gotten angry.
Keifer adjusted his shirt casually.
And then...
A smirk appeared.
That smirk.
The one that clearly said:
"Get ready for getting ragebait."
I already knew what was coming.
"Are you done?"
Aries stared at him.
"What?"
Keifer tilted his head.
"You're asking me what I did with Jay..."
He looked around.
"Interesting."
Aries' eyes narrowed.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Keifer smiled slightly.
"It means you're acting like I kidnapped her."
"You literally took her to a private island."
"I asked her but she didn't answer and was sleeping so I took her silence as a yes."
Aries' jaw clenched.
"You think that makes it better?"
Keifer shrugged.
"Actually? Yes."
The brothers exchanged looks.
Oh no.
He was enjoying this.
Keifer continued.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"You all act like Jay is some helpless person who can't make her own decisions."
Aries stepped closer.
"Watch your words."
Keifer's smirk only grew.
"Why? Because I'm right?"
Aries looked ready to explode.
"You don't know my sister."
Keifer looked at him calmly.
"I know her better than you think."
Silence.
That one hit.
Aries' expression changed.
"Excuse me?"
Keifer leaned slightly closer.
"I know when she's pretending to be okay."
"I know when she's angry but actually hurt."
"I know when she's about to cry but will still tell everyone she's fine."
My heart stopped for a second.
Because...
He was right.
Aries noticed my expression.
And immediately pointed at Keifer.
"Don't act like you're some hero."
"I'm not."
Keifer answered instantly.
"I'm the person who annoys her."
He glanced at me.
"The person who makes her angry."
Then back at Aries.
"But I'm also the person who will stand between her and anything that tries to hurt her."
Aries scoffed.
"Wow. Very dramatic."
Keifer smiled.
"Coming from the guy who grabbed my collar five seconds after seeing me?"
A few people tried not to laugh.
Aries' face twitched.
"You're seriously enjoying this?"
"Very much."
Keifer admitted.
My eyes widened.
He wasn't even hiding it.
"You are unbelievable."
Aries pointed at him.
"You know what? I was worried about Jay."
Keifer nodded.
"Obviously."
"But now?"
Aries narrowed his eyes.
"Now I'm worried about why my sister likes someone as annoying as you."
Keifer's smirk became bigger.
"Because I'm charming."
"No."
"Handsome?"
"No."
"Funny?"
"Absolutely not."
Keifer looked offended.
"That's rude."
Aries rolled his eyes.
"You're impossible."
"And yet..."
Keifer glanced at me.
"She chose me."
Everyone went silent.
My face immediately heated up.
"Keifer." I warned
"What?" He answered innocently
He looked innocent.
"He started it." Keifer said while pointing towards aries
Aries looked between us.
Then sighed.
"Unbelievable."
Percy crossed his arms.
"Welcome to our daily problem."
Angelo nodded.
"He enjoys irritating people."
Felix looked at Keifer.
"And he knows exactly what he's doing."
Keifer just smiled.
Because honestly?
He did.
Aries came ready for a fight.
And somehow...
Keifer had turned the entire thing into a game.
And the worst part?
He was winning.
Before anyone could say anything else...
Someone came running towards us.
I turned around.
And my breath stopped.
Jason.
"Jay!"
The second he reached me...
He pulled me into a hug.
A tight one.
A relieved one.
Like he had been carrying all that fear alone until he finally saw me standing in front of him.
"Jass..."
I whispered softly.
His arms tightened for a second.
"I was so worried."
His voice was low.
"I got to know what happened and I tried calling you... I kept trying but it wasn't connecting."
He pulled back quickly, his eyes immediately scanning me.
"Are you okay?"
"Did something happen?"
"Did they hurt you?"
"Are you injured?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The questions came one after another.
So fast.
So full of worry.
I opened my mouth to answer.
But before I could...
Someone stepped between us.
Keifer.
Creating distance.
My eyes widened slightly.
Of course.
He was jealous.
But at the same time...
He was worried about me too.
His eyes stayed on Jason.
"I was with her."
His voice was calm.
"I am with her."
A pause.
"And I will always be there for her."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"You don't need to worry about her."
He looked at me.
"I am here."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then...
Jason laughed.
But there was no happiness in it.
It was bitter.
"Oh, really?"
Keifer's expression hardened.
Jason looked straight at him.
"Were you with her when she needed you the most?"
Silence.
"When she needed someone to listen?"
"When she needed a shoulder to cry on?"
His voice lowered.
"Oh wait..."
He smiled sadly.
"She was crying because of you."
Keifer's jaw clenched.
Hard.
And suddenly...
Everything came back.
The betrayal.
The plan.
The fear.
The feeling of being fooled by the person I trusted the most.
The pain I was trying so hard to bury.
I looked at Keifer.
And for a second...
I wasn't standing on the dock anymore.
I was back there.
Remembering everything.
The fear of being betrayed again.
The fear that maybe...
Maybe my heart chose the wrong person.
My chest tightened.
And for the first time since coming back...
I wasn't angry.
I was scared.
And I know jason is just saying all of this because he's worried about me...