JAY'S POV
The door clicks shut behind me, but the silence doesn't follow.
It lingers outside—with him.
I barely take two steps before I feel it. That presence. Heavy. Waiting. And when I look up—
He's there.
Keifer.
Standing a few feet away, shoulders tense, jaw tight, like he's been holding something in for too long and doesn't quite know how to let it out.
"Jay…" his voice comes out low, controlled—but there's something under it. Something strained. "We need to talk."
I let out a humorless breath, crossing my arms instinctively. "Yeah," I say, my tone sharper than I intend. "We really do."
There's a pause.
Then I step closer.
"Did you know?" I ask, eyes locking onto his. "About this whole… marriage pact?"
His expression flickers—just slightly.
"No."
The answer is immediate.
Too immediate.
I narrow my eyes. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying," he says, firmer now, something defensive creeping into his tone. "I found out this morning."
That makes me freeze.
"…What?"
He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Lola told me this morning. I didn't know before that just like you..."
Silence stretches between us.
Thick. Unsettling.
"So," I let out slowly, disbelief lacing every word, "everyone knew… except us?"
His jaw tightens. "Looks like it."
Something inside me twists.
Hard.
"And you just—what? Agreed?" I push, anger rising now, fast and sharp. "Just like that?"
"I didn't," he snaps, stepping closer, his voice dropping. "I refused."
That stops me.
"I said no," he continues, quieter now but no less intense. "Because I'm not going to marry someone just because it was decided for me."
My breath catches for half a second.
Then I recover.
"Then why," I say, my voice dropping dangerously low, "did Lola say you'd agree if I said yes?"
His eyes meet mine again—and this time, there's no defense. Just something raw.
"Because it's her we are talking about Jay Jay" he says.
And that—hits.
"I'm not doing this for the pact made by the elders," he continues, slower now, like he's choosing every word carefully. "I'm just doing it because she begging me to."
I shake my head, stepping back. "So what—I'm just supposed to agree too? Just because she wants it?"
"No," he says immediately.
"Then what do you want, Keifer?" I challenge, my voice cracking just slightly despite myself. "Because right now it feels like I'm being handed a decision that changes my entire life—and I didn't even know it existed until ten minutes ago."
Silence.
He doesn't answer immediately.
And that? That makes it worse.
"We don't even—" I laugh softly, bitterly. "We don't even like each other enough for this."
His gaze hardens.
"That's exactly why this shouldn't happen," he says.
The words land.
And yet—
Lola's face flashes in my mind.Her voice.
"Please, Jay…"
I close my eyes for a second, exhaling slowly before looking back at him.
"Look we both obviously hate eachother but the one thing we love mutually is lola,so let's just give this marriage thing one thought first before we commit to anything..okay?," I say finally.
His expression shifts. Slightly.Not relief. Not surprise.Just… acknowledgment.
"That's all I'm asking,Jay whatever you decide..." he replies quietly.
A pause.Then I turn.Because if I stay one second longer—I won't be able to think straight.
---
The drive back feels suffocating.
No one speaks for the first few minutes, the weight of everything sitting too heavily between us.
Then—
"What the hell was that?" Jace finally snaps, turning toward Mom and Dad, his voice sharp with anger. "A marriage pact? Are we in some kind of business deal drama???"
"Jace—" Mom starts.
"No, Mom," he cuts her off, running a hand through his hair. "You don't get to just drop something like that on us and especially on Jay just like it's normal!"
Dad exhales, trying to keep his tone calm. "We didn't want to force anything on you both. That's why we kept it a secret."
"But you still planned it," I say quietly.
The car goes silent again.
Mom looks at me, her expression soft but conflicted. "Jay… we thought—it made sense. The families are close, the values align—"
"This isn't a merger," I interrupt, my voice steady but laced with frustration. "It's my life."
She falls quiet.
Jace leans back in his seat, still fuming. "This is insane…"
I don't say anything after that because I don't trust my voice not to break.
By the time we reach home, I'm exhausted.
Not physically.Mentally.Emotionally.
"I'm going to my room, don't wake me up.." I mutter, not waiting for a response as I head upstairs.
The door shuts harder than I intended.
I drop onto my bed, staring at the ceiling as thoughts spiral endlessly—Lola, Keifer, the pact, the way he said "I refused"—
My eyes drift to my wrist.The bracelet.My fingers brush over it lightly.
"…What am I even supposed to do?" I whisper to the empty room.
At some point—I fall asleep.
When I wake up, the room is dim.For a second, I'm disoriented.
Then—Hunger hits.
I stretch slightly, grabbing my phone and heading downstairs—Only to stop.
The house is… quiet.
Too quiet.
"Mom?...Dad??" I call out.
Nothing.Frowning, I head back upstairs, unlocking my phone—and that's when I see it.
Messages.Dozens.
Family Group Chat.
My heart drops as I open it.
Mom: Jay, you were sleeping so we didn't disturb you…
Dad: Mrs. Watson had a mild stroke. She's been rushed to the hospital.
Jace: Don't panic. We're here. We'll update you.
My fingers go cold.
I scroll.
Updates. Timestamps. Hours ago.
"...No," I whisper.
My phone rings.
Jace.
I pick up instantly. "Jace—what happened?!"
"She's conscious now," he says quickly, voice tight. "Jay… she's asking for you. Come to the hospital. Now."
I don't even respond.I'm already moving.
The drive is a blur.Everything feels too loud. Too fast. Too unreal.By the time I reach, my hands are shaking.
I step inside—and immediately—
I see them.Uncle. Aunty.Crying.Mom and Dad beside them, trying to comfort, but their own faces pale.
Sam—She's breaking.
Jace is next to her, holding her as she tries to keep it together and the moment they see me—
"Jay…"
I didn't think.I just moved.
Straight to Sam, pulling her into a tight hug as she finally breaks down against me, her shoulders shaking.
"I'm here," I whisper, holding her close. "I'm here…calm down.."
After a moment, I let Jace take her, stepping back slowly.My eyes shift.
Toward the VIP ward and something in my chest tightens.
I walked slowly,each step heavier than the last.Until I reach the door and push it open.
The room is quiet.Too quiet.
And then—I see her.She looks… smaller.
Paler.Weaker than she did just this morning.
And beside her—Keifer.
Sitting in the chair, leaning forward slightly, his hand wrapped tightly around hers.His head lowered.
I stop in the doorway.Because for the first time—
I'm not looking at the man who challenges me.Or argues with me.Or stands across from me like an opponent.
I'm looking at someone who's… scared.
Someone who might lose the one person who held his world together and suddenly—None of this feels like a decision anymore.
It feels like a countdown and I don't know what scares me more—Losing her.Or what I might say before that happens.