ROOM 7
Chapter Fifty-Six: The Engagement
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Saturday arrived too fast.
Jay stood in front of her mirror, wearing a white dress. Not her choice. Yuri's mother had sent it. Long. Silk. Expensive. It felt like a costume. She felt like a stranger in her own skin.
Keifer was in the living room. She could hear him pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. The floorboards creaked under his weight.
She walked out. He stopped. Looked at her.
"You look beautiful," he said.
She touched the fabric. "I feel like I'm going to my own funeral."
He walked to her. Took her hands. "You don't have to do this."
She looked at his face. At his eyes. At the way he was looking at her like he was trying to memorize every detail.
"I know."
"Jay—"
She put her finger on his lips. "I have to."
He pulled her into his arms. His face was in her hair. His arms were around her. His voice was low.
"I'll be there. Outside. Waiting."
She held him tighter. "I know."
She pulled back. Kissed him. Soft. Quick. "I love you."
He touched her face. "I love you too."
She walked to the door. Didn't look back. If she looked back, she wouldn't leave.
The door closed behind her.
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Part One: The House
Yuri's parents' house was decorated with flowers. White roses. Everywhere. The driveway was lined with them. The porch was covered with them. The living room smelled like a garden.
Jay stood in the doorway. Her hands were empty. Her heart was heavy.
Yuri's mother saw her first. "Jay! You're here!" She rushed over, hugged her, held her tight. "You look beautiful. So beautiful."
Jay hugged her back. "Thank you, Tita."
Yuri's father appeared. He shook her hand. His grip was firm. His eyes were kind. "Welcome to the family."
She smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.
Yuri was at the end of the room. He was wearing a black suit. His hair was combed. His shoes were polished. He looked like a stranger.
He walked to her. Offered his arm. "Shall we?"
She looked at his arm. At his face. At the man who had threatened her family. The man who had given her no choice.
She took his arm. "We shall."
They walked into the living room. The guests applauded. Yuri's mother was crying. Yuri's father was smiling.
Jay felt nothing.
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Part Two: The Speech
Yuri's father made a speech. Something about love. Something about family. Something about the future.
Jay didn't listen. She was looking at the window. At the street beyond. Keifer was out there. Somewhere. Waiting.
Yuri's mother made a speech. Something about how happy she was. Something about how she'd always wanted a daughter.
Jay smiled. Nodded. Said thank you.
Yuri took the microphone. The room went quiet.
"I've known Jay for years," he said. "She's smart. She's beautiful. She's the most stubborn person I've ever met."
A few people laughed.
"She chose someone else. Someone I couldn't compete with." He looked at her. "But she's here now. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making her happy."
He raised his glass. "To Jay."
The room echoed. "To Jay."
She raised her glass. Didn't drink.
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Part Three: The Request
After the speeches, Yuri pulled her aside.
They stood in the garden. The flowers were white. The lights were soft. The night was warm.
"You did well," he said.
She crossed her arms. "I'm not performing."
He stepped closer. "Aren't you?"
She didn't step back. "What do you want, Yuri?"
He looked at her face. At her eyes. At the way she was looking at him like he was a stranger.
"I want you to move in with me."
She went still. "What?"
"The engagement is just the beginning. The wedding is in three months. I want you to live with me. In my house. Starting tomorrow."
She stared at him. "You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious."
She shook her head. "I have an apartment. I have a life. I have—"
"You have a father who needs you to do this."
She stopped.
He stepped closer. His face was inches from hers. "You agreed to marry me. That means you agreed to be with me. To live with me. To—"
"I agreed to save my father's company."
"Same thing."
She grabbed a napkin from the table beside her. Threw it at him. He caught it.
"You have a catching problem," she said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have a Yuri problem."
He tucked the napkin into his pocket. "The worst kind."
She walked past him. Toward the house. He grabbed her arm.
"Jay."
She pulled free. "I'll move in. But not because I want to. Because I have to. Don't ever forget that."
She walked inside. He stood in the garden. The flowers were white. The lights were soft. The night was cold.
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Part Four: The Goodbye
The party ended at midnight.
Jay stood by the door. Yuri's mother hugged her. Yuri's father shook her hand. Yuri stood behind them, watching.
"Thank you for coming," his mother said.
Jay smiled. "Thank you for having me."
She walked out. Down the steps. Down the driveway. The street was quiet. The lights were on.
A car was waiting. Not hers. Yuri's. A driver held the door open.
"Ms. Mariano. Mr. Hanamitchi asked me to take you home."
She looked at the car. At the dark windows. At the man holding the door.
"No thank you."
She walked down the street. Her heels clicked on the pavement. The night was cold. The stars were hidden.
She heard footsteps behind her. Fast. Familiar.
"Jay."
She didn't turn. "Go home, Keifer."
He fell into step beside her. "I'm not leaving you."
She stopped. Turned. Looked at him. His face was tired. His eyes were red. His hands were shaking.
"I have to move in with him."
He went still. "What?"
"He wants me to live with him. Starting tomorrow."
Keifer's jaw tightened. "No."
"It's already decided."
He grabbed her arms. "Jay. No."
She touched his face. "Keifer. I have to."
He pulled her into his arms. His face was in her hair. His voice was broken.
"There has to be another way."
She held him. "I'll find one. But for now—"
"For now, you pretend."
She nodded. "For now, I pretend."
They stood on the street. The city was quiet. The night was cold. The world was falling apart.
But they were together. That was something.
That was everything.
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Part Five: The Packing
She packed that night.
Keifer sat on her bed. The shark was in his lap. Bruce was beside him. He watched her move around the room. Clothes. Shoes. Books. The things that made her who she was.
"You're taking the shark," he said.
She looked at the shark. At him. "It's yours."
He shook his head. "It's yours. I gave it to you."
She walked to the bed. Picked up the shark. Held it.
"I'll take it," she said. "So I don't forget."
He stood up. Took her face in his hands. "You won't forget."
She kissed him. He kissed her back.
"I love you," she said.
He pulled her closer. "I love you too."
She pulled back. Picked up her bag. Walked to the door.
"Jay."
She turned.
"I'll be here. When you come back."
She nodded. Walked out. The door closed behind her.
He stood in the apartment. The shark was gone. Bruce was on the bed. The room was empty.
He sat down. Put his head in his hands.
Didn't move.
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End of Chapter Fifty-Six