Jay-Jay(POV)
The moment I stepped into the house—
I froze.
Section E was there.
Some were sitting on the couches.
Some were standing nearby with crossed arms.
And every single one of them was staring at me like I had committed the greatest betrayal in history.
In the middle of them all—
Kiefer sat silently on the sofa.
Waiting.
The entire room was painfully quiet.
Honestly…
It felt less like entering my house and more like walking into a courtroom.
"What is everyone doing here?" I asked cautiously.
Josh silently held up his phone toward me.
I looked at the screen—
—and immediately saw the group chat messages.
C-In had posted our picture.
Along with the caption:
"Secret date with Jay 😘❤️✨"
And somehow—
That idiot even added matching heart emojis beside our names.
My eye twitched instantly.
Got it.
I'm going to kill this kid.
"Where did you go?" Kiefer asked calmly from the couch.
That calm voice somehow felt even scarier than yelling.
"Outside," I replied carefully.
Then suddenly—
C-In stepped inside behind me.
The entire room's attention immediately shifted toward him.
Then back to me.
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Davide narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You really went on a secret date with C-In?"
"Nope," I answered instantly.
"Then why were you with him?" Eman asked.
"Where did you go without us?" Mayo asked
Kiefer leaned back slowly while staring directly at me.
"Didn't you say you were going to Jare's house?"
"I wanted to," I replied weakly. "But I went to see C-In instead."
"Why?" Kit asked immediately.
Before I could answer—
C-In casually walked over and threw an arm around my shoulder dramatically.
"Because she missed me," he announced proudly. "She even brought me breakfast so sweet..."
I immediately elbowed him in the stomach.
But the damage was already done.
The entire room exploded.
"JAY!" Felix cried out in betrayal. "We miss you too! How could you go on your own date with C-In?"
"And you only brought him food?" another complained dramatically. "What about us?!"
Everyone immediately agreed at once, like an angry mob.
"Unfair."
"Favouritism."
"We raised her better than this."
I stared at all of them in disbelief.
Then I sighed deeply and rubbed my forehead.
"Tell me what all of you want and stop acting like kids."
Suddenly, the entire room exploded with excitement.
Everyone started shouting over each other while cheering dramatically as they had just won a competition.
"Let's go to a restaurant!"
"No, beach!"
"Movie date!"
"Road trip!"
"Buy us food first!"
Some of them were already jumping around while planning nonsense.
Meanwhile, I stood there with a headache growing by the second.
Then suddenly—
Kiefer stood up from the couch and walked toward me quietly.
The noise in the room slowly died down.
He stopped right in front of me before lowering his head slightly toward mine.
"Wife," he said calmly, "tell me where you went."
"…I just went to meet C-In," I answered carefully.
Kiefer's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Tss… you really want me to believe that?"
"I'll tell you later," I muttered quickly.
Before Kiefer could question me again—
"JAY!" Felix suddenly shouted while dragging me away dramatically.
"What?!"
"We decided what we want," Calix announced proudly as they had just completed an important meeting.
"…What is it?"
"Cook for us," Rory said immediately.
"WHAT?!" I shouted in disbelief.
"Why can't you do that?" Felix argued. "You went on a date with C-In! You even bought him food!"
"Now, after asking what we want, you suddenly don't want to cook?" another added accusingly.
I stared at all of them as criminals surrounded me.
"Stop blackmailing me like that," I complained. "If you want food, I'll just buy it."
"No."
"We want homemade food."
"Especially your cooking."
"Let's have a party," Edrix suddenly suggested excitedly. "Then a bonfire as we used to."
"Don't all of you have office work?" I asked in disbelief.
"Jay," Derw said seriously, "we can take leave. Nothing is more important than food."
"These people are insane…" I muttered under my breath.
Then suddenly, I looked around.
"Wait… why can't I see Yuri?"
"Oh?" a voice spoke from behind. "Someone's looking for me?"
I turned immediately.
Yuri walked into the room carrying a paper bag in one hand.
The moment I saw it, my eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What's that?"
"Sushi."
I gasped dramatically before immediately running toward him and snatching the bag from his hands.
"You really know what I want," I said emotionally.
Meanwhile, chaos had already started inside the kitchen.
Some were arguing about ingredients.
Some were stealing snacks.
And somehow Felix had already tied an apron around himself despite not helping at all.
Kiefer walked toward me quietly before gently touching my head.
"Wife, I'll step out for a bit," he said softly. "Be careful while cooking."
"Hm," I hummed while still mixing the pancake batter.
Then Kiefer and Yuri left together.
But the second they turned away—
Their expressions changed completely.
The softness disappeared.
Both of them suddenly looked serious.
Too serious.
Like they were about to discuss something important.
I noticed it immediately.
But before I could think deeper about it—
"JAY!" Davide shouted.
"What now?!"
"Let's cook already!"
Then, suddenly, Davide and C-In dragged me straight into the kitchen while everyone started yelling over each other again.
And somehow…
for the first time in a long while—
It felt like we were back in high school again.
"I'm only cooking breakfast, okay?" I warned while pointing the spatula at everyone threateningly.
The entire group nodded immediately like obedient kindergarten children.
Honestly…
Suspicious.
So I started making pancakes since that was the only thing I was truly confident cooking for a large group.
I stood in front of the counter mixing the batter carefully while David helped beside me by spreading butter on the pan.
Honestly…
At least one person here was useful.
"Jay, faster! I'm hungry!"
"I didn't even eat dinner last night!"
"My stomach is dying!"
I slowly stopped mixing and turned toward all of them with a dangerous expression.
"Then why can't any of you cook?" I asked quietly.
Silence.
Not one person answered.
Cowards.
"Jay," C-In spoke up while leaning against the counter dramatically, "add chocolate chips."
"Go, somewhere else."
Meanwhile, I silently continued cooking.
But the second a pancake landed on a plate—
It disappeared instantly.
Chaos erupted near the dining table.
"HEY, THAT WAS MINE!"
"YOU ALREADY TOOK TWO!"
"LET GO OF THE FORK!"
"I SAW IT FIRST!"
I stared at them in disbelief while holding the spatula.
"…Are these people not being fed at home?"
Then I went back to cooking.
"I also want some."
I froze slightly at the sudden voice behind me.
Then suddenly, Kiefer wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and rested his chin lightly on my shoulder.
I immediately tapped his arm with the spatula.
"Get your hands off me. Everyone's here," I whispered.
"They're too busy eating," he replied calmly.
I looked over my shoulder.
And honestly…
He was right.
Everyone was still fighting over pancakes like wild animals.
C-In and Felix were searching through the fridge for more food.
David was helping pour juice into pitchers while yelling at people not to spill anything.
Complete chaos.
"They can't see us," Kiefer murmured near my ear.
"Gago… I'll burn you," I warned while pointing the spatula at him threateningly.
"Tss," he clicked his tongue before finally letting go.
Then he casually sat on the kitchen counter nearby while watching me cook silently.
I continued pouring batter onto the pan.
But I could still feel his eyes on me.
"Are you hungry?" I asked while flipping another pancake.
"Hm," he hummed lazily. "Very much."
"Just two minutes," I said absentmindedly.
Kiefer tilted his head slightly while staring directly at me.
"I don't need pancakes," he said softly. "I already have a wife who tastes much better."
Then he slowly pressed his lower lip between his teeth while looking at me.
My brain completely stopped working for a second.
Heat instantly rushed to my face.
"Ate," C-in suddenly called out from across the kitchen.
"Your pancake is burning."
Before I could react, he walked over and took the pancake off the pan before it completely turned black.
Then he looked at me carefully.
"Why are you red?"
"Nothing," I answered too quickly. "Do you want to eat a pancake?"
Behind me—
I could hear Kiefer quietly giggling to himself.
That king of Ulupong.
Meanwhile, my heart was still racing so hard I was genuinely considering throwing the spatula at his face.
C-in narrowed his eyes suspiciously before glancing between Kiefer and me.
Then slowly—
realisation crossed his expression.
"…Ah."
"AH WHAT?!" I snapped immediately.
Kiefer looked completely unbothered while leaning against the counter casually.
"Wife," he said innocently, "why are you yelling?"
Meanwhile, C-in slowly walked away, looking like he had just realised something.
Which somehow made everything worse.
I immediately turned and glared at Kiefer.
"Get out before I burn more pancakes," I warned.
"Nope," he replied shamelessly.
I narrowed my eyes dangerously.
"If you don't leave right now, I won't let you touch me for a day, maybe a week."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Kiefer immediately jumped off the counter and walked out of the kitchen without another word.
I finally breathed properly again.
"My husband is shameless," I muttered under my breath.
A while later, after finishing the pancakes, everyone gathered around the table to eat breakfast together.
Kiran eventually joined us, too.
I can't find Kiegen.
And honestly…
I felt like I committed a crime.
I had eaten five pancakes.
Five.
But then again—
I had been standing and cooking for nearly two hours.
So technically, I deserved them.
Probably.
Now the kitchen looked like a battlefield.
I stood near the sink, cleaning dishes while my arms ached painfully from flipping pancakes nonstop.
"Let me wash those."
I looked up and saw Yuri quietly stepping beside me.
A few seconds later, he started washing dishes while Davide wiped the counters nearby.
Meanwhile, everyone else was already planning lunch like breakfast had never happened.
"Should we grill meat?"
"No, seafood!"
"We should order dessert too."
"YOU PEOPLE JUST ATE!" I shouted in disbelief.
Nobody listened.
Honestly…
Animals.
"My hands are sore," I complained dramatically while flexing my fingers.
"That's because you made food for twenty people," David answered dryly.
Then suddenly, I looked toward Yuri.
"How's Sakura, Yuri?"
For a second, he stopped washing dishes.
Then he looked at me with a soft smile.
"Good."
That was all he said before quietly continuing his work again.
Then my eyes moved toward David.
"David," I asked curiously, "why are you not dating anyone?"
"Don't feel like dating," he answered simply.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"Don't tell me you still have feelings for the girl you said you loved before."
The entire kitchen suddenly went quiet.
Even the others turned to look at him.
Davide continued wiping the counter calmly before answering—
"She got married."
Silence filled the room for a second.
Then I clicked my tongue softly.
"Tss… she missed a gentleman."
Davide smiled faintly.
"Why?" he asked while leaning against the counter casually. "I'm that good?"
"Of course," I answered immediately. "Is that even a question?"
The others slowly turned toward us, listening quietly now.
"You're good at taking care of people," I continued honestly. "You help others without expecting anything back, you're sensible, and you actually think before acting."
Then I paused before adding seriously—
"If I think about it… You're probably the only person in Section E who doesn't pick fights."
I pointed toward the living room, where absolute chaos was still happening.
"Unlike those ulupongs."
"HEY!" several voices shouted at once.
David laughed softly under his breath.
Then I looked back at him again.
"Is that why you became a psychiatric doctor?" I asked curiously. "Because you understand people well?"
Then I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully.
"Honestly… you're basically every parent's dream son-in-law. Believe me."
"AARRGHHH," Kiefer suddenly complained dramatically from the living room.
I turned toward him.
"What?"
He pointed at himself while adjusting his shirt arrogantly.
"What about me?"
I stared at him for one second before answering honestly—
"You're every parent's nightmare."
The entire house instantly exploded into laughter.
Even Yuri nearly dropped the plate he was washing.
"WHY?!" Kiefer protested immediately. "I'm a good husband!"
"Hm," I hummed thoughtfully. "Ask my brothers."
David immediately started laughing harder while wiping the counter.
Meanwhile, Felix pointed directly at Kiefer.
"She's right," Felix announced dramatically. "If I had a sister and she brought home someone like you, I'd call the police."
The second those words left his mouth—
Kiefer slowly turned his head and glared at him.
The entire house went silent instantly.
Even C-In quietly lowered his spoon.
"…Felix," David muttered carefully, "start praying."
Felix immediately pointed at me in panic.
"SHE STARTED IT!"
Before Kiefer could respond—
I quickly changed the topic.
"Hubby," I called casually, "where's Kigen?"
Kiefer's expression shifted slightly.
"He went outside," he answered calmly. "He still hasn't returned."
My brows slowly furrowed.
"I called him," Kiefer continued while glancing at his phone, "but he didn't answer."
After that, time passed surprisingly fast.
Eman eventually took over the kitchen and started cooking lunch while aggressively threatening everyone.
"If none of you helps me," he warned while holding the spatula like a weapon, "then none of you is eating."
Suddenly, everyone became hardworking citizens.
Honestly…
Fake people.
Slowly, the entire house became noisy again.
Some played with Caretaker.
Some watched movies in the living room.
At one point, C-In and Felix even started singing loudly and dancing terribly in the middle of the house while everyone screamed at them to stop.
Then by evening—
They lit up a bonfire outside.
The atmosphere became calmer after that.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
That was when Kigen finally came home.
The moment I saw him walk through the gate—
I stood up immediately.
"Kigen," I called softly.
He looked slightly tired.
But when his eyes landed on me, he still smiled faintly.
"I need to talk to you," I said quietly.
For a moment, he stayed silent like he already knew this conversation was important.
Then finally, he nodded once.
"I'll come after I freshen up."
Then he quietly went upstairs.
Outside, everyone else continued setting things up near the bonfire.
Some had already started drinking.
Meanwhile, Kiefer refused immediately.
"I need to carry Caretaker later," he said while stealing food from everyone's plates instead.
Eventually—
Kiegen came back downstairs wearing simple black clothes with slightly damp hair.
Without saying anything, he quietly sat beside me near the bonfire.
The firelight reflected softly in his eyes.
For a few seconds—
Neither of us spoke for a while.
The bonfire crackled softly nearby while everyone else continued laughing loudly in the background.
Then I quietly walked toward him, holding two glasses of juice.
I handed one to him before sitting down beside him.
"If I could drink alcohol," I muttered while staring into the fire, "we probably would've had this conversation over alcohol instead."
Kiegen gave me a strange look before snorting softly.
"I don't want to see you drunk," he said immediately. "I already saw it once."
The memory instantly hit both of us.
And suddenly—
We both started laughing quietly.
Honestly…
That night was a disaster.
After the laughter faded, silence settled between us again.
Then finally—
I looked at him carefully.
"I met El today."
Kiegen blinked once.
"Who's El?"
I frowned immediately.
"What was her name again…?" I muttered while trying to remember. "I forgot. Your ex-girlfriend."
Kiegen suddenly laughed under his breath while shaking his head slightly.
"Elixera," he corrected softly.
"Yeah. Her."
For a second, he stayed silent while staring into the bonfire.
Then he smiled faintly.
But this time—
Something about it felt cold.
"Why did you meet her?" he asked quietly.
"Because I wanted to know why you looked sad," I answered honestly. "You weren't talking to me, so I had to dig it out myself."
Kiegen stayed silent for a moment before finally looking at me.
"Jay… not everything is about you."
"I know," I answered softly. "But you're not just anyone to me."
For a second—
something in his expression weakened slightly.
Then he looked back toward the bonfire.
"How is she?" he asked quietly.
"Good," I answered honestly.
Then after a small pause, I added carefully—
"She told me you almost choked her."
The moment those words left my mouth—
Kiegen stopped drinking.
Slowly, he lowered the glass and looked at me.
The laughter and noise from everyone else suddenly felt far away.
"Aren't you scared of me now?" he asked quietly.
I stared at him for a few seconds.
Then I smiled faintly.
"If I were scared," I said softly, "I wouldn't be sitting here drinking juice with you."
His eyes stayed on me silently.
Then I looked down at my own glass.
The bonfire crackled softly nearby while laughter echoed from the others in the background.
"Talk to her," I said quietly after a while. "Resolve things."
Kiegen let out a small, bitter laugh.
"You don't know what's wrong with me," he muttered while staring into the fire. "And you don't know why I did that. You—"
"Yes," I cut him off gently. "I can never fully understand what you went through because I wasn't actually in your place."
He stayed silent.
But I continued anyway.
"But I have been in that place where it feels like the whole world is against you."
My fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
"I know how it feels to lose control over yourself… over your own body."
My voice became quieter.
"To desperately want to do something good…"
Then I looked at him properly.
"…but somehow everything you touch ends up hurting the people around you instead."
For the first time since this conversation started—
Kiegen looked genuinely shaken.
Not because of fear.
But because someone finally understood the guilt, he never said it out loud.
Kiegen slowly looked at me.
"What do you mean you've been in my place?" he asked quietly. "Did you choke someone, too?"
For a moment, I stayed silent.
Then finally—
"You're not worse than me," I admitted quietly. "I almost killed my boyfriend too… and he choked me too."
Silence settled heavily between us again.
Not uncomfortable.
Just painfully honest.
Kiegen stared at me in shock.
"…Really?"
I nodded slowly.
"It was my fault too," I said softly. "Just like you, I had something wrong in my mind."
My eyes lowered toward the fire.
"Even Aries used to call me crazy sometimes."
I laughed faintly, but there was no humor in it.
"When I see blood… I change."
The words came out quieter now.
"And afterward, I barely remember what happened."
For a second, my throat tightened.
"I once almost killed Aries without even realizing it."
Kiegen's expression slowly changed.
Not judgment.
Not fear.
Just understanding.
"And if I were your girlfriend," I admitted honestly, "I'd probably be scared to even look at you, too."
The fire crackled between us.
"But you know what I did after everything with Aries?"
I looked at him properly.
"I still went back to talk to him."
Kiegen's eyes trembled slightly.
Then quietly, I asked—
"You still love her, don't you?"
For a long moment, he didn't answer.
Then finally—
His shoulders weakened slightly.
"I can't move on from that moment," he whispered.
His voice sounded broken now.
"The look on her face… her eyes…"
His grip tightened around the glass.
"The way she flinched when she saw me."
He laughed bitterly under his breath.
"I can't erase it from my mind."
I stayed silent, listening.
Because sometimes people don't need advice first.
They just need someone willing to sit beside their pain without running away.
"No one in this world fully understands your pain except you," I said quietly after a while.
"The person who knows your wounds best… is also the person who knows what caused them."
Kiegen stayed completely still.
"And maybe," I continued softly, "you already know what you need to do to finally let go."
The bonfire light flickered across his face.
"But you're scared."
I looked at him gently.
"Because healing means walking back toward the thing that hurt you instead of running away from it."
Kiegen stayed silent for a moment before quietly asking—
"Then how did Aries reach a point where he could welcome you back?"
I stared into the fire for a few seconds.
Then I smiled faintly.
"Nope," I said softly. "At first, he asked for time."
My fingers tightened slightly around the warm glass.
"He told me… 'I'll be your kuya again someday.'"
A small laugh escaped me.
"And he did."
The firelight flickered gently across the ground while everyone else laughed somewhere behind us.
"He understood me better than anyone," I continued quietly. "Because in the end… we chose a path where we wanted to love each other instead of hurting each other."
I lowered my eyes.
"But it took us four years to fix everything."
Kiegen stayed completely silent beside me.
"I hated him for avoiding me," I admitted honestly. "And I felt terrible because I thought he left me alone when I needed him most."
For a second, my voice weakened.
"I really thought I was done."
The memories still hurt sometimes.
"I thought nobody would ever accept how messed up I was."
I laughed softly under my breath.
"So eventually… I gave up on myself, too."
Then slowly—
I smiled.
"But then I met Kiefer."
Kiegen glanced at me quietly.
"He saw all my scars and stayed anyway."
Warmth slowly spread through my chest just talking about him.
"And you know something crazy?" I laughed softly. "Even if I lost control right now while holding a knife…"
I looked toward the house where Kiefer was carrying Caretaker while arguing with the others.
"…he would still walk toward me instead of running away."
For a moment, Kiegen didn't say anything.
"He makes me feel alive," I whispered honestly. "To the point where I can't imagine living without him anymore."
The fire crackled softly.
"He was the first person who looked at me without judging me."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"He never forced answers out of me. He just waited patiently… and kept seeing me as me."
Then I looked back at Kiegen carefully.
"I'm not saying you need someone like Kiefer to fix you," I said gently. "I just got lucky enough to meet him."
Silence settled again.
"But if you ever decide you want someone beside you while you figure things out…"
I nudged his shoulder lightly.
"I'll be there."
Then after a small pause, I added softly—
"And Kiefer too."
I smiled faintly.
"He's your brother."
My eyes moved toward the house again.
"Trust me… even if the whole world turns against you someday…"
I looked back at Kigen.
"He won't."
Kiegen smiled faintly at that before lowering his gaze.
"I know," he admitted quietly. "That's exactly why I can't say anything."
I understood immediately.
"Because hurting them scares you," I finished softly. "Because you're afraid they'll leave you."
For a second—
We both laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
But because it was painfully true.
Then suddenly, Kiegen leaned back slightly and said—
"Someone proposed to me."
My eyes widened instantly.
"WOW. You should've told me that first!" I smacked his shoulder immediately.
Kiegen laughed softly before pulling out his phone.
"How is she? Is she pretty?" I asked excitedly.
He unlocked the screen and showed me her photo.
The second I saw his expression while looking at it—
I noticed it.
That softness again.
That small unconscious smile.
Then I slowly looked back at him.
"Then why were you staring at El's picture earlier?"
Kiegen's smile slowly faded.
For a few seconds, he stayed silent.
"Is it really okay for me to love someone again?" he asked quietly.
The vulnerability in his voice caught me off guard.
"What if I hurt her too… the same way I hurt Elixera?"
I stared at him carefully before shaking my head slightly.
"You know," I said softly, "I thought you were looking at El's photo because you still loved her."
Kiegen looked at me quietly.
"But now I think it's different."
The firelight flickered between us.
"You're not scared of loving again."
I pointed lightly toward his phone.
"You're scared of yourself."
Silence settled between us again.
"Because if you still truly loved El," I continued gently, "you wouldn't smile like that while looking at another girl."
Kiegen froze slightly.
Then softly—
"Ate…"
"That's what love is," I interrupted while smiling faintly. "Clyden kuya once told me love is basically gambling."
Kiegen snorted quietly.
"You put everything on the line," I continued. "Your trust. Your pride. Your heart."
I looked toward the house where Kiefer's laughter echoed loudly now.
"And in return… You either get endless love or endless pain."
My chest softened instinctively.
"I already gambled everything on your brother…"
I looked toward the house where Kiefer's laughter echoed softly in the distance.
"…and I would do it again and again."
Then I smiled.
"And honestly?"
I looked back at Kigen.
"It was worth it."
The fire crackled softly.
"Because he was brave enough to take the first step toward me when everyone else stepped away."
Kiegen stayed silent for a while before suddenly asking—
"How did you know he was the one?"
I blinked.
"I mean…" Kiegen laughed quietly. "Kuya's stubborn, terrifying when angry, and honestly? I never imagined him being romantic."
He shook his head dramatically.
"If I were a girl, I probably wouldn't choose him."
I immediately gasped.
"If your brother hears that, you're dead."
Kiegen laughed for real this time.
Then slowly, my expression softened again.
"You'll understand someday," I said quietly.
His eyes met mine.
"You'll meet someone who stays beside you even while you're suffering."
The warmth in my chest deepened slightly.
"Someone who makes you breathe easier without even trying."
Then I smiled faintly.
"And someone who makes you stop feeling unworthy of being loved."
For a moment, Kiegen stayed quiet.
Then suddenly—
"I'm sorry, Ate."
My brows furrowed immediately.
"…Where is that coming from?"
Kiegen looked down at the glass in his hands.
"I've been thinking lately," he admitted quietly. "And maybe… You don't actually remember your past clearly."
Something inside my chest tightened instantly.
"What do you mean?"
His expression became complicated.
"I owe you an apology."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Cold.
I stared at him in confusion.
Did I forget something?
No…
I remembered everything, didn't I?
Then suddenly—
"What are you both doing here?"
I turned immediately.
Kiefer walked toward us, carrying another drink while looking suspicious already.
"Spending time together while gossiping," I answered casually.
"You should've called me," Kiefer complained while sitting down directly in front of us.
Then shamelessly—
He grabbed both my hand and Kiegen's hand at the same time.
"Now," he said seriously, "what were you talking about?"
"Nothing," Kiegen answered immediately. "I just asked her why she married my kuya."
Kiefer blinked once.
"…Really?"
"Hm."
Kiefer immediately leaned closer toward me.
"What did you say?" he asked curiously. "I want to hear it too."
I instantly grinned.
"It's a secret."
Kiegen suddenly started laughing beside me while I giggled proudly.
Kiefer looked genuinely betrayed.
Before he could complain further—
Kiran suddenly appeared behind us and wrapped his arms around both Kiegen and me dramatically.
"Are you all enjoying yourselves without me?" he complained.
"You're heavy," Kiegen muttered immediately.
Then from near the bonfire—
The rest of Section E suddenly started shouting at us.
"COME HERE!"
"THE FOOD IS READY!"
"WHO TOOK MY DRINK?!"
Chaos again.
Honestly…
These people could never stay quiet.
"Let's go," I said while standing up.
Then quietly, before walking away, I leaned slightly toward Kiegen and whispered—
"Introduce me to her someday."
Kiegen froze for a second before smiling softly.
"…Okay."
Then Kiran dragged him away toward the bonfire.
A few seconds later, only Kiefer and I remained behind.
The night breeze felt colder now.
Kiefer quietly intertwined his fingers with mine.
"What did you and Kiegen really talk about?" he asked softly.
I looked toward the fire for a second before answering—
"Just love lives… maybe."
"Oh," he hummed quietly.
Silence settled between us.
Then finally—
I looked at him carefully.
"Kiefer…"
"Hm?"
"Did I really recover all my memories?"
For one second—
too quick for anyone else to notice—
something flickered across his face.
Then he smiled calmly.
"Yes," he answered.
But somehow…
His hand tightened around mine slightly.
And that tiny movement alone told me everything.
He was lying.
Which meant—
There was still something I didn't remember.
Author's Note:I know this chapter was longer than usual, but I didn't want to break the emotional flow between the scenes. I hope you enjoyed every moment of it.