KEIFER'S POV
"Jay..."
I called her softly.
She slowly turned her head toward me. The moment her eyes landed on me, she froze. For a few seconds, she simply stared. Then, unexpectedly, she smiled. A soft. Genuine. Heartbreaking smile.
"Finally..." she whispered. "You're here. I was waiting for you."
I frowned in confusion. No yelling. No insults. No punches. No curses. Nothing. Did she even recognize me? Then she spoke again.
"Keif, you know..."
She looked toward the ocean.
"Seeing you in my dreams is much better than seeing you in reality. I like it this way. No lies. No broken hearts. No pain. Just you and me."
Ah.
She thought she was dreaming. And judging by the way she said it... She dreamed about me often. The realization made me smile. She still missed me. She still loved me. But right now, I needed answers.
"Jay, why are you here? Did something happen?"
Another tear slipped from her eyes. Her voice shook when she answered.
"Yeah. Something happened. That's why I'm here."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
She laughed bitterly. A laugh with no happiness behind it.
"He moved on."
My heart dropped.
"He's engaged to someone else." Her voice cracked. "He's gone."
So she knew. She knew about the engagement. But how? No. That didn't matter right now. I needed to comfort her.
"Jay..."
I gently took her hand.
"I'm yours. I'll break the engagement. I promise. I'll come back to you."
A small, sad smile appeared on her lips.
"Maybe...Maybe not."
Silence followed. Only the sound of the waves filled the space between us. Then I finally said the words I had carried for weeks.
"Jay Jay, I'm sorry. I know I broke your heart."
I swallowed hard.
"I made mistakes I can never take back. But I'm trying. Because I love you. I can't imagine my life without you. I've been in relationships before. But I've never felt like this. After my mother..."
I smiled sadly.
"You're the only person I've ever loved this deeply. So I'll keep trying. I'll become better."
A better man. A better partner. A better version of myself.
"Someone who won't break your heart. Someone who can control his emotions. Someone worthy of your love."
For a moment, she simply stared at me. Then suddenly she smiled. A real smile.
"And someone who buys me food."
A laugh escaped me immediately. A genuine one.
"Definitely."
Then she moved closer. Slowly wrapping her arms around my neck. For a second, I froze. Then I understood. She wanted a hug.
And honestly...
I needed one too. So I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. After weeks of stress, pressure, and loneliness... I finally found the comfort I'd been searching for. She rested her head against my shoulder.
And quietly said—
"You don't always have to be strong in front of me. You can be vulnerable too, Kiefer. Behind all those responsibilities...Behind everything you're carrying..."
She tightened her hold slightly.
"You're still human. And humans are allowed to be tired. They're allowed to be soft. They're allowed to hurt."
Then she whispered—
"So if you ever need a hug... Or someone to lean on... Come to me."
And that was it.
The final wall I had been holding up shattered. I broke down. Every painful memory came rushing back. My father. My mother. The responsibilities. The pressure. The fear. The loneliness. Everything.
And for the first time in a very long time...
I cried. Not because I was weak. But because I finally felt safe enough to. Safe enough to let someone see the broken parts of me. And somehow... That person was always her.
When I finally calmed down, I looked at her. Her eyes were still glassy. Her cheeks stained with dried tears. I took a deep breath. There was one question I needed to ask. One question I had been terrified of.
"Jay?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you ever forgive me? If I break the engagement? If I come back and apologize?"
She didn't hesitate. Not even for a second.
"I will."
I froze. Completely stunned.
"Why?"
She smiled softly.
"Because I love you, Keif. I know you had your reasons. And I know you still love me."
I laughed quietly.
"Yeah. I do."
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
We simply sat there together. Holding on to the peace we had both missed. Then suddenly she cupped my face and grinned mischievously.
"Keif..."
I fallen in love with this word only because she called me . I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You've gotten more handsome. A lot more handsome."
My face instantly heated up. And she wasn't finished.
"You know..."
She tilted her head.
"The last time I saw you, I wanted to kiss you so badly. I should have kissed you . didn't I ?"
I stared at her. Speechless. Meanwhile, she looked completely serious.
I, Kiefer Watson...
Was blushing. Actually blushing. Because the love of my life complimented me. This was embarrassing. Very embarrassing. And Jay? This girl had somehow become ten times bolder. Then she rested her head against my shoulder again.
And if she is so bold , why don't take some advantage ?
"Ohh really? Then you should have kissed me, baby. I'm all yours Afterall."
Then she looked at me with a euthanistic smile . "Really? "
"Really?" I said, a wide smile spreading across my face.
Then without even waiting for any other second she kissed me . And I love that , The kiss was so intense and desperate , I pushed my tongue in her mouth and she tilted her head like she was giving me invitation . That kiss turned into a French kiss. When we both were breathless we finally pulled away .
And believe seeing my own jay jay kissing me like this was the best thing in the world.
After our intense kiss session she moved and and seat on my lap , she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my neck .
"Kiefer..." Her voice was softer now. Sleepier. "I love you. Please come back."
I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"I promise I will." Then I smiled. "Now get some sleep, Jay Jay."
A few minutes later, her breathing became steady. She had fallen asleep.
And as I looked down at her sleeping peacefully in my arms, only one thought crossed my mind. No matter what it took. No matter how long it took. I was coming back to her.
When I was finally sure she had fallen asleep, I carefully adjusted her position in my arms. She looked peaceful now. Calm.
Like all the pain she had been carrying had finally disappeared, even if only for a little while.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face before looking at the smartwatch wrapped around her wrist. Kuya Cris had told me about it before. An emergency button. A way to contact him whenever needed. After staring at it for a moment, I pressed it.
Then I waited.
The entire time, I kept Jay Jay close. Not wanting to let go. Not wanting to leave. But knowing I had to. Around fifteen minutes later, headlights appeared in the distance. A black car slowly approached the beach. I recognized it immediately.
Kuya Cris.
The moment he stepped out, his eyes landed on us. More specifically On the sleeping girl in my arms. His eyebrows immediately furrowed. Confusion flashed across his face as he walked toward us.
"Kiefer?"
I looked up.
"What are you doing here? And why is Jay sleeping like that?"
I sighed softly.
"Let me put her in the car first."
He nodded. Together, we carefully helped her into the passenger seat. I made sure her head was resting comfortably before fastening the seatbelt around her.
For a moment, I simply stood there. Looking at her. Memorizing her face again. Just in case it would be a while before I saw her next. Then I quietly closed the door. Only after that did I turn toward Cris.
"I came here to see her. But when I found her...She was already drunk."
Cris followed my gaze. A tired sigh escaped him. Then he finally spoke.
"I told her about your engagement. She's hurting, Kiefer."
My chest tightened painfully. Because I already knew. I had seen it myself. The tears. The broken voice. The hopelessness. Then Cris asked the question I knew was coming.
"Why did you do it?"
I immediately shook my head.
"I didn't. I'm being forced into this arrangement."
I clenched my fists. Thinking about those old men was enough to ruin my mood.
"But I'll break it. The moment I get my inheritance. I promise."
Cris studied me carefully. Like he was trying to determine whether I was lying. Or making excuses. Eventually, he sighed.
"This is Jay Jay we're talking about. You better be sure."
Without hesitation, I answered.
"I am."
Because there was nothing in this world I was more certain of.
"I just need a little more time."
Silence settled between us. Then I hesitated. There was one more thing I needed to ask.
"Kuya..."
Cris looked at me. His expression immediately softened. Almost like he already knew what I was about to say. I took a deep breath.
"Don't tell her I was here."
His eyebrows rose slightly.
"What?"
I glanced toward the sleeping girl inside the car. A small smile appeared on my face.
"She thinks I'm just a dream. So let her keep believing that. At least until I come back."
For a few seconds, Cris simply stared at me. Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Sure."
Relief immediately washed over me.
"Thank you, Kuya Cris."
He shook his head.
"No need to thank me."
Then, unexpectedly, he placed a hand on my shoulder. The gesture caught me completely off guard. His smile became warmer. Almost brotherly.
"I know you're doing your best. And I'm proud of you."
For a moment, I couldn't speak. Couldn't respond. I simply nodded. A silent acknowledgment.
Because honestly... Those words meant more than he probably realized. Then suddenly, I smirked. Trying to lighten the mood before I got emotional again.
"You know..."
Cris raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
I pointed at him.
"You're definitely the best among all of Jay Jay's Kuyas."
The man immediately looked pleased with himself. Way too pleased. A proud grin spread across his face.
"That's exactly why she calls me the best."
I laughed. Actually laughed. For the first time that night.
And for a brief moment—
Standing there under the moonlight. With Jay Jay sleeping safely inside the car. And one of her brothers standing beside me. Everything felt okay. Not perfect. Not yet. But okay. And for now...
That was enough. Because one day I would come back. Not as the broken man who left her. But as someone worthy of standing beside her.
Someone worthy of being called—
Jasper Jean's Keifer Watson.