(Jay's POV)
The house felt different again.
Full.
Alive.
Voices echoed through the halls as my family arrived, filling the silence I had grown used to. My mother's soft laughter, Aries' calm tone, and Jare's teasing voice—it all felt… familiar.
Comforting.
For a moment, I almost forgot where I was.
"Jayjay," my mom called, pulling me into a warm hug.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you too," I replied softly.
Jare ruffled my hair like he always did. "Still the same, huh?"
I rolled my eyes slightly. "You haven't changed either."
But even as I smiled…
I felt it.
That presence.
Keifer.
Standing just behind me.
Watching.
I didn't turn to him.
Not immediately.
But I could feel his gaze—heavy, focused.
And then—
"Jare," he said calmly. "Come with me."
I glanced up slightly.
That was… unexpected.
Jare raised a brow but shrugged. "Sure."
They walked off together, disappearing down the hallway.
Something about it felt… serious.
I tried not to think about it.
Tried to focus on my family instead.
But my mind kept drifting.
Why would he take Jare like that?
What was he asking?
A few minutes later, they returned.
Jare's expression was different.
Not worried.
Not tense.
Just… thoughtful.
Keifer walked beside him, just as calm as always—but there was something in his eyes now.
Something heavier.
Something I couldn't read.
I didn't ask.
I didn't want to.
As everyone settled into the living room, I moved to sit beside my mother.
But before I could—
A hand wrapped around my wrist.
I paused.
Keifer.
"Sit here," he said quietly.
Not harsh.
Not cold.
Just… firm.
I looked at him for a second.
Then, without arguing, I sat beside him.
It didn't stop there.
His arm rested behind me, not fully around me—but close enough. His fingers occasionally brushed my shoulder, like he needed to remind himself I was there.
I stayed still.
Letting it happen.
Like before.
Jare noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes flicked between us, a small smirk forming on his face.
But this time… he didn't say anything.
"Jay," my mom said, smiling. "Are you taking care of yourself?"
"I am," I replied softly.
Before I could say more—
Keifer spoke.
"She is."
My breath hitched slightly.
I glanced at him.
That was new.
His hand shifted, resting lightly against my waist now.
Not tight.
Not controlling.
Just… there.
Present.
Claiming.
⸻
I should have moved.
I didn't.
As the conversation continued, I felt him get closer.
Subtly.
Slowly.
Until his shoulder brushed mine.
Then stayed there.
I leaned slightly away at first.
Out of habit.
Out of distance.
But then…
I stopped.
And leaned back.
Just a little.
His hand tightened slightly at my waist.
Barely noticeable.
But I felt it.
I didn't look at him.
But I knew.
He noticed too.
Across the room, Jare was watching.
Not teasing this time.
Just… observing.
Like he understood something had changed.
⸻
Later, when I stood up to bring tea, Keifer followed.
Of course he did.
"Where are you going?" he asked quietly.
"To the kitchen," I replied.
"I'll come."
I didn't argue.
⸻
As I poured the tea, I felt him behind me.
Close.
Too close.
"You didn't have to follow me," I said.
"I know," he replied.
A pause.
Then, softer—
"I wanted to."
My hands stilled for a second.
That wasn't like him.
I didn't respond.
Didn't turn.
But I didn't move away either.
When I turned around, he was right there.
Close enough that I had to tilt my head slightly to look at him.
His eyes searched mine.
Like he was trying to understand something.
Something he should have understood long ago.
⸻
But I didn't give him anything.
Not anymore.
I picked up the tray and walked past him.
And this time—
He didn't stop me.
But he followed.
Still close.
Still there.
And somehow…
Even without words…
I could feel it.
He was trying.
In the way only way he knew how
✦ PRIVATE TALK ✦
(Keifer's POV)
I watched her laugh.
For a moment… it didn't feel real.
Jay.
Smiling. Talking. Looking… alive.
Not cold. Not distant. Not that quiet version of herself that had been haunting this house for weeks.
This was different.
This was her.
The version I never paid attention to when I had the chance.
My jaw tightened slightly.
I looked away.
"Jare," I said calmly. "Come with me."
He didn't question it. Of course he didn't. He knew me too well for that.
We walked down the hallway in silence until the voices faded.
Only then did I stop.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me carefully.
"What is it?" he asked.
Straight to the point.
I didn't answer immediately.
For a second… I didn't even know how to start.
That alone annoyed me.
I always knew what to say.
Always.
But this—
This wasn't business.
This wasn't control.
This was her.
"What happened to her?" I asked finally.
Jare didn't move.
"Before she came here," I continued, my voice steady. "What happened?"
His eyes changed slightly.
Not surprised.
Just… serious.
"You'll have to be more specific," he said.
I exhaled slowly.
"She reacts to things," I said. "Certain things. Fear. Violence."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"Like she's seen it before."
Jare looked at me for a long moment.
Studying me.
Judging me.
⸻
"And now you're asking?" he said.
There was no anger in his tone.
That made it worse.
My jaw tightened.
"This isn't a game, Jare."
"I know," he replied calmly. "That's why I'm surprised."
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
I stepped closer, my voice dropping slightly.
"She fainted," I said. "She broke down over something that shouldn't have affected her that much."
Shouldn't have.
That word felt wrong the moment I said it.
Jare noticed.
Of course he did.
"Shouldn't have?" he repeated quietly.
I didn't respond.
Because I already knew.
I was wrong.
He straightened slightly, his expression hardening just a little.
"She went through things you don't know about," he said. "Things none of us talk about easily."
My chest tightened.
"Then tell me."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"No?" I repeated.
⸻
Jare pushed himself off the wall, standing properly now.
"You're not the one who should hear it from me," he said.
I held his gaze.
"Then who?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Her."
The word hit harder than I expected.
Her.
Jay.
⸻
"If you want to know what broke her," Jare continued, his voice calm but firm, "ask her."
Silence.
I didn't look away.
But something in me… shifted.
"She won't tell me," I said.
That wasn't an assumption.
That was fact.
⸻
Jare let out a quiet breath.
"Then maybe ask yourself why."
That one—
That one landed.
For a second, I didn't have an answer.
And I hated that.
"She used to look at you like you were everything," Jare added, quieter now. "You know that, right?"
My chest tightened.
I didn't respond.
"And now?" he continued. "Now she looks at you like you're nothing."
I clenched my jaw.
"That didn't happen for no reason, Keifer."
Silence filled the space again.
But this time…
It felt heavier.
⸻
Jare stepped past me, stopping briefly beside me.
"If you really want to know her," he said quietly, "don't ask me."
A pause.
"Earn it."
Then he walked away.
Leaving me standing there.
Alone.
I stayed still for a long moment.
Thinking.
Replaying everything.
Her silence.
Her distance.
The way she stopped looking at me.
The way she still came to me… when I was breaking.
My chest tightened.
Without another thought, I turned and walked back.
⸻
When I entered the room, my eyes found her instantly.
Of course they did.
She was sitting beside her mother, calm, composed… distant.
Like always.
I walked toward her.
Not stopping.
Not hesitating.
"Sit here," I said, taking her wrist gently.
She looked at me for a second.
Then sat beside me.
No argument.
No emotion.
My arm rested behind her.
Close enough to feel her.
Not close enough to push her away.
I didn't look at her.
But I stayed there.
Near.
Because for the first time…
I understood something.
I didn't need answers from Jare.
I needed them from her.
And this time…
I wasn't going to ignore it.