Jay's POV
A soft knock on the door pulled her out of sleep.
"Jay," Keifer's voice came from outside. Calm. Controlled. "Wake up."
She groaned. "Five more minutes…"
The door opened anyway.
"Absolutely not," he said.
She opened one eye. "You have no respect for personal space."
"You were drunk last night. You don't get privacy rights today."
He placed a glass of water on the bedside table and a neatly arranged breakfast tray beside it.
Jay blinked. "Did you make this?"
"Yes."
"You cook?"
"I manage."
That made her smile a little despite her headache.
He also placed medicine beside the water. "Take it after eating."
She squinted. "Are you always this bossy?"
"Yes," he replied simply.
She shook her head but started eating anyway
For a while, the room stayed quiet. Comfortable.
After finishing a little, she spoke softly.
"Keifer…"
"Hm?"
She hesitated. "Who lives here?"
He turned slightly, then sat on the chair beside the bed.
"My brothers," he said. "Keiren and Keigan. They're on a school trip right now."
"So you're alone most of the time?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then Jay asked gently, "Your parents?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Keifer didn't answer for a moment.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"When I was sixteen," he said slowly, voice low but steady, "my mother was killed right in front of me by my father."
Jay froze completely
No sound. No movement.
He continued.
"I had to take responsibility for my brothers after that."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"That monster of a father of mine…" he said coldly, "is my enemy."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy. Real.
Jay slowly placed her hand over his.
He looked at it—but didn't pull away.
For a moment, he just stayed still.
Then Jay whispered, "You were just a kid…"
"I didn't have a choice," he said quietly.
A pause.
"I just survived."
Her grip tightened gently.
"You're not alone now," she said softly.
That line stayed between them.
Then Keifer looked at her.
"Your family?" he asked suddenly.
Jay blinked slightly, then looked down.
"My parents… died when I was younger," she said quietly. "Car accident."
A small pause.
"And my older brother, Percy Mariano… he lives in New York."
"He's coming to London in a week."
Keifer repeated softly, "Percy Mariano…"
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes—but he didn't interrupt.
Jay continued, voice softer now.
"He raised me a lot… so he's like my only family left."
Silence again.
Two broken pasts sitting in the same room.
But this time… it didn't feel heavy.
It felt understood.
Keifer finally squeezed her hand gently.
"You both carried too much alone," he said quietly.
Jay nodded. "Not anymore.
And for the first time that morning—
Neither of them felt alone in their pain.