Jay jay (pov)
The words stayed between us.
Heavy.
Quiet.
The car slowed… then stopped.
He didn't say anything.
For a second, I thought he would just keep driving.
But instead—
he leaned forward.
And rested his forehead against the steering wheel.
Still.
Too still.
My chest tightened instantly.
"…Keif."
No response.
His shoulders moved slightly with his breath.
Not fast.
Not broken.
Just—
tired.
Like everything inside him had finally caught up at once.
I shifted closer in my seat, my hand moving to his back without thinking.
"Breathe, Keif," I said softly.
My palm moved slowly against his back, up and down, gentle, steady.
"We'll figure it out," I continued.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
"Okay?"
My voice stayed calm, even if my heart wasn't.
"I'm here."
I kept rubbing his back, small circles now, slow and grounding.
"Don't lose hope," I whispered.
Silence.
But not empty.
After a few seconds—
he moved.
Slowly.
He lifted his head from the steering wheel.
And looked at me.
And for a moment—
everything else disappeared.
Because the way he looked at me—
Soft.
So soft.
Like I was the only thing holding him together right now.
But behind that—
there was still something else.
Pain.
Not loud.
Not breaking.
But there.
Lingering in his eyes like something he couldn't fully let go of.
My heart tightened.
"…you don't have to carry this alone," I thought.
I reached up and cupped his face gently, my hands warm against his skin, making him look at me properly.
"Hey," I said softly.
His gaze stayed on mine.
"Don't worry, okay?"
My thumb brushed lightly against his cheek.
"I'm here."
I held his face a little more firmly now.
Not letting him look away.
"Whatever it is," I added quietly, "we'll handle it."
Together.
I didn't say the last word.
But I knew—
he understood it.
And for a moment—
he didn't look away.
For a moment, we just stayed like that.
Close.
Quiet.
His eyes still on mine.
That softness still there… mixed with something heavier he hadn't fully let go of.
"…you don't have to say anything more," I thought.
I leaned in slowly.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
And pressed a small kiss against his lips.
Just a soft peck.
But gentle.
Warm.
The kind that doesn't try to say everything—
but still means everything.
I pulled back slightly, my hands still on his face.
"…I'm here," I wanted him to feel it more than hear it.
For a second, he just looked at me.
Really looked.
Something in his eyes shifted again.
Softer.
Quieter.
"You do that," he said quietly, his voice low, almost a breath, "and suddenly everything feels… a little less heavy."
My lips curved without me trying.
"Good," I said softly. "Then I'll keep doing it."
A faint smile formed on his face.
This time—
real.
Not forced.
Not hiding anything.
"…there you are," I thought.
He started the car again.
The drive felt different now.
Still quiet—
but not tense.
I leaned slightly toward the window, but my eyes kept drifting back to him.
Every few seconds.
Just checking.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"Drive's on this side," he said lightly, glancing at me for a second.
I smiled a little. "I know."
"Then why are you staring?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
"…maybe a little."
He shook his head slightly, but that small smile stayed.
And somehow—
that was enough for me.
The rest of the drive passed like that.
Soft glances.
Small silence.
But this time—
it felt safe.
We reached my house.
The car stopped.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he got out, came around, and opened the door for me.
Like always.
But when I stepped out—
he didn't step back.
Instead—
he stepped closer.
And pulled me into a hug.
Tight.
His arms wrapped around me like he didn't want space between us again.
One hand settled at my back, the other holding me closer.
I froze for just a second—
then melted into it.
"…this again," I thought softly.
But this time—
it felt different.
He leaned down slightly, burying his face into the crook of my neck.
Warm.
Close.
I felt his breath against my skin.
Then—
he nuzzled slightly into my hair.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Just—
comfort.
"Thank you…" he murmured quietly against me.
So soft I almost didn't hear it.
"…for everything."
My heart tightened at that.
My hands moved up his back slowly, holding him just a little tighter.
"…you don't have to thank me," I thought.
But I didn't say it out loud.
Instead, I stayed there.
With him.
Exactly like this.
I've got this.
And somehow—
that made me feel a little less like I was about to die.
"…okay," I thought.
I didn't want to move.
His arms were still around me.
Warm.
Safe.
For a second, I thought—
maybe I could just stay like this a little longer.
But then—
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The voice cut through the air like a knife.
Sharp.
Cold.
And my entire body froze.
"…no."
Slowly—
too slowly—
I pulled back.
And turned.
Kuya.
Standing a few steps away.
Arms crossed.
Eyes locked on us.
No—
not just us.
On him.
My heart dropped straight to my stomach.
"…I'm dead."
Keifer didn't react much.
Not the way I did.
But I felt it—
the slight shift.
His arms loosened.
Then he stepped back.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like always.
"…how are you this calm?" I thought, panicking inside.
"Jay."
That tone.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Worse.
Controlled.
My brain stopped working.
"I—no—this is not—what you think—" I started immediately, words tripping over each other.
Why am I talking so fast—
"We were just—like—standing—no hugging—okay, there was hugging but not like hugging hugging—just normal—very normal—friendly normal—like people hug—friends—good friends—very good friends but not like that—"
I stopped.
"…what am I even saying?"
Kuya just stared at me.
Not blinking.
Not reacting.
That made it worse.
"I mean—we are not—like—not in that way—like—no label—like—just—existing—together—but separately—like independently—"
I closed my eyes for a second.
"…shut up, Jay."
This was getting worse.
"So you're not in a relationship," Kuya said flatly.
"Yes," I said immediately.
Then paused.
"…no—wait—yes—but no—like—not officially—but also—"
I looked at Keifer for help.
"…help me."
He didn't say anything.
Just stood there.
Calm.
Watching.
"…you're enjoying this."
I turned back to Kuya.
"We were just talking," I added quickly.
"And hugging."
"…why did I add that."
Kuya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Inside," he said.
Just one word.
Oh.
Great.
"…this is it."
I glanced at Keifer again.
He still looked calm.
Too calm.
But this time—
his eyes met mine for a second.
And there was something there.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Just—
I've got this.
And somehow—
that made me feel a little less like I was about to die.
"…okay," I thought.
Maybe—
just maybe—
I'll survive this.