Everything was fine.
Percy's apartment was lit, warm, chaotic—as usual.
Which is exactly why the loud knock at the door felt illegal.
Percy looked at me. I looked at him.
"…you open it," he said.
"Why me?"
"Because I value my life."
I rolled my eyes and walked to the door, already annoyed.
The moment I opened it—
Regret.
Immediate regret.
Keifer.
Standing there like trouble wrapped in confidence.
And behind him—
Three more people.
A serious-looking boy (Keigan), a small kid already scanning the place like he was about to roast someone (Keiren), and—
Her.
I didn't know who she was.
But I didn't like her.
"Hi," Keifer said casually, like he hadn't just ruined my peace. "Power's out in our apartment."
"Okay," I said flatly.
He blinked. "Okay?"
"Yeah. Okay. Good luck with that."
And I started closing the door.
His hand shot out, stopping it.
"Wow," he chuckled. "Not even pretending to be nice?"
"I don't have to pretend anything."
Percy popped up behind me. "Ohhh we're starting strong today."
"Stay out of this," I muttered.
Keifer leaned slightly closer to the door, eyes locked on mine. "Let us in."
"No."
Behind him, the little one—Keiren—whispered loudly, "She's scary."
I ignored him.
"You can go somewhere else," I said.
Keifer raised a brow. "Or… I can stay here."
"You're not staying here."I said
"And why not?" he asked, tone still calm but clearly enjoying this.
"Because I said so."
He smiled.
That slow, annoying smile.
"Still bossy."
"Still irritating."
"Still affected," he corrected.
My grip tightened on the door.
"I'm not affected."
"Then prove it," he said simply.
I froze for half a second.
He saw it.
Of course he did.
"If I don't affect you," he continued, voice dropping just enough, "then letting me in shouldn't be a problem."
I hated how logical that sounded.
I hated him more for knowing it.
Percy leaned over my shoulder. "He's got a point. A very annoying point—but still a point."
I turned to glare at him. "Whose side are you on?"
"Entertainment's side."
Useless.
I looked back at Keifer.
At his stupid confident face.
At the girl behind him—
Calm. Composed. Watching me like she was already judging.
Something inside me snapped.
I stepped back.
"Fine," I said. "Come in."
Percy clapped softly. "Character growth. I'm proud."
"Shut up."
—
They walked in.
Keiren immediately looked around. "This place is nicer."
"It's the personality," Percy said. "Very expensive."
Keigan nodded politely. "Sorry for the trouble."
"You're not the trouble," Percy pointed at Keifer. "He is."
"Good to know," Keifer smirked.
And then—
Her.
She walked in last.
Straight posture. Calm eyes.
And she went directly to Keifer.
"Did you check the fuse?" she asked him.
"I did,there was some serious wiring issue" he replied. "I can't fix it"
She sighed lightly, almost… fondly. "It's okay"
That tone.
That familiarity.
My mood dropped instantly.
Percy leaned toward me and whispered,
"Ohhh new character. I sense drama."
I elbowed him.
"Who is she?" I muttered.
"Don't know," he whispered back. "But you look like you want to fight her."
"I don't."
"Your face says otherwise."
—
We all stood there awkwardly for a second.
Then I crossed my arms. "So… how long are you planning to stay?"
Keifer shrugged. "Until the power's back."
"Which could be all night," Percy added cheerfully. "Surprise sleepover!"
"Not happening," I said immediately.
"Oh?" Keifer looked at me again. "You deciding for everyone now?"
"Yes."
He stepped a little closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"That's not how this works."
"That's exactly how this works."
"That confidence…" he murmured. "I missed it."
"I didn't miss you."
"Liar."
Before I could snap back—
"She clearly doesn't want us here."
The girl spoke.
Calm. Direct.
I turned to her slowly.
"And you are?"
She held my gaze without hesitation. "Luna."
That was it.
No explanation. No hesitation.
Just confidence.
I didn't like it.
Later at the dinning table
The tension from earlier hadn't left.
It was just… sitting there.
At the table.
Between all of us.
Breathing.
Watching.
Waiting.
—
Percy clapped his hands once, dropping into his chair like he was hosting a reality show. "Alright, before anyone throws cutlery again, I have a very important question."
I already knew this would be bad.
He pointed dramatically at Keifer. "Who. Is. She."
Straight.
No filter.
No shame.
I almost kicked him.
Keifer didn't even look surprised.
He leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed. "Luna."
"I got that," Percy waved. "I meant the role. Every good story needs one."
Keiren whispered loudly, "She looks like a villain."
"I like you," Percy nodded. "You understand narrative."
Luna didn't react.
Of course she didn't.
Perfect posture. Perfect expression. Perfect control.
I hated it.
Keifer finally answered, eyes flicking to her for a second. "She's my secretary's sister."
I blinked.
"…what?"
Percy blinked too. "Wait. That's a job now?"
Keifer smirked slightly. "My secretary—Honey—is out of the country. Luna's helping for a few days."
"Helping," Percy repeated slowly, looking between them. "Right. With… what exactly?"
"Work," Luna replied calmly.
"Ah yes," Percy nodded. "The very intense work of standing close."
I choked on my water.
Keifer's lips twitched.
Luna just looked at Percy. "You talk a lot."
"I'm handsome," he said instantly. "It's part of the package."
"No, it's not," I muttered.
"It is," he insisted. "People expect charm when they see this face."
"No one expects anything."
"Jealousy again," he whispered to me.
"I will end you."
—
But my attention was already back on Luna.
Secretary's sister.
Helping him.
For a few days.
That shouldn't bother me.
It didn't mean anything.
Right?
Then why was she still sitting so close?
Why was her hand still brushing his arm like it belonged there?
Why was he letting it?
—
"You should eat," Luna said softly again, adjusting his plate.
"I am eating."he said
"Not properly."
"I'll survive."
She smiled slightly. "You always say that."
That tone.
That familiar tone.
Like she knew him.
Like she had the right to say things like that.
My fork hit the plate again.
Clink.
Percy leaned toward me slowly. "And we're back."
"Shut up."
"Oh I'm not talking. I'm observing. As a very handsome observer."
"You're not—"
"I AM."
"—not relevant."
"Pain."
—
"Is there something you want to say?" Luna asked calmly.
There it was.
Direct.
I looked up.
Met her eyes.
Smiled.
Not nicely.
"Yeah," I said. "Actually."
Percy straightened instantly. "Round two."
Keifer didn't stop me.
Of course he didn't.
"You're very… involved," I continued, eyes flicking to her hand on Keifer's arm.
She followed my gaze.
And instead of moving it—
She left it there.
"Oh?" she said softly. "Does that bother you?"
"No," I replied instantly.
"Then why are you staring?"
"Because it's hard not to notice when someone forgets boundaries."
Silence.
Sharp.
Percy whispered, "OH SHE SAID BOUNDARIES—"
"Percy," Keigan warned.
"I'M INVESTED."
Luna tilted her head slightly. "I'm not crossing any."
"You are," I said simply.
"How?"
"You act like you belong there," I nodded toward Keifer.
She smiled.
Small.
Controlled.
"And what if I do?"
My grip tightened.
"You don't."
"And how would you know?" she challenged.
I leaned forward.
Voice lower now.
"Because people who belong… don't have to prove it this hard."
That landed.
I saw it.
Just for a second.
Percy whispered like he was witnessing history, "Mic drop incoming…"
Luna leaned forward too now, matching my energy. "And people who are secure don't react like this."
I smiled.
Cold.
"Good thing I'm not trying to impress you."
"You're trying to prove something," she said.
"No," I replied calmly. "I'm just pointing out what's obvious."
"And what's that?"
"That you're trying too hard."
Silence.
Heavy.
Keifer exhaled quietly.
Not stopping it.
Not interfering.
Just watching.
Always watching.
—
"Jay," he finally said, voice low.
I didn't look at him. "What?"
"Relax."
"No."
One word.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Luna sat back slightly now, studying me. "You're making this personal."
"It already is," I said.
"Why?"
I looked at her.
Then at him.
Then back at her.
And smiled.
"Figure it out."
Percy clutched his chest. "I'm framing that line."
"Shut up."
The table went quiet again.
But the tension didn't leave.
It just shifted.
Settled deeper.
More dangerous.
—
And the worst part?
I could feel Keifer's eyes on me the whole time.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Interested.
Like he was enjoying this.
Like he wanted to see how far I'd go.
And honestly?
That annoyed me more than anything else.
Because I didn't know if I was fighting Luna—
Or playing right into his game.
I shouldn't have stayed in the kitchen.
But I did.
Because leaving felt like losing.
And staying felt like torture.
So obviously—I chose torture.
I was pretending to focus on the sink, on the water, on anything that wasn't the image stuck in my head—
Luna's hand on him.
Her voice.
That ease.
That closeness.
God.
"Still thinking about it?"
His voice.
Low.
"Go away, Keifer."
A soft chuckle behind me. "You always say that."
I gripped the glass tighter. "What do you want, Keifer?"
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Until he was right behind me.
Close enough that I could feel him there without even looking.
"Wanted to see," he said quietly, "how long you'd pretend."
I turned then.
Too fast.
Too close.
We were barely a step apart.
"I'm not pretending anything."
"Hmm," he tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning my face like he was reading something written there. "You've been staring at her all night."
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I just don't like her."
"There it is," he murmured.
"What?"
"That reason you keep repeating," he said, a small smirk forming. "It's getting weaker every time."
I scoffed. "Maybe because you're not listening."
"Or maybe," he stepped closer, voice dropping, "because it's not the real reason."
My breath hitched slightly.
Annoying.
I hated that he did that.
"Stop overthinking," I snapped.
"I'm not the one overthinking," he said. "You're the one reacting."
"I'm not reacting."
"Jay," he said softly, and somehow that was worse than him teasing, "you literally picked a fight at dinner."
"Because she was—"
"What?" he cut in. "Sitting next to me?"
Yes
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Silence.
His smirk deepened.
"Wow," he said quietly. "You're not even trying to hide it now."
"I didn't mean—"
"You did," he stepped closer again, backing me slightly toward the counter. "So that's why you're mad?"
"I'm not mad."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You're jealous."
"I AM NOT JEALOUS."
"Say it softer," he murmured. "Maybe it'll sound more believable."
I glared at him. "Go talk to Luna."
There.
It slipped out again.
Sharp.
Unfiltered.
And the second it did—
I knew.
He knew too.
"Oh," he exhaled, almost amused. "So it is about her."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It's not."
"Then why bring her up?" he challenged.
I opened my mouth—
Nothing came out.
Because I didn't have an answer that didn't prove him right.
His voice softened.
Dangerously.
"You don't like her being close to me."
My chest tightened.
"I just don't like her," I said again, weaker this time.
"Yeah," he nodded slightly, eyes locked on mine. "That's what I said."
Before I could move—
He stepped even closer.
No space left now.
My back almost touching the counter.
My breath caught.
"Keifer—"
"Relax," he murmured. "You're the one who said you don't care."
"I don't."
"Then stop reacting like this."
"I'm not—"
"You are," he said quietly. "Every time I look at you… you give it away."
My heart was beating too fast.
Too loud.
I hated it.
"I don't care who you're with," I said, forcing the words out.
"Good," he replied softly.
But he didn't move away.
"Move," I said, but it came out weaker than I wanted.
"Make me."
God.
He always did that.
Pushed.
Waited.
Watched.
Like he wanted to see exactly where I'd break.
"I don't care," I said again, forcing it out.
"Say it like you mean it."
"I don't care."
"Look at me."
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
But that was enough.
He saw it.
Of course he did.
"Exactly," he murmured.
And before I could react—
He leaned in.
And kissed me.
—
This time—
It wasn't sudden.
Not rushed.
Not like a mistake.
It was slow.
Intentional.
Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
Like he wanted me to feel it.
And for a moment—
I didn't push him away.
Didn't think.
Didn't argue.
Didn't fight.
My brain just—
Stopped.
Because everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Just his hand lightly holding my wrist.
Just his breath.
Just—
Him.
And me.
And the space between us that wasn't space anymore.
And that scared me.
That I didn't stop him.
That I didn't want to—
For that one second.
That was enough.
—
I pushed him back.
Hard.
"What are you doing?" my voice came out shaky.
Not angry.
Not fully.
Just… shaken.
He looked at me.
Not apologetic.
Not smug.
Just… steady.
"You tell me."
"I didn't—" I stepped back, my chest rising too fast. "You can't just do that."
"You didn't stop me."
"I just did!"
"After," he said quietly.
That hit.
Because it was true.
And I hated that it was true.
"I'm not like that," I said, more to myself than to him.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Someone you can just—" I stopped, frustrated. "This isn't a game."
"I know."
"Then stop acting like it is!"
"I'm not playing," he said softly.
I shook my head. "I don't understand you."
"You don't have to."he said
"I do," I snapped. "Because you keep—doing things like this!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Complicated.
"And you keep reacting," he said.
That hurt.
More than it should've.
"I shouldn't have," I whispered.
He didn't respond.
Didn't deny it.
Didn't agree.
Just watched me.
And somehow that made it worse.
Because I didn't know what he was thinking.
What this meant.
What any of this meant.
"I'm going to my room," I said quickly, turning away before he could say anything else.
"Jay—"
I didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Just walked out.
Fast.
10 comments for next chapter (if you guys complete 10 comments today I will post the chapter by today only)