The ground was quieter.
But my head wasn't.
"Yeah, Kiko's better now—" "He will be discharged in a month—"some boys of section A were talking
Kiko.
My steps stopped.
Then changed direction completely.
I stopped a taxi and quickly sat in it
"Life star hospital please" I said
The car speed off
The ride took almost 20 minutes to reach. Good luck there was no traffic
I asked the receptionist about him
She told me he's at the patient's garden
I went there and wander around a little to find him.
The hospital garden was quiet—too quiet.
Soft wind. Faint rustle of leaves. Distant voices.
And then—
him.
Kiko.
Sitting on a bench under the shade, head slightly tilted back, eyes closed like he was trying to feel something normal again.
For a second… I just stood there.
Watching.
"...Jay jay?..
His eyes opened, landing on me—and immediately softening.
"You came."
I walked closer, slow, unsure. "I heard you're better."
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah… I am. Didn't think you'd actually come again."
"I don't break my words."
"Yeah," he let out a quiet breath, almost like a laugh. "I'm starting to realize that."
There was a pause.
Not awkward… just heavy.
I stayed standing. He noticed.
"You can sit, you know. I don't bite anymore."
I raised a brow slightly. "Not funny."
"I wasn't joking," he said softly.
That shut me up.
Still… I sat. A little distance between us.
Safe distance.
He noticed that too.
"I deserve that," he murmured.
Silence stretched again.
"How are you?" I asked finally.
He looked down at his hands. "Physically? Better." A pause. "Mentally… working on it."
"Good."
"You?" he glanced at me carefully.
"I'm fine."
"JJ—"kiko siad
Before he could continue—
"JJ."
That voice.
Sharp. Familiar.
I didn't turn immediately.
I already knew.
Keifer.
Footsteps. Multiple.
Of course they all came.
I exhaled slowly, already feeling the calm of this place slipping away.
Keifer stepped closer, his eyes scanning me quickly like he was checking if I was okay—then landing on Kiko.
His expression changed instantly.
"You need to come back."
I laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. "You tracked me now?"
"Don't do this."
"Do what? Exist without your permission?"
"You shouldn't be here with him."
That snapped something.
I stood up.
Slow. Controlled.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I'm trying to protect you."
"From him?" I gestured toward Kiko. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Funny," I stepped closer to him, eyes locking. "Because the last time I checked—he's not the one who broke my trust."
Keifer flinched slightly. "JJ…"
"No, say it," I pushed. "Go on. Tell me how dangerous he is."
"He is dangerous."
"And what are you?"
The words didn't come out loud.
They cut.
Keifer's jaw tightened, but this time—he didn't flinch, didn't soften.
If anything… he went colder.
"I'm the one trying to stop you from making another bad decision."
That stung.
Bad decision.
I let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. "Wow. That's what this is to you?"
"You don't know everything, JJ."
"And you do?" I shot back immediately. "About me? About what I want? About who I can stand next to?"
"I know enough."
"No, you don't know anything anymore."
His eyes flickered—but he held his ground.
"You're not staying here," he said, firmer now.
"Watch me."
"Don't push this."
"Or what?" I stepped closer, my voice low and sharp. "You'll drag me out again? Decide for me again? Humiliate me again?"
A few of the others shifted uncomfortably behind him.
Keifer didn't move.
But something in his eyes… cracked for a second.
"You think this is about control?" he said, quieter now—but tense, like he was holding something back.
"What else is it?" I challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks exactly the same."
"It's not."
"Then explain it."
"I can't."
That hit differently.
I frowned. "You can't… or you won't?"
His silence answered.
Of course.
"Right," I scoffed. "So you just expect me to listen blindly? Like before?"
"I expect you to trust me."
The audacity of that—
I actually laughed this time. Bitter. Sharp.
"Trust you?" I repeated. "You really said that?"
His expression hardened. "This isn't a joke, JayJay."
"No, it's not," I snapped. "That's why it's insane that you think I owe you trust after everything."
"I'm not asking for it," he corrected.
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm telling you to leave."
There it was again.
Not asking.
telling
My eyes burned, but I refused to let it show.
"You don't get to tell me anything."
"You're not safe here."he said
"I said I'm fine."
"You're not."he said
"And suddenly you're the judge of that?"i Said
"I don't need to be a judge to see what's right in front of me." He said
"Then maybe try seeing yourself for once." I said
That landed.
A sharp silence followed.
For a second, it looked like he might say something real—
something honest—
But he swallowed it.
Locked it away.
"I'm not leaving you here with him," he said instead, voice turning steel again.
I turned slightly, gesturing toward Kiko. "He hasn't done anything to me today."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is the point, Keifer?!" My voice rose, frustration finally spilling over. "Because all I see is you showing up, deciding things for me, and expecting me to just go along with it like nothing changed!"
"Things have changed," he snapped.
"Exactly!" I stepped closer, eyes blazing. "So stop acting like they haven't!"
They stood there—face to face.
Tension thick enough to choke on.
"You don't understand what you're walking into," he said, quieter now, but intense.
"And you don't understand that I don't care anymore."
His brows pulled together. "You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You're angry."
"Of course I'm angry!"
"Then don't make decisions in anger."
"Don't feel things for me," I fired back. "You lost that right."
That one hit.
Deep.
His expression shifted—just slightly—but enough.
Still… he said nothing.
Held it in.
Like always.
Behind me, Kiko's voice came, softer—
"JJ… you should go."
I turned, confused. "What?"
"It's better," he said quietly. "For both of us."
There was something in his tone.
Not fear.
Not guilt.
Just… distance.
Chosen distance.
I looked at him for a second longer than I meant to.
Then nodded.
"Yeah… okay."
I turned back to Keifer.
My face empty again.
"You don't own my choices."
"And you don't get to follow me anymore."
For a moment—it looked like he might stop me.
Say something.
Do something.
He didn't.
So I walked past him.
Shoulder brushing his—just barely.
And for a split second—
he still didn't move.
Didn't stop me.
Didn't call my name.
Nothing.
And somehow—
that hurt more than if he had.
The moment I stepped out of the hospital gates, the air felt heavier.
Like everything that just happened was still clinging to my skin.
—
I didn't look back. Didn't think.
I just raised my hand—"Taxi."
The car stopped. I got in.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
A pause.
Then—
"Mariano Club."
My voice was calm. Too calm.
—
The city lights blurred past the window, but my mind wasn't on them.
Keifer's voice.
Kiko's eyes.
Everything.
Over and over.
My jaw tightened.
"Enough."
I whispered it to myself.
Enough thinking. Enough feeling.
Tonight— I just wanted to feel nothing.
—
The taxi stopped.
Music was already spilling out onto the street—bass heavy, loud, alive.
Mariano Club. Not just any club. My place.
—
The moment I stepped inside—everything shifted.
Staff at the entrance straightened instantly.
"Good evening, Mariano Ma'am."
They bowed. One by one.
Respect. Immediate. Absolute.
I didn't stop walking. Didn't even look surprised.
This was my world. My secret.
The Mariano Princess.
Lights flickered across my face as I moved through the crowd, people parting without even realizing why.
Power didn't need announcing. It was felt.
—
I walked straight to the changing room.
Door closed behind me.
And for a moment—silence.
Then I looked at myself in the mirror.
Same girl. Same eyes.
But tonight? No weakness. No hesitation.
"Let's make them forget everything," I murmured.
—
The door opened again.
And this time— I didn't walk out.
I owned the room.
(Check comments for reference)
A short black dress—fitted, sharp, dangerously perfect.
Black high heels striking against the floor like a warning.
A sleek black pendant resting at my collarbone.
Small black stud earrings—minimal, but deadly elegant.
My long hair fell freely down my back, slightly tousled, effortless.
My eyes darker now. Stronger. Untouchable.
—
For a second—the entire place paused.
Boys turned. Then froze. Completely stunned.
Like someone hit pause on the world.
One whispered, "Damn…"
Another didn't even blink.
I didn't acknowledge any of them. Didn't need to.
—
I walked straight to the bar.
The bartender immediately nodded, respectful. "Ma'am."
"Strongest," I said simply.
The glass was placed in front of me within seconds.
I took a sip. Then another. Then another
The burn hit—perfect.
—
Music shifted. Beat dropped.
Something wild. Something loud. My kind of chaos.
I stood.
But instead of heading to the dance floor— I stepped up.
Onto the table.
Heels steady. Balance perfect. Confidence unmatched.
The lights caught me—and suddenly—everyone was looking.
I raised my glass slightly, a slow smirk forming.
"Tonight— no limits."
A pause.
Then—
"Drinks are on me."
—
For a split second—silence.
Then the place exploded.
Cheers. Whistles. Shouts.
The bartender didn't even question it—orders started flying instantly.
I just smiled—reckless. Untouchable.
—
Music hit harder.
And I moved.
On the table first—slow, controlled, every step in sync with the beat.
Then I jumped down—straight into the crowd.
And that's when it turned wild.
I danced like I had nothing to lose.
Spinning, laughing, letting the music take over completely.
Guys surrounded me—but not too close. No one dared cross a line.
They just tried to keep up. Failed. Every time.
One matched my rhythm—I pulled him in, then pushed him away with a teasing smirk.
Another tried—I laughed, spun, disappeared into the beat again.
My hair moved with me, catching light.
My heels clicked with precision.
My dress shimmered under flashes.
I was the center. The chaos. The fire.
—
Drinks kept coming. Glasses clinking.
People shouting my name now—
"Mariano!"
"Ma'am!"
"Queen!"
I didn't stop. Didn't slow down. Didn't think.
For once—no Keifer. No Kiko. No past.
Just the music. The rush. The power.
—
And then—
a voice.
Right behind me.
Low. Familiar. Too familiar.
"Hi, darling…"
My body stilled for half a second.
"…you've become more hot and sexy than before."
—
I didn't need to turn. I already knew.
My jaw tightened slightly.
But then—slowly—I turned.
—
And there he was.
The surprise I was not ready for.
Jason.
My ex.
Standing there like he never left.
Like he still had a place here.
Like he still had a place in my world.
—
He looked like he walked straight out of a New York night—sharp jawline, effortless confidence, and that dangerous kind of charm that hits you instantly.
Tall, perfectly put together, with eyes that pull you in before you even realize it.
A full 10/10—the kind of guy who knows exactly what he does to people… and never lets you forget it.
And the worst part?
I knew him.
Knew that smile, that voice, that way he looks at you like you're the only one in the room—like I used to be.
My ex. The one I should've been completely over… but clearly, wasn't.
—
The music kept playing. The crowd kept moving.
But for me—everything just got… dangerous.
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