He didn't argue.He didn't defend.He simply moved forward and placed his head on my lap,
slowly, like he was afraid I'd vanish if he moved too fast.
"I thought you died," he said quietly. His voice wasn't even a voice—just wreckage. "Jay… I thought I lost you again. First Mom, then every girl i liked then— then you."
His fingers gripped my shirt.His shoulders shook.
"I didn't want to breathe in a world where you weren't alive."
My heart cracked open.
I slid my hand into his hair, my fingers brushing through the strands the way he always secretly loved. He melted instantly—like the tension holding him together snapped.
"Keifer…" I whispered, "I wasn't gone.
Yuri saved me. He dragged me out after the blast, but he didn't tell anyone because Kaizer and that monster could've found out.
I was unconscious for days. I tried waking up—I swear I tried—but my body wouldn't let me."
He let out a trembling exhale against my thigh.
"I felt it," he murmured. "Somewhere in my bones… I felt you were alive. But every time that hope came… the pain swallowed it."
I stroked his head again, gentler.
"So you chose THIS?"
I tapped the scratched wrist.
He winced, but didn't move away.
"I chose wrong," he whispered. "Just… promise me you won't leave. Ever. Not even for a second."
I sighed, leaning down until my forehead touched his."I'm not promising that. I'm promising something better."
His eyes lifted.
"I will always come back to you."
The way he inhaled—sharp, hitched, disbelieving—told me everything about how deep his fear had run.
I opened my mouth to say more—
But the door exploded open.
"JAY!"
Angelo barreled in first, Rafael right beside him, eyes wide, faces pale like they'd seen a ghost.Both froze when they saw Keifer lying across my lap, arms wrapped around my waist like he'd murder anyone who asked him to move.
Rafael's jaw dropped.
Angelo's eyes narrowed.
"Why is he—"
Keifer didn't even look at them
.He simply tightened his hold, pulling me slightly back into him, chin on my shoulder, eyes cold as stone.
A silent message
:She's mine. Back off.
i eyed keifer after few mins he finally left me but was still sulking like a babby "ofcc jay's baby🤭🤭"
Keifer stepped back wiping his tears, trying to act unaffected.
Lia rushed forward next—eyes filled with tears she didn't bother hiding—and wrapped her arms around me,
"Jay… you stupid, reckless girl…" she sobbed.
Gemma and Jeana burst in right after, both crying, both hugging whatever part of me they could reach.
Grandma followed slower, but the moment her eyes saw me, they softened with relief only grandmothers know. She cupped my face and kissed my forehead.
Then—Two smaller figures slipped through the door.
Keigan didn't speak—of course he didn't—but his steps were hesitant, slow, almost shy.He reached out,and ask are you fine
keifer was on his feet in seconds—pretending he hadn't just cried into my lap like a 6'3 baby.
And just behind them—
Jashfer.
His eyes welled up instantly—shock, relief, guilt, everything mixing together.He stepped forward and engulfed me gently in a fatherly embrace, kissing the top of my head the way he did when I was little.
Dad walked to me slowly.
His eyes were already glassy.
He cupped my face, pulled me into a warm, safe, fatherly hug.
"My brave girl…" he whispered, kissing my head. "My little warrior."
My chest tightened.God, I missed this.
Then Jashfer came forward and hugged me gently.
"How are you now?" he murmured."Better," I whispered."Good. Then rest, son," he said—patting Keifer's shoulder like family.
Rafael slung an arm around Angelo, teasing, "Crybaby couldn't stop crying for you."
"LIAR!" Angelo yelled. "YOU cried first!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
I giggled.
rakki pushed past them and hugged me gently."Don't scare us like that again," she sniffled.
The girls piled in—mumma wrapped me in a trembling hug.
"I thought— I thought we lost you," she whispered.
"You're stuck with me," I grinned.
Keiren's eyes went huge. "Tss… childish," he muttered
The hallway suddenly roared with footsteps and yelling.
Sec-E flooded in.
Cin cried first, running to squeeze my hand.
David, Felix, Calix, Rory, Edrix, Eman, Denzel, Kit, Mayo, Drew, Blaster… all of them looking like they'd been punched in the soul.
I smiled at them.
"I'm okay," I whispered.
Keifer watched them all from the side—eyes soft, protective, still glassy.
He kept glancing at me every few seconds, like he needed to confirm I was real.
And I kept glancing back.
Because after everything…
We finally had each other again.
Yuri stepped in behind them.
And instantly—Angelo and Rafael lunged forward, faces darkening with recognition and hatred.
But I shot up—
I looked at all of them.
"I will explain," I said firmly. "Give me a few minutes. Don't touch him."
Everyone stared.
Even Yuri looked at me with wide, stunned eyes.