JAY'S POV :
Finally. Freedom.
The word echoed in my head the moment I stepped into my new home, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe properly. The condo stood quiet around me, neat and familiar in a way that tugged at something deep inside my chest. It felt strange to be here again after so long, but it also felt right.
I had shifted.
At last.
Tita had been so sad when I left, and even now, the thought of her made my chest tighten. I missed her. Already. But I couldn't stay there anymore. I couldn't keep pretending things were fine when they weren't. A deal was a deal, and I had already made mine.
Kuya had insisted on dropping me off and even offered to help me unpack, but I refused. I told him I could manage on my own.
The condo was near my school, with two bedrooms and an open-concept kitchen that flowed into the living area. It was simple, comfortable, and exactly the kind of place I wanted.
Except this wasn't just some random condo.
This condo was mine.
Actually, the whole building was mine.
Kuya thought I was here on rent and kept insisting he'd pay for everything, which was honestly funny because there was nothing to pay. No landlord. No rent. No one to hand money to. This building belonged to me. Still, I didn't tell him that. Not yet. I'd give him all that cash later.
I slowly walked through the condo, taking it all in. It was still the same. The same corners. The same walls. The same feeling of memories clinging to every surface.
I used to play here.
I used to run from one room to another without a care in the world.
Mom used to take care of me here.
My throat tightened.
This condo carried too many memories. Good ones. Soft ones. Painful ones too.
I sat down on the couch and let out a slow breath.
I miss you, Mom.
The thought hit me hard, and I stared at my hands for a moment, wishing impossible things. I wished she could be here. I wished she could see me now. But wishes didn't change reality.
My phone buzzed.
King of Ulupongs.
Keifer.
I answered.
"Where are you?"
I rolled my eyes. No hello. No hi. Just straight to the point, as usual.
"Tss. Why do you care?" I asked.
"Tss. Just answer me."
"My home."
"Don't lie. Tell me where you are."
I frowned.
"How do you know I'm lying?" I asked, confused at first, before the truth hit me.
Of course. He kept a stupid tracking app in my phone. I had found it out on day one itself.
"I have my ways."
"Whatever. I'm really at my home. My new home."
"When did you shift?"
"Just an hour ago."
"I'm coming."
I blinked.
"Why?"
"To help you."
"That's not—"
"Bye."
And then he cut the call.
Asshole.
I smiled anyway.
He's still my asshole.
I went to shower and changed into something I hadn't worn in a long time.
The outfit was black, bold, and exactly the kind of thing I wanted to wear. The cropped off-shoulder top sat low on my shoulders, showing off my collarbone and a teasing hint of skin, while the sheer long sleeves made it look softer, even as the whole thing felt daring. The fabric hugged my body close and was slightly see-through, enough to make the outfit feel flirty, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look that made me feel confident, tempting, and just a little wicked. (Check the comments)
I hadn't worn dresses like this in a while.
Not at Kuya's home, obviously. He would probably ground me for life.
But mostly, I wore it because Keifer was coming.
I wanted to seduce him.
That was my full-time job now, apparently.
He would freeze the moment he saw me.
Or at least, that was the plan.
A few minutes later, the bell rang.
I opened the door with a small, sweet smile already on my face.
And there he was.
KEIFER'S POV :
I opened the tracking app. It tracks jay's location, calls and messages. It was made only to track Jay. I don't want her to get in danger again.
I checked Jay's location casually, only for a second, and the unfamiliar pin on the map made my chest tighten instantly. She had never been there before.
A condo.
Why was she there? Why had she gone there? To meet whom?
I called her immediately, and when she told me it was her new home, relief hit me so hard I nearly sighed aloud. I had been ready to assume the worst. I told her I'd come help her unpack, and before she could argue, I ended the call.
I got ready fast, pulling on an all-black outfit that was simple but sharp. Loose black tee, black cargo pants, sneakers, and a chain resting against my collarbone. Clean. Casual. Enough to look put together without trying too hard.
(Check the comments)
Then I went to her new place.
The condo building was quiet, the air still as I climbed to the first floor and knocked on her door.
Why did the place feel so empty?
Is she the only one here?
A few moments later, the door opened.
And I froze.
God.
Jay looked absolutely stunning.
The black outfit she wore clung to her in all the right ways, the cropped top resting off her shoulders and shaping her waist like it had been made for her. It made my brain short-circuit. The sheer sleeves gave the look a delicate softness, but the fabric was slightly see-through, which only made it more dangerous to look at. Her shorts showed off her long legs, and the way she stood there with that sweet smile on her lips was almost unfair.
Why, God?
Why was she so beautiful?
Why was she so sexy?
Why was she so—
I swallowed hard, trying to force air back into my lungs.
"Keifer! What happened? You stood like Elsa froze you," she teased, waving a hand in front of my face.
She knew exactly what she was doing to me.
"Uhh… nothing," I muttered, looking away before I embarrassed myself further.
She stepped aside and let me enter.
The condo was nice. Not too big. Not too small. Just perfect, in a way that felt completely like her. Beautiful, simple, and strangely intimate. Jay-ish.
To my surprise, there was already furniture inside—sofa, TV, tables, all neatly arranged.
"Why is there furniture? Did you buy it?" I asked.
"No. The owner said I can keep it," she said smoothly.
I nodded, though something about that answer felt off.
JAY'S POV :
"Who is the owner?" he asked.
"I don't know. I only talked to him on the phone," I lied.
"This unit is so empty. Is no one else here?"
"No. Only I live in this whole unit."
His brows drew together.
"That's… creepy."
I smirked a little.
"Be careful, Jay," he said.
"Tss. I'm always careful."
"Still."
If only he knew.
We started cleaning after that.
I was in the living room trying to clean a spiderweb from the ceiling with a broom, but it was too high. I frowned up at it in frustration, stretching as far as I could, but nothing changed. Before I could try again, Keifer stepped in and took the broom from me.
"Shorty," he teased.
I huffed and walked away in a small offended storm.
Bastard.
I muttered the word under my breath as I grabbed a cloth and started cleaning somewhere else. If he thought I was going to stand there and let him call me shorty like it was the funniest thing in the world, then he clearly didn't know me at all.
A few minutes later, I felt his presence near me again.
"What now?" I asked without looking at him.
"Nothing," he said, way too casually.
I snorted.
"That tone means something."
He didn't answer.
Of course he didn't.
I kept cleaning, trying to focus, but it was impossible when he kept moving around like an annoying shadow. I could feel him watching me every now and then, and I hated how easily he got under my skin.
By the time the living room and kitchen were done, Keifer headed toward one of the bedrooms, but I stepped in front of him immediately.
"Keifer! Don't!" I said.
He stopped and frowned at me.
"Why?"
"Just don't go to that room. It's personal."
"You didn't even unpack things."
"Still. Just don't go."
I don't like anyone entering my room. Keifer doesn't include in that. But still. He still can't go in. It was just personal. Too personal. There are a few boxes in there that he definitely should not see.
"What are you hiding?" he asked, moving toward the door.
I quickly stepped in his way before he could get past me.
"I said it's personal. I'll clean it later."
For a moment, he just looked at me.
Then, finally, he gave in.
"Fine."
He turned and went to the other bedroom instead.
I exhaled quietly in relief.
After that, we kept cleaning and started unpacking and organizing things. I moved around the kitchen, placing items where they belonged, trying to ignore the fact that Keifer was still making himself far too useful.
I reached for a container on the top shelf and immediately realized it was too high.
Of course it was.
I stretched on my toes, annoyed, but it still wasn't enough. Just as I was about to try again, Keifer appeared beside me and lifted it without a word, placing it neatly where I couldn't reach.
I shot him a glare.
His mouth twitched.
"Shorty," he said again.
I turned so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.
"What did you call me?"
His expression stayed infuriatingly calm.
"Shorty."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Do you enjoy being annoying?"
He crossed his arms.
"You looked offended, so I figured I'd continue."
"That is not a good reason."
"It is to me."
I pointed a finger at him.
"I'm not short."
His eyes dropped briefly to me, and the look on his face was so annoyingly amused that I wanted to push him out of my condo.
"You really think so?" he asked.
"I know so."
He gave me that challenging little smirk again, the one that always made me want to either kiss him or slap him. Sometimes both.
"Then prove it."
My jaw tightened.
"Gladly."
He picked a painting from a box and gestured me to follow him. I did. He took me to the living room and pointed a nail, high on the wall.
"Hang this painting to that" he challenged.
I marched away before he could say anything else and went straight to get the ladder.
If the shelf wanted to act like a cruel giant, then I'd outsmart it. No way was I letting him win this.
When I came back and positioned the ladder near the wall, his brows rose slightly.
"Smart work," he murmured.
I ignored him.
I climbed up, careful and determined, holding the painting in one hand while trying to steady myself with the other. The room felt too quiet all of a sudden, except for the faint rustle of movement and the soft sound of my own breathing.
I was almost there.
Just a little more—
Then the ladder shifted.
My stomach dropped.
"Keifer—"
I barely got the name out before my balance tipped completely. For one terrible second, I thought I was going to fall straight onto the floor.
Then strong arms caught me.
The relief lasted only a heartbeat, because the next thing I knew, his grip slipped too, and suddenly we were both falling.
The impact hit hard.
The world spun.
And when it finally stopped, I realized I was on top of him.
My breath froze in my throat.
His face was inches from mine.
Too close.
Too close to think. Too close to breathe. Too close to ignore the fact that my heart was hammering so violently it felt like it might break free.
Then my lips touched his.
For one impossible second, neither of us moved.
I stared at him, wide-eyed and stunned, while every nerve in my body lit up at once.
And then everything went wrong.
Or right.
I didn't even know anymore.
His hand came up to the back of my neck, warm and steady, and my breath caught as he pulled me closer. The kiss deepened before I could stop it, before I could remember how to pull away, before I could remind myself that this was Keifer and I was supposed to have a functioning brain.
I didn't.
Not anymore.
The only thing I knew was the way my body seemed to melt against his, the way the world narrowed down to nothing but his mouth and his hands and the heat rushing through me so fast it made my head spin.
When we finally broke apart, I was still frozen.
We both were.
My face felt on fire.
My lips tingled.
And I hated how much I wanted to touch him again.
"I—" I started, then swallowed hard. "I have some work."
It was the most pathetic excuse I had ever made in my life.
I scrambled to my feet and practically ran to the kitchen, needing distance, needing air, needing something to stop the way my entire body was still reacting to what had just happened.
KEIFER'S POV :
"I-I have some work," she said, and bolted to the kitchen.
I stayed frozen on the floor for a few seconds, staring after her like my brain had stopped functioning properly.
What the hell just happened?
The ladder. Her slipping. My arms catching her. Then both of us falling. Her on top of me. Her shocked eyes. Her lips crashing into mine.
And then the worst part—
I kissed her back.
No. Not just kissed her back. I deepened it.
My own body had moved before my mind could catch up, like the moment her mouth touched mine, every sensible thought in my head vanished without permission. I still couldn't explain why I did it. I only knew that when it happened, something inside me snapped into place so fast I didn't even try to stop it.
I didn't move from the floor for a while.
Her scent still lingered in the air around me.
It was soft, sweet, and faintly warm, the kind of smell that stayed in your lungs even after she left. Jay always smelled like something clean and comforting, like fresh soap mixed with the soft sweetness of shampoo and a barely-there floral note that felt entirely her. Not overwhelming. Just enough to wrap around me and make everything feel unfairly intimate.
It was still on my shirt too.
On my clothes.
I could smell it every time I breathed.
Slowly, almost helplessly, I lifted a hand and touched my lips.
They still remembered hers.
Warm. Soft. Sweet.
God.
I was going to lose my mind.
I was getting addicted to her lips. Addicted to the way she felt against me. Addicted to the way she looked at me when she was flustered, angry, smug, soft, all of it.
We kissed. Again.
And she didn't pull away.
Neither did I.
I liked it.
No—more than liked it. I liked the feeling that had rushed through me the second our lips met. I liked the way my chest felt too tight, too full, too alive. I liked whatever this was.
I had never felt like this with anyone before.
Not with Ella.
Not with Freya.
Not with anyone else.
Jay is different.
Jay is—
I swallowed.
She is everything.
The thought came so naturally it scared me.
I love her.
The words settled in my chest with a weight so heavy it almost hurt. I loved her so much it felt ridiculous, terrifying, and inevitable all at once. She was like warmth after too much cold. Like a voice I had been waiting to hear. Like the missing piece of something I didn't even know had been broken.
She was close to my heart in a way no one else had ever been.
Maybe that was why it felt so easy to think of her like family.
Like home.
Like my mom.
She had filled a place in me I thought would stay empty forever.
But then the next thought hit harder.
What did she feel?
Did she love me too?
Or was I just her friend?
If she had only seen me as a friend, she would have pulled away when I kissed her.
Wouldn't she have?
But she hadn't.
She had stayed.
She had kissed me back.
She had melted into it just as much as I had.
So… did that mean something?
Did she like me too?
Or was I reading too much into one reckless moment?
I didn't know.
But I knew one thing for sure.
This wasn't just friendship.
It was bigger than that.
Deeper.
Messier.
More dangerous.
And I couldn't say it out loud yet, not when I didn't even know if she felt the same.
THAT EVENING
JAY'S POV :
By evening, everything was finally done.
Well—almost everything.
My room was still off-limits, and Keifer had learned that pushing me on it would only make me more stubborn. I wasn't ready to let him in there yet, not while there were still things I wanted to keep to myself. For now.
So instead, we stood on the balcony with coffee in our hands, side by side against the railing.
The sky above us was dark and endless, spread out in deep shades of indigo that slowly melted into black. A cool breeze moved around us, soft and steady, carrying the faint scent of night and making the warmth of the coffee in my hands feel even better. The city below was far away, and everything around us felt quieter, calmer, like the world had decided to leave us alone for a while.
I looked at him.
"Keifer," I said softly.
"Hmm," he answered, still looking ahead.
I opened my mouth, but for a second, no words came.
Then I said it.
"I-I feel… light."
He turned to me then, and his expression softened.
"Good," he said. "You deserve it."
A small smile touched my lips.
For a while, we stayed quiet.
The silence wasn't awkward. It was gentle. Careful. Like neither of us wanted to break whatever fragile peace had settled between us.
Then he asked, "How was Aries when you were leaving?"
I looked up at the sky.
"He…" I hesitated. "I don't know. I can't even describe him anymore. Whether he is happy or guilty."
When I looked at Keifer again, the smile on his face was gone.
"I don't actually hate him, Keifer," I said quietly. "He does. For the reason I don't even know. We used to be good. Really good. But suddenly, he just changed. He became cold. He talked less to me. He got angry if I pushed. I tried. I really tried. But he didn't…" My throat tightened. "Eventually, I gave up. I stopped begging him. I stopped trying to know why he became like this. But I still want us to be like before. Happy. I'm losing hope day by day."
Keifer's hand covered mine where it rested on the railing.
"Don't worry, Jay," he said softly. "One day, you both will be like before again. I'll make sure of it."
I looked at him then, and something warm loosened in my chest.
A small smile appeared on my lips.
"Don't you hate Aries?" I asked.
"I do," he admitted.
I blinked.
"But for you," he said, "I can forget my hatred."
For a second, neither of us moved.
The wind brushed past us again, cool against my skin, and the silence around us felt different now.
After that, we talked about nonsense. Random things. Stupid things. Things that didn't matter and yet somehow did, because they made me laugh. And when I laughed, I could feel my shoulders loosen and my heart lighten.
Later, Keifer decided to leave because it was getting late.
We walked to the door together. He stepped outside, and I stayed inside, looking at him from where I stood. He turned back, but neither of us spoke for a moment.
The silence between us felt different now.
"So… bye," I said at last.
"Yeah… bye," he answered.
He was just about to leave when I called him.
"Keifer."
He turned, quickly. Like even he didn't want to leave.
I hesitated only for a second before walking toward him, throwing my arms around his neck, and kissing him before I could overthink it.
He froze.
Then his hands found my waist, and he kissed me back.
The kiss was messy, hungry, and full of everything neither of us had said out loud yet. My heart slammed so hard it almost hurt, and when we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless and flustered.
"I… thank you," I said nervously, my fingers twisting together. "For helping me."
"Yeah…it's fine," he said, sounding just as awkward.
Nervous.
Keifer Watson.
Nervous.
I made history.
"…bye," I whispered.
"Bye," he said.
Then he slowly left.
I closed the door and leaned against it, trying to steady my breathing.
Today had changed something between us.
We wouldn't be the same after this.
And that's the change I wanted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys. I know, I had given a really long gap. I'm sorry. I had to go to my grandma's home for a week. And this chapter took a long time to write. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I hope you understand.
And also, thanks to Amjad_jutt_3872 for giving a review to my book.
Your author,
Cris…