Jay's POV
please… listen to me," he pleaded.
"No. I don't want to," I said, turning away.
He gently held my hand and pulled me into the small lounge beside the hall. We stumbled near the sofa, and I lost my balance for a second. He steadied me immediately.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe properly.
"You have to listen… because you deserve the truth," Kiefer said, his voice breaking.
Tears slipped from his eyes.
"Fine," I sighed. "But stop crying and get up properly."
"No… listen first," he said softly.
"Jay, I know you're angry because I broke you. I know I hurt you. I did all of that to protect you. My dad… my relatives… they were monsters. I was claiming my inheritance, and they knew you were my weakness—the one nerve they could press anytime."
He swallowed hard.
"So I pushed you away. I broke us. Not because I didn't care… but because I cared too much."
My chest tightened.
"I swear on my mother, Jay—you know I would never lie about that. At first, yes, revenge against Aries was real. But we stopped that plan long ago. Somewhere along the way… I really fell for you. Everything I felt was real. My love was real."
He buried his face near my shoulder and cried silently.
"So you did all this to save me…" I whispered. "Then why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you."
"Exactly," he said weakly. "I knew you would. You always meddle when it comes to danger. After what I saw you do in my dad's house… I couldn't let you get hurt again."
He hugged me tightly.
"You should've told me at least," I murmured.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice trembling. "Mahapakita, Jay… I really love you. From deep inside."
I gently pulled back.
"Enough. Stop crying. Get up."
He stood up immediately.
"It's okay," I said softly.
He leaned in and kissed me gently. I didn't stop him—I could feel his pain, his tears, his racing heartbeat.
But then I pulled away.
"It's fine… but I still need time. Do you agree?"
He nodded instantly.
"I'll wait. I'll work for your forgiveness," he said.
I wiped his tears. "I'm already exhausted from forgiving people since morning. None of you even let me sulk."
He laughed like a kid.
"Aries is left."
I chuckled. "He already got his forgiveness. He's become clingy too."
"He said he won't let anyone get close to you when he meets you," Kiefer added.
I laughed. "Fine. Let's go eat something."
We went to the café.
"Are you guys okay now?" Percy asked.
"Almost," I replied.
"OHHHHHH," Section E teased.
I grabbed a sandwich.
"If the forgiveness session is over," Lia said, "can we discuss the dance?"
"Yes—if you stop sulking like two years kid," I replied.
"Who are you calling sulky?" Lia snapped.
"You," Ella said calmly.
I laughed.
"Get serious," Lia warned.
"Let's continue tomorrow," Jas suggested.
"Fine," I agreed.
"You dance too," Kiefer said.
"Monkey dances too," Aries added.
"Sometimes, when forced Percy...
I throw spoons at both of them,.
"They're already angry—stop before you all die," Dane muttered.
I glared at him.
"So how did you all become the Four Pillars?" Kiefer asked.
"I was part of it from the beginning—you just didn't know," I said.
"Same," Percy added. "Before the accident."
"So who was that lady you were giving death stares to?" Yuri asked.
"She's the reason we don't have parents."
"Twelve years ago," Jas continued, "our grandparents gave all their property to our dad. That woman was our dad's sister. She didn't get anything because of her behavior."
"So she planned something vicious," Percy said.
"She sabotaged our dad's car brakes," I said quietly.
"Me, Dane, Jas, and Percy survived. Mom and Dad didn't."
Silence fell.
"That's how we became the Four Pillars," Dane said.
"Grandparents took care of us. But Jay and Percy were sent to the Philippines because our aunt tried to take their custody."
"So you two knew each other from before?" Aries asked.
"Yes," I nodded. "I honestly thought Percy died in that accident. But fate kept pulling us together."
"Our revenge isn't over," I added calmly. "That woman is still trying to hurt us. But now we're adults—no custody, no chains."
"So stay alert."
"We're with you," Kiefer said.
"Always," everyone replied.
The bell rang.
College was over.