1 WEEK LATER
JAY JAY POV
It had been a week since we moved in, and we were slowly settling into a rhythm. I had just finished my pile of homework, my brain feeling a bit fried. I stood up and stretched, glancing over at Keifer. He was hunched over his desk, completely focused on his textbooks. I didn't want to disturb his concentration, so I quietly padded into the kitchen.
My stomach let out a pathetic little growl. I started opening cabinets, but they were mostly empty—just some salt, a half-used bag of rice, and some canned beans.
No snacks, I noted with a sigh. We definitely have to go grocery shopping later.
I leaned against the counter, contemplating if I should just make some plain rice. I was dressed as comfortably as possible, wearing nothing but one of Keifer's oversized shirts that hung halfway down my thighs and my underwear.
As I checked the fridge—which was also looking pretty depressing with just a carton of eggs and some water—I made a mental list of things I needed. Not just food, but clothes too. Most of my wardrobe was back at the mansion, and living out of one small suitcase of essentials was getting difficult. I needed some basics that didn't belong to Keifer, though I secretly loved wearing his things.
I heard the floorboards creak behind me and felt two strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against a warm chest.
"Find anything good in there?" Keifer whispered, his breath tickling my ear as he rested his chin on my shoulder. He looked exhausted from the studying, but his eyes were soft.
"No, the cupboards are pretty much bare. We definitely need to go out and buy something," I said, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
"Yeah," Keifer murmured, his voice a low vibration against my skin as he peppered soft kisses along my neck. "I noticed. My stomach's been complaining for the last twenty minutes, but I didn't want to stop until I finished that chapter."
He let out a tired sigh, resting his forehead against the crook of my neck for a moment, just breathing me in. I could feel the tension from his studying slowly melting away.
"We can't survive on just water and air," I teased, turning around in his arms to face him. I reached up, smoothing down his messy hair. "But look at me—I'm basically a permanent resident in your clothes now. We should probably find a place where I can get a few basics, too. I don't think your professors would appreciate me showing up to visit you in just your shirt."
Keifer chuckled, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips. "I don't know, I'm biased. I think the oversized shirt look suits you. But you're right. Let's get dressed. We'll head to the market down the street and see if we can find a clothing stall nearby"
He gave me one last squeeze before stepping back. "Give me five minutes to pull myself together? My brain is still half-stuck in my calculus homework."
"Five minutes," I agreed, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll find whatever pair of socks I haven't lost yet."
I went back into the bedroom and pulled on one of Keifer's thick hoodies over my head, pairing it with some comfortable shorts. I caught a glimpse of myself in our full-length mirror and smiled. Cute, I thought. I looked cozy, a total shift from the formal attire I used to be forced into.
As I was finishing up a messy bun, Keifer appeared behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and started peppering my cheeks with kisses, his stubble tickling my skin.
"What happened? Why are you so affectionate all of a sudden?" I asked, laughing through the ticklish kisses.
I finished the bun just as we grabbed our keys and headed out of the apartment.
"What? A guy can't appreciate his wife?" Keifer asked with a confused grin as he locked the door behind us. Once we hit the cool air outside, he looked up at the sky. "Let's walk, shall we? It's windy and cloudy—perfect weather for a stroll."
I nodded, agreeing that it felt amazing to be out of the stuffy apartment. As we started down the sidewalk, I looped my hand firmly around his arm, leaning my head against his shoulder.
"You've been so clingy today," I teased, looking up at him.
Keifer stopped walking for a second and looked down at me, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? So you don't want me to be clingy anymore?"
"No, it's not that! It's just—" I started.
"It's just what?" he teased, pulling me even tighter against his side as we continued walking. "I've spent years having to keep my distance from you because of your family and those damn bodyguards. Now that I'm allowed to touch you whenever I want, I'm taking advantage of it."
I leaned my head against his shoulder, feeling that familiar sense of safety. "Fair point. I guess I can handle a little clinginess if it's from you."
"Good," he murmured, kissing the top of my head. "Now, let's find a place that has something better than my old hoodies for you to wear. Even if you do look incredible in them."
"Found one!" I said, pointing toward a large market with a clothing store conveniently located right next to it.
"Let's hit the clothes first," Keifer suggested. I nodded in agreement, and we stepped inside the store.
I started browsing through the racks, picking out a few basic shirts and a couple of pairs of jeans. As I worked, Keifer followed close behind, pushing the cart.
"No pajamas?" he asked, noticing I hadn't picked any out.
I shook my head with a smile. "No point. I'll just keep using yours; they're way more comfortable anyway."
Keifer grinned at that, clearly not complaining. He reached over and pulled a cute top from a nearby rack, holding it up against me. "This would look amazing on you."
"It's pretty, but I think I have enough already," I said, looking at the small pile in our cart.
"Just take this one too," he insisted, tossing it in before I could protest.
"Fine, I guess," I laughed.
As we continued through the aisles, we reached the innerwear section. When I realized Keifer was still trailing right behind me, I turned around and pointed toward the main aisle.
"Go wait out there," I told him firmly.
"Why?" he asked, sounding exactly like a pouting child.
"Keifer, go! This is the women's personal section. Just wait outside the aisle," I said, trying to keep a straight face.
"No way. I'm your husband. I want to know everything—from your sizes to your favorite colors," he declared loudly. A few women shopping nearby overheard him and chuckled, making my face heat up.
"Keifer," I warned, giving him my best 'stern' look.
"Fine, fine. I'm going," he said, rolling his eyes dramatically as he backed out of the section. "But I'm counting the minutes!"
I quickly grabbed what I needed, my heart fluttering at how ridiculous—but sweet—he was being. Once I stepped back out, Keifer was leaning against the cart, looking smug.
"Finished?" he asked, grabbing my hand as we walked toward the checkout. "Because the market next door is calling my name, and I'm pretty sure I saw a bakery section through the window. I think we need some actual food before I start eating the clothes."
After we finished at the checkout, we headed into the market. We stocked up on the essentials—vegetables, cereal, and fruit—but we also made sure to grab plenty of snacks and a large tub of ice cream for later.
The walk back was peaceful. The wind was still cool, making the heavy grocery bags feel a little lighter as we moved together. I couldn't wait, so I popped open a bag of chips right there on the sidewalk. I took a bite and then reached up to feed one to Keifer.
"Jay," Keifer said, crunching on the chip.
"Hmm?" I responded, reaching for another.
"What made you decide on architecture?" he asked, looking at me with genuine curiosity.
I slowed my pace for a second, thinking back. "My grandma. She was my favorite person in the world. Before she passed away, she told me she had always dreamed of being an architect. She wanted to build things, but she never got the chance because her father married her off so young. You know how things were back then... women didn't really get to choose their own paths."
Keifer nodded slowly, his expression softening as he listened.
"I want to finish what she couldn't," I added quietly. I then looked up at him. "What about you? Business management... what made you choose that?"
"My mom," Keifer answered without hesitation. "She always wanted to see me become successful. She used to tell me that I had a head for it and that I should become a businessman so I'd never have to rely on anyone else. I agreed with her, and the more I studied it, the more I realized I actually liked the challenge of it."
"She'd be proud of you," I said, leaning my head against his shoulder as we walked. "You're already doing it. We're doing it."
He shifted the grocery bags to one hand so he could wrap his free arm around my waist, pulling me closer against the wind. "We are. Just you and me."
As we rounded the corner to our apartment building, my heart dropped. Standing right by the entrance, leaning against the brick wall with a smug, judgmental look on his face, was Yuri.
I instinctively tightened my grip on Keifer's arm, leaning into him for protection. The peaceful mood we had just built felt like it shattered instantly.
"Wow, Jay. Nice to know this is where you live now," Yuri said, his eyes scanning the modest building and the grocery bags in our hands. He looked at me with a pitying smirk that made my skin crawl. "Quite a step down from the penthouse, don't you think?"
I felt the muscles in Keifer's arm turn to steel beneath my hand. He didn't even slow his pace.
"Ignore him, Jay Jay," Keifer said firmly, his voice low and cold. He didn't even give Yuri the satisfaction of a glance. "He's not worth the energy."
I nodded, keeping my eyes fixed on the door. "You're right. Let's just go inside."
"Don't you want to hear how your parents are doing?" Yuri called out behind us, his voice raising as we brushed past him. "Your mother hasn't stopped crying, and your father is furious. They think you've lost your mind, living like... this."
I stopped for a split second, my hand on the door handle. I turned my head just enough to look at him over my shoulder.
"Tell them I've never been happier," I said clearly. "And tell them to stop sending their lapdog to check on me."
Keifer nudged me inside the lobby and shut the door, cutting off whatever retort Yuri had ready. Once we were in the safety of the hallway, Keifer dropped the bags and pulled me into a hard hug.
I felt a white-hot flash of anger go off in my brain when Yuri called Keifer an asshole. As soon as Keifer stepped inside to set the bags down, I ducked back out the door before he could stop me.
"Get the fuck out of here!" I yelled at Yuri, my voice echoing in the quiet street.
Yuri just chuckled, looking unfazed. "Wow, why so mad, Jay? Is the 'struggling life' making you cranky?"
"Get. Out," I said, stepping closer to him, my teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached.
"Jay—" Yuri started, reaching out as if he were going to grab my arm.
"Jay Jay, let's go. Come back inside," Keifer said, appearing behind me and reaching for my waist to pull me away from the confrontation.
"You son of a bitch, Keifer! I'm talking to her!" Yuri spat, his face twisting with rage as he glared at Keifer.
He didn't get another word out. Before I even realized I was doing it, my weight shifted and my fist connected squarely with Yuri's jaw.
CRACK.
"OWWW!" Yuri yelled, stumbling back and clutching his face, his eyes wide with pure shock.
My knuckles throbbed instantly, but the adrenaline made me feel like I could take on the whole world. I stood my ground, breathing hard.
"Jay!" Keifer gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. He looked from me to Yuri, who was now moaning and checking for blood. "Holy shit..."
"Don't you ever talk to him like that again," I hissed at Yuri, who was now backing away toward his car. "And stay away from our home!"
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, KEIFER!" Yuri yelled from the sidewalk, his voice cracking with pain and rage.
"You know what? Go to hell and find out whose fault it is!" I screamed back. I tried to lung at him again, ready to land a second punch to match the first, but Keifer's arms wrapped like iron bands around my waist. He caught me mid-swing and literally hauled me off the ground.
"Jay, that's enough!" Keifer grunted, dragging me backward into the building.
"Keifer, let me go!" I thrashed, my legs kicking at the air as he carried me up the stairs and into our apartment. My adrenaline was peaking, and I was seeing red.
He didn't say a word. He kicked the front door shut, locked it with a sharp click, and marched straight into the bedroom.
"MARK KEIFER WATSON, LET ME GO!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, still struggling against his grip.
He finally let go, but not how I expected. He dropped me onto the mattress and immediately followed me down, pinning me against the pillows with his weight