Jay sat up abruptly, the sudden rustle of the sheets sounding like a lightning strike in the quiet room.
She threw the heavy duvet aside with a burst of frantic energy, her feet hitting the cool floor as she slipped out of the room like a ghost.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, she leaned her back against the hallway wall and let out a long, shaky exhale, trying to steady her trembling knees.
But even as the breath left her lungs, a smile-wide, uncontrollable, and glowing-crept onto her lips.
She began to walk toward the kitchen, her gaze glued to the floor tiles, her head light.
She bit her lower lip hard, pressing her lips together in a firm line to squash the grin, but her mind was a broken record.
It played that single, gravelly vow over and over:
I love you.
Jay floated into the kitchen, completely encased in a shimmering, golden bubble of her own thoughts.
She didn't notice the morning light or the clink of plates.
Sophia and her mom were already there, moving about the breakfast prep, but to Jay, they were invisible.
She was lost, her head tilting slightly as she relived the feeling of Keifer's arm tightening around her waist.
"Good morning, Jay!" her mother said warmly, turning from the stove with a smile.
Jay didn't even blink. She didn't hear the greeting or the sizzle of the pan. She simply walked right past them, her eyes dreamy and distant, that "idiot smile" threatening to break through her pressed lips at any second.
Elena's head move in Jay's direction as she passed her without replying and smiling like idiot.
With a dazed grace, she reached for a glass and absent-mindedly began to pour orange juice, her gaze fixed on a spot in the distant atmosphere.
Sophia and her mom froze, watching the scene in fascinated silence.
As Jay reached for the instant coffee, her mother's eyes widened.
She instinctively raised a hand to stop her and opened her mouth to warn Jay, but Sophia was faster.
Sophia reached out, catching her mother's hand in mid-air and holding it there.
She pressed her own lips together, shaking her head and making a silent "shhh" gesture with her mouth, signaling her mom not to say a word.
They both stood there, suspended in time, watching as Jay scooped out a heaped spoonful of coffee and dropped it-plop-straight into the cold, bright juice.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
Jay began to stir the murky, bubbling disaster, a tiny, blissful giggle escaping her throat.
She turned around, leaning her back against the cabinet for support, and lifted the cold, condensation-slicked glass.
She pressed it firmly against her burning forehead, closing her eyes and looking down at the floor with a smile so deep and private it made her whole face glow.
The two women looked at each other, raised their brows in perfect synchronization, like they understand something and then formed their mouths into silent, exaggerated "O" shapes.
They started grinning like Cheshire cats, nudging each other as they witnessed the absolute peak of Jay's lovestruck madness.
Finally, Sophia couldn't hold it in. "Mom," she teased, her voice dripping with devilish glee.
"I think their 'last night walk' had a really big impact. Look at her-she's so inspired she's ready to drink coffee in juice."
Jay's head spun toward them so fast she nearly lost her balance. She froze, her eyes wide as the kitchen finally snapped back into focus. She looked down at the dark, swirling juice, then back at the two women who were practically vibrating with laughter.
"Mom... Soph..." she stammered, her voice small and panicked. "Why... I mean, when... when did you come here?"
"Anak," her mother said, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "We were already here. You just didn't see us."
Sophia leaned against the counter, her eyes dancing. "Because maybe you were too lost in that walk.
But you know, while you were out 'walking,' we heard some very strange noises coming from the bathroom."
Jay's cheeks turned a shade of crimson that rivaled a sunset. She immediately dropped her gaze to the floor, her heart hammering against her ribs as she tried to press her lips back into a line to hide her reaction.
"I... I... umm..."
"Don't tease her, Sophia," her mom joined in, though she couldn't hide her grin. "Maybe there was just a rat in there."
"Oh, definitely," Sophia added, leaning in closer to Jay's red face. "Or maybe it was a very large cat too."
The atmosphere in the kitchen was already thick with teasing when a shadow fell across the doorway.
Keifer stepped into the room, looking devastatingly refreshed. The messy, damp hair from his shower was combed back just enough to look effortless, and his presence alone seemed to suck the air right out of Jay's lungs.
He looked totally normal—as if he hadn't just confessed his love and kissed her ear an hour ago—but the sheer charm radiating off him made Jay freeze on the spot, the cold glass of "Coffee-Juice" still clutched in her hand.
He didn't say a word to her at first. He simply walked over to the counter with a calm, steady stride, picked up a clean glass, and poured himself some water.
He took a slow sip, his dark eyes glancing between the three women before he finally spoke.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. He looked at Sophia, then at Jay's mother, and finally let his gaze linger on Jay's burning face.
"What are you all talking about?"
Sophia's eyes lit up like a predator who had just found a second target. She straightened up, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, nothing much. We were just asking Jay about the wa—"
Before the word "walk" could fully leave Sophia's lips, Jay moved with a speed no one knew she possessed.
She practically jumped across the kitchen floor, her hand flying out to clap firmly over Sophia's mouth.
"Nothing!" Jay squeaked, her voice hitting a pitch only dogs could hear.
"She's saying nothing! Absolutely nothing!"
Sophia's muffled protests hummed against Jay's palm. She struggled, her eyes dancing with mischief as she tried to pull Jay's fingers away.
"Cat... big... ummmmmm!" she managed to groan out through the gaps in Jay's grip, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively at Keifer.
Jay's mother couldn't take it anymore. She let out a loud, genuine burst of laughter, clutching her stomach as she leaned against the counter for support. Tears were pricking the corners of her eyes.
"Stop, Sophia!" her mom gasped between bouts of laughter. "Don't tease her anymore! Haha! Let the poor girl breathe!"
The kitchen was a minefield of unspoken secrets and mounting tension.
Keifer stood by the counter, his fingers tightening slightly around his water glass.
He looked from his smirking mother to his struggling sister, his brow furrowed in genuine, albeit wary, confusion.
"Big cat?" he repeated, his voice dropping a semi-tone. "What big cat are you talking about?"
His mother didn't miss a beat. She flipped a pancake with practiced ease, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"Nothing, anak," she replied, her smirk widening as she watched Jay's hand still clamped firmly over Sophia's mouth.
"We were just asking Jay how her little 'walk' went last night. It seemed… very refreshing."
Keifer's stoic "CEO" mask flickered. He tried to maintain a cool, detached expression, but the tips of his ears began to glow a tell-tale, betraying red. Jay felt his reaction more than she saw it; her hand loosened on Sophia's face as she let out a long, pained groan.
"Mom..." Jay pleaded, her voice a mix of a whine and a prayer.
Taking advantage of the momentary lapse in security, Sophia ducked out of Jay's reach and scrambled to her mother's side. She leaned against the counter, safe behind the "maternal shield," and pointed a finger at Jay.
"And we were also curious about the voices coming from the bathroom last night!"
Sophia added, her voice ringing out clearly.
"Because as far as we know, you weren't in your room, Keifer."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Jay and Keifer acted in perfect, panicked unison—both of them suddenly found the floor tiles, the ceiling, and the toaster infinitely fascinating.
They looked everywhere in the kitchen except at each other, their shared secret hovering in the air like a physical weight.
Desperate to steer the ship away from the rocky shore of the bathroom conversation, Keifer cleared his throat.
His eyes landed on the suspicious, murky glass sitting on the counter.
"What's with this juice?" he asked, his voice a little too forced. He stepped closer, peering at the dark, swirling clouds inside the orange liquid. "Is it expired? Or did something crawl into it?"
Sophia let out a sharp, delighted bark of laughter. She didn't miss the golden opportunity. "Oh, that? That's the result of Jay's da—"
Before the word "dazed" or "dreamy" could escape, Jay's hand shot out. She grabbed a small butter knife from the tray and pointed it directly at Sophia, her eyes narrowing into slits.
"Say one more word," Jay hissed, her face a fiery crimson, "and you are over, Sophia. I mean it."
Keifer raised a single, impressed brow at Jay's sudden "viciousness," while his mother burst into another round of laughter, the sound echoing off the kitchen tiles.
Seeing that the girl had reached her absolute breaking point, Keifer's mom finally stepped in to save her.
She walked over to Jay, gently taking the "weapon" from her hand. She pulled Jay into a warm, protective hug, leaning down to press a tender kiss to her temple.
Jay got melted in that motherly hug, which she lost years ago.
She close her eyes, feeling that warmth.
"Alright, stop teasing her," his mom said, her voice softening. She looked down at Jay, who was still vibrating with embarrassment. "Are you hungry, kid?"
Jay, looking like a chastened child, nodded her head quickly.
"Good. Let's go eat," her mom said, leading the way.
"Yeah!" Sophia shouted, trailing behind them with a wicked glint in her eyes. "Let's eat... before you decide to eat my brother!"
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