The ballroom was still buzzing with whispers, arguments, and two grandmas threatening to hit each other with handbags and canes. But Jay didn't hear any of it.
All she could hear was her heartbeat.
And Keifer's footsteps behind her.
She slipped out onto the balcony, needing air — needing space — needing anything that wasn't the chaos inside.
The cold breeze hit her face.
She closed her eyes.
Then—
"Jay."
His voice.
Soft. Rough. Shaken.
She turned.
Keifer stood in the doorway, chest rising and falling, eyes locked on her like she was the only thing keeping him alive.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward. It was heavy. Full. Loaded.
Jay swallowed. "You shouldn't be out here. People will—"
"I don't care about people."
He stepped closer.
Jay's breath hitched.
Keifer's voice dropped. "I care about you."
Her heart twisted painfully.
"Keifer… don't."
"Don't what?" he whispered. "Don't tell you the truth? Don't tell you I never stopped loving you? Don't tell you that seeing Yuri touch you made me want to break something?"
Jay looked away. "That's not fair."
"Nothing about this is fair," Keifer said, stepping closer again. "You think I wanted to find out my mom was alive like that? You think I wanted to see you standing beside someone else?"
Jay's eyes stung.
"Keifer… I didn't have a choice."
He gently lifted her chin so she'd look at him.
"You always have a choice. You just never choose yourself."
Jay froze.
Because he was right.
She always chose responsibility. Duty. Sacrifice. Everyone else.
Never herself.
Never what she wanted.
Keifer's voice softened. "Jay… look at me."
She did.
And everything she'd been holding back — every feeling, every memory, every ache — rushed to the surface.
Keifer took a shaky breath.
"I'm not letting you go again."
Jay's lips parted. "Keifer…"
He stepped even closer, their faces inches apart.
"You still feel it," he whispered. "I saw it in your eyes. I felt it when you grabbed my wrist. You still love me."
Jay's voice trembled. "That doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
Jay blinked hard, tears threatening.
"Keifer… if I choose you, Keizer will come after me. After you. After everyone."
Keifer shook his head. "Then let him come. I'm not afraid."
Jay stepped back, shaking. "I am."
Keifer froze.
And for the first time, he understood.
She wasn't scared of Keizer.
She was scared of losing Keifer again.
He reached out slowly — giving her time to pull away.
She didn't.
His hand brushed her cheek.
Jay closed her eyes, leaning into his touch like she'd been starving for it.
Keifer whispered, voice breaking:
"Jay… I'm right here."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
He wiped it gently.
Then—
A loud voice echoed from inside:
"WHERE IS MY GRANDSON? HE NEEDS ICE!"
Yuri's grandma.
Jay and Keifer both groaned.
Keifer muttered, "I swear that woman is immortal."
Jay laughed — a small, broken laugh — but it was the first real one in months.
Keifer smiled softly.
"There it is," he whispered. "I missed that."
Jay looked up at him, eyes shining.
"Keifer… what are we going to do?"
He didn't hesitate.
"We fight. Together."
Jay's breath caught.
And for the first time since everything fell apart…
She believed him.