Chapter 83: Fix It or Forget Me
(Jay Jay's POV)
The wind on the rooftop felt colder now.
Not because the weather changed.
But because the truth had settled.
Heavy.
Real.
Keifer stood beside me, staring out at the city like it owed him answers.
But the city doesn't answer.
It just keeps moving.
Jay:
"…so that's it?"
Keifer didn't look at me.
Keifer:
"That's it."
Jay:
"You just… live with it?"
Keifer:
"I have been."
Jay:
"For years."
Keifer:
"Yeah."
I turned fully toward him.
Jay:
"That's not okay."
Keifer finally looked at me.
Keifer:
"It is what it is."
Jay:
"No."
My voice sharpened.
Jay:
"It's not."
He frowned slightly.
Keifer:
"Jay—"
Jay:
"You all broke apart over something that wasn't even the full truth."
Keifer:
"It doesn't change what happened."
Jay:
"It changes everything."
Silence.
The kind that presses.
The kind that demands.
Jay:
"Fix it."
Keifer blinked.
Keifer:
"…what?"
Jay:
"Fix it."
Keifer let out a dry laugh.
Keifer:
"You think it's that easy?"
Jay:
"I didn't say it was easy."
Keifer:
"It's too late."
There it was.
That word.
Too late.
I stepped closer.
Jay:
"No."
Keifer:
"Jay—"
Jay:
"It's not too late."
Keifer shook his head.
Keifer:
"You don't understand."
Jay:
"Then make me understand."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
Keifer:
"We said things."
Jay:
"Everyone does."
Keifer:
"Things you don't come back from."
Jay:
"You don't get to decide that alone."
Silence again.
He looked away.
And that's when I knew—
He was scared.
Not angry.
Not stubborn.
Scared.
Jay:
"You're afraid."
Keifer:
"I'm not."
Jay:
"You are."
Keifer:
"I said I'm not."
Jay:
"You're afraid they won't forgive you."
That hit.
I saw it.
The flicker in his eyes.
Jay (soft but firm):
"And you're even more afraid… that you don't deserve it."
He didn't speak.
Because he couldn't.
(Keifer's POV)
She saw right through me.
Like always.
Keifer:
"…it's not that simple."
Jay:
"It never is."
Keifer:
"You don't just walk back into something like that."
Jay:
"Why not?"
Keifer:
"Because things change."
Jay:
"People change."
Keifer:
"Exactly."
Jay stepped even closer.
Jay:
"Then change with them."
I looked at her.
Frustration rising.
Keifer:
"You're asking me to go back to something that's already broken."
Jay:
"No."
Her voice softened.
Jay:
"I'm asking you to stop running from it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Keifer:
"…it's too late."
And that's when—
Everything changed.
(Jay Jay's POV)
I stared at him.
Really stared.
Then—
I crossed my arms.
Jay:
"Fine."
Keifer frowned.
Keifer:
"Fine?"
Jay:
"Fine."
Keifer:
"That's it?"
Jay:
"That's it."
He looked confused.
Keifer:
"You're just giving up?"
I tilted my head slightly.
Jay:
"No."
Pause.
Jay:
"I'm giving you a choice."
Keifer:
"…what kind of choice?"
I took a step back.
Jay:
"If you don't fix your relationship with them—"
I paused.
Let it sink in.
Jay:
"No kisses for you."
Keifer blinked.
Keifer:
"…what?"
Jay:
"For two months."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
Keifer:
"…you're joking."
Jay:
"I'm not."
Keifer stared at me like I just declared war.
Keifer:
"Two months?"
Jay:
"Yes."
Keifer:
"That's illegal."
Jay:
"It's necessary."
Keifer ran a hand through his hair.
Keifer:
"Jay—"
Jay:
"No fixing, no kisses."
Keifer:
"That's blackmail."
Jay:
"That's motivation."
Keifer:
"That's emotional damage."
Jay:
"That's consequences."
He stared at me.
Long.
Then—
Keifer:
"…how am I supposed to survive?"
I almost smiled.
But I didn't.
Jay:
"Not my problem."
Keifer stepped closer.
Keifer:
"Jay."
Jay:
"No."
Keifer:
"You're serious?"
Jay:
"Very."
Keifer:
"Two months is insane."
Jay:
"So is ignoring your past."
Keifer:
"This is not the same thing!"
Jay:
"It is to me."
Silence.
Then—
Keifer:
"…you're really doing this."
Jay:
"Yes."
Keifer:
"…no kisses?"
Jay:
"No kisses."
Keifer:
"…at all?"
Jay:
"At all."
He looked personally offended.
Keifer:
"…you're cruel."
Jay:
"I'm right."
Keifer:
"You're evil."
Jay:
"I'm effective."
He groaned dramatically.
Keifer:
"Jay—this is torture."
Jay:
"Good."
Keifer:
"I just got you."
Jay:
"Then fight for it."
That stopped him.
Completely.
(Keifer's POV — Ending)
Fight for it.
Those three words—
Hit harder than anything else she said.
Because she wasn't just talking about them.
She was talking about everything.
Us.
Them.
The past.
Keifer (quietly):
"…you don't fight fair."
Jay smirked slightly.
Jay:
"I never said I did."
I sighed.
Long.
Heavy.
Then looked at her.
Really looked at her.
Keifer:
"…two months?"
Jay:
"Two months."
Keifer:
"…you're unbelievable."
Jay:
"You love it."
Keifer:
"…unfortunately."
She smiled.
And walked past me.
Like she had already won.
And the worst part?
She probably did.
Because now—
I had something to lose.
And for the first time—
Fixing the past didn't feel impossible.
It felt necessary.
End of Chapter
Chapter Moral ✦
Sometimes, the push we need doesn't come gently—it comes with consequences.
Running from the past may feel easier, but it only keeps wounds open.
True growth happens when you face what you've been avoiding,
even when it's uncomfortable, even when it's painful.
And sometimes…
the people who love you the most
won't let you stay broken—
they'll force you to become better.