Chapter: "Meet My World"
Keifer's POV
I don't bring people home.
Not classmates.
Not friends.
Not anyone.
Yuri and Cin don't count. They invade.
But bringing her here?
That meant something.
She walked beside me quietly down the stairs. Still a little pale. Still a little tired. But stronger than last night.
I slowed my pace slightly.
"You don't have to talk much," I murmured.
She glanced at me. "Are they scary?"
I smirked faintly. "Worse. They're honest."
She exhaled nervously.
When we entered the living hall—
"KUYAAAA!"
A blur ran toward us.
Keiran.
Ten years old. Loud. No filter.
He stopped mid-run when he saw Jay.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
Behind him, Keigan walked in calmly, hands in pockets, already observing everything like a detective.
I cleared my throat.
"This is Jay."
Silence.
Keiran squinted at her.
Keigan tilted his head slightly.
Jay gave a small polite smile.
"Hi."
Keigan nodded once. "You're the one."
Jay froze slightly. "The one…?"
Keiran suddenly pointed at me dramatically.
"SO YOU'RE NOT GAY."
Dead silence.
Absolute.
Cin choked from behind.
Yuri slapped the sofa laughing.
Aries closed his eyes slowly.
Jay blinked.
"…What?"
Keiran shrugged casually. "He only brings boys home. So I thought."
My jaw tightened.
"I bring my friends home."
"Yes," he nodded seriously. "Male friends."
Yuri fell to the couch laughing. "BROOOOO."
Jay's lips trembled.
She tried to hold it.
Failed.
A soft laugh escaped her.
And hearing that laugh after everything she went through last night?
I didn't even care about the embarrassment.
Keigan spoke calmly. "We did question it."
"YOU did not," I snapped.
He shrugged lightly. "Statistical probability."
Jay covered her mouth to hide her smile.
Keiran nodded proudly. "So she's proof."
Yuri clapped once. "Evidence confirmed."
Aries muttered, "This family…"
Jay looked at me sideways.
"So… I'm proof?"
I leaned closer slightly.
"You're exclusive evidence."
Her ears turned slightly red.
Good.
She's feeling normal again.
Jay's POV
This house is huge.
But his siblings?
They feel… real.
Not fake rich kids.
Not arrogant.
Just chaotic.
Keiran suddenly walked closer to me.
Suspiciously.
"So you like my kuya?"
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
He leaned closer.
"Because if you break his heart I will expose your secrets."
Yuri gasped dramatically. "Threat at age ten."
Cin nodded. "Respect."
I crossed my arms playfully.
"And what secrets do you have?"
He froze.
Oh.
That reaction.
Interesting.
Keigan slowly looked at his brother.
"You shouldn't start fights you can't win."
Yuri's eyes slowly lit up.
Oh no.
He sensed weakness.
"What secrets?" Yuri asked slowly.
Keiran backed away. "Nothing."
Cin leaned forward. "You asked about Youchi."
The air shifted.
Keiran froze completely.
"I DID NOT."
"Yes you did," Keigan said calmly. "Last month. Twice."
Yuri gasped loudly. "YOU ASKED ABOUT MY SISTER?"
Keiran turned red instantly.
"She's just your sister!"
Yuri stood dramatically.
"My beautiful, talented, intelligent sister."
Cin added helpfully, "Who apparently lives rent-free in someone's brain."
Keiran slammed his hands on the table.
"I JUST ASKED WHAT GRADE SHE'S IN."
"And if she plays basketball," Keigan added casually.
The table exploded.
I leaned forward, fully invested now.
"Sooo… Youchi?"
Keiran looked betrayed.
"Why is everyone attacking me?!"
Yuri pointed at him. "YOU ACCUSED YOUR BROTHER FIRST."
Aries leaned back, arms crossed. "Consequences."
Keif finally spoke calmly.
"You started the investigation. Now you're under investigation."
I smiled sweetly at Keiran.
"Do you want her number?"
"NO!"
The louder he denied—
The worse it became.
Cin leaned back. "Bro fell first."
"I DIDN'T FALL."
Yuri smirked. "I'll tell her you said she's pretty."
"I NEVER SAID THAT."
"But you thought it," Keigan said.
Keiran covered his face.
"I hate this house."
I laughed.
Not small.
Not fake.
A real laugh.
And everyone noticed.
Keif looked at me quietly for a second.
That look.
The soft one.
Like he's relieved.
Keiran peeked through his fingers.
"Stop laughing."
"Make me," I teased.
He pointed at me dramatically.
"You're dangerous."
I shrugged.
"Learned from your brother."
The table went wild again.
Keifer's POV
Watching her laugh with them.
Teasing.
Relaxed.
Alive.
That's what I wanted.
Not the girl shaking in the kitchen.
Not the one apologizing for crying.
This one.
This is her.
Keiran was still red.
Yuri was planning revenge via Youchi.
Cin was enjoying the chaos.
Aries finally relaxed slightly.
And Jay leaned closer to me quietly and whispered,
"Your family is insane."
I smirked.
"You're part of it now."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't pull away either.
And that silence?
It wasn't heavy.
It was comfortable.
For the first time since everything happened—
It felt like she wasn't just surviving in this house.
She was belonging.