The sky turned dark before the court session ended.
Heavy clouds gathered outside the tall windows of the Supreme Court of the Philippines building.
Thunder rumbled.
Inside the courtroom, Luke Reyes looked up from his papers.
"Well," he said cheerfully, "dramatic weather for dramatic lawyers."
Jay didn't laugh.
She never liked storms.
Not since years ago.
She kept her eyes on her files, pretending she didn't hear the thunder.
Across from her, Mark Keifer Watson noticed.
Her hand paused for a moment.
Just a second.
But he saw it.
Luke tapped his desk.
"Counselor Mariano, continue."
Jay stood.
Her voice was steady.
Confident.
"Your Honor, the evidence clearly shows—"
BOOM.
A loud crack of thunder shook the building.
Jay's words stopped.
Her fingers tightened around the file.
Another flash of lightning lit the room.
For a moment, the courtroom was completely white.
Then dark again.
Keifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew that reaction.
Fear.
Jay forced herself to continue.
"The evidence… shows…"
Another thunderclap.
Louder.
Closer.
Jay flinched.
And then—
The lights went out.
The entire courtroom went dark.
Someone gasped.
Percy's voice echoed from the back.
"OH THIS IS A MOVIE SCENE."
Jane smacked his arm.
"Not the time!"
Emergency lights flickered on dimly.
The room glowed soft red.
Jay was still standing in the center.
Frozen.
Another thunder crack exploded outside.
Jay's breath hitched.
Without thinking—
She moved.
Straight toward Keifer.
And hugged him.
Tightly.
The entire courtroom went silent.
Jay's arms wrapped around his torso.
Her face pressed against his chest.
Like she was trying to hide.
Keifer froze.
Completely still.
His brain stopped working for about three seconds.
Behind them—
Percy slowly stood up.
"…SUNSHINE JUST HUGGED HIM."
Jane covered her mouth.
"Oh my god."
Keigan whispered,
"Ate Jay…"
Keiren whispered louder,
"KUYA DON'T MOVE YOU'LL RUIN IT."
Aries stood up slowly.
Very slowly.
Watching carefully.
Near the front row—
Jasfher Mariano looked surprised.
Jeana Fernandez looked worried.
Across from them—
Mark Keizer Watson raised an eyebrow.
Serina Watson just smiled softly.
And on the judge's bench—
Luke Reyes looked like he had just won the lottery.
"Oh."
"My."
"God."
Back in the center—
Keifer slowly looked down.
Jay was shaking slightly.
Thunder rolled again outside.
He gently placed one hand on her back.
Carefully.
Like she might break.
"It's just thunder," he said quietly.
Jay didn't move.
Her voice was very small.
"I know."
Another lightning flash.
She held him tighter.
Keifer frowned slightly.
Then he spoke softer.
"Jay."
She didn't answer.
"Jay," he repeated gently.
Finally she whispered,
"…I hate storms."
His voice changed.
Less teasing.
More serious.
"Why."
Jay didn't answer.
Silence.
Thunder again.
Her fingers tightened slightly on his jacket.
Keifer sighed softly.
Then he wrapped both arms around her.
Protective.
Steady.
"You're safe," he said quietly.
The room was so quiet everyone heard it.
Percy whispered,
"OH HE SAID SAFE."
Jane was shaking with excitement.
Keigan looked stunned.
Keiren whispered,
"This is the best day of my life."
Aries stared at Keifer.
Hard.
But he didn't interrupt.
Because Jay looked genuinely scared.
Luke leaned forward on the bench like a kid watching TV.
"I am witnessing character development."
After a minute—
Jay realized where she was.
And what she was doing.
She immediately stepped back.
Her face bright red.
"I—"
She cleared her throat.
"I'm fine."
Keifer studied her face.
"You weren't."
Jay glared.
"I said I'm fine."
He stepped a little closer.
Lower voice.
"Storm trauma?"
Jay froze.
Her eyes flashed.
"How do you know."
Keifer shrugged slightly.
"You don't act scared of anything else."
She didn't answer.
Another thunder roll echoed outside.
Jay's shoulders tensed again.
Keifer noticed.
And quietly stepped a little closer.
Just in case.
Luke clapped once.
"Well!"
Everyone jumped.
"Court is temporarily paused due to weather… and emotional revelations."
Jay buried her face in her hands.
Percy whispered loudly,
"Sunshine hugged the enemy."
Jane corrected,
"No."
She grinned.
"Sunshine hugged her future husband."
Jay threw a pen at them.
Across the room—
Keifer looked at her again.
But this time—
Not like a rival.
Something softer.
Something curious.
And for the first time since law school…
He started wondering something dangerous.
Why he cared so much.