Chapter 19
The Night Everything Was Seen
I didn't know when it happened.
When peace turned into fear.
When silence turned into something dangerous.
We were still there.
Sitting close.
Hands intertwined.
Lost in a moment…
we thought was ours.
Until—
"Jay."
A voice.
Sharp.
Cold.
My heart stopped.
I froze.
Slowly…
very slowly…
I turned.
Mama.
Standing at the terrace door.
Her eyes…
weren't normal.
They were filled with anger.
Shock.
And something worse—
Disappointment.
"Mama…"
My voice barely came out.
Her gaze shifted.
From me…
To him.
To our hands.
Still holding each other.
And that was enough.
She walked forward.
Fast.
Before I could react—
SLAP.
The sound echoed.
My breath caught.
Keifer's face turned slightly to the side.
But he didn't react.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't even look at her.
"MAMA!"
I stood up instantly.
"What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?!"
Her voice shook.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, JAY?!"
I couldn't answer.
Because I didn't have an answer.
Because everything was exposed now.
Everything.
"How long?"
Silence.
"HOW LONG?!" she shouted.
"Please—"
"Don't say a word!"
Her eyes filled with anger again.
"You're meeting a boy at night?!"
"In our house?!"
"Mama please listen—"
"I don't want to hear anything!"
I looked at Keifer.
He was still standing there.
Quiet.
Taking everything.
That made it worse.
"Mama please…"
I held her hand.
"Calm down…"
"Calm down?!" she laughed bitterly.
"You're asking me to calm down after this?!"
Tears filled my eyes.
"Please… someone will hear…"
That stopped her.
For a second.
She looked around.
Then back at me.
Her voice dropped.
But her anger didn't.
"Take me inside."
I nodded quickly.
"Yes… please…"
I turned to Keifer.
Our eyes met.
So much unsaid.
So much fear.
So much pain.
"I'll handle it," I whispered.
He nodded slightly.
Still silent.
Still strong.
I held Mama's hand…
and started taking her inside.
But before stepping in—
She stopped.
Turned back.
Looked at him.
And said something…
that made everything worse.
"Be careful."
Her voice was low.
Controlled.
"If you continue this…"
A pause.
"My husband is not like me."
Silence.
"He won't stop at a slap."
My heart dropped.
"And you…"
she looked at me for a second…
"will regret everything."
I tightened my grip on her hand.
"Mama please…"
"Come inside."
I pulled her gently.
And this time…
she didn't resist.
We walked in.
The door closed.
And just like that…
Something broke.
Not completely.
But enough to feel it.
Behind that door…
He was still there.
Alone.
And for the first time…
I wasn't with him.
And that felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Because tonight…
was the first time our love…
Wasn't hidden.
It was caught.
And once something is seen…
It can never go back to being a secret.
And I didn't know then…
That this was just the beginning.
Because next time…
It wouldn't be my mother.
It would be my father.
And that…
Would change everything.
To be continued… 😔💔