Night.
The house was quiet.
Soft lights.
Calm air.
Jay sat with Serina.
In the living room.
Casual talk.
Random stories.
Old memories.
Jay loved listening.
Especially when it was about him.
"Tell me more…"
Serina smiled.
"You really want to know everything?"
Jay nodded quickly.
"Yes."
Serina laughed softly.
"This girl…"
A small pause.
Then she said—
"You know…"
"He had a crush once."
Jay froze.
"…what?"
Serina nodded.
"In school."
Silence.
Jay blinked.
Processing.
"A… crush?"
Serina smiled.
"Yes."
Jay leaned forward slightly.
"Who?"
Serina shrugged lightly.
"Some girl."
"He never told her."
Jay's brows furrowed.
"He didn't?"
Serina shook her head.
"No."
"One sided."
Jay leaned back slowly.
Quiet now.
Her mind…
Thinking.
Imagining.
Him…
Looking at someone else like that.
Waiting.
Liking.
Silently.
Her chest felt… strange.
Not pain.
Not exactly.
But something.
New.
Unfamiliar.
Jealousy?
Maybe.
Just a little.
"Why didn't he tell her?"
Jay asked softly.
Serina smiled gently.
"He wasn't like this before."
Jay looked at her.
"Like what?"
Serina's eyes softened.
"Confident."
"Open."
"Certain."
A pause.
"He used to keep things inside."
Jay stayed silent.
Listening carefully.
Serina continued.
"He liked her for a long time."
"But never said anything."
"Then school ended…"
"And that was it."
Silence filled the room.
Jay's fingers moved slightly.
Restless.
"So… he really liked her?"
Serina nodded.
"Yes."
Jay swallowed.
"More than…"
She stopped.
Didn't complete it.
Serina noticed.
Smiled softly.
"No."
Jay looked up quickly.
Serina continued gently.
"That was just a phase."
"But you…"
A pause.
"You changed him."
Jay's eyes softened.
A little relief.
But still…
Something stayed.
That tiny curiosity.
That slight uneasiness.
Later…
Jay walked to the balcony.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Keifer walked in.
Noticing her immediately.
"There you are."
Jay turned slowly.
"You had a crush?"
Straight.
No warning.
Keifer blinked.
"…what?"
Jay stepped closer.
"In school."
Keifer exhaled softly.
"Ma told you?"
Jay nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then quietly…
"Who was she?"
Keifer looked at her.
Calm.
"No one important."
Jay frowned slightly.
"She was important to you."
Keifer shook his head.
"Not anymore."
Jay crossed her arms.
"You liked her."
Keifer nodded.
"I did."
Honest.
Simple.
Jay looked away for a second.
That feeling again.
Small.
But there.
Keifer noticed.
He stepped closer.
"What's wrong?"
Jay hesitated.
Then said softly—
"Did you look at her…"
"…like you look at me?"
Silence.
Keifer didn't answer immediately.
Jay waited.
Heart slightly tight.
Then he said—
"No."
Jay looked at him.
Unsure.
"Why?"
Keifer smiled faintly.
"Because I never had you back then."
A pause.
Then softer…
"I didn't know what this feels like."
Jay's expression softened.
Completely.
Keifer continued.
"That was just liking someone."
"But this…"
He looked at her.
Deeply.
"This is different."
Jay's heart eased.
That strange feeling…
Gone.
Replaced by something warm again.
"Did she know?"
Jay asked quietly.
Keifer shook his head.
"No."
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"Why?"
Keifer smiled a little.
"Didn't have the courage."
Jay smirked softly.
"And now?"
Keifer stepped closer.
Right in front of her.
"Now I don't need courage."
A pause.
"Because I'm not afraid of losing you."
Jay smiled.
That soft, deep smile again.
She moved closer.
Without hesitation.
Because now she understood something.
He had a past.
Of course he did.
But it didn't matter.
Because that past…
Never had a place in his present.
And his present…
Was her.