JAY'S POV
I woke up with my head feeling like it had gone ten rounds with the Hulk. A groan escaped my lips as I buried my face back into the pillow. After lying there for a few more minutes, I finally forced myself to sit up, resting my back against the headboard.
My eyes slowly wandered around the room.
Keifer's room.
The memories from last night came rushing back in scattered fragments.
Papa's call.
Jeana.
The car.
The flashback.
The bar.
Then...
Keifer.
After that...Nothing. Everything was blank.
I let out a frustrated groan.
"Why does this always happen to me?"
Now Keifer was definitely going to ask what happened last night. And what was I supposed to tell him? I didn't even know what had happened myself. Closing my eyes, I tried to remember.
Tiny, blurry flashes surfaced in my mind.
"They're mine..."
"You're mine..."
"What if I forget..."
"I still remember you..."
"I've got you..."
My eyes flew open.
"Wait..." I stared at the ceiling in horror. "Did I really say all that?"
Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks.
"Oh, God... why does this always happen to me?"
I threw a pillow over my face.
"He's never going to let me live this down."
After spending another ten minutes dramatically regretting my life choices, I finally dragged myself out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
A hot shower helped clear away most of the headache. After getting ready, I walked into the walk-in closet.
I stopped.
Half of the closet was now filled with women's clothes.
Mine.
Every single outfit was my size. A small smile crept onto my face. He really had prepared a place for me.
Still...Instead of picking something from my side, I reached over to Keifer's section.
An oversized black T-shirt.
Loose gray sweatpants.
Comfort won.
Besides...I liked wearing his clothes.
They always felt strangely comforting. After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs. The moment I reached the living room..The sweet smell of pancakes drifted through the air.
My stomach growled immediately. Without another thought, I followed the scent straight into the kitchen.
And there he was.
Keifer.
Standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with surprising concentration. His back was facing me. A mischievous smile spread across my face.
Quietly, I tiptoed across the kitchen before wrapping my arms around him from behind. For a split second, his shoulders tensed. Then they relaxed the moment he realized it was me.
Without turning around, he smiled.
"You're awake."
I rested my cheek against his back.
"Hmm."
He turned off the stove before slowly turning around to face me. My arms were still loosely wrapped around his waist.
For a second...I simply stared.
Seriously...Why does he always have to look so unfairly handsome?
I cleared my throat.
"Good morning."
Instead of answering immediately, he looked at me carefully.
Then he grabbed me by my waist and make me sit of the counter top and kissed my lips. My hands instantly found his neck pulling him closer.
The kiss was deep, passionate just the way we like. Because maybe people's like soft morning kisses we like to taste each other first.
Then he finally pulled away that smirk never leaving his mouth.
"Good morning."
Then he lightly tapped my forehead.
"Headache?"
I let out an exaggerated sigh.
"The worst."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"I figured."
He reached for a glass waiting on the counter and handed it to me.
"Drink this first."
I looked down. Lemon water. Of course he'd already prepared something. I accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thanks."
He nodded toward the stove.
"Breakfast will be ready in a minute."
Watching him casually make pancakes in the kitchen, as if this were the most natural thing in the world, warmth settled quietly in my chest.
For just a little while...I let myself enjoy the peace. Because I had a feeling...It wouldn't last long.
By the time the pancakes were stacked on the table, the pounding in my head had eased into a dull ache.
Keifer set a plate in front of me before placing a glass of orange juice beside it.
"Eat first," he said. "You can regret last night's decisions after breakfast."
I looked up at him.
"You're making fun of me already?"
The corner of his lips lifted.
"Already? I haven't even started."
I pouted and stabbed a piece of pancake with my fork. Before I could take another bite—
"GOOD MORNING, PEOPLE!"
The entire dining room seemed to shake.
Keiran strolled in like he owned the house, his hair sticking up in every possible direction. He took one look at me and froze dramatically.
He gasped.
Loudly.
Very loudly.
He pointed at me with both hands.
"SHE LIVES!"
I closed my eyes.
"...Here we go."
Keiran hurried over to the table.
"Kuya!" he said, looking at Keifer. "You didn't tell me our guest survived the night."
Keifer didn't even look up from his breakfast.
"She was never dying."
"How do you know?"
"Because she's already glaring at you."
I was. Very much. Keiran grinned.
"Good. That means she's healthy."
Just then, another pair of footsteps approached. Unlike Keiran's dramatic entrance, Keigan simply walked in, nodded once at everyone, and quietly took his usual seat.
He poured himself a glass of water. Looked at me. Then at Keifer.
Then back at me.
"...Morning."
"Morning," I replied.
Keiran leaned toward him.
"Aren't you going to ask how she is?"
Keigan calmly buttered his pancake.
"She's eating. She'll live."
I snorted into my juice.
Keiran looked personally offended.
"That's it?"
Keigan shrugged.
"Why waste words?"
Keiran dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
"Sometimes I wonder if we're even related."
Without missing a beat, Keigan replied,
"Every day."
I burst into laughter. Even Keifer let out a quiet chuckle. Keiran stared at both of us.
"You guys are laughing at me?"
Keifer finally looked up.
"Mostly."
"Wow." Keiran shook his head. "This family has no respect for the funniest member."
Keigan looked at him. Expressionless.
"Who?"
For two whole seconds...The room was silent. Then I laughed so hard I almost dropped my fork. Keiran pointed accusingly at his brother.
"See? Even your jokes are rude!"
Keigan continued eating as though nothing had happened.
"Truth isn't rude."
Keiran looked at Keifer for support.
"Kuya, say something!"
Keifer calmly sipped his coffee.
"He's not wrong."
Keiran stared at both of them in disbelief. Finally, he turned to me with the confidence of someone who already knew the answer.
He pointed at himself.
"Jay, tell them."
I blinked.
"Tell them what?"
He straightened proudly.
"Who's your favorite Watson brother?"
The dining room fell suspiciously quiet. Keigan stopped eating. Keifer slowly looked up from his coffee. Three pairs of eyes landed on me.
I looked at Keiran.
Then at Keifer.
Then at Keigan.
A mischievous smile crept onto my face.
"Keiran."
Silence.
Keiran froze.
"...Really?"
I nodded.
"Yep."
He shot up from his chair so fast it nearly tipped over.
"I KNEW IT!"
He pointed dramatically at his brothers.
"Did you hear that? I WIN!"
He started doing a ridiculous little victory dance around the dining table.
"Favorite brother! Favorite brother!"
I couldn't stop laughing. Keigan slowly placed his fork down. He looked at me with complete seriousness.
"...I'm disappointed."
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing harder. Across the table, Keifer leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. One eyebrow rose.
"Really?"
His tone was calm. Too calm. I instantly knew he was pretending not to care. I bit the inside of my cheek.
"Really."
Keiran clutched his chest dramatically.
"Kuya, did you hear that? She chose me."
Keifer gave him a blank stare.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
"Jealous?" Keiran asked with the biggest grin imaginable.
Keifer took another sip of his coffee.
"Not even a little."
Keigan glanced between the two of them before quietly saying,
"He's lying."
Keiran gasped.
"YOU SEE? EVEN KEIGAN SAID YOU'RE JEALOUS!"
Keifer sighed.
"Both of you are impossible."
I laughed so hard my stomach started hurting. Keiran walked over and proudly stood beside my chair.
"From today onward," he declared, "I am officially Jay's favorite Watson."
Without looking up, Keigan calmly stabbed another piece of pancake.
"Temporary position."
Keiran frowned.
"Who asked you?"
"No one."
"Then why are you talking?"
Keigan took another bite.
"Because it's funny."
That only made everyone laugh even harder—including Keifer, who finally gave up trying to hide his smile.
For the first time since yesterday...The dining room was filled with nothing but laughter. For the first time since waking up...The heaviness in my chest eased.
After breakfast, I helped carry the empty plates to the sink despite Keifer insisting I didn't have to.
Once everything was cleaned up, we headed back upstairs. As soon as the bedroom door closed behind us, the comfortable silence returned.
Well...I was wrong.
Because as soon as the door closed Keifer pinned me on the wall. Locking my hands above my head and his arm around my waist.
"Favourite? Huh!"
I gulped already regretting my decision.
"He is your brother."
"Like I give a fuck about that."
And then without waiting for another second he crushed his lips to mine. He kisses me roughly. Completely unyielding. And Fuck....I Love it.
Because his kisses screams that "you're mine". And with the same energy I kissed him back.
After a while when the intense makeout session settle down. Keifer sat on the edge of the bed while I wandered toward the walk-in closet. His eyes followed me.
Then he smiled.
"Can I ask you something?"
I nodded.
"Sure."
He leaned against the headboard.
"Why don't you ever wear the clothes I bought for you?"
I blinked.
Then looked toward the neatly organized half of the closet.
The dresses.
The sweaters.
The jeans.
Everything he'd carefully picked out.
I smiled sheepishly.
"I do like them."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Do you?"
I scratched the back of my neck.
"I just...like your clothes more."
He looked genuinely confused.
"Why?"
I shrugged.
"They're comfortable." Then I admitted quietly, "And they smell like home."
For a moment...He didn't say anything. His expression softened.
"Then I guess I shouldn't complain."
I laughed.
"Definitely not."
The laughter faded. A more serious silence settled between us. Keifer looked at me for a long moment.
Carefully.
Almost cautiously.
"Jay..."
I looked up.
He hesitated.
"Can I ask about last night?"
My fingers tightened around the hem of the oversized shirt. Images flashed through my mind.
Jeana.
The argument.
Fragments of memories I couldn't piece together.
My breathing became uneven.
I lowered my gaze.
"I..."
Nothing came out. Keifer noticed immediately. He didn't ask again. Instead, he stood, walked over, and rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder. His voice was calm.
Gentle.
"You don't have to tell me today."
I looked at him.
"Tell me when you're ready."
He offered a small smile.
"I'm always here for you."
The knot in my chest loosened just a little.
I nodded.
"Thank you."
He simply nodded back, never pressing for more.
A little while later, His phone rang.
Brother in law Calling...
I looked at him my expression says "seriously?". But that asshole just smirk.
The moment I answered—
"JASPER JEAN MARIANO!"
I pulled the phone away from my ear.
"Ow..."
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
I winced.
"Aries—"
"No."
His voice was firm.
"You left without your phone. You disappeared for hours. Nobody knew where you were. Do you know how much worried I was?"
I stayed quiet. His anger wasn't really anger. It was fear. Finally, he let out a long breath.
"You scared me."
The words were quieter this time. More honest. I swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
Silence.
Then—
"Are you okay?"
I glanced toward Keifer, who was pretending not to listen while giving me space.
"Yeah."
Another pause.
"Really?"
I smiled faintly.
"Really."
Aries sighed.
"Good."
Then, in a softer voice,
"Next time... just send me one message. Anything. I don't care what it says. Just let me know you're safe."
My eyes stung.
"I will."
"Promise?"
I smiled.
"Promise."
"Good."
His usual teasing tone finally returned.
"Now get some rest before I come over there and lecture you in person."
I laughed.
"Yes, kuya."
He chuckled.
"That's better."
The call ended, leaving the room quiet once more.
Outside, the day seemed peaceful.