Aries POV
The low hum of the airplane engines blended with the storm inside my head.
Jay Jay…
I tightened my fists.
"I will find you," I whispered under my breath. "And this time… no one will take you away from us."
A dark thought crossed my mind.
Percy… when I see you, I won't hold back.
"Aries… ready?" Angelo called.
I snapped back. "Yes, Kuya."
We walked toward boarding, but just before entering, something caught my eye.
A group.
Familiar faces.
My steps slowed.
Kiefer… Yuri… Cin… David…
"Angelo… look."
He followed my gaze, frowning. "Why are they here?"
"Let's find out."
We approached them.
"Oh—Angelo!" Yuri greeted casually.
Kiefer simply nodded, giving a faint smile—but his eyes…
Empty.
Like he hadn't slept in days.
"You guys boarding this flight?" Cin asked.
"We got invited," Angelo replied. "Engagement ceremony."
David smirked. "Same here."
"Valdez?" Angelo asked.
"Yeah."
A strange silence followed.
Too many connections.
Too many coincidences.
And only one name echoing in my mind—
Jay Jay.
On the Plane
We were seated in business class, not too far from each other.
Comfortable seats.
Cold atmosphere.
I leaned back, closing my eyes.
Where are you…
But no matter how much I tried—
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.
After Landing
The airport was crowded.
Voices. Footsteps. Announcements.
Then suddenly—
Everything faded.
Because I saw her.
Standing a few meters away.
My heart stopped.
Jay Jay…?
Without thinking, I ran.
"Aries!" someone shouted behind me—but I didn't care.
I grabbed her attention.
"Hey—!"
She turned.
And my world shattered.
She looked exactly like Jay.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same presence.
"…Jay…" the name escaped my lips.
For a second—
She froze.
Just for a second.
Her eyes flickered with something.
Recognition.
Then it was gone.
"I think you're mistaken," she said calmly. "My name is Jane."
My chest tightened.
"No… that's not possible—"
"I'm sorry," she cut in, her tone polite but distant. "I don't know who you're talking about."
But I saw it.
That hesitation.
That lie.
Before I could speak again, her phone rang.
She glanced at it.
"I have to go."
And just like that—
She disappeared into the crowd.
"Do you enjoy running around?" Kiefer's voice came from behind.
I turned, still shaken. "I thought she was Jay… but she wasn't."
I paused.
"…But she looked exactly like her."
Silence.
I noticed Kiefer scanning the area, his jaw tightening.
Like he was searching.
Like he already knew.
And in that moment—
Guilt was written all over him.
Kiefer POV
The hotel room was silent.
Too silent.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.
Jay…
Her name alone was enough to break my composure.
I closed my eyes briefly.
If I had been there…
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Party in one hour," Yuri said.
"Got it."
I turned back to the mirror and adjusted my outfit.
A perfectly tailored black suit hugged my frame, sharp and precise. Underneath, a deep wine-red shirt added contrast, the top buttons slightly open. A silver watch rested on my wrist—clean, expensive, controlled.
I looked calm.
But inside—
I wasn't.
Yuri leaned on the wall, wearing a navy-blue suit with a relaxed fit.
Cin adjusted his grey three-piece suit, composed as ever.
David stood near the window, dressed entirely in black—intimidating without trying.
"We look like we're attending a funeral," Yuri joked.
I let out a faint smirk.
"Maybe we are."
Because tonight…
Something felt wrong.
And I couldn't ignore the feeling that she was closer than we thought.
Jane POV
I sat inside the car, staring at my phone.
That moment kept replaying.
"…Jay…"
The way he said it.
Not confusion.
Not a guess.
Certainty.
I dialed a number.
"Hello?" Percy answered.
"Brother… something happened."
His tone sharpened. "What is it?"
"I met someone at the airport," I said slowly. "He called me Jay."
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Jane tightened her grip on the phone.
"He didn't hesitate," she continued. "He said it like he knew me."
"And what did you do?" Percy asked.
"I denied it."
Another pause.
"…Good."
I looked out the window, watching the city lights blur.
"But brother…" I whispered, "they've started looking, haven't they?"
Percy's voice turned cold.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"But what if they recognize me again?"
"They won't," he said firmly. "As long as you remain Jane."
I stayed quiet.
But inside…
Something didn't feel right.
"…That name," I murmured. "Jay… why does it feel like it belongs to me?"
Percy didn't answer.
And that silence…
Told me everything.
Aries POV – Ending
The party hall shimmered with lights and luxury.
People laughed.
Music played.
Everything looked perfect.
But I wasn't paying attention to any of it.
Because somewhere in this city—
She was here.
Not Jay.
Not Jane.
But someone in between.
And this time…
I wouldn't let her disappear again.