Chapter: The Second Time My World Stopped
Jay's POV
It was the second day after Halloween.
The house felt unusually calm. Too calm.
I was sitting on the soft gray couch in Kuya Angelo's living room, my legs tucked under me, still feeling a little drained from everything that had happened the past few days. My mind was quieter now… but not peaceful.
Kuya Angelo was sitting beside me, holding a cup of coffee, looking at me with that serious-but-soft older-brother expression.
"So," he asked gently, "how are your studies going?"
I blinked and forced a small smile. "They're fine, kuya."
"Are you focusing properly?"
"Yes."
"Not lying?"
I sighed and leaned back. "I'm trying."
He nodded slowly. He didn't push more. He never did. That's what made him different. Safe.
For a moment, I almost felt normal.
Then—
"JAYYYYY!"
Aries' voice echoed from his room upstairs.
It wasn't playful.
It wasn't casual.
It was loud.
Panicked.
My heart dropped instantly.
I stood up so fast the cushion shifted. "What?!" I shouted back.
"Don't panic!" he yelled again.
Don't panic?
Why would he say that?
My chest tightened.
"I asked what happened!" I screamed, already walking toward the stairs.
There was a pause.
And then—
"Keif met with an accident."
The world stopped.
No.
It didn't stop.
It twisted.
The walls felt like they were bending inward. My ears started ringing. I couldn't breathe.
"What…?" I whispered.
Aries came rushing down the stairs, already grabbing his keys. His face looked pale.
"Jay, listen—"
"How bad?" My voice broke before he could finish.
"He's conscious—"
I didn't wait.
I ran.
I ran out of the house barefoot at first until Aries pulled me back and shoved my slippers into my hands. My fingers were shaking so badly I could barely wear them.
"No no no no no…" I kept whispering like a prayer.
The car ride to the hospital felt like torture.
Every second was too long.
"What happened?" I asked, staring straight ahead.
"He was driving back," Aries said carefully. "A bike suddenly crossed. He swerved. Hit the side barrier."
My stomach dropped.
"Is he bleeding?" I asked.
"He hit his head," Aries said softly. "But he's sitting up. He's okay."
Head.
Head.
Why head?
Why him?
Why again?
I pressed my hands against my ears as if that would stop the thoughts.
What if I lose him too?
What if this time I'm too late?
The hospital building came into view, and I didn't even wait for the car to fully stop. I jumped out and ran inside.
The smell of antiseptic hit me.
The white lights felt too bright.
The hallway felt too long.
"Room 214," Aries said behind me.
I ran.
My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
I pushed the door open.
And there he was.
Keifer.
Sitting on the hospital bed.
Bandage wrapped around his head.
A small cut near his eyebrow.
His hand had light scratches.
But he was sitting.
He was breathing.
He was alive.
My vision blurred instantly.
I ran to him.
I didn't even think.
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"You scared me!" I cried into his chest. "You scared me so much!"
He froze for a second—probably shocked by how hard I crashed into him—but then his arms wrapped around me gently.
"I'm fine," he said softly.
"You're not fine!" I sobbed. "Your head—your head is hurt!"
"It's just a small injury."
"You could've—" My voice broke. "You could've…"
I couldn't even say the word.
He tilted his head slightly and rested his chin over my hair.
"I'm not going anywhere," he murmured.
But I had heard that before in life.
And sometimes people still leave.
I pulled back slightly and cupped his face carefully.
"How did it happen?" I asked, my voice shaking.
He opened his mouth to answer.
But suddenly…
Something shifted inside me.
Fear turned into anger.
Why was he driving alone?
Why wasn't anyone with him?
Why does he never think about himself?
Before he could answer, I stepped back.
"I'll be back," I said quickly.
"Jay—"
But I was already walking out.
Not because I was mad at him.
Because if I stayed, I would cry again.
I went to the hospital cafeteria with trembling hands and bought food. Soup. Some rice. Juice. I didn't even remember what I grabbed. I just needed to do something.
If he won't take care of himself…
Then I will.
When I came back to the room, he was sitting there, watching the door like he was waiting for me.
"You walked out," he said quietly.
"I needed air," I replied.
I placed the food on the table and sat beside him.
"Eat."
He looked at the tray.
"I'm not that injured, you know."
"Eat," I repeated.
He stared at me for a second.
Then a tiny smile formed.
"You're bossy."
"Eat," I said again, my voice softer now.
I opened the soup and blew on it before holding the spoon near his mouth.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're feeding me?"
"Yes."
He didn't argue this time.
He opened his mouth slightly and let me feed him.
And as I watched him swallow, I felt something heavy settle in my chest.
Relief.
But also something deeper.
I almost lost him.
The thought made my hands tremble again.
He noticed.
"Hey," he said gently, catching my wrist. "Look at me."
I did.
"I'm here," he said. "I'm not leaving you."
My throat tightened.
"Don't say things like that," I whispered.
"Why?"
"Because when people promise… life tests it."
He stared at me carefully.
Then he sighed softly.
"Okay," he said. "Then I won't promise."
That scared me.
"But," he continued, holding my hand properly now, "I will fight to stay."
That broke me again.
I looked down quickly before tears fell.
"You scared me," I whispered again.
"I know."
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
I hesitated.
Because the truth was…
When Aries said "accident," it didn't just scare me.
It felt like my whole world collapsing.
Like that same darkness trying to swallow me again.
Because I have already lived through losing safety.
I can't live through losing him too.
I wiped my tears and picked up the spoon again.
"Eat," I said softly.
He smiled faintly and obeyed.
And as I fed him in that quiet hospital room, I realized something terrifying.
I wasn't just scared for a friend.
I wasn't just worried.
I was terrified of a life without him.
And that realization scared me more than the accident itself.
Because loving someone means giving life the power to hurt you again.
And I don't know if I'm strong enough for that.
But as he leaned back against the pillow, looking at me like I was his calm…
I knew one thing.
If the world twists again…
I'll run toward him every single time.