Chapter: Don't Stay Alone – Jay's POV
Morning came too fast.
For a few seconds, I didn't move.
I was still in Keifer's arms, his breathing slow and steady against my hair. The light slipping through his curtains felt soft, almost gentle — like the world was pretending nothing had happened.
But everything had happened.
And I had to go back.
I slowly lifted my head, careful not to wake him, but he stirred anyway. His arms tightened slightly around me before his eyes opened.
"You're leaving," he murmured, voice still heavy with sleep.
It wasn't a question.
I nodded faintly.
"I have to."
His jaw tightened for a second, but he didn't argue. That's what I love about him. He doesn't cage me. He stands beside me.
"I'll drive you," he said.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
That was the end of that conversation.
Downstairs, Keiran and Keigan were already awake. Keigan looked up from his phone when we entered the living room.
"You're going back?" he asked gently.
"Yes," I answered softly.
Keiran walked closer. "Call if anything feels wrong."
I gave him a small smile. "I will."
Keifer grabbed his keys without another word.
The ride back to Kuya Angelo's house felt heavier than last night's drive. The streets were busy now. Normal. Loud.
But inside me, everything felt fragile.
When we reached the gate, I hesitated again.
Keifer noticed.
"You don't have to face it alone," he said quietly.
"I know," I whispered.
He reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Remember what you said yesterday."
"I love you."
His expression softened. "And?"
"And I'm not marrying Yuri."
"Good," he said.
I stepped out of the car before I could let fear take over.
The house looked the same.
But it didn't feel the same.
I walked inside slowly.
Kuya Angelo was in the living room. He looked up the moment he saw me. There was no anger in his eyes this time.
Just exhaustion.
"You're back," he said quietly.
"Yes."
Silence stretched between us.
"I meant what I said yesterday," he added. "I won't force you."
"I know," I replied softly.
We weren't okay yet.
But we weren't enemies either.
I started walking toward the stairs when I heard a familiar voice from the hallway.
"Jay."
Aries.
He was leaning against the wall outside his room, arms crossed, watching me carefully.
"You came back," he said.
"Of course I did."
He studied my face for a second.
"You cried a lot."
I tried to smile. "You noticed?"
"I always notice."
That simple sentence made something ache gently inside my chest.
He pushed himself off the wall. "You're not sleeping in your room."
I blinked. "What?"
"You're staying in mine."
I stared at him. "Aries—"
"No arguments," he interrupted. "You're not staying alone in that room after everything that happened."
I felt a lump form in my throat.
"I'm fine," I insisted weakly.
He gave me a look.
The same look he used to give me when we were younger and I pretended I wasn't scared of thunderstorms.
"You're not fine," he said calmly. "And that's okay. But you're not sleeping alone."
Kuya Angelo glanced toward us but didn't interfere.
Maybe he knew Aries was right.
I followed Aries into his room without fighting it.
The moment the door closed, he turned to face me fully.
"You look like you didn't really sleep," he said.
"I did," I answered quietly. "I just… thought too much."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Jay," he said more gently now, "you carried that engagement alone for months. I'm not letting you carry the aftermath alone too."
The word aftermath felt heavy.
I sat down on the edge of his bed.
Everything from last night replayed in my head — the shouting, the tears, the confession.
"Do you regret saying it?" Aries asked suddenly.
I looked up.
"No," I answered honestly. "I regret not saying it sooner."
He nodded slightly, like that was the answer he expected.
"I'm proud of you," he said.
The words caught me off guard.
"For what?"
"For choosing yourself."
My eyes burned again.
"I feel like everything's about to explode," I whispered.
"Let it," he replied. "We'll stand in it."
That sounded familiar.
Keifer had said something similar.
And somehow hearing it from both sides — from the boy I love and from my cousin who grew up beside me — made me feel less alone.
Aries grabbed an extra pillow and tossed it toward me.
"You're staying here," he repeated.
"On the floor?" I teased weakly.
He rolled his eyes. "Don't push it."
Despite everything, I let out a small laugh.
He sat beside me, not too close, but close enough.
"You know," he said quietly, "I knew you didn't love Yuri."
"You did?"
"You don't look at him the way you look at Keifer."
My cheeks warmed slightly.
"I look obvious?"
"Very."
Silence settled again.
But this silence wasn't heavy.
It was protective.
"You're not going back there tonight, right?" he asked carefully.
I knew what he meant.
"Keifer's house?"
He nodded.
I hesitated.
"I don't know."
Aries leaned back against the headboard.
"I'm not stopping you," he said. "I just don't want you running away from here either."
"I'm not running," I replied softly. "I just needed somewhere to breathe."
He studied me carefully.
"Then breathe here too."
That hit deeper than he probably meant it to.
This was my home.
Even if it felt tense.
Even if it felt fragile.
It was still mine.
Aries suddenly nudged my shoulder lightly.
"If you start crying again, I'm throwing water on you."
I gasped softly. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
I shook my head, smiling faintly.
Then my smile faded.
"What if Yuri comes here?" I whispered.
Aries' expression hardened instantly.
"Then he talks to Angelo. Not you."
"And if he tries to talk to me?"
He didn't hesitate.
"He won't."
The certainty in his voice felt solid.
I exhaled slowly.
"Stay here tonight," he repeated softly. "We'll watch something stupid. Or we'll just sit. But you're not sitting alone in that room thinking yourself into panic."
I looked around his messy room — the posters, the half-open books, the familiar smell.
It felt safe in a different way than Keifer's house.
Not romantic.
Not intense.
Just steady.
Family steady.
"Okay," I whispered.
Aries nodded once.
"Good."
I lay back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling.
For the first time since yesterday…
The house didn't feel like it was closing in on me.
Because I wasn't alone in it.
Downstairs, I could hear faint movement — dishes, footsteps, normal life.
Beside me, Aries was scrolling through his phone quietly, staying close without suffocating me.
And even though my heart was still nervous about what would happen next…
Even though Yuri's reaction was still waiting somewhere in the future…
I wasn't facing it alone.
Not here.
Not anymore.
Aries nudged me lightly again.
"If you overthink, I'm confiscating your phone."
I turned my head slightly.
"Bossy."
"Protective," he corrected.
I didn't argue.
Because he was right.
And as I lay there in his room, with someone making sure I didn't disappear into my own thoughts…
I realized something.
Last night, I felt safe in Keifer's arms.
Tonight, I felt safe in my own house again.
And maybe that's what healing looks like.
Not perfect.
Not complete.
But supported.
One step at a time.