Chapter: Sweet Like Venom
(Jay's POV)
I only stepped out for air.
Just air.
Five minutes to breathe without watching Yuri's parents measure me like I was an investment plan. Five minutes to escape the fake smiles, the forced elegance, the suffocating politeness.
When I came back—
I wished I had stayed outside.
Because there he was.
Keifer Mark Watson.
Sitting at our table.
And beside him?
A girl.
No.
A creature.
Long glossy curls cascading over her shoulders like she rehearsed every flip. Red lipstick sharp enough to cut glass. A glittering dress hugging her body like it was begging for attention. Her manicured hand rested on Keifer's arm.
Rested.
Comfortably.
I stopped mid-step.
Who is this witch?
And from which cave did she crawl out from?
I walked toward the table slowly, my heels clicking against the marble floor like a warning bell before destruction.
Yuri's father noticed me first.
"Ah, Jay," he smiled. "You're back. Sit, sit."
Oh, I will sit.
But someone else might not be standing for long.
I pulled my chair out gracefully and sat down. My face calm. My mind sharpening knives.
Yuri's father turned to Keifer politely. "And you, young man… where did you meet this lovely lady?"
Lovely?
I almost choked.
Keifer didn't even look at me. "I met her at a Halloween party."
Of course.
Halloween.
That explains the costume.
"And her name is Honey Bee Ryder."
Honey.
Bee.
Ryder.
I blinked slowly.
Is that a person or a rejected cartoon character?
We started eating. Silverware clinked softly against porcelain plates. The tension was delicious.
Then she did it.
She picked up a fork, stabbed a piece of cake, and turned to him with a soft voice.
"Maki," she cooed. "Open your mouth."
My fork froze mid-air.
Maki?
The word echoed in my skull.
"Maki?!" I shouted before I could stop myself.
The entire table went silent.
Honey looked at me sweetly. "Yes?"
"You just called him what?"
She smiled proudly. "Maki. I gave him that nickname. It's cute, right?"
I slowly turned my head to Keifer.
"You let her rename you?"
He leaned back lazily. "Relax, Jay. It's just a nickname."
Just a nickname.
I laughed once.
Sharp.
"Wow," I said. "Did she adopt you too? Or was that included in the Halloween package?"
Honey blinked.
Yuri coughed to hide his smile.
She giggled lightly. "Oh my god, you're funny."
"I know."
Yuri's parents suddenly stood up.
"We'll leave you young people to enjoy," Yuri's father said. "Angelo, come. Let me introduce you to some business partners."
Kuya Angelo hesitated but nodded. Within minutes, the adults and Yuri's parents moved away, leaving the table suspiciously lighter.
Just me.
Keifer.
And Miss Honey Zoo Exhibit.
I slowly took my phone out.
Me: From which zoo did you bring her here?
Keifer's phone buzzed. He glanced down, and I saw his lips twitch.
Keifer: Jealous, Jay? Remember, I am only yours.
My jaw tightened.
Me: Fuck you, Mark Keifer Watson.
He started typing back.
Before I could see what he wrote, Honey snatched his phone from his hand.
"Oh no no," she pouted. "Keif, I want your full attention. Only mine."
Keif.
KEIF.
I looked at her like she just mispronounced oxygen.
She turned to me with a fake smile. "So Jay… what's your relationship with Yuri?"
I smiled sweetly.
"He is nothing to me."
Her eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh? Because you two look close."
I shrugged. "Proximity doesn't equal possession."
She tilted her head. "You look familiar."
Impossible.
I leaned forward slightly.
"Impossible," I said smoothly. "My beauty is different. Rare. It doesn't crawl up from random Halloween parties."
Keifer coughed.
Honey's smile twitched.
"Yeah," she said. "It's very hard to find."
I nodded. "Exactly. Unlike… certain seasonal decorations."
Yuri let out a quiet laugh from beside me.
Honey stared. "Excuse me?"
"I mean," I gestured gently at her glittering dress, "you look like someone shook a disco ball and glued the leftovers onto you."
Silence.
Keifer looked down at his glass to hide his smile.
Honey forced a laugh. "Animal? Decoration? You're so funny."
"I try."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I think you're threatened."
I laughed.
Threatened?
"Sweetheart," I said calmly, "the only thing threatening here is your foundation shade."
Keifer choked on his drink.
Honey blinked rapidly.
"What?"
"It's fighting your neck for equality."
Yuri turned away, shoulders shaking.
Honey straightened her back. "Wow. You're really insecure."
"Insecure?" I repeated softly.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs.
"No, honey. Insecure girls cling to someone else's arm and invent nicknames. I don't need to rename things to feel important."
Her jaw tightened.
"You're just jealous."
I tilted my head.
"Jealous of what? The nickname Maki?"
I looked at Keifer slowly.
"Maki," I repeated flatly. "What are you? Sushi?"
Yuri burst out laughing.
Honey's cheeks turned slightly red.
She tried again.
"At least he talks to me nicely."
"Oh, does he?" I asked calmly.
I looked at Keifer.
"Do you, Maki?"
His eyes met mine.
There was amusement.
Danger.
Possession.
"Only when she behaves," he said lazily.
My heart skipped.
I ignored it.
Honey looked between us. "See? He likes me."
I smiled sweetly.
"Liking you is different from tolerating you."
She leaned forward suddenly. "Why are you so rude? I haven't done anything to you."
I blinked slowly.
"You breathed."
Keifer covered his mouth.
Honey rolled her eyes. "You act like you own him."
I leaned forward slightly.
"I don't act."
Her expression flickered.
"Oh my god," she laughed nervously. "You're insane."
I smiled.
"I prefer selective."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You know what I think? I think girls like you bark the loudest because you're scared someone else might actually be prettier."
I smiled wider.
"Oh honey," I said softly, "people like you can be found at the zoo."
"Zoo?" she repeated.
"Yeah," I nodded. "You look like an animal."
She blinked.
Then laughed loudly. "Animal? Oh my god, you're so funny."
I laughed too.
"Fanget," I said. "I mean funny."
Her smile dropped.
"What did you just say?"
"Oh sorry," I waved my hand. "I said you're so… unique."
Keifer was watching me now.
Closely.
Carefully.
Like I was fire and he didn't know whether to stop me or let me burn the whole place down.
Honey pushed her chair back suddenly and stood up.
"I'm going to the restroom," she said sharply.
Then she turned to Keifer.
"Come with me."
Excuse me?
I leaned back calmly.
"Go on," I said sweetly. "Go on. Try to get up from that chair."
She stared at me.
"Trust me," I continued softly, my eyes locking with hers, "that will be the last time you'll be able to go anywhere tonight."
The table fell silent.
The air thickened.
Keifer didn't move.
He didn't even look at her.
He was looking at me.
Honey scoffed. "Are you threatening me?"
I smiled.
"No," I said gently. "I'm promising you entertainment."
Her fingers curled slightly.
"You think you scare me?"
I tilted my head.
"I don't think. I observe."
She leaned closer to Keifer. "Keif, tell your little friend to calm down."
Little friend.
I let out a soft laugh.
"Little?" I repeated.
I slowly stood up.
Now we were eye to eye.
"I don't crawl up from places like you," I said quietly. "My beauty? It's hard to find. And when people do find it… they don't mistake it for Halloween decoration."
Her jaw tightened.
"You're crazy."
"And you're loud."
She looked at Keifer desperately. "Say something."
He leaned back calmly.
"I'm enjoying this."
Her face paled.
"You're letting her insult me?"
He shrugged. "You started with Maki."
I almost smiled.
Honey looked betrayed.
"You told me you liked it!"
"I lied."
Oh.
Oh.
The way her expression cracked.
I almost felt bad.
Almost.
She grabbed her purse angrily. "This is ridiculous."
I smiled softly.
"Don't forget your zoo pass."
She froze.
"What?"
"You might need it to get back in."
Yuri actually clapped once before stopping himself.
Honey glared at me.
"You're insecure and pathetic."
I leaned closer slightly.
"Yet you're the one leaving."
She looked at Keifer one last time.
"Call me later."
He didn't answer.
She turned sharply and walked away, heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor.
The moment she disappeared—
Silence.
Yuri burst into laughter.
"Oh my god, Jay."
I slowly sat down.
Keifer's eyes were still on me.
Burning.
"You're insane," he said quietly.
I took a sip of water calmly.
"And you're still here."
He leaned forward slightly.
"From which zoo did I bring her, huh?"
I smirked.
"Probably the one that accepts Halloween leftovers."
He chuckled softly.
"Jealous."
I rolled my eyes.
"In your dreams, Mark Keifer Watson."
He lowered his voice.
"You said I'm sushi."
"You are."
He leaned closer.
"Then bite."
My heart skipped.
I kicked his leg under the table.
"Behave."
He smirked.
"You said I'm only yours."
I froze.
"I never said that."
He leaned back.
"You didn't have to."
I looked away.
Because if I kept staring at him like that—
I might forget how to roast.
And tonight?
I won.