Chapter: The Girl in the Photo
(Keif's POV)
The living room had been peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Jay had been quietly flipping through my old photo album while curled up against me on the couch, wearing my oversized hoodie like it belonged to her.
Which, honestly… it kind of did now.
Her legs were tucked beside me while her back rested against my chest.
My arm was around her waist.
And every few seconds she would react dramatically to a photo.
"Why do you look like a mushroom in this one?"
"I was eight."
"You still look like a mushroom."
"Jay."
"What?"
"Respect your boyfriend."
She snorted and turned the page again.
I thought the teasing would continue.
But then suddenly…
She went quiet.
Very quiet.
I noticed immediately.
Jay slowly leaned forward a little.
Her eyes were locked on one photo.
"…Keif."
"Hmm?"
She didn't laugh.
Didn't tease.
Didn't say anything sarcastic.
She just lifted the album slightly and pointed.
"Who is this?"
I looked down.
And immediately felt my chest tighten.
Because I knew exactly which photo it was.
It was an old picture from years ago.
A younger version of me standing beside a girl.
She had long dark hair, a bright smile, and her arm was wrapped around mine.
We looked… close.
Too close.
Jay looked back at me slowly.
"…Keif."
I stayed silent.
She squinted at the photo again.
Then looked back at me.
"Who is she?"
Still…
I didn't answer.
Jay's eyebrows slowly pulled together.
"Keifer."
Silence.
My jaw tightened slightly.
Because this wasn't something I liked talking about.
Not because it mattered anymore.
But because the past was messy.
And I didn't want it touching the present.
Especially not when Jay was involved.
But Jay didn't drop it.
She turned around on the couch so she was now facing me directly.
Holding the album in her hands.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who is she?"
I looked away.
"…Just someone."
Wrong answer.
Jay's eyes widened.
"Just someone?"
I stayed quiet.
And that's when Jay's patience snapped.
"KEIFER."
Her voice suddenly echoed through the living room.
Upstairs—
Keigan shouted.
"WHO DIED?"
Keiran yelled back.
"PROBABLY KUYA!"
But Jay wasn't paying attention to them.
She was staring at me like I had just committed a crime.
"WHO IS SHE?"
I sighed.
"Jay—"
She slapped the album shut dramatically.
"KEIF!"
Aries' voice came from the kitchen.
"Should we be worried?"
Cin whispered loudly.
"Jealous girlfriend detected."
Jay pointed at the photo again.
"ANSWER ME."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Jay, calm down."
She gasped dramatically.
"CALM DOWN?!"
Then she stood up from the couch.
"This random girl is hugging you in a photo and you want me to CALM DOWN?!"
Cin peeked from the kitchen doorway.
"Oh this is getting good."
Ella slapped his arm.
"Stop watching like it's a movie."
Jay was still staring at me.
Her arms crossed.
Eyes sharp.
"Keifer."
"…Yes."
"Who."
"Is."
"She."
I sighed.
There was no escaping this.
"…She was my first girlfriend."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the kitchen became quiet.
Jay blinked slowly.
"…your what?"
"My first girlfriend."
Jay looked down at the photo again.
Then back at me.
Then again at the photo.
Her expression slowly changed.
Not angry.
Not shouting.
Something worse.
Cold.
"Oh."
She closed the album slowly.
Then walked past me.
Straight toward the stairs.
I frowned.
"Jay."
No response.
She kept walking.
"Jay."
Still nothing.
She reached the stairs.
"Jay."
She finally spoke.
But she didn't look at me.
"Oh don't worry."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I'm not mad."
That was a lie.
A very big lie.
Then she continued walking upstairs.
Leaving me on the couch.
Cin slowly walked into the living room.
Aries followed behind him.
Both of them staring at me.
Cin whistled.
"Bro."
Aries crossed his arms.
"You're dead."
I leaned back against the couch and sighed.
"…I know."
Upstairs—
A door slammed.
Loudly.
Keigan leaned over the staircase railing.
"Kuya."
"…what."
"Hipang Jay looks scary."
Keiran nodded seriously.
"Very scary."
I stood up slowly.
Yeah.
I definitely had a problem.
Because my girlfriend was now ignoring me.
And somehow…
That felt way more dangerous than when she chased people with a knife.