Chapter: The Door That Slammed
(Keif's POV)
The house had been loud the whole afternoon.
Not just loud.
Annoyingly loud.
Ci n and Aries had somehow started arguing about who would win in a fight between a crocodile and a gorilla.
Keigan had joined them.
Keiran was laughing like it was the funniest debate ever.
And I was sitting on the couch while Jay was still curled into me like she had claimed my chest as her permanent sleeping spot.
Her fingers were gripping the fabric of my hoodie like she didn't plan on letting go anytime soon.
Ci n suddenly pointed at her.
"Bro… she's still sleeping?"
Aries smirked.
"At this point we should check if she's alive."
Jay didn't even open her eyes.
She just muttered lazily,
"I can hear you."
Keigan laughed.
"Hipang Jay has super hearing."
Jay groaned and buried her face deeper into my chest.
"Why are all of you so loud…"
I chuckled softly and ran my hand through her hair.
"Because they don't have brains."
Ci n gasped dramatically.
"BETRAYAL."
Before anyone could continue the chaos—
The doorbell rang.
Everyone looked toward the door.
Keiran ran to open it.
A few seconds later he shouted from the hallway.
"Kuya! Someone is here!"
I stood up slowly, careful not to drop Jay who was still half sleeping.
She lazily wrapped her arms around my neck as I stood.
"…Don't move."
"I'm not."
When I walked toward the entrance—
The moment I saw who it was…
My jaw clenched.
Standing at the door…
Was Yuri.
And he looked way too confident.
Ci n leaned beside me and whispered,
"Oh."
Aries raised an eyebrow.
"Well… this is going to be interesting."
Yuri stepped inside casually like he owned the place.
Then his eyes landed on Jay still clinging to me.
His expression tightened.
"Jay."
Jay slowly lifted her head from my chest.
Her sleepy eyes focused on him.
"…Yuri?"
He nodded.
"I came to pick you up."
Jay blinked slowly.
"For what?"
Yuri spoke like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"We have to go shopping."
The room went silent.
Jay frowned slightly.
"Shopping?"
Yuri nodded.
"For the wedding."
Everyone froze.
Ci n looked at Aries.
Aries looked at me.
Keigan whispered dramatically,
"…oh hell."
Yuri continued calmly.
"We need to buy the wedding gown."
The words hung in the air like a bomb that just exploded.
Jay went completely still in my arms.
Her fingers tightened on my hoodie.
I felt it.
That small movement.
That tiny tension.
Ci n slowly whispered,
"…this is bad."
Aries crossed his arms watching Jay carefully.
Yuri looked at her again.
"Come on."
He extended his hand toward her.
"We should go now."
Jay stared at him.
For a long moment.
No one spoke.
Then slowly—
She slid down from my arms.
Her face had gone blank.
Completely blank.
That was worse than anger.
Way worse.
Yuri took a step forward.
"Jay?"
She didn't answer.
Instead—
She turned around.
And walked away.
Fast.
Keiran blinked.
"Where is Ate Jay going?"
Jay reached the staircase.
Her steps were heavy.
Angry.
Then suddenly—
BANG.
The door upstairs slammed so loudly the whole house shook.
Everyone jumped.
Ci n looked up at the ceiling.
"…well."
Aries sighed.
"She's mad."
Yuri frowned.
"What just happened?"
I slowly ran my hand through my hair trying to calm the anger boiling inside my chest.
"What happened," I said quietly,
"Is that you came here and talked about marrying her like she's some object you can just pick up."
Yuri's jaw tightened.
"She's promised to me."
That sentence made Ci n curse under his breath.
Aries looked ready to throw something.
I stared at Yuri coldly.
"Not today."
Keigan whispered from behind me,
"Kuya is entering dangerous mode."
Yuri crossed his arms.
"Jay will come eventually."
I laughed quietly.
Not amused.
"You clearly don't know her."
Upstairs…
Something moved.
Footsteps.
Then silence again.
Ci n leaned toward me.
"You gonna check on her?"
Aries nodded.
"She slammed the door like she wanted to break the house."
I looked toward the stairs.
My chest tightened.
Jay never slammed doors unless she was really upset.
Really hurt.
Or really angry.
And right now…
I had no idea which one it was.
I sighed.
Then started walking upstairs toward my room.
Behind me Ci n whispered to Aries,
"Ten bucks she throws something at him."
Aries replied,
"Twenty."
Keigan added,
"Thirty."
Keiran looked confused.
"…Why would Ate Jay throw things?"
No one answered him.
Because honestly?
Knowing Jay…
There was a very high chance my door might not survive the next five minutes.