Chapter: The Sounds Behind the Door
(Aries' POV)
I was leaning against the living room wall with my arms crossed when Keif went upstairs.
The moment Jay slammed that door earlier, everyone in the house already knew something dramatic was about to happen.
With Jay, drama wasn't optional.
It was guaranteed.
Ci n flopped onto the couch.
"Ten minutes," he said.
Keigan frowned.
"For what?"
Ci n grinned.
"For the explosion."
Keiran blinked.
"What explosion?"
I rubbed my temples.
These idiots.
Upstairs, we heard Keif's footsteps reach the hallway.
Then silence.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Keif's voice came from behind the door.
"Jay… open the door."
Silence.
Yuri was standing near the staircase, watching.
His expression was dark.
He didn't look like he planned to leave without her.
Ci n leaned toward me and whispered,
"This is getting awkward."
I didn't respond.
Then suddenly—
CLICK.
The door upstairs opened.
But before anyone could say anything—
WHOOSH.
A hand grabbed Keif from inside the room.
And he disappeared.
The door slammed again.
BANG.
Keigan jumped.
"What just happened?"
Ci n blinked.
"…Did she just kidnap him?"
Keiran looked confused again.
"Why would Ate Jay kidnap Kuya?"
Before anyone could answer—
From upstairs…
We heard something.
Not shouting.
Not arguing.
Something else.
Very obvious.
Ci n slowly turned his head toward the ceiling.
"Oh."
Keigan's eyes widened.
"OH."
Keiran tilted his head.
"What is that sound—"
I immediately covered his ears.
"Don't ask."
Because from behind that door…
Jay's voice could clearly be heard.
And she was not whispering.
Everyone in the living room froze.
Ci n slapped a hand over his mouth trying not to laugh.
"BRO—"
Keigan looked horrified.
"They know we're downstairs right?!"
Yuri's face had gone completely dark.
Upstairs…
Jay's voice echoed again.
Loud.
Breathless.
"Keif…"
Ci n whispered dramatically,
"Yeah this is definitely intentional."
I sighed heavily.
Of course she was doing this on purpose.
That girl was chaos wrapped in human form.
Keigan slowly leaned closer to me.
"Kuya Aries…"
"What?"
"Are they seriously—"
"Yes."
"Oh."
Ci n leaned back against the couch.
"Well."
"That escalated quickly."
Yuri's fists were clenched now.
His jaw tight.
The sounds upstairs didn't stop.
If anything…
Jay got louder.
Ci n started laughing quietly.
"She's making sure Yuri hears this."
Keigan buried his face in a pillow.
"This is traumatizing."
Keiran looked completely lost.
"…Why is Ate Jay yelling Kuya's name?"
I sighed again.
"Ask when you're older."
Upstairs—
Another loud thud came from the room.
Then silence.
Complete silence.
Everyone stared at the staircase.
Waiting.
One minute passed.
Then two.
Finally—
Footsteps.
But they weren't coming down.
They were walking around the room upstairs.
Yuri suddenly turned toward the door.
Without saying a word.
He walked out.
Just like that.
The front door opened.
Then closed.
Ci n whistled.
"Well… that worked."
Keigan slowly peeked toward the stairs again.
"…Do you think they're done?"
Right at that moment—
Jay's voice echoed from upstairs again.
"Keif!"
Ci n burst out laughing.
"NOPE."
I shook my head and walked toward the kitchen.
"Let them be."
Keigan groaned dramatically.
"I will never look at Kuya the same way again."
Keiran finally asked the question everyone avoided.
"…Why does Ate Jay sound angry but also happy?"
Ci n patted his shoulder.
"Welcome to adulthood."
Upstairs…
The chaos clearly wasn't ending anytime soon.
And honestly?
If this meant Yuri stayed away from Jay…
Then Keif could break the entire bed for all I cared.