Chapter: The Promise
(Aries' POV)
The sound of Jay's slap echoed in my head even after she walked away.
I watched Jay disappear toward the boarding gate without looking back once.
Her suitcase wheels rolled across the floor quickly.
Her shoulders were stiff.
And I knew that look.
She was holding herself together with everything she had.
The moment she disappeared into the boarding tunnel, the airport felt strangely quiet.
I slowly turned my head toward Keif.
He was still standing in the same place.
He hadn't moved.
The red mark from Jay's slap was still visible on his cheek.
But he didn't touch it.
Didn't react.
He just stared at the empty gate where she had walked through.
Like part of him had just left with her.
Beside me, Percy Mariano exhaled slowly.
"…That looked like it hurt."
Keif gave a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"…I deserved that."
None of us argued with that.
For a few seconds no one spoke.
Passengers continued walking around us.
Announcements echoed across the terminal.
But in our little corner of the airport, everything felt heavy.
I stepped closer to Keif.
"You okay?"
He nodded.
But it was the kind of nod that meant not really.
"Yeah."
Percy crossed his arms.
"She really said she hates you."
Keif looked down at the floor.
"…Yeah."
His voice was quiet.
But not angry.
Just tired.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"She's hurt."
"I know."
"She'll calm down eventually."
He didn't answer that.
Instead he looked toward the gate again.
"…Did she look okay?"
The question hit harder than I expected.
Because even now…
After everything she said…
The only thing he cared about was her.
"She's not okay," I admitted.
Keif closed his eyes briefly.
"…Yeah."
Percy stepped forward slightly.
"But she'll be safe in New York City."
Keif nodded slowly.
"With your dad there… and you two."
Then he looked at both of us.
"Thank you."
Percy frowned.
"For what?"
"For staying with her."
I crossed my arms.
"You really think we'd leave her alone after this?"
He shook his head slightly.
"No."
Then his voice became quieter.
"…Just promise me something."
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Keif looked directly at me.
"Tell me how she's doing."
I nodded immediately.
"Of course."
"Even if she's still angry?"
"Yes."
"Even if she says she never wants to hear my name again?"
I sighed.
"Yeah."
He looked down again.
"…Okay."
Percy nudged his shoulder lightly.
"You're not getting rid of us that easily anyway."
Keif managed a small smile.
"Good."
I looked at the time on the airport screen.
We needed to board soon.
I took a step closer to him.
"We should go."
He nodded.
But before we left, I said something I wanted him to remember.
"Listen."
He looked up.
"You're not alone in this."
Percy nodded beside me.
"Yeah."
I continued,
"We'll always be here for you."
Keif looked surprised for a moment.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"…Thanks."
I stepped forward and hugged him.
Not the casual kind.
The kind where you hold someone tight because you know they're barely holding themselves together.
Percy joined the hug too.
For a moment the three of us just stood there.
Three idiots stuck in a mess none of us asked for.
Percy pulled back first.
"Six years, huh."
Keif nodded.
"Yeah."
Percy smirked slightly.
"You better not disappear during that time."
Keif gave a small laugh.
"I won't."
I stepped back.
"I'll update you about Jay."
"Thank you."
Then I added one more thing.
"And when this whole Yuri situation ends…"
I paused.
"…we'll fix everything."
Keif didn't answer right away.
But his eyes said enough.
He hoped so too.
Finally Percy clapped his shoulder lightly.
"Take care of yourself, man."
"You too."
I turned toward the boarding gate.
Percy followed beside me.
Right before we entered, I glanced back once.
Keif was still standing in the middle of the airport.
Watching the gate.
Watching the place where Jay had just disappeared from his life.
Then the boarding door closed behind us.
And just like that…
The distance between them had officially begun.