Chapter: Brothers Arrive
(Keif's POV)
The air in the house felt heavier than usual. Manila's heat pressed against the windows, but inside, the tension was thicker—my own storm of thoughts pressing down. I was still sitting on the edge of the bed in Angelo's guest room, staring at the floor, my fingers drumming unconsciously. Jay was gone. The echoes of her voice, the anger in her eyes, the way she had refused to look at me… it replayed endlessly.
Then Angelo knocked lightly. "Keif… someone's here."
I barely lifted my head. "Who?"
"Keigan and Keiran. Your brothers."
My chest tightened. Of course. They'd heard about everything, about me coming here alone. I hadn't expected them to follow so quickly—but they had. My younger brothers, the chaos incarnate, my little constants in a world that had been spinning out of control.
I stood slowly, running a hand through my hair. "Send them in."
A few moments later, the door creaked open and in they came.
Keigan first—older of the two—walking in with that casual, almost cocky stride that made it look like he owned the world. He stopped midway, noticing me sitting on the bed. His eyes softened slightly.
"Keif…" he said quietly, stepping closer. "You okay?"
I couldn't respond immediately. The words were stuck somewhere between guilt, sorrow, and exhaustion. I just nodded faintly.
Then Keiran appeared, the youngest, his small frame moving quickly to stand beside Keigan. "Kuya…" he whispered, looking worried. "Are you… okay?"
I wanted to laugh at how concerned they both looked, how they hadn't changed since we were kids. But it felt hollow. I managed a weak smile. "I'll survive," I said, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Keigan plopped down on the arm of the chair next to me. "Man, you look like you've been hit by a truck."
"Feels like it," I muttered. My throat burned, and I realized I hadn't spoken properly in hours. Not since the airport, not since Jay… nothing.
Keiran climbed onto the bed beside me, resting his small hand on my shoulder. "We're here. We'll stay until you're better."
And just like that, I felt a flicker of warmth in the pit of my chest. My brothers didn't ask for explanations. They didn't demand answers. They just… were there.
I leaned back against the headboard, letting out a long, shaky breath. Keigan nudged me gently. "C'mon, man. You need food. And some air. Can't have you moping here forever."
I shook my head, letting a small, bitter smile escape. "Food… yeah, maybe later. First, I need to… think."
Keiran leaned closer. "Think all you want, Kuya. We've got your back."
For a brief moment, it was quiet. The weight on my shoulders felt slightly lighter—not gone, not anywhere near gone—but lighter. My brothers had arrived. They didn't know everything, and I wasn't ready to tell them yet. But their presence alone reminded me that even when the world was collapsing around me, I wasn't completely alone.
Keigan smirked, sensing the tension, and muttered under his breath, "Don't get used to this quiet. It won't last."
Keiran giggled, nodding in agreement, and somehow—even in the middle of my storm—I couldn't help but feel a small, fragile smile tug at the corner of my lips.
For the first time since Jay left, I felt like maybe… maybe I could breathe again.