Jay's POV
Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the Fernandez house bedroom. The warm sunlight fell across the bed where I was still half asleep.
But something warm wrapped around me made it impossible to move.
Keifer.
His arm was securely around my waist, pulling me against him.
I tried to move.
He tightened his hold.
"Where do you think you're going?" his sleepy voice murmured near my ear.
I rolled my eyes slightly. "Bathroom."
"Denied," he said.
I turned slightly to face him. His hair was messy from sleep and his eyes were barely open.
"You're unbelievable," I muttered.
"And you love it."
I pushed his shoulder lightly. "Keifer, get up."
Instead he pulled me even closer until my head rested against his chest.
"You're not escaping that easily."
My heart raced slightly.
Even after everything we had gone through, moments like this still made me feel safe.
"Graduation is over," he said softly. "We finally have time to breathe."
I looked up at him.
"And you're wasting it sleeping."
"Correction," he said, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "I'm spending it with you."
My cheeks warmed.
He leaned down and kissed my forehead gently.
"Stay like this a little longer."
For a moment I forgot everything else.
Just his warmth.
His heartbeat.
His presence.
"Keifer," I whispered.
"Hm?"
"Promise me something."
"What?"
"No matter what happens… you won't leave me."
His expression softened.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jay."
Then he kissed me softly.
The moment felt calm.
Peaceful.
But neither of us knew that peace was about to shatter.
Later That Afternoon
Everyone was gathered in the living room of the Fernandez house.
Angelo and Percy were arguing loudly about music.
Gemma was laughing at them.
Aries sat beside me on the couch scrolling through his phone.
Keifer stood behind the couch lazily resting his hand on my shoulder.
"Can you two shut up?" Aries finally said to Percy and Angelo.
"You started it!" Angelo replied.
"I did not!"
"Did too!"
I laughed slightly.
Typical chaos.
But suddenly my eyes landed on the knife placed on the fruit tray on the table.
Something inside my chest tightened.
My breathing slowed.
The knife looked… familiar.
Too familiar.
"Jay?" Aries noticed my silence.
"Hm?"
"You spaced out."
"I'm fine."
But I wasn't.
The moment my eyes stayed on the knife longer—
My head started hurting.
Images began flashing rapidly.
A dark room.
Tied hands.
Blood.
Fear.
"Jay?" Aries frowned.
My breathing became uneven.
"I… I…"
The memory suddenly exploded inside my mind.
Flashback
The room was dark.
Cold.
My wrists were tied painfully to the chair.
Aries was beside me.
We were both younger.
Terrified.
"Jay… stay calm," Aries whispered.
But I couldn't breathe.
The smell of blood filled the room.
My stepfather's violent face flashed in my mind.
Screaming.
Pain.
Fear.
My body started shaking violently.
A knife lay near the chair.
My shaking hands grabbed it.
"Jay wait—!" Aries said urgently.
But my mind wasn't thinking anymore.
All I could see was blood.
Danger.
Fear.
Before I realized what I was doing—
I stabbed him.
Present
"JAY!"
The scream echoed around the living room.
I gasped loudly.
The memory vanished.
But my body started trembling uncontrollably.
"I… Aries…"
The room started spinning.
Everything blurred.
Then darkness swallowed my vision.
Keifer's POV
Jay suddenly collapsed.
I caught her immediately before she hit the floor.
"Jay! Jay wake up!" I said urgently.
Her face looked pale.
Her breathing was uneven.
Angelo rushed forward. "What happened?!"
"I don't know!"
Aries looked shocked.
"She remembered something…"
Fear gripped my chest.
"Hospital," Percy said immediately.
I picked Jay up and rushed outside.
Hospital
The hospital hallway felt endless.
I sat beside Jay's bed holding her hand tightly.
Her fingers were cold.
Too cold.
"Jay… please wake up," I whispered.
After what felt like hours, her eyelids moved slightly.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Relief hit me instantly.
"Jay."
But the moment she saw me—
Her expression changed.
Fear filled her eyes.
"Stay away from me," she whispered weakly.
My chest tightened.
"What?"
"I might hurt you," she said.
"Jay what are you talking about?"
Her hands trembled violently.
"I stabbed Aries once," she whispered.
The room fell silent.
"We were kidnapped… by Aries' father…"
Her voice cracked.
"I panicked because of blood… my stepfather…"
Tears rolled down her face.
"I don't want to hurt you like that."
"Jay," I said gently.
But she shook her head.
"Please… stay away from me."
The words shattered my heart.
But I refused to move.
"I'm not leaving you."
Three Days Later
Jay barely spoke.
She barely slept.
And then suddenly—
She collapsed again.
Her hands clutched her head tightly.
"Jay!" I ran toward her.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I remember… everything…"
"My mother…"
"Jeana…"
Images flashed violently inside her mind.
Her mother putting medicine in food.
Dinner plates.
A bitter taste.
Every night.
For a month.
Men talking.
Money.
"Sell her."
Jay screamed.
But the memories were chaotic.
Broken.
She remembered everything but couldn't understand it clearly.
"I need answers," she whispered.
Then she stood up slowly.
"I'm going to New York."
Everyone stared at her.
"To meet my father."
Private Jet
Percy accompanied Jay.
She sat near the window nervously.
Her hands were shaking.
Percy noticed.
"Relax," he said softly.
"What if the truth destroys everything?" she whispered.
Percy smiled gently.
"Then at least you'll know the truth."
Video Call
Before landing, Jay video called the Fernandez house.
Keifer appeared on the screen immediately.
"Jay."
Aries stood behind him looking worried.
Angelo and Gemma were there too.
"I'm going to New York to meet my father," Jay said.
"I need answers about my mother."
Keifer looked serious.
"Come back safe."
Jay nodded.