Chapter: The Name I Wasn't Ready to Hear
(Jay's POV)
The next evening, I drove to Serina and Kaizer's mansion again.
By now, the guards at the gates already recognized my car. The large iron gates opened automatically as I drove through the long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed trees.
It still amazed me how peaceful this place felt despite being in the middle of New York.
No city noise.
No chaos.
Just quiet.
I parked and walked inside like I had done many times over the past months.
One of the house staff greeted me politely.
"Good evening, Miss Jay."
"Hi."
"Madam Serina and Sir Kaizer stepped out for a short meeting. They'll be back soon."
"That's fine."
I had been here enough times that waiting didn't feel awkward anymore.
I walked into the massive living room and sat down on the large cream-colored couch. The house was silent except for the soft ticking of a clock somewhere in the hallway.
I placed my tablet on the table and started reviewing a few company reports while waiting.
A few minutes later—
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number
Normally I wouldn't answer unknown numbers.
But something about it made me pick it up.
"Hello?"
For a second there was silence.
Then suddenly—
"HIPANG JAY!"
I froze.
That voice.
That exact annoying excitement.
My eyes widened.
"Keigan?!"
A loud laugh exploded from the other side of the phone.
"I KNEW IT!"
Another voice suddenly joined from the background.
"Told you she would recognize us."
"Keiran?" I said slowly.
"Yes, hipang Jay."
My chest tightened slightly hearing that name.
They still called me that.
Even after five years.
"Why are you two calling me?" I asked.
Keigan sounded completely casual.
"We missed you."
"That's not a reason."
"It is."
Keiran spoke calmly this time.
"We just wanted to check on you."
That caught me off guard slightly.
"You two sound exactly the same."
Keigan laughed.
"And you sound exactly like before."
I leaned back into the couch.
"So what are you two doing now?"
"Working."
"Barely," Keiran added dryly.
"Excuse me," Keigan protested.
I couldn't help a small smile.
Some things really never changed.
Keigan suddenly asked,
"So hipang Jay…"
I sighed.
"You two still call me that?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
Keiran answered calmly.
"Because nothing changed for us."
My fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"That's not how reality works."
Keigan ignored that completely.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Sitting."
"Where?"
"On a couch."
"Where exactly?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Why are you interrogating me?"
"Just answer."
I glanced around the living room.
"In a mansion."
Keigan laughed.
"Rich friends?"
"You could say that."
"What's the name of the place?"
"It's not a place."
"It's someone's house."
"Whose house?"
"Why do you care?"
"Just tell us."
I sighed.
"Serina and Kaizer's house."
For a moment…
The phone went completely silent.
Then suddenly—
"WHAT?!"
Keigan's voice practically exploded through the speaker.
"YOU'RE WHERE?!"
I frowned.
"What's wrong with you?"
Before he could answer—
A calm voice spoke behind me.
"Jay."
I turned.
Serina was standing behind the couch.
She had just walked in quietly without me noticing.
Her eyes dropped to my tablet on the table.
Then she looked at the phone in my hand.
"Who are you talking to?"
I answered casually.
"Two annoying guys."
"Who?"
Before I could answer—
Keigan shouted through the phone.
"HIPANG JAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN OUR HOUSE?!"
Serina froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She stepped closer and gently took the phone from my hand.
"Keigan?"
Her voice was calm.
But firm.
On the other side of the phone—
"Maa?!"
Serina crossed her arms.
"What are you two doing calling Jay?"
I blinked.
Wait.
What?
"Maa?" Keigan said again.
"You know Jay."
Serina looked down at me.
Then back at the phone.
"Yes."
Keigan sounded completely confused now.
"Why is hipang Jay in our house?"
I slowly stood up from the couch.
My mind trying to process what I just heard.
"…our house?"
I looked at Serina.
Then at the phone.
Then back at her.
My heart started beating faster.
"Wait."
My voice sounded quieter now.
"You two know each other?"
Serina looked slightly amused.
"Of course we do."
I frowned.
"How?"
Keigan answered loudly from the phone.
"BECAUSE SHE'S OUR MOM."
The room went completely silent.
I stared at Serina.
She looked back at me calmly.
"Keigan," she said into the phone.
"Stop shouting."
My brain was still trying to catch up.
I spoke slowly.
"…your mom?"
"Yes," Keiran's calm voice came from the phone.
I turned to Serina again.
"You have two younger sons."
"Yes."
"Keigan and Keiran."
"Yes."
A cold realization slowly crawled up my spine.
My voice became barely a whisper.
"…then…"
I swallowed.
"…is Keifer…"
Serina tilted her head slightly.
"My eldest son?"
My heart slammed inside my chest.
"…your son?"
Serina nodded gently.
"Yes."
The world suddenly felt very quiet.
Too quiet.
For a moment I couldn't speak.
Couldn't think.
Five years.
Five years of trying to forget him.
Five years of building walls so high no memory could reach me.
And somehow…
Without knowing it…
I had been spending months in his parents' house.
My voice finally came out.
"…you're Keifer's mother?"
Serina looked at me carefully now.
"Yes."
Then she asked softly,
"Do you know him?"
The question hung in the air.
And suddenly every memory I had buried deep inside…
Came rushing back all at once.