Chapter: Finally, Everyone Knows
(Jay's POV)
For the first time in five years…
I felt calm.
Not the cold, controlled calm I had trained myself to show the world.
But a real one.
My arms were still wrapped around Keifer, my face pressed against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
It felt familiar.
Safe.
Like something I had been missing without realizing it.
His arms were around me too, holding me gently but firmly, as if he still couldn't believe I was really there.
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
We just stayed like that.
Then suddenly—
The front door of the mansion burst open.
"HEY—"
A loud voice echoed through the hallway.
Aries.
Of course.
I didn't even need to turn around.
"And you better tell her the truth today or I swear I will—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Complete silence filled the hall.
Keifer and I slowly turned our heads toward the entrance.
Standing near the door were Aries and Percy.
Both of them frozen.
Both staring directly at us.
Or more specifically—
At the fact that I was still wrapped in Keifer's arms.
Aries blinked once.
Then twice.
Then he slowly looked at Percy.
"…am I hallucinating?"
Percy stared at us calmly.
"No."
Aries looked back at me.
"…Jay?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"…why are you hugging Keifer?"
I glanced at Keifer.
Then back at Aries.
"Because I want to."
Aries' jaw slowly dropped.
Percy suddenly started laughing.
Not a quiet laugh.
A full I-told-you-so laugh.
"I KNEW IT!"
Aries turned to him.
"You knew?!"
Percy crossed his arms smugly.
"I told you they would end up together again."
Aries looked back at us dramatically.
"You two took five years!"
Serina clapped her hands excitedly from behind us.
"Yes!"
Finally someone said it.
Kaizer nodded calmly.
"About time."
I blinked.
"…you all were waiting for this?"
Serina pointed at Keifer.
"This idiot has been miserable for five years."
Kaizer added,
"And you were equally miserable."
Aries groaned.
"You have no idea how annoying it was."
Percy nodded.
"Constantly hearing both of you pretend you didn't care."
I looked at Keifer.
"You were miserable?"
He sighed softly.
"You cried last year."
Aries immediately shouted.
"HE DID!"
Keifer shot him a glare.
"Aries."
"What?! It's true!"
I stared at Keifer in shock.
"You cried?"
His ears turned slightly red.
"No."
Aries raised his hand.
"Objection!"
Percy added calmly,
"He did."
I crossed my arms.
"You cried because of me?"
Keifer muttered quietly,
"Maybe."
Aries suddenly gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god."
"What?"
"You're both in love again."
Percy nodded.
"Obviously."
Serina clasped her hands happily.
"This is the best day of my life."
Kaizer chuckled.
"Mine too."
I buried my face in Keifer's shoulder again out of embarrassment.
"This is so embarrassing."
Keifer laughed softly.
"It's your fault."
"My fault?!"
"You screamed 'I love you' across the mansion."
Aries' eyes widened.
"WAIT—"
He looked at Percy.
"She confessed first?!"
Percy grinned.
"Oh this is priceless."
Aries walked closer to us.
"Jay."
"What."
"Say it again."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
Serina laughed loudly.
"Oh sweetheart, we already heard it."
Kaizer added calmly,
"Very clearly."
I groaned.
"I hate all of you."
Aries shook his head dramatically.
"No you don't."
Percy smirked.
"You love us."
Aries suddenly looked at Keifer.
"You know what this means, right?"
Keifer frowned slightly.
"What?"
Aries grinned wickedly.
"If you break her heart again…"
Percy finished calmly.
"…we will kill you."
Kaizer nodded.
"That seems fair."
Serina crossed her arms.
"Agreed."
I burst out laughing.
Keifer sighed dramatically.
"So everyone is threatening me now?"
Aries shrugged.
"You deserve it."
Percy smirked.
"You made her cry for five years."
Keifer looked down at me.
"…sorry."
I smiled softly.
"Don't apologize."
"Why?"
"Because if that hadn't happened…"
I looked up at him.
"…we wouldn't appreciate this moment."
His expression softened completely.
Then he pulled me closer again.
Aries immediately gagged dramatically.
"Oh god."
Percy laughed.
"They're being romantic again."
Serina wiped a fake tear.
"My children are finally in love."
Kaizer shook his head slightly.
"This house is going to become unbearable."
I laughed against Keifer's chest.
And for the first time in a very long time…
Everything felt right.