Keifer's POV.
I knew he'd call me.
Even before my phone vibrated, I already knew.
Angelo.
I stared at the screen for a second before answering.
"…Yeah."
"Come."
That was all he said.
The call ended.
Of course.
I grabbed my jacket without wasting time. If he called, it wasn't something to ignore. Not him.
The place was quiet when I reached. He was already there, exactly how he always was—calm, composed, like nothing could shake him.
"Boss," I said as I walked in.
His gaze shifted to me.
Sharp.
Measuring.
"You asked her to move in with you."
Not a question.
I didn't bother denying it.
"Yes."
Silence stretched between us, but it wasn't empty. It carried weight.
"You're serious?" he asked.
"I don't say things like that unless I am."
His eyes stayed on me, studying every word, every movement.
"You hurt her once."
There it was.
I didn't look away.
"I know."
"And you expect me to trust you again?"
I exhaled slowly. "You don't have to trust me. Just watch."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm not doing it halfway," I continued. "If she comes with me, she stays with me."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Make sure you understand what that means."
"I do."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
Then finally—
"…I didn't stop her."
That was enough.
I nodded slightly.
"But don't cross limits," he added, his voice low but firm. "Whatever you do, do it right."
"I will."
"And Keifer—"
I looked at him.
"If you make her regret this…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
I met his gaze without hesitation.
"She won't."
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked away.
Conversation over.
Jay's POV..
I stood in the middle of my room, staring at the suitcase lying open on the bed.
It still didn't feel real.
A few days ago, this was just a thought.
Now—
I was actually doing it.
I picked up my clothes one by one, folding them neatly, placing them inside. Each small action made it feel more real, more final.
"Jay."
I turned.
Angelo stood at the door, leaning slightly against it.
"I'm almost done," I said.
He nodded once, stepping inside. His gaze moved around the room briefly before settling back on me.
"You have everything?"
"I think so."
Silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
"I'll visit," I said after a moment, trying to lighten it a little.
"You better," he replied simply.
I smiled faintly.
Then, without thinking too much, I walked closer and hugged him.
For a second—
He didn't move.
Then his hand rested lightly on my head.
"Take care," he said.
"I will."
When I pulled away, everything felt a little heavier… but also steady.
Outside, I saw Keifer waiting.
Leaning against his car.
Like he had all the time in the world.
But I knew—
He didn't.
He was just patient when it came to me.
I walked towards him, my bag in hand.
His eyes moved over me once, then to the bag.
"That all?" he asked.
"Yeah."
He took the bag from my hand without another word and placed it in the car.
No drama.
No big moment.
Just—
Normal.
And somehow, that made it more real.
When I sat inside, my heart started beating faster again.
I looked at him.
"…I'm really doing this."
He started the car.
"You said yes."
I looked ahead, a small smile forming.
"Yeah."
....
Yuri's POV..
The house felt unusually quiet that evening. I sat on the couch with my phone in my hand, scrolling aimlessly, not really paying attention to anything on the screen. Something had been off since morning. It wasn't obvious, but it was enough to stay at the back of my mind.
Jay.
She had been different. Not distant in a clear way, but just enough for me to notice. The way she avoided eye contact, the way she didn't respond properly—it wasn't normal.
I opened her contact and stared at it for a few seconds before pressing call.
The phone rang once, then twice.
And then the call ended.
Declined.
My fingers stilled slightly as I looked at the screen. Jay didn't ignore my calls. Not without a reason.
I leaned back slowly, resting my head against the couch as I exhaled. A faint smile formed on my lips, but there was no warmth in it.
"Interesting."
This wasn't random. There was something behind it, and I didn't need much time to figure out what.
Keifer.
The name settled in my mind almost instantly. The way he had been around her, the way she reacted around him—it had been obvious for a while now. I just hadn't pushed it.
Until now.
I straightened slightly, resting my elbows on my knees as I looked at my phone again. The silence around me felt heavier, but my thoughts were clearer than ever.
"So that's how it is," I murmured under my breath.
She chose him.
Or at least, she was trying to.
A quiet chuckle escaped me, low and controlled.
"You really think it's that simple, Jay?"
Because it wasn't. Not when I was still here. Not when things between us had never been properly finished.
My thumb hovered over her contact again, but this time I didn't press call.
No need to rush.
If she was avoiding me, there was a reason. And if there was a reason, I would find it.
I always did.
"You can ignore me for now," I said softly, placing the phone beside me. "But not for long."