JAY'S POV —
By the time I finally reach my apartment that night, I'm emotionally exhausted in ways that should probably qualify for financial compensation.
My heels hurt.
My head hurts.
My dignity especially hurts.
And somewhere downstairs in London, Mark Keifer Watson is probably still sitting inside his stupidly expensive car grinning to himself like the emotionally unstable billionaire menace he is.
I hate him.
I hate him so much.
Which is becoming slightly concerning considering I spent the entire elevator ride secretly smiling like an idiot after he screamed "goodnight love" across a public street.
Pathetic.
Absolutely pathetic.
The apartment is quiet when I walk in.Soft warm lighting.Rain tapping lightly against the glass windows.The distant hum of London traffic below and for the first time all week—
I finally stop moving.
I toss my bag onto the couch, loosen my blazer, and collapse dramatically against the bed with a long groan.
"Get a GRIP, Jay," I mutter into a pillow. "You are a corporate attorney. Not the female lead in a billionaire romance Netflix series."
My phone buzzes.
I nearly have a heart attack.
Then glare at the screen.
Midnight~Therapy session with Kyle.
Right.I almost forgot about this but he didn't because apparently even he knew I was spiraling before I did.
I sit up reluctantly and fix my hair a little before opening the video call.
The screen loads for a second before Kyle's face appears.
Bright smile.Messy curls.
Coffee mug in hand.
Very awake because unlike my suffering London existence, it's still evening in New York.
"Well well attorney," he says immediately, squinting at the screen dramatically, "you either got laid or emotionally destabilized by a particular human being."
I gasp.
"KYLE."
"What?" He shrugs innocently. "I'm a professional. Those are clinical observations."
"I hate you."
"Mhm yeah yeah you really hate me but this....you....your face uhmm....Interesting. You're glowing."
"I am NOT glowing."
"You look like somebody read you poetry in the rain and then kiss you in the most rom-com manner..."
"Nothing Kyle...It's just that this entire week Keifer sent me one hundred and forty-three flowers everyday in my office,my favourite cupcakes and coffee and has been making sure I reach the building with him being in a car and following me so yeah it's a glow but a very tired glow...."
Silence.
Kyle blinks once.
Then very slowly lowers his coffee mug.
"…oh."
"Yeah."
"That's psychotic."
"THANK YOU."
"But that's also unfortunately one of the most romantic things I've ever heard."
I throw my head back against the couch dramatically.
"This is why I need actual therapy not a 'friendly judgement' therapy!!!"
Kyle laughs softly before leaning back in his chair.
"Alright,fine fune..." he says gently now, voice shifting into professional calm. "Tell me what's happening in your head."
And just like that—The joking fades because Kyle always knows when to stop teasing.
That's the thing about him.
He's one of the only people in my life who sees through me almost immediately.
Even when I'm trying not to be seen.
I exhale slowly.
Then stare down at my hands.
"…I think I'm happy here.."
Kyle softens instantly.
Not surprised.
Not dramatic.
Just soft.
"Yeah?" he asks quietly and somehow that one tiny word nearly breaks me emotionally.
Because God.
I spent seven years convincing myself I hated Keifer.
Seven years replaying every lie.
Every secret.
Every decision he made for me without giving me a choice.
The protection.
The manipulation.
The heartbreak.
And somewhere along the way I became so focused on the pain that I forgot to remember the boy underneath it.
The one who loved me too much.
Even when he did it wrong.
"I always thought I hated him," I admit quietly. "Because he lied to me. Because he kept secrets. Because he made decisions for me without asking what I wanted."
Kyle nods slowly.
"He hurt you."
"Yeah."
"And?"
I swallow hard.
"And maybe… maybe those decisions really were the only way he knew how to protect me."
The words sit heavily between us painfully honest because that's the problem, isn't it?
Keifer never stopped loving me.
He just loved me recklessly.
Desperately.
Like a man trying to hold together a collapsing world with bleeding hands and I hated him for it because it destroyed us.
Kyle watches me quietly.
"You know," he says softly, "people can hurt us and still love us deeply. Both things can exist at once."
My chest tightens immediately.
Rain taps harder against the windows now.
The city lights blur softly behind me and suddenly I feel very small.
Very tired.
Very honest.
"Kyle tell me something honestly…am I wrong for holding onto it for so long?" I whisper.
Kyle's expression breaks a little around the edges.
"No, Jay Jay absolutely not."
His voice is impossibly gentle now.
"You were in a lot of pain."
And God.
That almost hurts more because he says it without judgment without frustration.
Just truth.
I look away quickly before my emotions embarrass me.
Kyle lets me breathe for a second before asking softly:
"Tell me something honestly."
I nod once.
"What do you feel when you look at Keifer now?"
The question lands directly in my chest and for a second—
I genuinely don't know how to answer.
Because what DO I feel?
Anger?
Sometimes.
Frustration?
Constantly.
Attraction?
Unfortunately devastating amounts.
But underneath all of that—
Underneath the chaos and history and heartbreak—There's something else.
Something terrifyingly simple.
I smile before I can stop myself.
Small.
Soft.
Completely helpless.
"…I see a man who would walk across the entire planet barefoot if it meant earning my forgiveness."
Kyle goes completely still.
"And I know that sounds insane—"
"No," he says quietly. "It sounds like you are in love.Again!"
My throat tightens immediately.
I laugh weakly and rub my eyes.
"Oh my God."
"There she is," he murmurs softly. "Finally."
I shake my head slowly.
"I don't know when it happened," I admit. "Maybe during the flowers. Maybe during the notes. Maybe during the way he waits outside my office every night just to make sure I get home safe or maybe the old memories where we were actually happy!?"
I pause.
Then laugh quietly through the emotion building in my chest.
"Or maybe it never actually stopped."
Kyle smiles at that.
Not smug.
Not teasing.
Just genuinely happy for me and somehow that makes this feel real.
"I think…" I whisper slowly, "I think I'm finally ready to let go of the past Kyle."
The words scare me a little because they feel huge.
Life-changing.
But also—
Right.
"I miss him," I admit quietly. "I miss all of them.Cin.The boys. Everything."
Kyle nods slowly.
Then leans forward slightly like he needs me to really hear this next part.
"That's great to hear Jay,but now listen to me carefully, Jay Jay and remember this before you take a major step...."
I look up.
"It's not about what happened seven years ago anymore."
His voice is calm.
Certain.
"It's about whether all of you are willing to give each other a second chance now."
And suddenly—Everything inside me stills because that's it.
That's the answer.
Not revenge.Not punishment.Not pride.
Just choice and maybe for the first time in seven years—
I finally know mine.
Kyle watches realization hit my face and immediately grins.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You're gonna do it aren't you!?"
A nervous laugh escapes me.
"I think I am."
"OH MY GOD."
"Kyle—"
"You're gonna tell him you love him and I was HERE for the breakthrough."
I groan dramatically.
"This is why I don't tell you things."
"No no absolutely not we are celebrating this emotionally historic event."
He points aggressively at the screen.
"And for the record? I call best man at the wedding."
I stare at him in disbelief.
"KYLE."
"Jeremy cannot have that title. He's already too involved in your romantic suffering."
"He is not involved and there is no wedding as of right now!!."
"He literally provides live commentary during your breakdowns."
"That's fair."
"Exactly."
I laugh despite myself.
A real one this time.
Warm and light and happy in a way I haven't felt in years.
And God—
Maybe that's the biggest answer of all because for the first time in so long—
Thinking about Keifer doesn't make me feel shattered.
It makes me feel hopeful.
Kyle smiles softly watching me realize it.
"I'm happy for you, Jay Jay."
And just hearing that almost makes me emotional again.
"I love him," I whisper finally.
I love Keifer.
The words leave my mouth quietly but they shake my entire world anyway.
Kyle's entire face softens instantly.
"Yeah," he says gently. "I know dummy now you have to tell him this not me!??."
I wipe at my eyes quickly.
Annoyed.
Embarrassed.
Emotional.
"This is disgusting...For the the past seven years I have never let anyone come near me excelt you or Jeremy and I thought I never will forgive keifer..but look here I am ready to let go of things once and for all!!!."
"You're disgusting...but I'm proud of you Jay Jay...."
"I hate therapy though."
"No you don't."
"…fair."
Kyle laughs quietly before glancing at the clock behind him.
"Alright," he says. "Go tell your emotionally unwell billionaire that you love him before he starts sending live orchestras to your office."
I snort.
"He actually might."
"He absolutely would."
Then suddenly Kyle freezes.
"Oh wait."
I blink.
"What."
His eyes widen in horror.
"Jay."
"…why do you look scared."
"Have you told your family."
Silence.
My soul exits my body.
Because—
Oh no.
OH NO.
Dad.
Mom.
Grandpa.
Percy.
Every single one of them hates Keifer and the entire Philippines group collectively.
Not mild dislike either.
No.
Violently protective family hatred.
The kind built over seven years of watching me emotionally collapse after the breakup.
Kyle points at me aggressively through the screen.
"YOU CANNOT TELL KEIFER BEFORE TELLING YOUR FAMILY."
"I know."
"Because otherwise neither you NOR Keifer will survive."
"That feels dramatic."
"Percy literally threatened murder last time his name came up."
"…that's fair."
Kyle winces.
"Good luck, soldier."
Then before I can answer—The traitor ends the call.
I stare at the dark screen in horror.
Well.
Shit.
The apartment suddenly feels very quiet again rain still tapping softly outside.
London glowing beyond the windows.
And me?
Sitting alone on my bed realizing I just admitted I'm still hopelessly in love with Mark Keifer Watson.
Again.
God.
This man really did ruin my life beautifully.
I inhale slowly.
Then grab my phone.
No running anymore.
No avoiding.
No dragging this out another seven years.
If I'm doing this—I'm doing it properly.
"Okay," I whisper to myself nervously. "Breathe, Jay Jay. You've survived corporate and legal warfare. You can survive one family phone call."
Barely.
I scroll down to the family group contact.
My thumb hovers over the screen.
Then finally—I press call.
The ringtone echoes loudly through the quiet apartment once.
Twice.
Three times.
And somewhere deep in my soul—Pure fear begins rising....
"Hello....Jay Jay.."
SHIT!!!!!!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hey Readerssss
How are you all!!!?? I know it's been a long time since I posted and I'm sorry for it but let's move ahead shall we!!! I read everyone's texts and I just want to thank you all for supporting me and for the wishes and also an update that I will start posting from now on I'll try my best to post chapters on both the books it will be slow like one chapter a day in both books because I'm still recovering and i really really hope to see all of your comments under the chapter and a short announcement too after I finish these two books I will be posting a new book with a very brand new concept of our beloved JAYFER!!!!!! So stay tuned for that....
And LASTLY (hehe andres core😜) I just wanna say I loveee yaaaa all soo freakingggg muchhh 💗💗💗💗
~nsaw.....