CHAPTER — YOU DON'T GET TO STOP ME
Jayjay's POV
I stood in front of theror, fixing my hair.
Simple.
Nothing special.
Just… normal.
For once.
---
I picked up my bag, took a small breath—
And stepped out of my room.
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"Where are you going?"
His voice stopped me halfway down the stairs.
Of course it did.
---
I didn't turn immediately.
Then slowly—
I looked at Keifer Watson.
---
"Out," I said simply.
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His eyes narrowed slightly.
"With who?"
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I adjusted the strap of my bag.
"My friend."
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A pause.
Then—
"Male or female?"
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I almost rolled my eyes.
But didn't.
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"Male."
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Silence.
Sharp.
Immediate.
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"Who?"
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"…Noah."
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The name had barely left my lips when I saw it.
That shift in his expression.
Subtle.
But there.
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"No."
---
I blinked.
"…What?"
---
"You're not going."
His voice was firm.
Cold.
Final.
---
Something inside me snapped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… quietly.
---
I let out a small breath.
Then nodded slightly.
---
"Okay."
---
And walked past him.
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His voice came sharper this time.
"Jayjay."
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I stopped.
Turned.
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"You heard me," he said. "You're not going."
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I looked at him.
Really looked.
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And for the first time—
I didn't feel intimidated.
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"You don't get to decide that."
My voice was calm.
Steady.
---
His jaw tightened.
"I said you're not going."
---
"And I said I am."
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Silence.
Tense.
---
"You're married," he added. "Act like it."
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That made me laugh.
Soft.
Empty.
---
"Married?" I repeated.
Then stepped a little closer.
Not scared.
Not hesitant.
---
"Is that what this is now?"
---
His eyes darkened.
---
"Because last time I checked," I continued quietly, "this was just an arrangement."
---
The words hit.
I saw it.
---
"So don't start acting like you have a say in my life," I added.
---
His expression hardened.
"That guy—"
---
"Is my friend."
---
"You don't go out with other men."
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"I can."
---
"You won't."
---
"I will."
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Silence cracked between us.
---
My grip tightened slightly on my bag.
---
"I'm not asking you," I said softly.
---
Then I turned.
And walked toward the door.
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"Jayjay."
His voice again.
Lower this time.
Dangerous.
---
I didn't stop.
---
"Walk out that door," he said, "and—"
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I opened it.
---
And stepped out.
---
Without looking back.
---
The door closed behind me.
---
And for the first time—
It felt like I chose something for myself.
---
Even if it hurt.
---
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Keifer's POV
She walked out.
---
She actually walked out.
---
I stood there.
Still.
Silent.
---
My jaw clenched slowly.
---
"Noah."
---
The name didn't sit right.
Didn't sound right.
Didn't feel right.
---
A male friend.
She's going out with him.
Alone.
---
Something twisted in my chest.
Sharp.
Unfamiliar.
---
I exhaled slowly.
Trying to push it down.
---
This shouldn't matter.
---
I said this wasn't real.
I said she could do whatever she wants.
---
Then why—
Why does this feel wrong?
---
Why does the thought of her with someone else—
Make my chest tighten like this?
I ran a hand through my hair, pacing slightly.
"She's just going out."
So why does it feel like—
I'm losing something?
Again.
My jaw clenched harder.
No.
This isn't happening.
I don't like this.
I don't like him.
I don't like the idea of her laughing with someone else.
Talking to someone else.
Looking at someone else—
The way she used to look at me.
That thought—
That one—
Hit the hardest.
"…Damn it."
Because now I know what this is.
Jealousy.
---
Raw.
Unfiltered.
Unavoidable.
And I hate it.
But not enough to ignore it.
I grabbed my keys.
Without thinking twice.
Because one thing was clear—
I'm not letting her walk away that
CHAPTER — YOU'RE NOT GOING ALONE
Jayjay's POV
I had just stepped outside when—
"Wait."
His voice.
Behind me.
---
I closed my eyes for a second.
Of course.
---
I turned slowly.
Keifer Watson was already walking toward me.
Keys in hand.
Expression unreadable.
---
"What now?" I asked.
Tired.
---
"You're not going alone."
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I frowned slightly.
"I'm not alone. I told you—I'm meeting—"
"I know who you're meeting."
His tone cut through mine.
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Silence.
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"And you're still not going alone."
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I let out a quiet breath.
"Keifer…"
I shook my head.
"No."
---
His eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"I said no," I repeated. "You don't get to suddenly decide to come with me."
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"I'm not asking."
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Of course he isn't.
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I looked at him for a moment.
Then gave a small nod.
"Okay."
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He paused.
Just slightly.
---
That wasn't the reaction he expected.
---
"Come if you want," I added.
My voice calm.
Almost indifferent.
---
Then I turned—
And started walking.
---
I heard his footsteps behind me.
Of course.
---
---
The café wasn't far.
Quiet.
Simple.
---
And he was already there.
Noah
---
He smiled the moment he saw me.
"Jay!"
---
And just like that—
Something in my chest softened.
Just a little.
---
"Hey," I said quietly, walking toward him.
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"You're late," he teased lightly.
---
"Sorry…"
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Then—
His eyes shifted.
Past me.
---
The smile faded slightly.
"…And who's this?"
---
I didn't turn immediately.
---
But I felt it.
Keifer.
Right behind me.
Too close.
---
"My husband," I said simply.
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Silence.
---
Noah blinked.
"…Oh."
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I finally turned slightly.
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Keifer stepped forward.
Calm.
Cold.
Controlled.
---
"Keifer," he introduced himself.
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"Noah," he replied, a bit more cautious now.
---
The air shifted instantly.
Tense.
---
I sighed softly.
---
"Let's just sit," I said, already walking toward the table.
---
I sat down.
---
Noah across from me.
---
And of course—
Keifer pulled the chair right next to mine.
---
Not across.
Not separate.
---
Next to me.
---
Close.
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I didn't react.
Didn't move.
---
But I felt it.
That presence.
That silent claim.
---
"So…" Noah started, trying to ease the tension. "It's been a while."
---
"Yeah," I nodded.
---
We started talking.
Simple things.
Normal things.
---
And for the first time in days—
I felt… okay.
---
I smiled slightly.
---
And that's when I felt it.
---
Keifer shift beside me.
---
Subtle.
But sharp.
---
Because he saw it.
---
Saw me smile.
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Just not at him.
---
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Keifer's POV
She said "come if you want."
Like it didn't matter.
---
That—
That annoyed me more than if she had argued.
---
But I went anyway.
Of course I did.
---
And now—
I'm sitting here.
Watching her.
With him.
---
Noah
---
I don't like him.
---
Not because of what he's done.
---
But because of—
What she's like around him.
---
Relaxed.
Calm.
---
She smiled.
---
I noticed immediately.
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Because she hasn't smiled like that in days.
---
Not with me.
---
My jaw tightened slightly.
---
He's talking.
She's listening.
Actually listening.
---
Responding.
Softly.
---
Like she used to—
With me.
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Something twisted in my chest.
Sharp.
Annoying.
---
"She can act like this."
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Just not with me.
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That realization—
Didn't sit well.
---
At all.
---
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
Eyes still on them.
---
"You come here often?" he asked her.
---
"A few times," she replied.
---
He smiled.
---
I didn't.
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"Must be nice," he said.
---
"It is," she nodded.
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Silence.
---
I exhaled slowly.
---
Enough.
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"Jay."
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Her name came out low.
Controlled.
---
She paused.
Turned slightly toward me.
---
"Yes?"
---
That tone again.
Calm.
Distant.
---
I held her gaze for a second.
Then—
"Eat something."
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Noah blinked slightly.
Confused.
---
She didn't.
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"I'm not hungry."
---
Of course.
---
"You didn't eat properly before."
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"I'm fine."
---
My jaw tightened.
---
"Order something."
---
"Keifer."
---
That one word—
Warning.
---
But I didn't stop.
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"Order."
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Silence fell again.
He looked between us.
Awkward.
---
She stared at me for a second.
Longer this time.
---
Then—
She looked away.
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"Just coffee," she told Noah quietly.
---
That wasn't what I wanted.
But it was something.
---
Still—
---
I leaned slightly closer.
Lowering my voice.
Just for her.
---
"You smiled."
---
She stiffened slightly.
---
"…So?"
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"Not at me."
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The words came out before I could stop them.
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Silence.
---
She turned slowly.
Looked at me.
---
And this time—
Her expression didn't change.
---
"Because you didn't give me a reason to."
---
That hit.
Hard.
---
She turned away again.
Like it was nothing.
---
And that—
That was worse than anything.
---
I leaned back again, jaw tight.
Eyes still on her.
---
Because now—
I'm not just jealous.
Im loosing.
And I don't loose