Raphael's fist moved.
Fast.
But before it could reach Keifer—
A hand caught his wrist.
Firm.
Unshaken.
Keifer.
The sound of shoes scraping the floor echoed as Jay stepped forward instinctively—
But before she could say anything—
Keifer's other arm slid around her waist and pulled her slightly behind him.
Protective.
Natural.
Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Everyone froze.
Sec E.
Angelo.
Aries.
Percy.
Even Ava.
Raphael slowly looked down at Keifer's hand holding his wrist.
Then at Jay behind him.
Keifer didn't look angry.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were sharp.
"Careful," Keifer said quietly.
Not threatening.
Just controlled.
Raphael tried to pull his hand back.
Keifer let go immediately.
No ego.
No fight.
Just control.
But then Keifer spoke again.
And this time his voice carried that Watson calm authority.
"You're her brother," he said.
"So I'm giving you respect."
The room went silent.
Tell me something, Watson."
Keifer didn't let go of Jay.
His posture stayed calm.
"What?"
Raphael tilted his head slightly.
"Did you get close to her before… or after you decided to use her?"
Jay blinked.
"What?"
The words felt wrong.
Raphael's gaze sharpened.
"You're using her."
Silence crashed into the group.
Keifer didn't answer.
But something flickered in his eyes.
Something that shouldn't have been there.
Guilt.
Sec E suddenly felt awkward.
Guilty.
Aries and Percy exchanged looks.
Yuri raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk.
Jay, however, was staring at Raphael.
Her brain replaying his words.
You're using Jay for plann . how kuya got to know when i clearly blocked all ways he could know .
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at her.
Jay stepped forward.
"How do you know about that?"
Raphael's gaze shifted to her.
For a split second something unreadable flashed in his eyes.
But then he said,
"I didn't say he knows."
Jay frowned.
"What?"
Raphael looked at Keifer again.
"I said he's using you against me."
Now both Jay and Keifer looked confused.
Keifer's brows furrowed slightly.
"Against you?"
Jay blinked.
"Kuya… he doesn't even know you and me were related."
Her voice held disbelief.
"I know you hate the Watsons," she continued,"but that doesn't mean you get to hate him too."
Raphael was about to reply—
But Ava suddenly stepped between them.
"Okay that's enough testosterone for one day."
She pushed Jay slightly behind her.
Then she looked at Keifer with a small smile.
"Nice to meet you properly."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Mark Keifer Watson."
Jay groaned softly.
"Ava…"
But Ava ignored her.
She crossed her arms and said casually,
"I'm Jay's first love."
The room went quiet again.
Percy nearly choked.
Aries muttered, "Oh this is going to be fun."
Keifer's eyebrow lifted slightly.
Jealousy flickered in his eyes for half a second.
But instead of reacting—
He smiled.
Slow.
Confident.
That quiet Watson smirk.
He stepped a little closer to Jay again.
His hand returned to her waist like it belonged there.
Then he looked directly at Ava.
"First?" he repeated calmly.
Ava smirked.
"Very."
Keifer nodded slowly.
"Good."
That answer confused everyone.
Even Ava.
Then he finished,
"Because I prefer being the last."
Silence.
Then his gaze softened slightly when it shifted to Jay.
"And the one that stays."
Ava's smirk widened.
"Oh? Confident."
Keifer shrugged lightly.
"Not confident."
Then he added calmly,
"Certain."
Jay's cheeks turned slightly red.
Percy whispered dramatically,
"Damn."
Aries nodded.
"That was smooth."
Ava laughed.
"Alright Watson, I see the attitude."
She leaned slightly closer to him and said playfully,
"But if you hurt her—"
Keifer didn't even let her finish.
His voice stayed calm.
But firm.
"I won't."
No hesitation.
No joke.
Just truth.
And for the first time—
Raphael studied him again.
Long.
Quiet.
Evaluating.
For a few seconds no one spoke.
Everyone was still processing what had happened.
Then cin clapped once.
"Okay… great… amazing… perfect," he said dramatically. "We almost started a mafia-corporate war at the entrance. Anyone else want to punch someone before we leave?"
Jay glared at him.
"Shut up."
Aries snorted.
Angelo simply sighed like a tired older brother.
girlsss were literally in their own world after seeing ava
Meanwhile Raphael was still staring at Keifer.
Not angry anymore.
Just watching.
Like a hunter observing something interesting.
Jay noticed it immediately.
"Kuya," she warned.
Raphael looked away but the corner of his lips twitched slightly.
"Relax, potato."
Percy blinked.
"…Did he just call our baby sista a potato?"
Jay threw Percy a dangerous look.
"Say it again and I'll bury you."
Raphael's voice suddenly cut through the chaos.
"Sister?"
Everyone froze.
His eyes were locked on Jay.
Cold.
Sharp.
"How exactly did Percy Mariano become your brother?"
Jay blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Raphael took a step closer.
"And how did you manage to block my spies and every way I had of knowing what's going on in your life?"
His voice lowered dangerously.
"Jay."
The name came out like a warning.
Jay gave that terrified–guilty smile she always used when she knew she was in trouble.
Before she could answer—
Angelo stepped forward.
And the air changed.
His expression hardened slightly.
The usual warm big-brother look disappeared.
His voice came out calm.
Controlled.
But commanding.
"Enough."
Everyone turned to him.
Even Raphael paused.
Angelo glanced around the entrance where students, staff and cameras were still nearby.
"We can talk somewhere else."
His eyes swept over them.
"Not in the damn entrance door."
The tone.
The authority.
For a moment it almost felt like—
A Watson speaking.
Raphael's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Angelo.
Something unreadable flashed in them.
Like he noticed something he couldn't quite explain.
But he said nothing.
A few minutes later—
They reached the parking area.
Everyone moved toward one car.
Then suddenly they all stopped.
Because six people were staring at the same back seat.
Aries.
Percy.
Raphael.
Keifer.
Angelo.
All looking like they planned to sit next to Jay.
Jay noticed.
And immediately raised both hands dramatically.
"Oh no."
That foolish nervous smile appeared on her face again.
"You all sit together."
She slowly backed away.
"I can go with Cin and David…"
She pointed somewhere random.
"Or the Aces…"
Then she quickly grabbed Cin's hand and tried dragging him away.
"Or maybe Ava—"
Cin looked terrified.
"WHY ME?"
Before Jay could escape—
A hand caught her wrist.
Keifer.
He pulled her back casually.
Then leaned slightly closer with that lazy smirk.
"If space becomes a problem…"
His voice dropped playfully.
"You can sit on my lap."
For half a second—
Silence.
Then four voices exploded at once.
"HEY! WE ARE SINGLE HERE!" Percy shouted.
Aries glared at Keifer.
"Do you want to die?"
Angelo looked like he was reconsidering sending Jay to this school.
"No."
Then Raphael stepped forward slowly.
Eyes dark.
Voice extremely calm.
"I will burn you till death."
Jay clapped her hands quickly.
"RAPHAEL NO NEED—"
But Raphael raised a hand lazily.
"Relax."
His eyes shifted to Keifer.
"I don't kill people over small things."
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"But Watson…"
A faint dangerous smile appeared.
"I can afford a limousine."
He gestured toward the car.
"So we will all fit perfectly."
Then he pointed directly at Jay.
"And you—"
His expression sharpened again.
"You sloth."
Jay gasped dramatically.
"I am NOT a sloth!"
"I need an explanation."
Meanwhile Angelo crossed his arms.
His eyes landed on Jay too.
"Me too."
His voice was quieter.
But far more serious.
"I sent you to Greenwood to study."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Not to form gangs."
Jay looked between all of them.
One by one.
two brothers.
One suspicious god-brother.
one cousin brother
And Keifer still holding her wrist like he had no plans to let go.
She sighed.
Very dramatically.
"Wow."
Then muttered under her breath.
"This is the worst family meeting ever."
Percy whispered to Aries.
"She's doomed."
Aries nodded.
"Completely."
Raphael opened the car door.
"Get in."
Jay looked at Keifer.
Then at the car.
Then at the brothers staring at her.