JAY JAY POV
1 week later
The house felt quieter, but not the lonely kind of quiet from before. It was more... peaceful. Maybe it was because Grandpa and Grandma were finally gone. We had practically forced them onto their flight to travel the world for their 50th anniversary.
They'd spent so years worrying about us and holding this family together; they deserved to see the world without our crisis calling them back every five minutes.
I was sitting in the living room when the front door swung open. Jare walked in first, looking exhausted. I immediately noticed his hands—the knuckles were bruised and slightly swollen. Percy trailed in behind him, looking much more put-together but still sporting a light sheen of sweat.
"Where were you guys?" I asked, looking up from my book. I narrowed my eyes at Jare's hands. "Did you get into a fight?"
"Basketball with Aries and Keifer," Percy countered quickly, leaning against the doorframe to catch his breath. "Keifer plays like he's in the UFC, and Jare is too stubborn to back down from a screen. It's a miracle they didn't break the hoop."
I nodded, feeling a small, warm spark in my chest. Basketball.
Jare didn't say much. He just gave me a tired nod and walked straight through the house toward the pond outside. I watched his retreating back. I knew he was still struggling.
"How did the date go?" I whispered to Percy once Jare was out of earshot.
Percy's face lit up in that classic, dramatic way. "Honey is... a force of nature, Jay. She told me my chosen cologne was 'acceptable but a bit vintage.' I think I'm in love. Or at least, I'm highly intrigued."
I laughed, throwing a pillow at him. "Good. You needed someone to check your ego."
"Never," Percy sniffed, catching the pillow. "But I'll tolerate her for the sake of my social calendar. She's coming to college to see me tomorrow."
While Percy rambled on about his skincare routine post-game, my mind drifted to Jare. I stood up and followed him outside.
I found him sitting on the stone edge of the pond, his bruised hands resting on his knees. He was watching the koi fish swim in circles.
I didn't stay inside for long. I went to the hallway closet, grabbed the first-aid kit, and headed back out to the pond.
Jare was still sitting there, looking like he carried the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. I sat down next to him without saying a word, opened the kit, and reached for his right hand.
"Jay," he said, startled by my sudden touch. He tried to pull back, but I held on tight, pulling his hand into my lap.
"Don't 'Jay' me," I murmured, taking out an antiseptic wipe. I looked at the raw skin, the split knuckles, and the darkening purple bloomed across his hand. "Jare, you know I'm not dumb. This isn't the kind of bruise you get just by playing basketball."
He went quiet, his shoulders slumping. He stopped resisting and let me clean the cuts. Up close, I could see the truth: these weren't scrapes from a paved court. These were impact wounds from hitting something hard—multiple times.
I looked down at the bandage I had just finished, my heart aching. "Jare, you don't think I've noticed? How you've been coming home late every night, looking so sad... like you're carrying the weight of the entire world on your back?"
I looked up, meeting his eyes. "And now, this whole week, you always come home with some sort of bruise on you."
"It's nothing, Jay. Just—" Jare started, his voice defensive as he tried to pull his hand away.
"Jare, stop," I said, my voice soft but firm. "I know you're hiding something. But please, for God's sake, tell me before I find out anyway—because you know I will. But... if you really don't want to share it yet, then that's fine too."
I looked at his bruised knuckles again, the reality of our world sinking in. "Seeing these bruises, I know you're doing something... something dangerous. Maybe even illegal. But I just want you to know that I support you."
Jare looked at me, stunned. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"No matter what, I trust you," I said, squeezing his hand. "I know my brother. I know that whatever you're doing out there in the dark, you're doing it to protect us. I know you'll always do the right thing in the end, no matter how hard it is."
A shadow passed over Jare's face, and for a second, I saw his eyes shimmer with something like relief—or maybe pain. He let out a long, shuddering breath and leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine.
I smiled at him, leaning into his side as we walked toward the back porch. The air was getting chilly, but the warmth of finally being on the same page as my brother kept me grounded.
"So, how is it with Keifer?" Jare asked, his tone shifting to that protective, slightly teasing older-brother vibe.
"It's fine," I said, feeling my cheeks warm up. "He's... he's still Keifer. Stubborn, jealous, and way too loud, but he's taking care of me. And for the record, he's been a lot better since you guys started playing basketball."
Jare chuckled, but then his expression flattened as he saw me take a breath to pivot the conversation.
"Mia—" I started.
"Let's not talk about her," Jare interrupted instantly, his jaw tightening.
"Let's talk about her, Jare!" I countered, stopping in my tracks and forcing him to look at me. "She is out there waiting for you to explain yourself. She's been waiting for years."
"I'm sure she's moved on, Jay. It's been a long time," he muttured, looking everywhere but at me.
"Mia might look like she doesn't care, but Jare, you and I both know she's a soft girl who hides her emotions behind her smiles," I reminded him. "She's just like you in that way. Putting on a mask so the rest of the world doesn't see the cracks."
Jare looked down at his bandaged knuckles, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "I don't deserve her, Jay. Not really. Look at my life. Look at what I do. She's better off without the mess that comes with me"
"Who are you to decide that?" I asked, stepping in front of him. "Who are you to play God with her happiness? It's up to Mia to decide if you're worthy of her. Not you. Talk to her, be honest with her for once, and then you'll be fine. Whatever she decides, at least you won't be living in this half-truth anymore."
Jare stayed silent for a long time, the only sound being the distant shouting of Percy and Aries from inside the house.
The air was crisp and fresh, smelling of pine and damp earth—a perfect night for a walk to clear my head. My conversation with Jare had left me feeling raw, but in a good way. Like I was finally stripping away the old layers of this family's pain.
"Percy, I'm going outside for a walk!" I called out toward the kitchen as I grabbed my light jacket.
Percy was too busy debating the merits of silk versus cotton pillowcases with Aries to do more than wave a dismissive hand. I don't think he even heard a word I said.
I stepped out into the night. It was windy—not the biting kind of cold, but enough of a breeze to make the trees whisper and dance. I walked down the long driveway and out toward the main road, just enjoying the solitude.
Then, a sudden, sharp honk made me jump.
A dark sedan had slowed down to a crawl right beside me. The window rolled down, and a guy leaned out. He looked to be in his early twenties, stylish but with an intensity in his eyes that made the hair on my arms stand up.
"Hey, Jay-jay! Want to come for a ride?" he asked, giving me a casual wave.
My stomach did a nervous flip. I didn't recognize him at all. "No, I'm good," I said, tightening my jacket and quickening my pace.
"Come on, I'll drop you off wherever you want. It's pretty dangerous out here at night, you know," the guy said, keeping the car perfectly paced with my walking.
I stopped and turned to him, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm sorry, I don't feel comfortable riding with someone when you know my name but I don't know yours."
"Sorry, Miss! I'm Zade, by the way," he said with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know you because you're kind of popular on social media lately"
My blood ran cold. Between the engagement post and the news of my return, I had forgotten that people outside our circle were watching.
"I'm honored you know me, Zade, but please don't follow me," I said, starting to walk even faster. My heart was beginning to hammer against my ribs.
I reached into my pocket for my phone, my thumb hovering over Keifer's contact. I was only a few blocks from the estate, but the road was dimly lit and the trees were thick.
"Don't be like that, Jay-jay," Zade called out, his voice a bit louder now. He wasn't stopping. "I just want to talk."
Just as I was about to hit dial, the bright beams of another set of headlights cut through the darkness, blinding Zade's car. I recognized that engine roar anywhere.
Keifer's car screeched to a halt right in front of me, diagonally blocking the road. I didn't even wait for him to step out; I lunged for the passenger door and scrambled inside, locking it instantly. My heart was thudding so hard it felt like it was going to burst through my ribs.
"Jay? What the hell is going on?" Keifer turned to me, his hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel. His eyes were wide with a mix of alarm and instant, simmering rage as he looked at the sedan idling behind us.
"I don't know him," I panted, pointing toward Zade's car.
"Who is he?" Keifer's voice dropped into that low, dangerous territory it only entered when someone touched what belonged to him. His gaze locked onto the driver behind us, his foot already hovering over the brake as he prepared to get out.
"I don't know... maybe just a random stalker. He knew my name," I said, trying to catch my breath.
"Let me go check," Keifer said, his hand reaching for the door handle. His expression was terrifying—pure, unadulterated Watson-protector mode.
"No need," I said, grabbing his arm. "I don't think he will come back again. Just... just drive, Keifer. Please."
Keifer didn't look convinced. He was staring through the rearview mirror, his chest heaving with adrenaline. I knew that look; he was seconds away from jumping out and making sure "Zade" never drove a car again.
To distract him—and frankly, to ground myself—I leaned over and kissed him. It was supposed to be a quick 'thank you for saving me' kiss, a way to pull him back from the edge of violence.
But Keifer isn't exactly the type to do things halfway.
The second my lips touched his, his possessive streak took over. That asshole groaned low in his throat and deepened the kiss, his large hands finding my waist and pulling me right over the center console and into his lap.
The gear shift was in the way, but he didn't care. He held me there, his grip firm and desperate, his heart racing against mine.
The kiss turned hungry, the kind of desperate where you lose track of where you are. I could feel Keifer's heart thumping hard against my chest, and his hands were firm on my waist. I finally had to pull back, gasping for air because I was running dangerously low on oxygen.
"What? I'm not done," Keifer grumbled, his voice thick and husky. He tried to pull me back toward him, his eyes dark with that intense focus he only ever had for me.
"I need oxygen to live, Keifer!" I laughed breathlessly, moving to climb back into the passenger seat.
He reached for me again, his lips nearly touching mine, but a sudden, loud HONK startled us both. We were still blocking the middle of the road, and a car behind us was clearly losing patience.
Keifer let out a frustrated growl, his forehead dropping onto my shoulder for a second. He had no choice but to move. I tried to shift back to my seat, but his arm tightened around my waist, keeping me firmly on his lap.
"Stay. Let me drive like this," he commanded. It wasn't a suggestion.
I nodded, feeling my heart skip. It was a short drive, but he kept one hand on the wheel and the other firmly on my thigh, his thumb tracing circles that made it impossible for me to think straight.
he pulled up into an empty overlook nearby, the city lights twinkling in the distance.
He turned off the engine, and the sudden silence of the car felt heavy and electric.
"Now, where were we?" Keifer whispered against my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
I leaned back against him, my arms automatically winding around his neck. "I think we were somewhere between you dropping me off at my house and you being a total distraction," I teased, brushing my nose against his.
"Jay," he murmured, his voice softening as he started to kiss my earlobe, trailing down to my jaw.
"Hmm?" I leaned my head back, giving him better access, my eyes fluttering shut.
"Aries and I... we made up," he said between kisses. "Properly. No more fighting over the past."
I smiled, a genuine sense of relief washing over me. I gripped his shoulders tighter. "I'm so happy you did, Keif. Truly."
He stopped for a second, his face hovering just inches from mine. His gaze was intense, searching my eyes.
"Remember our deal, Jay-jay?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low, meaningful register as he started to kiss along the line of my neck.
I shivered. The deal. To stay by his side, to be his queen, and to let go of the secrets that had kept us apart.
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, my heart hammering against my ribs. "I remember," I whispered, pulling him closer until there wasn't a breath of space left between us.
Keifer let out a frustrated, shaky groan, burying his face in the crook of my neck. "When can we start? Because I'm going crazy, Jay. Seriously."
I giggled softly, though my own pulse was racing just as fast as his. I tried to bring some logic back into the car, even though my head was spinning. "Keifer, our wedding is literally next week. Can't you wait seven more days?"
"And I can't wait," he countered, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. His pupils were blown wide, dark and intense. "I will wait until our wedding night—I'll try—but I can't promise to stay patient if you keep looking like that."
I blinked, genuinely caught off guard by the raw honesty in his voice. "Like what?" I asked, confused.
"Way too hot and sexy for your own good," Keifer growled, his hand sliding from my waist to cup the back of my neck, his thumb grazing my jawline. "You have no idea what you do to me, Jay-jay. You're sitting here in my lap, looking at me with those eyes, and expect me to act like a gentleman?"
He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine with every word he spoke. "Seven days. That's 168 hours. It feels like a lifetime."
"You're so dramatic," I whispered, though I was smiling. I reached up, tracing the line of his eyebrow. "The 'Tough President of Section E' can't handle one little week?"
"Not when it comes to you," he muttered, his gaze dropping to my lips again. "I've spent months waiting for you to come home.Months fighting everyone else just to get a glimpse of you. Now that you're actually here... right here in my arms... I don't want to waste another second."
He nipped at my lower lip, causing a small gasp to escape me.
"But," he added, his voice dropping an octave, "I want that night to be perfect. For you. So I'll wait. But you're staying exactly where you are for the rest of this drive."
He restarted the engine, but he didn't move me back to the passenger seat. He kept me tucked against his chest, one arm wrapped firmly around me as he began to drive back toward the estate.
"Keifer, you can't drive like this! It's not safe!" I protested, even as I snuggled closer.
"I'm a Watson, Jay," he said with that familiar, cocky smirk. "And your my mutya. We've survived gangs, fights, and weeks of separation. I think I can handle a five-minute drive with my fiancée in my lap."
I leaned my head on his shoulder, watching the gates of the estate appear in the distance. A week. In just one week, I would officially be his. No more secrets, no more running. Just us.
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Hey guys 💗
Okay sooo… I know this chapter was kinda boring 😭
So for this one, there's no target. 🌸✨
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