Chapter 160 - Know

Keifer's POV

Present…

She's crying. I wanted to hug her and make her stay, but more than anything, I was surprised.

Seriously?

What the hell is wrong with this girl? I told her about my past because I trusted her, but I never expected her to cry.

"S-sorry… I-I just can't help it," Jay-jay said.

I looked away and scratched the back of my head. "Please… stop crying, Jay."

But instead of stopping, her crying only got louder. I sighed and slapped my forehead.

"Jay…"

"Y-you're so brave," she said, making me stop and look at her. "...I thought my life was bad, but yours is even worse."

Pity…

That's what most people give me, and I've never liked it. I thought she would say the same, but she didn't.

I cupped her cheek and wiped her tears away. "Thank you for listening to me."

"Thank you too… for trusting me," she said with a smile.

I kissed her forehead and laughed when she suddenly froze. She looked so cute. ❤️

She quickly looked away and cleared her throat. "S-so… how did you get Keigan back?"

"I didn't get him back… He came back a few years later—with his new wife," I said with a heavy sigh. "...That's when I finally got the courage to kick him out of the house."

"So that's why… You're the only son who kicked his father out," she said.

I chuckled. "Weird, right?"

She nodded. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was already 10 p.m. Her friends at home, especially Angelo, might start wondering where she was.

"I need to take you back. It's getting late."

I started the engine. She remained quiet the entire ride. When we arrived, I stopped the car at the same spot where I had picked her up. I couldn't stop in front of her house—someone might see us, and Jay-jay didn't want that.

"That's it. Goodnight," she said, reaching for the door handle, but I grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"...W-why?" she asked.

"You're not mad at me anymore?"

She shook her head. "Not anymore. Your story was so long, I forgot to be annoyed."

I smirked and slowly leaned toward her. "Maybe you can…"

"Don't!" she said quickly, covering her mouth.

You've got to be kidding me!

"I thought you weren't mad at me anymore?" I asked in disbelief.

"You smell like cigarettes!"

She was serious. I sighed, feeling annoyed, but she just grinned at me.

"...If you want a kiss, don't smoke. That's it!"

She opened the door and got out of the car without even glancing back, heading straight through the gate.

I started the engine and drove back home. I had been driving for only a few minutes when my phone rang.

A text message. 📩

I ignored it at first, deciding to check it once I got home. As I waited for the gate to open, my phone rang again. Another text message.

Curious, I picked up my phone and opened it. It was from Jay-jay.

Maybe she already misses me.

But I was wrong…

I looked at the message twice, making sure I was reading it correctly.

📩

From: Sexy Jay-jay

Message: "He already knows…"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jay-jay's POV

Look to the right, to the left, at the ceiling, and at the four corners of the room—just don't meet Aries's gaze.

I'm in his room.

For the first time in history…

I feel like going to mass tomorrow. Just now, he let me stay in his room. We couldn't go to mine because Ci-N was there. We couldn't go outside either—someone might hear us.

There are so many books here. Does he read horoscopes? I used to think all he did was obsess over Ella.

"You really won't talk?" he asked calmly.

I kept my mouth shut and looked down. I didn't expect him to see me getting out of Keifer's car. I was about to sneak away, but then he suddenly said, "This is the second time."

So he saw it before.

And now, here we are… Interrogation keneme.

"Jay…" he called.

I looked at the ceiling again. No dust, nice!

"Jay-jay…"

I stared at the floor. So shiny, nice!

"Jay-jay!"

I glanced at the corner of the room. There's a shadow—not nice!

He suddenly slammed his hand on the table, making me jump. I was about to curse in shock but quickly covered my mouth.

"What?!" he snapped. "...Aren't you going to say anything?!"

"I—am I fine?"

Alright, let's go with sarcasm. Maybe he'll let it go.

You're not helping! Brain pests! Worms! Parasites! You're eating away at my intelligence! That's why I always blank out during quizzes!

"Are you even listening?!" Aries asked.

I nodded. "Yes! You said the electricity bill will go down."

His frustration was so obvious I thought he was going to strangle me. I immediately raised my arms to block him and stepped back a little.

I glared at him. He lowered his hand and rubbed his temples.

"What's going on between you and Keifer?" he asked, this time more calmly.

He sounded just like Kuya Angelo. They really are brothers.

"Be specific," I answered, making his jaw tighten in frustration.

He suddenly stepped closer and grabbed me by the collar. "Are you seriously ignoring me?!"

"N-no!"

"Then answer my question! If you don't, I'll tell Kuya!"

Panic surged through me. He would do that. I could already feel tears threatening to fall.

"I-I can't say… There's no clear agreement. We just like each other," I admitted.

He let go of me and looked at me seriously. "Do you really believe that?"

I hesitated. "Wh-what…?"

"He's just using you!"

I froze.

W-what does he mean? What is he talking about?

"...You're so stupid!" he shouted at me.

Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.

"We're cousins, Jay! It's obvious he's using you to get revenge on me!"

Of course, they hate each other. But I never expected Aries to say this.

"He wouldn't do that," I said firmly.

"Think about it!"

"He wouldn't do that! How am I being used?! Tell me!" I shot back angrily, making his eyebrows knit together even more.

"I know Keifer. He's willing to do anything to get revenge on someone who hurt him."

I let out a bitter laugh. "That's your proof? How could he be using me if we're not even together?!" My voice cracked. "You don't care about me, do you?!"

He froze. His scowl softened, but he still stared at me intensely.

I held his gaze for a moment, but I couldn't stop my tears from falling.

I was hurt by what he said. It hurt because the Aries who used to always come to my house, play with me, greet me, and promise to introduce me to his friends—that Aries was gone. He had been replaced by someone who no longer cared about me.

"As far as I know," he answered weakly.

That's right!

He's just slandering Keifer.

"I don't believe you," I said and immediately walked toward the door. But I stopped when he spoke again.

"I love you to infinity and beyond."

That's the—

"...That's what he tells you too, isn't it?"

I turned to him, a mix of annoyance and surprise on my face. How did he know that?

"...Because those are the exact words he used to say to Ella."

It felt like a dagger had pierced my heart. My tears fell again, but before he could say anything else, I quickly left his room.

I could barely breathe. My chest felt tight. What was happening to me?

So what if he said that to Ella? That doesn't mean he's lying to me. I trust him!

He told me his story—his past, his struggles with his dad. Would someone who opens up like that be deceitful?

I refuse to believe Aries. His hatred for Keifer is making him say anything to turn me against him.

But… what if it's true?

No! Keifer wouldn't do that.

I walked back to my room. Ci-N was already asleep. I couldn't wait any longer—I grabbed my phone and texted Keifer.

Within minutes, he called me. I took a deep breath so he wouldn't notice I had been crying.

"Hello..."

["Are you crying?"] he asked immediately.

"Huh?" I panicked.

["Your voice sounds different. Did he say something that made you cry?"]

"Nothing... He just scolded me."

["I'll beat him up for you."]

My eyes widened. This guy is crazy!

"Stop it," I said, almost raising my voice.

I tried to keep quiet so I wouldn't wake the little boy up.

["I'm serious, Jay. If I have to face your entire family to prove that I love you... I will."]

"Keifer..."

["Even if I have to fight Angelo and Aries, I will."]

I smiled at his words. This is why I don't believe Aries. I know Keifer would never do something like that.

"Thank you."

["Wrong!"] he said, making me raise an eyebrow. ["You should say... 'I love you'."]

I let out a small laugh. He really is something!

"You're so full of yourself."

I heard him chuckle. ["I love you, Jay. To infini—"]

"Keifer," I cut him off.

I suddenly felt uneasy. Not because I believed Aries, but because… I felt something different.

["Is something wrong?"]

"N-no… I just wanted… um…"

["Jay?"]

"Let's change the ending. 'I love you' is too common."

["Tss... Picky!"]

Instead of being annoyed at his 'Tss,' I suddenly burst out laughing. The way he said picky sounded so playful.

["Laugh more… You're so cute when you're happy,"] he said irritably, making me laugh even harder.

"Because you're flirting too much."

["And you love it."]

Well, he's not wrong.

I suddenly went silent. Wait… did I just agree too fast? No hesitation?!

["Fine, just so you don't complain—I love you, Jay, until scientists find the end of the universe."]

So long! This King of Snakes always has something up his sleeve. Where does he even come up with these things?

"But… isn't the universe infinite?"

["Exactly!"]

I bit my lower lip. This guy… he's so smooth!

Now I feel like the dumb one. But damn, my heart is fluttering!

Then he suddenly fell silent. I could sense his seriousness.

["Don't worry, Jay. If Angelo finds out about us, I'll talk to him. There might be a fight, but…"]

I laughed at the last part, and so did he.

["I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano, until scientists find the end of the universe."] ❤️

It sounded so nice… cheesecake-level sweetness—charot!

"Mark Keifer Watson. I love…"

I suddenly felt a presence behind me. I turned around immediately.

"...CI-N!"