Province -2 (he’s back again)

Jay's POV

After late dinner and a very chaotic argument about which flavor of ice cream Aries would agree to share with Kuya Angelo, we finally sat around Grandma's old wooden table, laughing with sticky fingers and full bellies. The house smelled like caramelized sugar and nostalgia. Grandma made her classic rice cakes, Mom had prepared adobo with just the right amount of soy sauce, and Aries? Aries mostly complained the entire time, but at least he was here. That mattered.

I didn't realize how much I missed moments like this until they were happening again.

The hallway lights were dim as I padded barefoot down to my room, the floorboards creaking just enough to remind me that this house had seen years. I was about to open my door when I passed the guest room. Aries's room, technically, though he acted like he was living in a jungle compared to our fancy condo in the city.

The door was slightly open.

I paused.

His back was turned, slouched on the edge of the bed. The blue glow of his phone illuminated the side of his face. "Yeah... okay, Ella. I get it. I'll call you tomorrow."

Ella.

Of course. Even here, even after all the "I hate being away from my things" rants, he still found a way to stay connected. A part of me understood that. A part of me also... missed someone too.

A lot.

Just few more days...

I slipped into my room, closed the door, leaned against it, and stared at the ceiling. The quiet was heavy.

I didn't even think twice before grabbing my phone.

Me: Hey

He replied within seconds.

Keifer: Hi, love.

It made me smile immediately. As if he had been waiting. As if he'd been hoping I'd text.

Keifer: Jay, something's happening with Watson Enterprise. So I'll be busy.

Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. Not in a bad way just in a... serious way. Like this was something big.

Me: Oh. I see. But what about finals?

Keifer: I'm working on that on the side. And I'm smart, you know.

Me: Pfft. Whatever, Watson.

Then I paused, heart thudding, and typed slowly.

Me: I texted to tell you I love you, Keifer.

There. It was out. Just words, but not really. They carried a weight no math equation or physics problem could ever measure.

Three dots. Typing.

Keifer: Jay... don't do this to me. It makes me miss you.

And then—

Keifer: Tell me when you sleep, I wanna sleep with you.

I choked.

Me: Oh, pls shut up. How is that even possible?

Keifer: I'm Keifer Watson. Nothing is impossible, Jay.

I rolled my eyes, grinning. He was ridiculous. So stupidly, heart-warmingly ridiculous.

And just as I was about to reply—

Knock.

I froze.

It wasn't on the door.

It came from the window.

I turned slowly.

Heart pounding.

No. No way.

I tiptoed to the curtains and carefully lifted the edge, just enough to peek through.

My breath hitched.

It was him.

Keifer. At my window. Again.

Infuriating smirk on his face like he hadn't just magically appeared here within literal minutes of texting.

I rushed to unlock the window and slid it open.

"Are you insane?" I hissed, helping him climb in awkwardly. "You were just going home!"

He landed inside with a soft thud, brushing his hands together like this was just another casual day.

"You said you missed me," he said simply.

"You have school tomorrow!"

"I'll make it."

"And Watson Enterprise?"

He stepped closer. "Handled."

"You ask too many questions, Jay."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're suspicious."

"And you're beautiful," he said without missing a beat, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear like he hadn't just broken into my bedroom.

I flushed, looking away. "You're an idiot."

"A charming one."

He walked around like he hadn't just climbed through a second-story window. His eyes scanned the room, taking everything in.

"Ooooh," he sang, peeking at my desk. "What's this board?"

I followed his gaze. It was my memory board. Pinned photos, notes, ribbons from school events. Some faces I didn't talk to anymore. Some I couldn't forget if I tried.

"They were friends. Kind of. Just memories now."

He nodded quietly, then pointed to a picture. "Wait. Jay. Is that you on stage?"

I groaned. "Ugh. Yes. A long time ago."

"You can sing?"

"Could. Past tense."

"You still can," he insisted, stepping closer to the board. He spotted something else. "This... note. 'Future lawyer.' You wanted to be one?"

"I thought I did. I don't know anymore."

He turned to me, eyes softer. "I think you'd make a brilliant one. You argue with me like a pro."

I snorted. "You're just annoying."

"But you like me."

Unfortunately.

My gaze dropped to the floor. "I just want school to be over. I hate math. Physics is evil. And finals are in, like, days. I'm going to fail. I can feel it."

"Jay Jay," he said gently, coming closer. "I'll help you study."

"But—"

"I'm smart. And a Watson."

"You keep saying that like it's a PhD."

"It might as well be," he said, smug as ever.

I stuck my tongue out.

I was walking toward my bed when he called out, "What's this?"

I turned.

Keifer held up a small cardboard box. Oh no.

"That's just... old stuff. Don't open it."

So naturally, he opened it.

"Keifer!" I yelped, diving toward him, but he was already flipping through my baby pictures.

"Oh my god, you were a blob," he laughed, holding up a photo of me in a diaper, grinning toothlessly. "A cute blob, though."

I groaned. "Give it back!"

"No way. I'm taking this one."

"No, you're not!"

He sat cross-legged on the floor, sifting through the photos like they were hidden treasures, grinning at every single one. I sat beside him, half-laughing, half-trying to wrestle a photo out of his hand.

"This one's my favorite," he whispered, holding up a picture of toddler me asleep with a book covering my face. "You look exactly the same."

"Excuse me?"

"Smart. Tired. Dramatic."

I smacked his shoulder.

He chuckled, then looked at me.

And something changed.

The teasing faded.

His eyes found mine, steady and sure. I felt it the electricity humming in the silence between us. His fingers stopped moving, photo forgotten.

"Jay," he whispered.

I swallowed. "Yeah?"

"I'm going to marry you."

I blinked.

The words hit me like thunder again but softer. Like a storm that didn't hurt.

"I promise you that," he said, voice quiet but fierce.

And somehow... I believed him.

I felt it in my bones. In the quiet corners of my heart where fear used to sit. In the way time seemed to stop when we looked at each other. My heart did a backflip, and I didn't even know hearts could do that.

It was almost 3 a.m.

But we didn't care.

We stayed on the floor, leaning against my bed, our fingers laced like they belonged there. He told me about a client he was dealing with. Something shady, something that might pull Keifer in. I listened. I told him about the last time I sang on stage, how my voice cracked and I ran off before the last note. He listened.

At some point, I leaned on his shoulder.

He smelled like mint and midnight.

His hand rubbed gentle circles on my back.

I wasn't tired. Not with him here. Not when the world felt so far away, and it was just us in this tiny moment we carved out of time.

He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine.

"I love you," he whispered.

My eyes fluttered shut.

"I love you more," I said back.

"No," he argued, a small smile playing at his lips. "Impossible."

I rolled my eyes. "There's that Watson confidence again."

"I mean it."

And I knew he did.

I shifted closer, my cheek against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"We're not gonna get any sleep, are we?" I murmured.

"I don't need sleep," he said, his voice deepening. "I have you."

That line was so cheesy it made me burst out laughing.

"You're ridiculous," I whispered.

He grinned. "Ridiculously in love with you."

And even though the sun hadn't risen yet, even though school and stress and real life waited for us in a few hours, I let myself forget all of it.

Because right now, this boy had climbed through my window like he belonged here.

And maybe—just maybe—he did.