Chapter 82– Flashes
The park had gone quieter now.
The afternoon sun softened slightly behind the trees.
Wind moving gently.
Everything calm again—
except them.
---
JJ still sat beside Keifer on the ground.
One arm around him loosely.
Not even realizing she was still holding him.
---
Keifer's breathing had finally steadied.
But his hands were still trembling faintly.
---
Neither spoke for a while.
Because some moments become too heavy for words.
---
Then slowly—
JJ pulled back slightly.
Not far.
Just enough to look at him properly.
---
His eyes were red.
Expression exhausted.
Broken in a way she couldn't explain.
---
And for some reason—
her chest hurt seeing him like this.
---
"…better?" she asked quietly.
Keifer looked at her for a second.
Longer than normal.
Like he was trying to memorize her existence again.
---
Then he nodded once.
"…yeah."
His voice was rough.
---
JJ awkwardly handed him a water bottle from her bag.
"…you scared me, by the way."
A faint attempt at humor.
Weak.
But real.
---
Keifer actually let out a small breath of laughter.
Tiny.
Barely there.
But enough.
---
And then—
without thinking—
he said softly:
"You still comfort me the same way."
---
JJ froze slightly.
"…still?"
---
Silence.
---
Keifer realized what he said.
But it was too late now.
---
JJ looked at him carefully.
Confused.
Curious.
Something unsettled flickering in her expression.
---
"…were we really close before?"
---
That question almost shattered him again.
---
Keifer looked away briefly.
Jaw tightening.
Then back at her.
---
"…too close."
---
Silence.
Heavy.
Painfully soft.
---
JJ frowned slightly.
Because that answer did something strange to her chest.
---
And then suddenly—
---
A sharp pain hit her head.
---
JJ flinched instantly.
Hand moving to her temple.
---
Images flashed.
Fast.
Broken.
---
Rain.
A black hoodie.
Laughter.
Someone holding her hand.
A voice calling softly—
"Mutya…"
---
Then—
Keifer smiling.
Not this broken version.
A warm one.
Alive.
Safe.
In love.
---
JJ's breathing hitched sharply.
---
"What the—"
She grabbed her head harder.
Everything spinning.
---
Keifer reacted instantly.
"JJ?"
---
Another flash.
Hands intertwined.
Someone pulling her closer.
A heartbeat.
Warmth.
---
And his eyes.
Those same eyes.
---
JJ looked at him suddenly.
Panicked.
Confused.
Shaken.
---
"Why do I know your eyes?"
---
That question destroyed whatever control Keifer had rebuilt.
---
Because she remembered something.
Not fully.
Not enough.
But something.
---
Keifer moved closer immediately.
Careful this time.
Not touching her without permission.
Just near enough in case she fell.
---
"Breathe," he said softly.
"Just breathe."
---
JJ tried.
But her heartbeat was too loud.
Too wrong.
---
"I saw things," she whispered.
"…I don't understand."
---
Keifer's expression softened painfully.
Because he understood exactly.
---
And then—
JJ suddenly swayed slightly.
The dizziness hit hard.
---
Keifer caught her instantly before she fully lost balance.
One arm around her carefully.
Steady.
Protective.
Instinctive.
---
"Easy," he murmured.
"You're dizzy."
---
JJ blinked rapidly.
Still disoriented.
Still staring at him strangely now.
Like her mind was trying to connect pieces it couldn't fully reach.
---
Keifer adjusted his grip slightly to support her better.
And then his old instincts took over completely.
---
"Did you eat properly today?"
JJ blinked.
"…what?"
"You heard me."
---
She stared at him.
Confused and slightly offended now.
---
"You sound like my doctor."
Keifer replied immediately:
"No. Your doctors are worse."
---
JJ narrowed her eyes slightly despite the dizziness.
"…why do you act like my husband?"
---
Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
---
Keifer froze.
Completely.
---
Because once upon a time—
that sentence would've been a joke between them.
Now it was accidental cruelty from someone who didn't remember saying it before.
---
JJ noticed his expression shift instantly.
And suddenly—
she realized she had hit something painful again.
---
"…sorry," she said quietly.
---
Keifer shook his head slowly.
Not angry.
Never angry at her.
---
Then softly—
too softly—
he said:
"…you already were."
---
JJ's breath caught.
---
Before she could ask what that meant—
another wave of dizziness hit.
And Keifer immediately focused again.
Protective mode returning instantly.
---
"You're done for today," he said firmly.
"No more classes."
---
JJ frowned weakly.
"You can't decide that."
"I just did."
---
Despite herself—
she almost smiled.
Almost.
---
And that terrified her more than the memories did.
---
The ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet.
No teasing.
No random complaints.
No JJ arguing about music choices.
Nothing.
---
Care noticed immediately.
Of course she did.
She always noticed first.
---
JJ sat beside the window silently, fingers lightly pressed together in her lap.
Thinking too much.
Eyes distant.
And slightly red.
---
Care kept one hand on the steering wheel while stealing glances at her every few seconds.
Something had happened.
Something emotional.
---
"…you look dead," Care finally said casually.
JJ blinked slowly.
"That's a very doctor way to ask if someone's okay."
Care shrugged.
"It works."
---
But internally—
she was already worried.
Because JJ wasn't acting like herself.
Not even this new version of herself.
---
Usually JJ filled silence somehow.
With sarcasm.
Questions.
Snack complaints.
Nicknames.
Anything.
---
But today—
she just looked… lost.
---
Mansion
By the time they reached home, the mansion was strangely empty.
Rhys had hospital duty.
Alex and Lyra were still at work.
Cole was in London.
---
Just them.
---
JJ quietly removed her shoes near the entrance and walked inside.
Slowly.
Still distracted.
---
Care watched her carefully.
Then followed her toward the living room.
---
JJ sat down on the couch.
Hands clasped together now.
Still thinking.
Still trapped somewhere in her head.
---
Care finally sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
---
"…what happened?"
Direct.
Gentle.
Serious.
---
JJ stayed silent for a moment.
Then looked down.
---
"Something weird happened today."
Care's heartbeat immediately tightened.
But her face stayed calm.
---
JJ hesitated.
"…with Keifer."
---
That name alone changed the air.
---
Care went still internally.
But stayed composed outside.
---
JJ continued quietly.
"I shouted at him earlier today."
"…then later I found him alone."
Pause.
"…crying."
---
Care's expression softened immediately.
Because suddenly—
everything made sense.
---
JJ swallowed slightly.
"I don't know why but…"
"…seeing him hurt made my chest feel weird."
---
Care didn't interrupt.
Didn't rush her.
Just listened.
---
"And then…" JJ whispered, "I saw flashes again."
---
That made Care tense instantly.
"…what kind of flashes?"
---
JJ frowned slightly.
"Rain."
"A hoodie."
"Someone calling me mutya."
"And…" she looked confused again, "…his eyes."
---
Care looked away for a second.
Because hearing that hurt more than expected.
---
JJ's voice became quieter now.
"…why do I feel like I lost something important?"
---
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Warm.
Painful.
---
Then finally—
JJ looked directly at Care.
And softly asked:
---
"Care…"
Pause.
"…was I in love with someone before?"
---
Care froze.
Completely.
---
Not visibly.
Not dramatically.
But internally—
everything stopped for a second.
---
Because she knew the answer.
She knew exactly who.
Exactly how deeply.
Exactly how devastatingly.
---
She knew JJ hadn't just been "in love."
She had loved someone with her entire soul.
---
And that someone was now sitting in the same city, breaking himself apart trying to reach her again.
---
Care slowly exhaled.
Carefully controlling her expression.
---
JJ immediately noticed.
"…there was someone."
Not a question.
---
Care looked at her quietly for a long moment.
Then finally nodded once.
---
"Yes."
---
JJ's chest tightened instantly.
Not from memory.
From emotion she couldn't explain.
---
"…who?"
---
Care's eyes softened.
But she shook her head gently.
---
"Not now."
---
JJ frowned slightly.
"Why?"
---
Care moved closer slightly and brushed JJ's hair back carefully.
Gentle.
Protective.
---
"Because your brain is already trying too hard."
Pause.
"And forcing memories can hurt you."
---
JJ looked down silently.
---
Care continued softly:
"When you're fully okay…"
"…I'll connect everything for you."
---
That sentence lingered heavily.
---
JJ whispered:
"What if I never remember?"
---
Care immediately held her hand.
Firmly.
Like refusing that possibility itself.
---
"Then we'll still stay."
---
JJ looked at her quietly.
Eyes slightly watery now.
---
Care smiled faintly.
"Till then…"
"…have patience."
---
And for the first time that day—
JJ finally leaned sideways slightly and rested her head on Care's shoulder.
Tired.
Confused.
Emotionally overwhelmed.
---
Care didn't move away.
Just stayed there quietly with her.
---
Because she knew something JJ didn't yet:
Memories don't disappear that easily.
Especially not the ones tied to love strong enough to survive even death-like separation.