Jay-jay's POV
"Jay… we've been worried about you."
Aunt Gema stood and walked toward me. I stayed still, swallowing hard. Kuya Angelo was going to bury me alive.
"You said you'd be back home by morning. It's the evening now."
Kuya finally uncrossed his arms and walked toward me, his steps slow and deliberate. Yep. That was it. I was dead.
I shifted my weight, fingers twisting together. "I mean… I just played with them for a while," I said quietly, hoping it sounded convincing enough. I was not lying, I did play with them. Then, why am I sweating? Oh come on Jay! don't be scared, it's not like he is gonna leave you somewhere, anyway.
"Until four p.m.?" Kuya asked, stepping in front of me and blocking my escape.
I gulped, my fingers picking at each other as panic crept in.
"Y-yeah… I did," I said.
When I looked at Aries, he was already glaring at me—like I'd just sealed my own fate. I mean, he is in a relationship too, why isn't he in trouble for coming late? This is not fair anymore...
"Really?" Aries asked, his gaze locked onto mine.
Arms crossed, he stepped closer. I resisted the urge to step back. Why was everyone walking toward me like this? Was I some kind of exhibit? The Mona Lisa, maybe?
"A hundred percent," I muttered, meeting his gaze. "I was really just playing. No monkey business. Nothing at all."
Kuya Angelo and Aries both glared at me.
Oh no. I couldn't hold their stares anymore. Someone—anyone—save me.
"Guys… it's alright," Aunt Gema said gently, stepping in before I could melt into the floor. "She's back, right? That's all that matters now."
She turned to me. "Jay… go take a shower, alright?"
I nodded quickly and didn't waste another second—already climbing up the stairs before anyone could change their mind.
I rushed into my room and closed the door, pressing my back against it like it might suddenly open. "That was so close," I muttered to myself.
I had barely settled onto the floor when my phone buzzed. Seriously—who is this ulupong?! I quickly fished my phone out of my pocket and opened Messenger.
📩 From: Flirty Freak
[Is it going well there? Should I come in?]
Idiot. It was your fault.
Clyde's words echoed in my mind. Was it forced? I didn't get it. I mean, he could've just broken the engagement—like I did with Yuri.
…Oh. Wait. He did.
Tsk.
I didn't bother replying. Instead, I tossed my phone onto the bed and walked toward the wardrobe. I took out a hoodie and a pair of shorts, clutching them as I headed toward the bathroom. I turned on the shower—way too cold! Seriously, why was it always like this whenever I got frustrated?
I finished showering quickly and stepped out, dropping onto the bed.
It was forced… was it?
Tsk. Get it out of your head, Jay. You've got other things to do. Such as eating, plying games, talking to yourself—Oi! I also have to study!
I quickly pushed myself off the bed, slumping onto the chair before pulling out my notes to study. Math. Of course. As hard as it was supposed to be. But… I kind of understood it. Yeah. You heard me right. Looks like Keifer's lessons actually paid off. I studied straight for five whole seconds—which, honestly, was a record. Then I stood up and collapsed back onto the bed.
My phone buzzed, ripping me out of my peaceful sleep. I groaned, grabbing it, ready to curse whoever dared to interrupt the sleeping beauty.
Freya?!
📩 From Canvas 1:
[Hey, JJ. Today was supposed to be our day at school. Funny how we both forgot about the study leave. Two days of freedom, I guess. We'll talk on Wednesday after the exams. Bye.]
Holy shi—Nope, no cursing. Holy mother of God! I never knew long texts were Freya's thing. It felt strange—yet nice—to receive messages like these from my so-called not-enemy. Not enemies anymore, I guess. Maybe something worse. Like rivals.
JAY-JAY, FOCUS!
I texted her back.
📩 To Canvas 1:
[Sure. Why do you want to meet me again?]
Well… that was a fair question. Why would someone like her want to meet me? Talk to me personally?
t didn't take her long to reply.
📩 From Canvas 1:
[Oh… well, idk. Maybe we could be friends?]
Friends? Ohhh, right. She wanted to be friends. But why, though?
I typed back.
📩 To Canvas 1:
[Then we could just text like this. I mean, I'm honestly too lazy to open my mouth, so…]
I turned toward the window when something knocked on it. Even though my phone buzzed, I didn't pay attention to it.
"What the fu— I mean, fridge," I murmured, slowly getting out of bed.
A shadow stood outside my window. It looked so familiar that I thought it was Keifer. I slowly opened the window.
Well, my instincts were never wrong.
I nearly screamed, but he covered my mouth.
"Be quiet!" he whispered as he stepped into my room, slowly removing his palm from my lips.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I asked immediately, not caring if I cursed.
"Profanity," he said with a smirk, crossing his arms.
I was so done that my fists clenched on their own.
"Fuck profanity. Tell me why you're here," I snapped, my voice low but firm.
His smirk faded instantly.
"You weren't answering or texting back, so I thought of… this," he said, looking around.
"You could've at least given me a call!" I said, crossing my arms. I wouldn't have accepted it anyway, but still!
"You wouldn't accept my call," he said, pouting.
Tss. Did he really think that would affect me?Unfortunately… it did.
"Still," I sighed, shaking my head. "Fine. Are you hungry?" I asked, mostly because I was.
"Yeah, that's why… I brought these." He held up the packages.
Oi, fried chicken?
"What's that?" I asked, pretending I didn't know.
"Fried chicken. Didn't get lechon," he said, giving them to me.
"Thanks… I guess," I muttered, walking back to my bed.
I sat on my bed and patted the spot beside me. "Sit. You'll get tired just standing there."
He walked toward me slowly and sat down. "Hey… I'm sorry."
"For what?" I asked, already eating.
"I didn't tell you about the engagement."
Right… the engagement.
"It's fine," I said, turning to him.
"It's never just fine, Jay. I don't think you'd forgive me, and I'm not going to force you to."His words felt too familiar, too warm. Why was he always this soft with me?
"I forgive you," I said with a small smile, turning back to the food.
I noticed that he hadn't touched his package yet. Didn't he say he was hungry?
"Oi… eat." I opened the package and handed it to him.
I saw a smile on his face. Too warm. Maybe not even small. Too real.
"Quit smiling and start eating before I steal from yours."
"Of course," he murmured, digging in.
I finished my food and waited for him to finish his. His eyes… so sharp, so focused. Pretty? No. Never. Nuh-uh. Jay… why are you staring like this?!
"Quit staring," he smirked, turning to me. Confident now? Great.
"I'm not!" I shook my head, glancing anywhere but him.
"Really?" he asked, leaning in. Oh no… not this again!
I turned to him—and we were so close. Inches apart. Way too close! He's definitely going to kiss me. Too obvious! Leaning in more… oh no, oh no, oh no! My face is burning. Probably bright red.
"You're blushing," he laughed, clearly enjoying it.
His eyes lingered on my lips. Shit… shit… shit. He's actually going to kiss me. My heart was racing, probably trying to jump out of my chest.
He leaned in, and then—our lips met. SHIT!
Wait… Jay! You've kissed him before! Then why are you freaking out like this?!Right… I'm a fully grown—Nope! Not yet! And if Kuya Angelo walks in right now… I'm so dead.
He leans in deeper. SHIT! FUCK! SHIT!
I shoved him back. "What was that for?" My heart was racing.
"You used profanity," he smirked. "You shouldn't have done that."
"I don't care about your rule!" I said, voice low but firm.
Then… a knock on my door. SHIT!
"Oh no, no, no!" I muttered, panicking.