JAY-JAY POV
I still don't know what to do.
Ben is a nice guy — really.
He's kind, he's helpful, he's always there when I need something…
But I don't like him.
Not like that.
Yes, I like him as my friend.
Yes, I care about him.
But not more than that.
And I hate that I might hurt him without meaning to.
I sighed, leaning against the locker.
Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Why can't people just stay in the category I put them in?
Friends stay friends.
Crushes stay crushes.
Ex‑almost‑ stay far away in London.
But no.
Ben likes me.
Keifer is acting like he's auditioning to be my husband.
Ugh.
"Jay," Caleb said, walking up to me with that annoying grin.
"Yes," I said, already tired.
He laughed.
I narrowed my eyes. "Laugh one more time and I will punch you."
Caleb immediately stopped laughing, but the smile stayed on his face like he couldn't help it.
"Relax," he said, hands up. "I just came to check on you. You look like you're about to explode."
"I am about to explode," I muttered. "Everyone is acting weird today."
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
I groaned. "Ben is being jealous, Keifer is being delusional, Mia is telling me things I didn't know, and Section E is acting like they're watching a drama."
Caleb nodded slowly. "Ah. So a normal day for you."
I glared at him. "Caleb, I swear—"
He laughed again.
I punched his arm.
"OW—okay, okay! I deserved that."
"So, I heard you and Keifer are singing for the spring festival next week," Caleb said.
I nodded.
"Just be careful. We still don't know what Section A is about to do," he added.
I groaned internally.
Great.
Another problem.
As if I didn't already have enough
I rubbed my temples. "Caleb, why is everything happening at the same time."
He shrugged. "Because your life is entertaining."
I glared. "Caleb."
He held up his hands. "I'm just saying. Section A doesn't move unless they're planning something big. And if they're quiet… that's worse."
I groaned. "Perfect. Just what I needed."
He smirked. "Hey, at least your singing partner is obsessed with you."
"Caleb, I swear—"
He laughed and stepped back before I could hit him. "Okay, okay. Just be careful. Section A is unpredictable."
I sighed. "Yeah. I know."
And the worst part?
He was right.
"Okay, anyways bye. I already completed my duty," Caleb said, dusting his hands dramatically before heading out.
"Bye," I muttered.
And then—like someone rang a dismissal bell—everyone else started leaving too.
One by one.
Row by row.
Like rats escaping a sinking ship.
Until it was just me.
Me… and the mountain of decorations I still had to finish.
I stared at the glitter, the ribbons, the half‑hung banners, the stupid paper flowers that kept falling off the wall.
Ugh.
I hate my life.
Why am I the only one doing this?
I grabbed the tape and sighed so loudly the empty hallway echoed it back at me.
Perfect.
Even the school was mocking me.
I finished the decorations.
Yay.
Home, here I come.
I threw away the trash and finally—FINALLY—started heading out.
But of course.
Of course my worst nightmare had to appear.
Mykle.
And his gang.
"Hi, Jay," he said.
I stopped walking. "What the hell do you want, Mykle."
"Nothing," he said, stepping closer. "Just wanted to show you what revenge looks like."
"What?" I blinked. "Oh my god, Mykle, if this is because I hit you in front of the whole school, please—"
He cut me off.
"No. After you and I got into a fight, your boyfriend came and hit me so hard I had to stay in the hospital for two fucking weeks."
I stared at him.
My boyfriend?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I snapped. "I don't have a boyfriend."
Mykle laughed, ugly and loud. "Your boyfriend. That Watson."
I blinked once. Twice.
"Mykle, I think you need to go back to the hospital because clearly you're not healed yet," I said. "He was in London when we got into a fight."
Mykle's smile dropped.
"Oh, he wasn't in London that day," he said, stepping even closer. "He came back to the Philippines and he found me."
My stomach dropped.
"What?" I whispered.
Mykle smirked. "Yeah. Your little hero punched me so hard I saw stars. And now I'm here to return the favor."
He slapped me before I could even react.
Instinct kicked in.
I swung back and hit his jaw — not hard enough to injure him, but enough to make him stumble.
"You little bitch," he spat, wiping his mouth.
I glared at him, heart pounding but refusing to show fear. "Touch me again and see what happens."
His gang shifted behind him, like they were waiting for a signal.
My stomach twisted — not from fear, but from the realization that I was alone in the hallway.
This was bad.
Really bad.
Mykle stepped closer, eyes dark with anger. "You think you can just walk around like nothing happened? Like your boyfriend didn't put me in the hospital?"
"I told you," I said, voice steady even though my hands were shaking, "I don't have a boyfriend."
He smirked. "Then why did he defend you?"
I froze.
He kept talking, enjoying every second. "He said your name. He said he wasn't letting anyone touch you again."
My breath caught.
Keifer.
It had to be Keifer.
But before I could say anything,
Mykle raised his fist to hit me again—
—but someone grabbed his wrist mid‑air.
I opened my eyes.
Keifer.
He was standing right in front of me, holding Mykle's arm in a grip that made Mykle freeze.
Keifer's expression was cold, furious — the kind of look that said he was two seconds away from dragging Mykle back to the hospital again.
Before Keifer could do anything else, one of Mykle's guys suddenly rushed toward him from the side.
Keifer didn't even see him yet—
—but Aries did.
Aries stepped in fast, blocking the guy before he could get anywhere near Keifer.
The two of them clashed, shoving and grabbing at each other, both trying to overpower the other without causing real harm.
"Aries—!" I yelled, but my voice got swallowed by the chaos.
Keifer and Aries were already moving before I could even breathe.
Mykle's gang rushed forward, and suddenly the hallway exploded into chaos — shoving, blocking, grabbing, everyone trying to overpower everyone else without actually hurting anyone.
It was messy, loud, and completely out of control.
Keifer pushed one guy back, stepping in front of me like a shield.
Aries blocked another, eyes sharp, movements fast and controlled.
Then another guy slipped past Aries and Keifer, heading straight for me.
He grabbed my wrist—
but before he could do anything else, I reacted on instinct.
I pulled my hand free and punched him.
Hard enough to make him stumble back, shocked.
Then the hallway exploded again:
Aries blocking two guys at once,
Keifer pushing Mykle back with a glare that could burn through walls,
and me standing there, breathing fast, adrenaline buzzing through my whole body.
Mykle wiped his mouth, eyes narrowing.
"You're really asking for it today, Jay."
I glared right back. "You started it."
He stepped forward, ready to say something else—
—but before he could reach me, Keifer grabbed his collar and shoved him back hard enough to knock him off balance.
Mykle barely hit the floor before Aries pulled him up again, pushing him back with force.
And then everything exploded.
Keifer and Aries weren't holding back anymore.
They were throwing real hits — fast, sharp, and dangerous — the kind that made Mykle's gang stumble and scramble to defend themselves. The hallway echoed with the sound of fists meeting arms, shoes scraping the floor, bodies colliding.
It wasn't a messy shove‑fight anymore.
It was a real one.
"I told you not to touch her again," Keifer said, stepping toward Mykle with a fury I'd never seen before. "But you don't listen, do you."
Aries blocked another guy and shoved him back hard. "And I told you to stay away from my sister."
My stomach twisted.
They weren't just protecting me.
They were furious.
And Mykle — for the first time — actually looked scared.
I rushed between them before they could actually kill someone.
"Yup, enough. I think they got the memo. Let's go," I said, grabbing both their hands and pulling them back.
They looked at me…
then at each other…
…and started laughing.
I blinked. "What the hell," I whispered.
And then—
AND THEN—
Aries and Keifer basically hugged like long‑lost lovers reunited after a tragic war.
My brain short‑circuited.
Wait.
Is Keifer gay.
Is Aries gay.
Are they gay together.
What about me.
WHAT ABOUT ME.
I knew it.
I knew my life was a joke.
I feel like crying.
"Miss you, Keifer," Aries said, squeezing him.
"Miss you too, bro," Keifer said.
Bro.
BRO.
"So you both are gay," I blurted out.
They froze.
Both of them turned to look at me at the exact same time, identical confused expressions on their faces.
Keifer blinked. "Jay… what?"
Aries frowned. "Gay? With him? Ew."
Keifer shoved him lightly. "Wow. Thanks."
Aries shrugged. "I have standards."
I stood there, still emotionally damaged. "Then why were you hugging like that?"
Keifer stared at me. "Jay… we're friends."
Aries nodded. "Best friends. Childhood friends. Idiot friends. Not gay friends."
I felt my soul leave my body.
"Oh," I said quietly.
Keifer stepped closer, eyes softening. "Jay… why would you think I'm gay?"
I looked away. "No reason."
They exchanged a look — the kind that said she's losing it again but let's not say anything.
"So you're both okay now? Like… you're not going to try to kill each other again?" I asked, pointing between them.
They nodded in perfect sync.
I squinted. "That was too fast."
Aries shrugged. "We're fine. Let's go."
"Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "Follow me."
Both of them paused.
Aries blinked. "Where?"
Keifer tilted his head. "Jay… what are you planning."
I didn't answer.
I just turned around and started walking, fully expecting them to follow — and of course they did, like two confused guard dogs who weren't sure if they were supposed to protect me or fight each other again.
I reached my car and pointed at the curb in front of it.
"Sit. There," I ordered.
Keifer and Aries sat down like two scolded guard dogs.
I grabbed the first aid kit from my trunk just as Ella came rushing over.
"Aries, what happened?" she asked, eyes wide as she took in his bruised knuckles and messy hair.
"Nothing. Got into a fight," he muttered.
I shoved the first aid kit into her hands. "Do it for him. He needs it."
Ella blinked, then nodded and took it.
She knelt in front of Aries, opening the kit. "You're unbelievable," she muttered at him.
I looked at Keifer.
He was staring at me with this smudged, unreadable expression — like he wasn't sure if I was about to yell at him or cry.
"Let's go over there," I said, pointing at a seat far away from those two love birds.
Keifer stood up immediately and followed me without a word.
I made him sit, opened the first aid kit, and started cleaning the scrapes on his knuckles. He didn't even flinch — he just watched me, quiet, too quiet.
I swallowed.
Then asked the question that had been burning in my chest since Mykle opened his stupid mouth.
"Did you come to the Philippines after you found out me and Mykle got into a fight?"
Keifer froze.
"Jay…" he said softly.
That tone.
That tone told me everything before he even answered.
I stopped cleaning his hand. "Keifer. Answer me."
He finally lifted his eyes to mine.
"Yes," he said quietly. "I came back because of that."
My heart dropped.
He kept going, voice low, almost ashamed.
"I wasn't supposed to return for another two weeks. But when I heard what happened… I couldn't stay there."
I stared at him, breath caught in my throat.
He came back.
For me.
"How many times did you come to the Philippines?" I asked, gently cleaning the bruise on his cheek.
Keifer exhaled slowly. "I don't know… probably once a week. Sometimes once every two weeks."
My hand froze.
"Then why didn't you meet me?" I whispered.
He didn't answer.
He just looked at me — really looked — with this mix of guilt, regret, and something else I couldn't name. Something that made my chest tighten.
My eyes burned, and before I could stop it, tears slipped out.
Keifer's expression softened instantly. He reached up and wiped them away with his thumb, gentle, careful, like he was afraid I'd break.
"Jay…" he murmured.
I pulled back slightly, swallowing hard. "And don't do that again."
He blinked. "Do what?"
"Don't get into trouble for me," I said, voice shaking. "I don't want you fighting because of me. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."
Keifer leaned forward, eyes locked on mine.
"Jay," he said quietly, "I'd do it again."
My breath caught.
He kept going, voice low, steady, honest.
"I didn't come back to fight Mykle. I came back because I couldn't stand the thought of you getting hurt. Not again."
My heart dropped into my stomach.
"Keifer…" I whispered.
He shook his head gently. "You can tell me not to get in trouble. But I'm not going to stand there and watch someone touch you."
I looked away, overwhelmed.
He reached out, lightly touching my wrist. "Jay… I'm here because of you."
I looked at him. "You really are a snake. And an idiot."
Keifer just smiled — that stupid, smug, heart‑stopping smile — and leaned in.
He kissed me.
My brain shut down.
My soul left my body.
My heart did a backflip.
"Profanity," he murmured against my lips, like I was the problem here.
Then—
"MARK KEIFER WATSON!"
Aries' voice cracked through the air like thunder.
Keifer froze.
I froze.
Even the wind froze.
Aries stormed toward us like an angry parent catching their kid doing something illegal.
Keifer pulled back from me slowly, eyes wide, like he'd just been caught stealing a cookie.
"Hi, brother‑in‑law," Keifer said, way too casually.
Aries glared at him.
I blinked. "I thought you two were good."
"We were," Aries said, pointing at Keifer like he was a criminal, "but if he kisses my sister in front of me again, I will kill you."
Keifer just laughed, absolutely unbothered. "Relax, man. It was just a kiss."
Aries looked like he was about to explode.
Ella rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out.
I stared at her.
What is her problem.
"Jay, you coming tomorrow? I think Mom wants to see you," Aries said.
I nodded.
"Then I'll also come," Keifer added immediately.
Aries raised an eyebrow. "Kuya is gonna be there."
Keifer went silent.
Completely silent.
Like someone unplugged him.
I bit back a laugh. "Scared Kuya will pick your eyebrows."
Keifer shot me a betrayed look. "Jay. Don't joke about that. Your Kuya actually hates me."
Aries smirked. "He doesn't hate you. He just… strongly dislikes you."
"That's the same thing," Keifer muttered.
I covered my mouth to hide my smile. "Keifer, relax. Kuya won't do anything."
Aries shrugged. "Probably."
Keifer's eyes widened. "Probably?!"
I burst out laughing.
Aries clapped Keifer's shoulder. "Don't worry, man. Just don't kiss my sister in front of him."
Keifer froze again.