Jay Jay's POV
The next morning, I tried my best to act normal.
But how do you act normal when there's a secret engagement letter is under your pillow?
Tita Gema's voice kept looping in my head like a broken record:
"Keifer is your fiancé... but he doesn't know yet."
I sighed and clutched my bag harder as Aries and I walked into school.
Aries nudged me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Liar," he muttered.
Before I could answer, someone shouted across the hallway-
"JAAAY!"
It was Keifer, running at full speed like a wild puppy. I barely had time to react before he grabbed my sleeve.
"Good morning!" he said too loudly, too happily.
Yuri walked behind him, exhausted. "I swear, this boy has unlimited energy."
Percy stretched his shoulders. "Probably because he slept during class yesterday."
"I DID NOT-okay maybe a little," Keifer snapped.
I forced a smile. "Um... good morning, Keifer."
Aries narrowed his eyes. I know he feel it too. Something about Keifer's excitement seemed off... like he was trying too hard.
---
During class, I tried to listen to the lesson, I really did-but my brain kept drifting.
Engaged... to Keifer... since childhood... Mama chose him... why him?
My thoughts were interrupted when a pencil gently poked my arm.
Keifer.
He slid a note toward me.
Are you mad at me?
I blinked. Mad? At him? Why would I be mad?
I scribbled back:
No. Why?
Keifer read it, then quickly shook his head, cheeks pink.
He wrote again:
You're quiet today. I don't like it.
My heart did a weird flip.
But I swallowed it down.
I couldn't let Keifer think weird things.
He didn't know we were engaged.
He didn't know our mothers made a promise.
He didn't know his whole future had already been written beside me.
I wrote:
Just tired. Don't worry.
Keifer squinted suspiciously.
Then he wrote, slowly and carefully:
If someone bothered you, tell me. I'll protect you.
I stared at the words.
My chest tightened.
I pushed the note away. Don't be nicer to me today... you're making it harder to keep this secret.
---
During lunch break, our group usually ate under the mango tree, but today raining. So we rushed up to the school rooftop, with our lunchboxes.
Keifer sat close to me. Too close. Aries noticed immediately.
"Hey," Aries said, pulling me gently to the side, "can you NOT sit like you're glued to her?"
Keifer looked offended. "I'm not glued! I just-she-this spot is comfortable!"
Percy whispered to Yuri, "He's acting weird today."
Yuri nodded. "He likes her. Obviously."
Keifer must have heard them-his face went bright red.
"I DO NOT-WHAT-NO-SHUT UP, YURI!"
I nearly choked on my sandwich.
Aries glared. "Can all of you stop teasing Jay? She's uncomfortable."
I shook my head quickly. "I'm fine. Really."
But my heart was racing.
Not because Keifer shouted.
Not because Yuri teased him.
Not because Aries was being overprotective.
But because...
For a moment, I imagined what would happen if Keifer found out the truth.
Would he get angry?
Would he run away?
Would he accept it?
I didn't know.
But one thing was clear:
Keifer was starting to treat me differently.
He didn't know why.
I knew exactly why.
And I hated that I had to keep it from him.
---
After school, rain poured harder as the final bell rang. Kuya Angelo texted that he'd be late, so me and Aries waited at the school gate. Yuri and Percy headed out first, but Keifer stayed put.
"You... don't have to wait with us," I said softly.
Keifer shook his head. "I want to."
Aries raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Keifer shrugged, eyes looking everywhere except at me.
"Because she might slip on the wet floor and fall or something, and then I wouldn't be there to catch her, and that would be WORSE than suspension, and-"
Aries clapped a hand over his mouth. "Bro. Breathe."
I couldn't help it-I let out a small giggle. Keifer froze, his face turning as red as a traffic light.
Then kuya Angelo arrived.
As we walked home, I glanced back over my shoulder.
Keifer was still standing at the gate, watching until we disappeared around the corner.
Not fighting.
Not shouting.
Just watching me leave.
Like I was someone important.
I hugged my bag tighter.
How am I supposed to tell him?
How was I supposed to say:
"Keifer... you and I were promised to each other long before we even met."
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END OF CHAPTER 5
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Word counts: 757