Jay Jay's POV
It was Friday afternoon, and the school's common room was buzzing with chatter.
Keifer, Aries, Percy, Yuri and I decided to hang out after classes. To break the usual routine, Aries suggested:
"Let's play Truth or Dare. It'll be fun!"
Keifer groaned. "I... don't know if this is a good idea."
"Come on, Keifer!" I teased. "It'll be fun. Don't be such a spoilsport."
He shot me a glare that didn't quite reach his usual intensity. "Fine. But I'm not doing anything stupid."
Yuri clapped his hands "Perfect. Let's start!"
---
The first few rounds were silly:
Percy was dared to do a dramatic dance in the middle of the room.
Yuri had to sing a line from a pop song loudly.
Aries had to prank-call Angelo.
Keifer, surprisingly, only chose Truth twice, answering both carefully, his eyes occasionally flicking toward me.
I noticed, but tried not to overthink it.
Why is he acting so... careful?
---
Finally, it was Aries' turn. He looked at Keifer with a sly grin.
"Truth or Dare?"
Keifer muttered, "Dare."
"I dare... you... to confess something to Jay Jay. No holding back."
The room went silent. I froze. My heart raced.
Keifer's jaw tightened. He glanced at me, seeing my anxious expression. Then, with a calm but firm voice, he said:
"Jay... the engagement. The one your mama and my mom promised... I know. Uncle Kier told me."
I gasped, covering my mouth.
Aries' jaw dropped. "You know?!"
Percy blinked hard. "Wait... What!?"
Yuri smirked knowingly. " I know you guys are up to something. Finally... the cat's out of the bag."
My cheeks flushed bright red. I wanted to explain, to tell him how scared I'd been of losing our friendship, but words failed me.
"I... I didn't mean to hide it... I just... I didn't know how to tell you..." I whispered.
Keifer reached for my hand, holding it gently. "It's okay. I understand. And now... we can figure this out together."
I felt my chest tighten. Relief mixed with my racing heartbeat.
He knows... and he's not angry. He... cares.
Suddenly, Percy threw his hands in the air dramatically.
"WAIT, WAIT, HOLD UP-Jay Jay!" he yelled. "Why didn't you tell ME, I'm handsome?!"
I groaned and covered my face. "Percyyy, that has nothing to do with ANYTHING!"
"It has EVERYTHING to do with my self-esteem!" Percy declared, flipping his hair like a celebrity. "You hide about the engagement and you didn't even compliment about my handsomeness?! I feel betrayed."
Aries groaned. "Bro, no one said you're handsome."
Percy placed a hand on his chest. "Exactly!How could you NOT? Look at me! I am stunning!"
Yuri burst out laughing. "Someone remove the mirrors from this kid's house I think it's fake"
Keifer snorted. "You're the only one who thinks you're good-looking."
"LIES," Percy said, striking an imaginary model pose. "Jay Jay, quick-say I'm handsome so I can heal."
I said annoyed. "Percy, stop. You're SO annoying."
Percy grinned smugly. "HA! She didn't deny it. Instead, she said I'm annoyingly handsome."
Aries glared at him. "CAN WE GET BACK TO THE MAIN TOPIC?!"
Yuri leaned back, smirking. "So... you two are engaged, huh?"
I covered my face with both hands in embarrassment. "Yuri, stop."
Keifer leaned his elbows on the table, still red. "Whatever. It's not like we're getting married now. We're still fourteen."
I nodded quickly. "Yes. Exactly. We can decide at eighteen."
But then Keifer looked at me for a moment-really looked.
His voice softened, barely above a whisper. "Still... if you ever... I mean... we'll see. When the time comes."
I felt my chest warm in a way I didn't understand.
Aries groaned like a fed-up dad. "Ugh... enough with the romantic stuff. Keifer, don't you dare to hurt my sister or I'll beat you up."
"Yes, count me in too. I'll help you to tie him up, Aries." Percy added.
Keifer lifted his hands innocently. "Relax, relax. I get it. And don't worry, brother-in-law."
Aries froze. "B-BROTHER WHAT?!"
Yuri burst out laughing. "Oh, that's staying forever. He's calling you that from now on."
I buried my face again. "Why are you all like this..."
Keifer shrugged, trying to look cool despite his red ears.
"What? If we're really engaged... then technically, Aries is my bro-"
"DON'T SAY IT AGAIN!" Aries yelled, throwing a pen at him.
But everyone was laughing, even me... and the tension that had hung over us for weeks finally melted away.
The laughter finally settled, though Aries was still glaring at Keifer like he was plotting revenge.
I tried to hide my smile, but it kept slipping out.
Percy stretched his arms behind his head. "Honestly, I can't believe I lived long enough to witness this. Jay Jay and Keifer-engaged. Wow."
I groaned into my hands. "Stop talking about it, please..."
Keifer grinned. "Why? It's fun watching you panic."
I pushed his shoulder lightly. "You're enjoying this too much."
Yuri leaned back in his chair. "Aries will need therapy after being called brother-in-law."
"I HEARD THAT!" Aries snapped.
Yuri and Percy fist-bumped.
Just when I thought things were calming down, Keifer leaned casually against the table and looked at Aries again.
"So... brother-in-law-"
"KEIFER." Aries squinted at him. "Say it one more time. ONE. MORE. TIME."
Keifer raised both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I won't."
"Good."
"...Brother-in-law."
Aries launched himself forward like a wild raccoon, and Keifer yelped, dodging behind me.
I jumped. "Aries! Stop chasing him!"
"He said it AGAIN!" Aries shouted, still trying to grab him.
Keifer peered out from behind me. "Can't hit me if Jay Jay's here. She's my human shield."
I smacked his arm lightly. "Idiot! I am NOT your shield!"
"But you're effective," Keifer said, sticking out his tongue.
Aries looked like smoke might puff out his ears.
Yuri was recording.
Percy was crying laughing.
Eventually, Aries collapsed onto a chair, exhausted.
"If you ever call me that again," he panted, "I'm changing your name to 'Future Problem.'"
Keifer smirked. "That's still better than 'brother-in-law.'"
Aries threw a duster at him without even lifting his head.
I shook my head, but I was smiling again.
Yuri said,"Guys, are you done teasing? I'm hungry."
I agreed. "Me too."
Aries teased,"You're always hungry."
We decided to head to the school canteen before it closed.
But the moment we stood up-
"Wait," Keifer said, smirking. "I should walk in front. You know... to protect my future wife."
Aries almost tripped over his own feet. "KEIFER, I SWEAR-!"
Yuri held him back. "Aries, breathe. Inhale. Exhale. You're okay."
Percy added, "Think happy thoughts. Like food."
I covered my face again. "Please stop calling me that!"
Keifer laughed. "Okay, okay. I'm done. Promise."
Aries narrowed his eyes. "Good."
"...For now," Keifer whispered.
"KEIFER!"
Our group erupted into chaos again, laughter bouncing off the hallway walls.
---
After school we gather at Yuri's place.
I was sleeping in the couch. Then I wake up to a sound.
"Jay? You awake?" Aries called.
"No," I mumbled.
"Too bad," Aries replied cheerfully. "We're having tea time."
I sat up slowly. "Where's everyone else?"
"In the kitchen," he said. "Percy is complaining that no one complimented his 'legendary handsomeness.'"
I dropped my face into my hands. "Of course he is..."
Aries folded his arms. "Also, Keifer said he wants to talk to you."
I froze. "Talk... about what?"
"You know what," Aries said, raising an eyebrow. "Don't overthink."
I nodded nervously.
"Come on," he said. "Before Percy eats everything."
---
The moment I stepped into the kitchen, Percy gasped loudly and pointed at me dramatically.
"THERE SHE IS! The girl who hides the truth!" Percy cried.
"What truth?" Yuri asked dryly, sipping juice.
"That I'm HANDSOME."
I grabbed a piece of bread and smacked Percy's shoulder with it. "Stoppp. You're so annoying."
Percy clutched his heart. "Violence! I'm calling the beauty police."
Yuri glanced at Percy. "You're calling yourself."
I laughed despite myself.
Then I noticed Keifer sitting at the far end of the table, quietly eating.
Our eyes met.
He gave a small smile-not teasing, not awkward. Just... calm.
"Jay," he said, standing up. "Can we talk outside?"
My stomach tightened. "Um... okay."
Immediately, Percy yelled, "NO CONFESSION SCENE! I REPEAT-NO-"
Aries grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him back. "Let them talk, you walnut!"
---
I stepped out into the cool morning air. Keifer stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets.
He wasn't smiling or joking-he looked thoughtful.
"About the engagement..." he began. "I know it was a lot."
I nodded. "Yeah."
I asked."You really weren't mad...? About the engagement thing?"o
Keifer kicked lightly at the floor with his shoe.
"No. I just thought... you didn't trust me."
"I do. I just... didn't know how to say it."
He shrugged. "Well. Now I know. So it's okay."
I nodded, relieved.
From inside the house, someone shouted:
"ARE THEY DONE TALKING? I NEED TO KNOW IF I'M STILL HANDSOME!"
It was Percy.
Keifer groaned. "Please tell him no."
I laughed. "Never. He'll cry."
"LET HIM CRY," Aries yelled from inside.
I and Keifer exchanged a look-and for the first time in days, it felt normal. Light. Safe.
The secret was out.
We were still together.
And somehow... everything felt right.
---
END OF CHAPTER 13
---
Target 🎯
Comments 💬: 10+
Word counts: 1558