Jay's POV
The sky outside had started dimming, the last of the orange fading into deep blue when the doorbell rang.
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. The silence in the house had been thick ever since Stella, Cole, and David left for the airport. It almost felt too big, too empty — their laughter still echoing faintly in my head.
Dragging myself off the couch, I went to open the door.
And froze.
Standing there was Kuya Angelo.
Tall, broad-shouldered, perfectly pressed shirt, and that same unreadable expression that always made people shrink back. His eyes — sharp, steady, cold — scanned me once, and for a second, I almost forgot how to breathe.
Then, he exhaled softly, and something in his gaze gentled.
"Jay."
My throat tightened. It had been so long since I'd heard him say my name like that — calm, but with that faint hint of warmth he never showed anyone else.
"Kuya…" I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
He gave a small nod, stepping inside like he owned the space, eyes briefly scanning the luggage by the door. "You're packed."
I nodded. "They left this morning."
"Iknow." He looked around once more, then back at me. "They asked me to pick you up."
A small pit formed in my stomach. "So… it's true then?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What is?"
"That I have to go back."
His jaw flexed, and he didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked past me, his shoes clicking against the marble floor, stopping by the couch where my bag lay. His voice was quieter when he spoke again — calm, measured.
"You can't stay here alone, Jay."
I crossed my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. "Kuya, I can handle myself."
He turned then, and just looked at me — that kind of look that froze words midair. Cold, assessing, but not cruel. Just the kind of silence that made you listen.
"Don't argue," he said finally. "It's already decided."
I wanted to protest, to tell him I wasn't scared, that I didn't want to go back to that house — not where he was, not where my mom's silence felt like knives. But when I looked at Kuya Angelo — the calm, stern wall he always was — the words tangled in my throat.
"Aries and mom are still there," I said instead, quietly.
He didn't flinch. Didn't even blink. "I know."
That made me look up. "And you're still bringing me back there?"
For the first time, his expression cracked — just a little. A ghost of a smile touched his lips, faint and rare, gone as soon as it came.
"You think I'd send you there without making sure you'll be safe?" he said, voice low but firm. "Aries won't lay a finger on you. Neither will anyone else."
Something in the way he said it — calm but absolute — made me believe him, even if my heart still ached.
I sighed, lowering my gaze. "I just… I don't want to go back, Kuya."
He stepped closer, his hand resting briefly on my head — a rare gesture from someone who never showed affection easily.
"I know," he said quietly. "But sometimes we go back not because it's safe, but because it's necessary. You'll understand soon."
The lump in my throat grew. I nodded faintly, swallowing hard. "When will we leave?"
"Now," he said simply.
He picked up my bag effortlessly, walking toward the door. His tone softened, just barely — enough for me to catch it if I listened closely.
"Come on, Jay."
And for the first time that day, I saw it — a flicker of a smile tugging at his lips as he held the door open for me.
It wasn't much, but from Kuya Angelo, that single smile said everything.
I followed him out, the night air cool against my skin. The car waited by the curb, headlights glowing faintly. As I climbed in, I couldn't help glancing at him once more — the brother who never said much, never showed much, but always made sure I was safe.
And maybe, just maybe, going back wouldn't be as terrifying if he was the one by my side...
The ride back to the Fernandez house was quiet. Too quiet.
The city lights passed by in a blur of gold and grey, and with every mile we got closer, my chest grew tighter.
I could already feel the weight of the house pressing on me — its walls, its memories, its people.
By the time the car stopped in front of the grand gates, my hands had gone cold.
Angelo stepped out first, his usual calm demeanor unshaken, and opened the door for me.
But I didn't move.
The house looked exactly the same — towering, elegant, suffocating.
My home once. My cage always.
"Jay," Angelo said quietly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I swallowed hard and finally stepped out.
The gravel crunched under my shoes as we walked toward the entrance. My feet felt heavier with every step.
The door opened before we even reached it.
"Jay!"
Tita Gema's voice was full of warmth and tears all at once. Before I could say anything, she rushed toward me, wrapping me up in the kind of hug that almost hurt.
"Oh, my dear anak… look at you. You've grown so much," she murmured, her voice shaking. "You didn't even call— do you know how much I worried?"
Her hands cupped my face, thumb brushing away the stray tear I didn't even know had fallen. For a moment, I let myself melt into her touch — the only bit of softness that ever remained in this house.
"I missed you, Tita," I whispered.
She smiled through her tears. "You always say that and still disappear."
Before I could respond, my gaze shifted — past her shoulder, toward the grand staircase.
My mother stood there.
Perfectly poised, dressed in elegance as always, her eyes glossy but uncertain.
There was a small, trembling smile on her lips — the kind that used to make me run to her as a child.
Now it just made my chest ache.
"Jay…" she said softly, voice hopeful.
For a heartbeat, I froze.
Part of me wanted to move forward, to close that distance. But the other part — the one filled with years of hurt, of being abandoned, of being unheard — screamed no.
So I just looked at her.
Blank. Numb.
Then turned away.
Her smile faltered. The silence that followed was heavy, almost unbearable.
"I'll… go to my room," I muttered, brushing past Tita Gema's concerned look.
I made my way up the staircase, the familiar hallways swallowing me whole. Every step felt like walking through ghosts — the laughter that once echoed here now just echoes of what was lost.
And then, as I turned the corner — I stopped.
He was there.
Aries.
Leaning casually against the wall near my door, hands in his pockets, head tilted slightly — that same quiet, unreadable expression he'd worn since the day everything fell apart.
We hadn't spoken since the auditorium incident. Not a single word.
For a moment, neither of us moved. The tension between us was sharp enough to cut through the air.
His eyes flickered over me — cold, detached. Then he straightened, walking past without hesitation.
As his shoulder brushed mine, he muttered under his breath, "Back again, huh?"
And just like that — he was gone.
My heart dropped.
I stood there frozen for a second before pushing into my room and locking the door behind me.
It smelled the same — faint perfume, lavender, and old memories I tried so hard to forget.
I sank onto the bed, and the silence finally cracked me open.
My hands trembled as I clutched the blanket, tears slipping free before I could stop them. Everything — the cold greeting, my mother's hopeful eyes, Aries' indifference — came crashing down all at once.
The memories hit harder than I expected.
Aries' laughter. His promises. The way he used to look at me before everything turned bitter and sharp.Him being my brother I had once yearned so much for in the past...
And my mother — her silence when I needed her most. Her leaving me when I needed her the most,The way she kept my papa away from me , and the way she always leaves me like I am a burden to her....
A strangled sob escaped my throat. I buried my face in my hands, shaking as the weight of it all finally spilled out.
I was back.
Back in the house that once felt like love but now only whispered pain.
And for the first time since I left, I wasn't sure if I had the strength to face it again.
Angelo's POV:
I knew she would freeze the moment we turned into the drive. The place looks peaceful from the outside—white stone, quiet gardens—but for Jay it's a battlefield of memories.
When she didn't move, I almost turned around.
"Jay." I kept my voice even. She obeyed, because she always does when she's scared.
Mom's cry broke the tension. She ran to Jay, clutching her like she was made of glass. For a few seconds, Jay looked small again, like the kid who used to hide behind my legs when she scraped her knees.
Then I saw my aunt—her mother—standing at the staircase. She waited for a hug that didn't come. I could see the hope collapse in her eyes when Jay walked past. I couldn't even blame her. Jay's been burned too many times to reach out first.
I stayed quiet, watching. The air between them was heavy, filled with everything they never said.
When Jay disappeared up the stairs, I heard her mother whisper my name. "Angelo…?"
"I'll keep an eye on her," I said simply.
As I climbed after her, I saw him—Aries. Still the same cold expression, the same quiet arrogance. The second he saw Jay, something shifted in his shoulders, but his voice…
"Back again, huh?"
He brushed past her like she was a ghost.
I clenched my jaw.
I wanted to grab him by the collar, to remind him that the girl he'd just dismissed was the same one he swore to protect once, who stood by him when no one else did. But I didn't. Not yet.
Jay disappeared into her room and shut the door. The sound of the lock clicking hit me like a punch.
I stayed there in the hall for a while, listening. There was silence, then a muffled sound—half sob, half breath.
I sighed. My fingers twitched on the doorknob, but I didn't go in.
She needs to cry. To let it out.
I leaned against the wall opposite her door, arms crossed. For the first time in a long while, I smiled—a small, tired smile.
"Welcome home, Jay Jay," I muttered. "We'll fix this. All of it."
Then I waited—quiet, watching over her the way I always have....
Jay's POV:
The morning sunlight spilled weakly through the curtains, casting soft golden lines across my room. It felt strange — the smell of the house, the faint hum of the air conditioner, the sound of Tita Gema calling orders downstairs — all so familiar yet distant. Like I was living inside a memory I wasn't ready to relive.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. My head felt heavy, my chest heavier. The pillow beside me was still damp from last night. I must've cried myself to sleep again.
A soft knock came at the door before it opened slightly.
"Good morning, Jay Jay" Tita Gema said, peeking in with her ever-gentle smile. She walked in carrying a tray. "I brought breakfast. You barely ate last night."
I tried to smile, but it came out weak. "Thank you, Tita."
She set the tray down — hot pandesal, fried egg, and a glass of milk. "You have school today, right?"
"Yeah…" I murmured. "Back to normal, I guess."
Her eyes softened. "Don't force yourself too much, okay? And… try to be patient with your mother."
I looked down at my food. "I'll try."
Tita sighed softly, brushing a few strands of my hair behind my ear before leaving the room.
After she left, I just sat there staring at my breakfast, trying to gather the courage to face the day. The thought of bumping into Aries in the hallway made my stomach twist. The thought of my mom — of pretending everything was fine — made it worse.
I finally forced myself to eat a little, then got up and got dressed. My uniform felt tighter than before, or maybe I'd just grown too uncomfortable in it I don't know...
As I stepped out of my room, the scent of coffee filled the hall. My mom stood near the counter, cup in hand. She looked up when she saw me — hopeful, nervous.
"Morning, Jay," she said softly.
"Morning," I replied, flatly, without stopping.
Her shoulders slumped a little, but she didn't say anything else.
Downstairs, Tita Gema was waiting by the door with my bag in her hand. "Your car's ready, sweetheart. Angelo's waiting outside to drive you."
I nodded, forcing a faint smile. "Thanks, Tita."
When I stepped out, the air was cool, the sky still pale with dawn. Angelo leaned against the car, arms crossed, phone in hand. He looked up and gave me a small, approving nod — the closest thing to a smile he ever gave in public.
"Ready for school?" he asked.
"hmm"
As the car rolled out of the driveway, I glanced out the window — the garden, the gates, the house I once called home shrinking behind us.
It wasn't home anymore. Just a place full of ghosts I wasn't ready to face.
I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on my bag.
Whatever waited for me at school — Section E,Keifer — I just had to survive it.
One day at a time.....