The front door opened quietly, and Lia stepped inside.
Her uniform was dusty, her knuckles faintly bruised — signs of the fight — but her expression was calm and unreadable.
Gema rushed from the kitchen immediately.
"Lia, anak! Are you okay? Kumain ka na? The principal called—"
Lia's eyes softened instantly.
"I'm fine, Mama," she said gently, kissing Gema's cheek.
But when she turned toward the living room, her expression turned cold again.
Jay, Aries, and Angelo stood there waiting.
Jay twisted her fingers nervously. Aries looked guilty. Angelo looked terrified.
Lia walked straight past them.
Not a word.
Not a glance.
Jay swallowed. "Lia…? Can we talk?"
No answer.
She placed her bag on the table and nodded only at one person — Kairav, who was quietly eating chips.
"Hi," Lia said softly.
Kairav blinked in surprise. "Hi?"
Jay looked like she got stabbed in the chest.
"She talked to him?" Jay whispered dramatically.
Aries groaned. "Bro— I mean, sis— she's ignoring us but not Kairav?!"
Angelo sighed helplessly. "This is bad. Really bad."
Lia started heading upstairs.
"Lia—" Jay tried again.
Lia turned slightly, her voice low and calm.
"Jay, I don't get angry when people tell me something painful."
Jay froze.
"I get angry," Lia continued, "when people I trust hide things from me."
Jay looked down at the floor, guilt washing over her.
Aries exhaled sharply. Angelo rubbed the back of his neck.
Gema stepped forward, arms crossed.
"What did you three do?"
Angelo whispered, "We kept something from her… something important."
Gema sighed loudly.
"Ayan na. You know Lia hates that the most."
Lia softened again as she passed Gema.
"Mama, I'll rest. Don't worry."
"Okay, anak. I'll bring food later."
When Jay tried to follow her upstairs, Gema blocked her gently.
"No, Jay. Let her calm down."
Jay's voice cracked. "Tita Gema… she's really mad at me."
Gema gave her a sad smile. "Because she cares about you."
Jay sank onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands.
Aries sat beside her. "We messed up, Jay."
Angelo dropped onto the other side. "All three of us."
Kairav crunched another chip and shrugged.
"She doesn't hate you. If she hated you, you'd be unconscious by now."
Jay peeked over her hands. "...that's true."
Gema shook her head.
"Trust is fragile, kids. You hurt her. Now you fix it."
Angelo nodded.
"We will."
Jay took a shaky breath.
"I just… I hate that we hurt her. She's family."
Aries stared at the stairs where Lia disappeared.
"Yeah. And we're gonna make it right."