JAY-JAY POV
I stepped inside the house. It smelled like dinner. Like warmth. Like home.
Jare was in the kitchen, humming to himself, stirring something in a pot. He looked up when he saw me.
"Hey," he said, smiling. "You're back early."
"Yeah," I said, setting my bag down. My voice felt too small for the room.
He kept stirring. I watched him for a moment.
Then he said, "Go get ready. Dinner's almost done."
I nodded and headed to my room. Changed into comfy clothes. Tried to breathe.
Then I walked down the hall to Percy's room.
He was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar like he was trying to look braver than he felt.
"Hey," I said.
"Hi," he replied, turning toward me.
"Keifer knows," I said.
His eyes widened. "What? How?"
"He overheard us talking yesterday," I said quietly.
Percy didn't speak. Just stared at me like the mirror had cracked behind him.
"So… about the treatment," he started.
"Percy," I cut in gently, "we already talked about it."
He opened his mouth again, but I shook my head.
"It's better if we don't talk about it in the house anymore. What if someone else overhears us—like Keifer did?"
He nodded slowly. The mirror behind him reflected both of us, but neither of us looked like we belonged in it.
"Dinner's ready," I said, turning to leave. "And call Luna."
I came downstairs.
"Jay, we have guests tonight," Jare said.
Guests? Who the hell shows up at dinner time?
"Aries," I said, surprised. I hugged him. He held me like I might vanish.
"I'm also here," Keifer added.
"Hi," I said, smiling softly as I kissed his cheek.
"If you're done flirting with your boyfriend," Jare cut in, "we can start eating."
"Where's Percy and Luna?" he asked.
"We're here," Luna said, appearing behind me.
We all gathered around the dinner table. The food smelled good. The room felt warm. Too warm.
I looked at Jare. Really looked.
He was eating peacefully. Like nothing was wrong. Like the world hadn't shifted.
"Jare," I said quietly.
"Hmm?"
I hesitated. Then asked the question that had been sitting in my chest all day.
"What do you think the house would feel like… if I wasn't here?"
He stopped eating. Fork halfway to his mouth.
Percy looked like he might cry. Keifer just stared at his plate, heartbroken. Aries flinched. Guilt in his eyes.
Does he know?
Luna froze mid-bite. "What the hell Jay? What kind of question is that, Jay?"
"Just… hypothetically," I said, forcing a smile. "If I wasn't here anymore. What would change?"
Jare blinked. His smile faded.
"Jay, why would you ask that?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Just curious."
He looked around the kitchen. At the photos on the fridge. At the shoes by the door. At the mess I always left on the couch.
"It'd feel wrong," he said finally. "Too quiet. Too clean. Too… empty."
I nodded. Swallowed hard.
"I wouldn't like it," he added. "I wouldn't want to live in that house."
I looked down at the floor. My throat tight.
"Okay," I said softly.
He watched me for a second longer. Then reached out and ruffled my hair like he used to when we were kids.
"You're not going anywhere," he said. "Don't talk like that."
I smiled. But it didn't reach my eyes.
After dinner, I excused myself to the bathroom.
I locked the door. Sat on the edge of the tub. And cried.
I couldn't hold it anymore.
I'm not scared of dying. Not really.
I'm scared of telling Jare. Scared of breaking the boy who loved me so much.
How do you tell someone you're going to die when they've built their whole world around you?
I washed my face. Carefully. Making sure there was no trace of the tears I'd just spilled.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, Aries was waiting in the hallway.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Of course," I said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He didn't answer. Just looked at me like he already knew.
"You know, don't you?" I asked.
"What?"
"I'm not stupid, Aries," I said, voice low. "Who else knows? And how did you find out?"
He hesitated. Then said, "Kuya Angelo. And Tita Gemma."
I froze. Oh my God. He can't be serious.
"Jenna was at our house," he continued. "Trying to bond. And Keifer showed up. He asked her questions."
Of course he did. This is why I didn't tell him. Because I knew he wouldn't stay quiet.
"Aries," I said.
He looked up at me. Eyes steady. Waiting.
"Promise me something," I said.
"Anything."
"Don't tell anyone," I said. "Especially Jare."
He stared at me. Then asked, "Is that how you shut Percy up too?"
I nodded. And for a second, the hallway felt like it was closing in.
"Jay!" Jare called from downstairs.
I sighed. "Coming," I said, heading down.
What the hell?
Luna was already halfway down the stairs behind me. "What are they doing here at this time?" she asked.
Section E was in the living room. Of course. Because why not?
Wow. Great. Chaos had arrived.
"Hey, Jay!" Ci-n said, launching into a hug that nearly knocked the air out of me.
I hugged her back, tight. Because despite everything, it felt good.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, half confused, half bracing for impact.
"We were bored," Felix said with a shrug.
"So you decided to invade my house?" I asked, half annoyed, half secretly glad they were here.
"Don't be rude, Jay," Jare said, already setting out extra plates.
"Let's play something!" Drew shouted, already halfway to knocking over a chair.
"Drew, you still owe me eight cents!" Ci-n yelled, chasing him around the table.
"Give me nine more and I'll return seventeen!" Drew called back, dodging her swipe.
Felix was trying to balance a spoon on his nose. Luna was yelling at him to stop before he broke something. Percy was stress-eating bread rolls. Jare was laughing, trying to keep the peace.
And I— I was standing in the middle of it all. Smiling. Pretending.
Then everything tilted.
The room spun. The noise blurred. My knees buckled.
I didn't even get to say anything. Just—
Darkness.
I collapsed.
But I didn't hit the floor.
Keifer caught me. Arms around me before anyone else even registered what was happening.
"Jay!" he shouted, voice cracking.
The room went silent. Utterly, terrifyingly silent.
"Someone get water!" Luna yelled. "Call someone!" Percy added, panicked.
Keifer held me like I was glass. Like if he let go, I'd shatter.
"Jay, hey—come on," he whispered. "I've got you. You're okay. You're okay."
I wasn't. But at that moment, I wanted to believe him.