JAY-JAY POV
I went inside the house and saw Percy standing in the hallway, arms crossed, face tight.This was the serious Percy — the one that only showed up when things were bad.
"Jay, you have to go to Boss' house now," Percy said.
I blinked. "I thought you said I would stay here for one week."
"I know," he said, jaw clenching. "But for now it's not safe. Please go there. Then I'll take you out of there."
He stepped closer, voice dropping. "Please."
Percy never said please unless something was really wrong.
My stomach twisted.
If Percy was scared… then I should be too.
"Sure," I said quietly.
I grabbed my stuff, and Percy drove me to Kuya's house.
The whole ride, he kept glancing at the mirrors, checking the road, tapping his fingers like he was calculating escape routes.
When we arrived, he leaned over and kissed my forehead.
"Be safe, baby sistah."
"Bye," I said, stepping out with my bags.
"Percy," I said, stopping him before he could drive off.
He leaned out the window. "What happened?"
I handed him a small paper with my handwriting on it. "Here's my new number."
Percy nodded, took it carefully like it was something important, and tucked it into his wallet. "Got it, baby sistah."
Then he drove off, and I headed inside.
The moment I stepped into the living room, Tita Gemma spotted me.
"Jay! Hi," she said, pulling me into a warm hug. She leaned back, eyes widening. "Wow, you look different."
I smiled a little. "I thought to try new stuff, Tita."
"It's good to try new things," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear like she always did when she was being motherly. "Go to your room, you must be tired. I'll bring you something to eat."
"No, Tita, I already ate at Percy's house. I'm not hungry anymore."
She squinted at me, suspicious. "Sure na?"
I nodded and smiled. "Sure."
She softened immediately, patting my cheek. "Okay, anak. Rest ka muna."
I nodded and headed toward my room, dragging my bags behind me.
Halfway down the hallway, I saw Aries.
He stepped out of his room, took one look at me, and—
of course—
rolled his eyes like I was the problem.
Then he turned around and went right back into his room without a single word.
I stared at his door.
I could also roll my eyes, you big monkey horoscope.
Honestly, the audacity.
I went to my room and started organizing everything I bought — clothes, accessories, the cute little things Mia forced into my basket.
Damn, it all looked so cute.
Like a whole new version of me was sitting on my bed.
I had just finished folding the last top when someone knocked on my door.
I turned.
Jenna.
Of course.
She didn't even wait for me to answer — she just opened the door and walked in like she owned the place.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?" I asked, eyebrows raised.
She shrugged, stepping inside like it was normal. "Well, I wanted to see you. You didn't come home yesterday."
Her eyes drifted past me, scanning the bags, the clothes, the new things spread across my bed.
"Went shopping," she said sweetly, like she was trying to sound gentle.
I crossed my arms. "Yeah. Problem?"
"Jay, please hon… I'm your mother. And whatever happened in the past should stay in the past," she said softly, stepping a little closer.
Something inside me snapped.
"Shut up."
My voice cracked, but I didn't care. "You're telling me to leave the past alone?"
Her face fell, but I kept going — the words spilling out faster than I could stop them.
"Do you know how hard I tried to forget what happened?" My throat tightened. "But I can't. Because it always stays in my brain. It replays every second and—"
My voice broke completely.
I covered my mouth, trying to breathe, but the memories hit too fast, too sharp.
Jenna stepped forward, reaching out like she had the right.
"Jay—"
"Don't you dare fucking touch me."
I stumbled back, shaking, tears already falling. "Don't."
"JUST GET THE FUCK OUT!"
She froze.
Jenna looked at him, then at me — and for once, she didn't argue. She just stepped out quietly and closed the door behind her.
The silence hit me harder than her words ever could.
Why is it always me?
Why do I always end up carrying the weight of things I never asked for?
My chest tightened, and the tears came faster.
It felt like everyone I'd ever trusted had taken something from me — a piece, a promise, a part of my heart — and left me to deal with the damage alone.
Cyrus only dated me because of money.
Jenna…
Section E…
Every betrayal stacked on top of the last until it felt impossible to breathe.
I pressed my hands to my face.
"Do I really not deserve love?" I whispered, voice cracking.
But even as the words left my mouth, something inside me pushed back — a tiny, stubborn spark that refused to die.
Why am I crying for those idiots?
Because that's what they were.
Idiots.
Cowards.
People who didn't know how to treat a heart like mine.
But the tears weren't for them.
Not really.
I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand, breathing in slow, shaky breaths.
I looked at myself in the mirror — eyes red, cheeks blotchy, hair a mess.
"You told yourself you won't cry, Jay," I whispered to my reflection. "Don't."
Another tear slipped out anyway. I wiped it fast, almost angrily.
I checked the time.
Damn.
It was past midnight.
My stomach growled loud enough to echo in the quiet room.
"Let's go eat something," I muttered to myself, grabbing my phone and heading downstairs.
The house was dark, quiet — everyone asleep or pretending to be.
I stepped into the kitchen… and froze.
Aries was there, standing in front of the open fridge, rummaging through containers like a raccoon in human form.
"Aries" I called out
"What the–!" he exclaimed in shock "are you doing here"
I almost laughed at his reaction it's getting easier to scare him
"Sorry" I said scratching my head
He let a deep sigh, also scratching his head while looking at me
"What are you doing here its past midnight"
"Midnight snack" i said to him
He looked at the fridge "There is food but it's all meals"
Oh I don't want that I want something sweet
"I will go and buy something from the mini- market" I said heading out
Before I could even take another step, Aries grabbed my collar and yanked me back like I was a runaway toddler.
"What was that for?" I snapped, annoyed.
He pointed at the clock on the wall. "Look at the time. You're not going anywhere."
"Well, I want to," I said, brushing his hand off and heading toward the door anyway.
Aries let out the loudest, most dramatic sigh known to mankind — then followed me out like a grumpy bodyguard who didn't get paid enough for this.
We walked to the mini‑market, the cold air hitting my face. I didn't even notice Aries had stopped until he shoved something into my hands.
A beanie.
A scarf.
And sunglasses.
"Wear this," he said.
"Why?" I asked, confused.
He opened his mouth like he was about to give a real explanation… then shut it again.
"Because I said so."
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain.
He smirked, looking me up and down once I put everything on.
"You look like a Kokey."
I blinked. "What is that? A TV actor?"
His smirk widened, slow and evil. He nodded. "It is a TV actor."
I nodded, and we finally reached the mini‑market.
The moment I stepped inside, I went straight into gremlin mode — grabbing everything that looked good.
Ice cream.
Small cakes.
Soda.
More ice cream.
"Put them back," Aries said behind me, sounding like a disappointed father of three.
"Why would I? I'm paying for them," I said, hugging the snacks like they were my children.
He flicked my forehead so fast I didn't even see his hand move.
"OW—"
"This is why when exams come you score less," he said, shaking his head. "There is nothing in your brain."
I stuck my tongue out at him. "There is something in my brain."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What?"
"Food," I said proudly.
Aries stared at me like he was reconsidering his entire existence.
"You're hopeless," he muttered, grabbing the soda from my arms and putting it back on the shelf.
I grabbed another one.
He glared.
I glared back.
He sighed — that long, dramatic Aries sigh — and walked over to the fruit section.
"Here. You should eat food like this," he said, pointing at blackberries and raspberries like he was a nutritionist on TV.
"I'm allergic to it," I said immediately.
He turned to me so fast his hair moved. "Since when?"
"Since forever," I said, grabbing my ice cream tighter.
Aries stared at the berries like they personally offended him, then put them back with a muttered, "Okay, fine."
He grabbed what he wanted
And we paid.
Well… he paid. Again.
We stepped outside, the cold air hitting us as we started to walk back.
Aries shoved his hands into his pockets. "Next time, tell me before I try to feed you something that'll kill you."
I nodded, and we started walking home
Then Aries suddenly stopped.
He tilted his head up, eyes softening in a way I rarely saw.
"Look," he said, pointing at the sky. "The moon is so bright… and the stars look beautiful."
I followed his gaze.
The sky was clear, the moon glowing like someone polished it, stars scattered everywhere like glitter.
I smiled without meaning to.
It was the same way Jare used to point at the sky.
Flashback
"Jay, look! The sky is so beautiful," Jare said, tugging my sleeve and pointing up.
I looked up and gasped. "It's so beautiful."
He grinned like he owned the stars.
End of Flashback
The memory hit me softly
"Yeah," I said quietly, still looking up. "It is."
Aries glanced at me, noticing the shift in my expression, but he didn't ask.
I opened my ice cream and started eating it right there on the sidewalk, using the tiny spoon that came with it.
Aries stared at me like I'd just committed a crime.
"Are you pregnant or something?" he asked, dead serious.
I choked on my ice cream. "Idiot! Where the hell did you get that idea?"
Aries didn't even blink. "Ever since you ended up in Section E, you've been eating a lot. And now it seems like you've doubled your intake. When was the last time you weighed yourself?"
I stared at him.
Fucking Section E.
But I'm not even that fat.
I only have, like… ten meals per day.
That's normal.
"Percy just loves feeding me," I said, rolling my eyes. "He acts like I'll be executed if I don't eat a lot."
Aries's expression shifted instantly — not angry, but something tight
"Aries," I said, stepping closer.
He didn't look at me at first. "What."
I swallowed, suddenly nervous. "Can we ever make up? Like… be on good terms?"
He finally turned his head, eyes meeting mine.
For a second, he didn't say anything — just studied my face like he was trying to figure out if I was joking or if I really meant it.
His shoulders dropped a little.
"Jay," he said softly, "give me some time."
I blinked.
Time?
I didn't even have a watch — what was I supposed to measure?
He saw the confusion on my face and chuckled under his breath.
"Give me some time to think about everything that happened," he clarified, smiling gently. "Your kuya will make it up to you." He reached out and patted my head like I was five.
My lips moved on their own, forming a small smile — the first real one in hours.
I was about to hug him, actually about to step forward—
Then we heard it.
A car.
Fast.
Too fast.
The headlights cut through the dark, blinding, rushing straight toward me.
My legs froze.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
JAY! JAY, MOVE!
But it was too late.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the hit—
But instead of pain, two strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me off my feet.
The world spun.
We hit the ground hard on the side of the road.
I fell, rolling onto my arm.
A sharp pain shot up instantly.
"Ow— ow— my arm— I think it's broken—" I hissed, clutching it.
"JAY! Are you okay?" Aries yelled, voice shaking.
"Yes— I think—" I said through clenched teeth, holding my arm tight.
I turned, trying to see who grabbed me.
Kuya Angelo was sprinting after the car, but it was already disappearing down the street, too fast to catch.
He turned back immediately and ran toward us.
"Jay, are you okay?" Kuya asked, kneeling beside me, panic all over his face.
"I think her arm is broken," Aries said, voice rough, angry, terrified all at once.
He was still holding onto my shoulder
"Let's go and treat your arm," Kuya said, holding me steady.
I nodded, biting back the pain, and we walked inside the house. Aries stayed close
The moment we stepped into the living room, Kuya's voice snapped like a whip.
"What the hell were you two thinking going outside at this time?" he asked, grabbing the first‑aid kit and the temporary cast.
I sat down carefully, cradling my arm. "We were hungry, so we went to the mini market to get some snacks."
Kuya looked at me first — eyes sharp, worried, angry, all at once — then slowly turned his head toward Aries
"It wasn't his fault," I said quickly. "I dragged him with me."
Before Kuya could respond, the lights flicked on and footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Tita Gemma appeared first, eyes wide with worry.
Jenna followed right behind her, voice sharp.
"What the hell is going on here?" Jenna demanded, then rushed toward me like she suddenly remembered how to act like a mother.
She reached out to hug me.
"Don't touch me," I said.
She froze mid‑step.
Kuya looked up from my arm, shocked. "Jay, is that how you talk to your mother?"
"My mother is dead," I said, voice steady, cold. "That woman over there—she just gave birth to me. That's all she is to me."
The room went silent.
Jenna's face crumpled, but I didn't stay long enough to care.
I stood up, holding my casted arm close, and walked upstairs without looking back.
"JAY‑JAY!" Kuya yelled after me, but I didn't stop.
I reached my room, closed the door, and leaned against it — breathing hard, heart pounding, arm throbbing, but somehow… lighter.
A soft knock.
Then Aries slipped inside.
He walked over and sat on the edge of my bed.
"Why do you hate her so much?" he asked quietly.
I looked at him, tired. "Why do you hate her? She's also your mother."
He scoffed immediately. "Tss. She is not my mother. My mother is Gemma."
"Then my mother is Reycee," I shot back.
He didn't argue with that.
He just looked at me again, eyes softer this time.
"Why do you hate her?" he asked, slower, like he wanted the real answer.
I opened my mouth.
"Because, Aries…"
But the words got stuck in my throat.
The tears came again, fast and hot.
"She can't even—" I tried, but my voice cracked, and I couldn't finish.
Before I could break completely, Aries moved.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.
"It's okay," he murmured, one hand on the back of my head. "You don't have to tell me."
After I finally calmed down, Aries stood up from the edge of my bed, brushing off his jeans
"Sleep. You have school tomorrow," he said, heading toward the door.
"Aries—my number," I called out.
He paused, turning back as I held out my phone with the new contact pulled up.
He raised an eyebrow. "You got a new phone?"
I nodded, adjusting my cast. "I broke the old one."
He didn't even question it. He just sighed softly, took the phone from my hand, and typed in his number. Then he saved mine into his own.
"Don't lose this one," he muttered, but his voice was gentle.
He handed my phone back, gave my head a small pat — careful not to hurt me — and walked out of the room.
The door clicked softly behind him.
I lay back on my bed, the weight of the day finally settling into my bones. My arm throbbed, my eyes felt heavy, and my chest still ached… but for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel completely alone.
I drifted off to sleep with Aries's voice echoing in my head.
Your kuya will make it up to you.
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A/N CHECK COMMENT SECTION