JAY-JAY POV
"JAY‑JAY, WAKE UP!" this horoscope yelled while banging on my door like he was collecting debt.
"JAY! WAKE UP BEFORE I BREAK THIS DAMN DOOR!"
I shot up so fast my cast almost smacked me in the face.
"I'M UP, DAMN IT!" I yelled back.
The banging stopped.
Silence.
Then Aries muttered from the other side, "Good. I don't want to pay for a new door."
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out.
I dragged myself to the bathroom, did my routine with one working arm, fixed my hair, and put on a little makeup so I didn't look like a resurrected zombie.
Then I grabbed a jacket — mostly to hide this stupid cast — and headed downstairs.
The moment my foot touched the last step—
"OMG, look who finally decided to come," Aries announced dramatically. "You're sloth you know."
I stared at him.
Sometimes I genuinely want to slam him into a wall.
Or better yet, introduce him to his fellow horoscope signs.
He's buddies with Taurus and Scorpio?
"Good morning to you too," I said, brushing past him. "Say hi to Taurus and Scorpio for me."
He froze for a second, eyebrows knitting together like he was trying to decode a secret message.
Then his hand lifted — not even to hit me, just to flick my forehead or something — but I immediately gasped and burst into the most dramatic fake crying known to mankind.
Aries jerked his hand back like I was a bomb.
"I didn't even hit you!" he said, stepping away with wide eyes.
I sniffed loudly, wiping imaginary tears. "You were going to."
"I WAS NOT!" he protested, offended. "I was just—"
I cried louder.
He panicked instantly. "Stop that! People will think I abuse you!"
I peeked at him through my fingers. "Good."
"GOOD?!" he sputtered. "You little—"
I sniffed again, lower lip trembling dramatically.
Aries froze, hands up like he was dealing with a wild animal. "Okay, okay! Fine! I won't touch you. Happy?"
I nodded proudly.
"Let's go and eat," Aries said, and we headed to the dining table.
I sat down carefully
Tita Gemma placed food in front of us, then looked at me with soft eyes
"How is your hand, Jay?"
"It hurts, but it's fine," I said, trying to sound tough even though every movement felt like fire.
Tita frowned. "Angelo, I think she should skip school today."
My eyes lit up instantly.
Finally. Someone with sense.
But before I could celebrate—
"I don't think that's a good idea, Gemma," Jenna said, crossing her arms like she was the CEO of my life. "Especially since she missed a lot of school days."
My smile died.
Kuya Angelo nodded. "Yeah, Ma. Tita is right — she already missed too many school days."
I stared at him.
Tita is right?
TITA is right?
So when I say I'm dying, nobody listens.
But when Jenna opens her mouth, suddenly everyone becomes responsible citizens?
I glared at my plate, still annoyed at the whole "go to school even with a broken arm" nonsense.
Then, just as we were about to leave, Tita Gemma walked over with a small bag of snacks.
"Eat these if you're hungry, okay?" she said, her voice soft and warm.
My chest loosened a little.
I nodded and hugged her gently with my good arm. "Thank you, Tita."
She smiled and patted my back like she always did
Then I turned… and saw Jenna standing right beside her.
She straightened up immediately, arms slightly open, face softening like she thought she was next in line for a hug.
In her dreams.
I walked right past her, grabbed my bag from the chair next to her, and slung it over my shoulder without even looking at her.
Her arms slowly lowered.
Aries snorted under his breath.
Kuya sighed
I went outside, still adjusting my jacket over my cast.
Aries was already in his car, engine running
"Come on, hurry up," he said, tapping the steering wheel like he was some kind of taxi driver on a tight schedule.
I rolled my eyes and got into the front seat.
What does he even do in school this early?
Like seriously.
Does he have a secret life?
A morning cult?
A horoscope meeting?
Or—
Did he lay eggs or something in that school?
Honestly, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if he had a whole secret nest somewhere.
I sat in the passenger seat and tried to put my seatbelt on with one working arm.
I sat in the passenger seat and tried to put my seatbelt on with one working arm.
Tried.
Failed.
Tried again.
Failed harder.
The seatbelt slapped me in the face at one point.
Aries watched the whole struggle in silence, jaw tightening like he was physically restraining himself from calling me stupid.
Finally, he groaned and leaned over.
"Move," he muttered.
He grabbed the seatbelt, pulled it across me, and clicked it in place with one smooth motion
We started driving, and I immediately took my phone out, trying to log back into my Instagram and TikTok.
They were traitors.
Snakes.
People who smiled at me while hiding knives behind their backs.
So no — I wasn't talking to them.
I kept my eyes on my screen, pretending to focus on logging into my apps.
Aries glanced at me, then back at the road. "That's a no, then."
I didn't respond.
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "Good."
That made me look up.
He shrugged, eyes still forward. "They don't deserve you anyway."
What was the password again…?
Oh—right. I remembered it.
It's still a miracle Section E doesn't know about my account.
Even with Edrix the hacker breathing the same air as me.
Not to brag, but I probably have over a million followers.
I opened Instagram, expecting my followers to have dropped since I hadn't posted in over a year.
Nope.
It increased.
Over 30 million.
"YES!" I yelled.
Aries slammed the brakes so hard my soul almost left my body.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked, staring at me like I was possessed.
Before I could answer, the passenger seat door opened.
I turned, ready to fight a ghost.
"Who the hell are you?"
Ella.
Of course.
"Jay, you're in my seat," she said, flipping her hair like she owned the car.
Before I could tell her to go sit on the roof, Aries leaned over the steering wheel.
"Actually, Ella… can you sit in the back for a couple days?"
Ella blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"You want me to sit in the back?" she repeated, like he asked her to sleep in the garage.
Aries nodded casually. "Yeah. Jay has a broken arm. She needs the front seat."
Then that little— Ugh. No cursing, Jay.
That little animal smirked at me like, "You deserve it."
I stared at her.
She stared at me.
Ella huffed dramatically, flipped her hair, and stomped to the back seat like she was being exiled from her own kingdom.
Good.
She sat there with her arms crossed, glaring at the back of my head like I stole her boyfriend.
Aries started the car.
Ella muttered something under her breath.
I smiled sweetly at the window.
Victory tastes delicious.
"What were you yelling, anyway?" Aries asked, eyes flicking between the road and me
I shoved my phone in his face.
He glanced at it.
"You have an Insta account now?"
"I always had it," I said, offended he thought I was some social‑media caveman.
Aries blinked. "Since when?"
"Since forever," I said, scrolling proudly. "I just didn't use it."
He squinted at my screen. "Thirty million followers? THIRTY? How—"
I shrugged. "Talent."
He gave me the most judgmental side‑eye known to mankind. "You don't even post."
"Exactly," I said. "I'm naturally iconic."
Ella didn't say anything — probably because she was busy listening to music in the back seat, pretending she was in a sad girl music video while staring out the window dramatically.
Good.
Silence from her was a blessing.
I glanced at the mirror.
She had her earphones in, head tilted, eyes closed like she was meditating on how to be annoying.
We finally reached the school.
Aries parked like he owned the entire parking lot, then leaned over and unbuckled my seatbelt again — gently, like I was made of glass.
"Call me if you need anything," he said, voice low but firm.
I nodded, grabbed my bag, and stepped out of the car.
I pulled my coat tighter around me, making sure it covered the cast.
No way was I letting Section E see it first thing in the morning.
They didn't deserve to know anything about me anymore.
I started walking toward Section E's hallway.
Damn it.
My eyes started to water again./8
Not now.
Not here.
Not in front of them.
I blinked fast, forcing the tears back, and tugged my coat even tighter around my arm.
I took a few deep breaths before stepping inside the room.
Just walk.
Just sit.
Just pretend everything is normal.
I went straight to my seat and sat down, pulling my coat tighter around my cast.
"Jay, you look like those Canvas girls na," Ci‑n said, suddenly appearing in front of me like a jump scare.
I ignored him and put my earbuds in.
Good job, Jay.
You're ignoring him.
Stay strong.
But Ci‑n kept talking.
And talking.
And talking.
And I kept ignoring him.
I didn't want to do this.
But what else was I supposed to do?
I treated him like my own brother.
I trusted him.
And what did I get in return?
A group who used me for revenge.
David already explained everything, but the pain didn't magically disappear just because he said sorry.
Then Ci‑n placed something on my desk.
A plate.
"What is this?" I asked, finally looking up.
"It's pancakes, silly," he said with a small smile,
I could feel the snakes eyes on me.
"I don't want it," I said, pushing the plate away.
"Jay, please… just some," he said, picking up a fork and trying to feed me
Something snapped.
"I said I don't want it!" I snapped, and my hand jerked—
The plate fell.
Pancakes splattered across the floor.
The whole room went silent.
"Can't you just see that nothing can ever go back the same?" I yelled, voice cracking. "Just stop this!"
The words echoed in the room.
"Jay—" David said softly, stepping forward like he wanted to calm me.
But I stepped back.
"Why would I stop?" Ci‑n asked — and he was crying. Actual tears. "Did you give up on me when I was accused of stealing? Or Mica? Or Calix? Or Denzel? Or Drew? Did you give up on any of us?"
Stop it.
Stop it, stop it, stop it.
I turned my head away because if I looked at him any longer, I was going to break.
I can't deny it — it was hard for me too. I don't want to ignore them but it hurts.
"So don't tell me to give up on you," he said, voice shaking. Then he turned to Eman. "I'll get you another pancake."
He walked away, and the others patted him on the back like he'd just done something heroic.
Damn it.
I looked at Keifer.
He was already looking at me.
Can someone tell me where I could buy knives.
I was about to leave — literally one step from the door — when Sir Alvin appeared like a final boss.
"Miss Mariano."
Shit.
I froze, swallowed my frustration, and dragged myself back to my seat.
He started the class like nothing dramatic had just happened.
"Okay, class," he said, placing his things on the desk. "Let's talk about what you want to be in the future."
I stared at him.
Sir…
What happens in the future is future me's problem.
Present me is barely surviving
So I did the only logical thing.
I took out my phone.
I opened it — and immediately saw a message from an unknown number.
**2580*******
My life
What the hell.
I typed back:
Me:
Wong number
Except typing with my left hand felt like trying to write with my foot.
2580*******:
Wrong number
Yes well—duh.
Idiot.
I rolled my eyes and kept scrolling, but then—
2580*******:
Jasper Jean Mariano
I almost dropped my phone.
My whole soul left my body for a second.
Who the hell could it be?
I turned around slowly, scanning the room, but everyone was focused on Sir Alvin's boring "future career" speech.
My heart started pounding.
I typed back:
Me:
Who the hell are you?
A second later, the reply came.
2580*******:
Your my everything
Is there seriously someone named "your my everything"?
People these days can't even name right
I closed my phone so fast it almost slipped out of my hand when Sir Alvin called my name.
"Miss Mariano," he said, looking straight at me. "What do you want to do?"
Every head in Section E turned toward me.
"…I don't know, sir."
Sir Alvin softened a little. "It's alright, Miss Mariano. You don't have to know yet."
Then the bell rang.
YES.
FOOD.
SALVATION.
LUNCH BREAK.
THE ONLY REASON I COME TO SCHOOL.
I grabbed my bag
Then I checked inside.
Empty.
"What the hell?" I shouted.
David practically teleported to my side. "What happened?"
"My snacks," I said, voice cracking like a tragic telenovela heroine. "I left it in horoscope's car."
David blinked. "Horoscope?"
"Aries," I snapped. "Fucking shit."
A few people turned to look.
"She's talking to David."
"I think there's something going on with them."
I shot the deadliest glare at whoever said that.
They immediately shut up.
"Jay, I can share my food," David offered gently.
"No thanks," I muttered, grabbing my phone like it was my last lifeline.
Percy.
I called him.
"Baby Sistah, did you miss my handsome face?" he answered, voice full of confidence he did NOT earn.
Play nice, Jay.
You're hungry.
He's your only way.
"My handsome Kuya," I said sweetly, sugar dripping from every syllable.
Everyone in Section E turned to stare at me like I'd just confessed my love to a wall.
"What do you want?" Percy asked.
"I forgot my lunch," I said.
"Well, I can't come," he replied. "I'm out of town."
I froze.
"…Where the hell are you?"
Silence.
"PERCY!" I yelled.
"Baby sistah, please," he said. "I'm out of town. I'll give you a surprise tomorrow."
"You asshole," I snapped, but he hung up before I could finish cussing him out properly.
I threw my head back.
"FUCKING HELL!"
Chairs scraped.
People jumped.
Someone gasped.
"What the hell?" Keifer said, standing up
I pointed at him without even looking.
"Don't just sit in your damn seat and do what you do."
The whole room went silent.
"Don't talk to me like that," Keifer yelled, voice sharp enough to cut glass.
I shot up from my seat. "Don't shout at me!"
Every head in Section E snapped toward us.
Keifer took one step closer, jaw clenched, eyes burning.
"You don't get to talk to me like that," he said, voice low
"Oh really?" I snapped. "Because you talk to me however you want, right?"
Keifer's eyes narrowed, anger flashing. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?"
I didn't even hesitate.
"Jasper. Jean. Mariano." I shot back, chin up, voice sharp enough to slice the tension in the room.
The class collectively inhaled.
Keifer stepped closer, jaw tight. "You think that name scares me?"
I didn't back down.
Not an inch.
"I don't know," I said, stepping closer too. "You tell me."
We were close enough now that I could see the way his jaw flexed, the way his eyes flickered—anger, frustration, something else he'd never admit out loud.
Keifer leaned in just a little, voice low. "You think I'm scared of you?"
I lifted my chin. "You should be."
And then—
This ANIMAL kissed me.
I froze.
Everyone froze.
The room went dead silent, like someone unplugged reality.
Then my brain rebooted.
I shoved him back so hard he stumbled.
"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" I yelled, punching him right in the chest. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
Gasps.
Chairs scraping.
Someone whispered "holy shit."
I swung again, ready to break his jaw—
But arms wrapped around me from behind, lifting me off the ground.
"STOP IT! STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDRENS!" Yuri shouted, holding me like a rabid cat.
"I SAID LET GO!" I screamed, kicking. "You son of a bitch—don't touch me with your filthy hands!"
Then Yuri's hand brushed my right arm.
White‑hot pain shot up instantly.
"Ow!" I yelled, voice cracking.
Yuri froze.
David's eyes widened.
"Yuri, let her go," David said sharply. "She's hurt."
Yuri's whole face changed — shock, guilt, panic — and he immediately released me like I was burning his hands.
"FUCK!" I screamed, clutching my arm.
The room erupted.
David rushed to me first, gently taking my wrist. "Jay… why is there a cast on your arm?"
Silence.
Every single person in Section E turned toward me.
Keifer's entire expression collapsed.
"Jay, what happened?"
"How did it happen?"
"Are you okay?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Who hurt you?"
"Jay, look at me—are you in pain?"
Voices piled on top of each other, overlapping, panicked, desperate.
I stepped back, overwhelmed.
"STOP IT!" I yelled, the words ripping out of me. "I DON'T NEED YOUR FUCKING SYMPATHY!"
Silence.
And I didn't wait for anyone to recover.
I turned and walked out — fast, almost running — before anyone could grab me again
I pushed through the hallway
I climbed the stairs two at a time.
Then I pushed open the rooftop door and stepped into the cold air.
The moment the rooftop door clicked shut behind me, everything I'd been holding in finally cracked.
Tears spilled before I could stop them — hot, embarrassing, unstoppable.
I buried my face in my knees, trying to breathe, trying to calm down, trying not to fall apart completely.
"Jay."
David's voice.
Soft. Careful. Like he was approaching a wounded animal.
I wiped my tears away fast, pretending I wasn't crying even though my face was literally wet.
He crouched in front of me, eyes full of worry. "How did it happen?"
His voice was so gentle it made my throat tighten again.
I looked away, staring at the sky instead of his face.
"Me and Aries went to the mini‑market," I said, forcing the words out. "And someone tried to run me over. And in the process I got hurt."
David's whole expression changed.
Shock.
Fear.
Anger.
Guilt.
All at once.
"Jay…" he whispered, voice cracking. "Someone tried to—"
He stopped himself, jaw tightening like he was trying not to explode.
His hands curled into fists on his knees.
"Why didn't you tell us?" he asked, but it wasn't accusatory — it was broken. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I stood up, wiping the last of my tears with the back of my sleeve.
"What is there to tell?" I muttered. "I'm still alive."
I paused.
"Unfortunately."
Please don't say that."
I looked away, staring at the rooftop fence instead of his face.
Because if I looked at him, I'd break again.
David swallowed hard. "You're not… you're not 'unfortunately' alive. You're—" His voice cracked. "You're important. To me. To all of us."
I rolled my eyes, still wiping the last of the tears from my face when the rooftop door opened again.
Ci‑n stepped out, breathing hard like he ran all the way up.
"Jay… why didn't you tell us?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
David quietly slipped past him and left, giving me one last worried look before disappearing down the stairs.
Ci‑n took a few hesitant steps toward me.
"Jay, please talk to me," he said, voice cracking. "Jay, I know what we did was wrong… but please na, don't punish me like this."
I kept my eyes on the sky.
"Jay… you treat me like your brother," he whispered. "And I treated you like shit. I know that. I know I messed up. But please… don't shut me out like I'm nothing to you."
Something in me snapped — not in anger, but in that soft, painful place where love and hurt mix together until you can't tell which is which.
Before I could stop myself, my hand lifted and I wiped his tears away.
Ci‑n froze.
Then he broke completely.
"Sorry, Jay," he whispered, and he pulled me into a hug — tight, desperate, like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.
For a second, I didn't move.
Then I smiled — small, tired, but real — and hugged him back.
"It's ok, C," I said quietly.
His shoulders shook once, like he'd been holding that breath for days.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, eyes red, voice trembling.
"Trust me, Jay," he said. "I promise I won't hurt you again."
I nodded. "Let's go back to class."
Ci‑n's whole face lit up — like someone had just handed him back the sun he thought he lost. He wiped the last of his tears, straightened his uniform, and walked beside me, matching my pace like he was afraid to fall behind again.