JAY JAY POV
"Again, what the hell do you want?" I snapped, trying to sound tougher than I felt.
Keifer didn't rise to my bait. His eyes, which were burning with jealousy a second ago, suddenly narrowed. He stepped closer, his shadow completely swallowing me. Before I could move, his hand reached out, his long fingers hovering just inches from my face.
"What happened to your cheeks?" he asked. His voice was calm. Too calm. That deadly, quiet calm that made my hair stand on end. "It's red... as if someone slapped you."
I winced and tried to turn my head away, but he was faster. One hand caught my chin, gently but firmly forcing me to look at him. His thumb grazed the edge of the red mark Jeana had left, and I couldn't help the small intake of breath that escaped my lips.
"Why do you care?!" I asked again, my voice cracking. I managed to shove his chest with both hands, finally breaking his focus on my bruised cheek. I was annoyed, I was tired, and I was sick of everyone treating me as a doll in their life
Keifer's expression shifted instantly. The pity in his eyes vanished, replaced by that sharp, interrogating look
"What the hell were you and Jason talking about?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl.
"That's none of your business!" I shot back. I turned on my heel, ready to bolt back to the house
and lock myself in my room until next year.
But I didn't even get two steps.
Keifer's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back with so much force I lost my balance. I stumbled backward, my back hitting his rock-hard chest. The air left my lungs for a second.
"Let me go, asshole!" I screamed, twisting frantically in his grip.
"HELP! HELP ME!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, the sound echoing through the empty, midnight street.
Keifer flinched, looking around the darkened neighborhood before looking back at me like I'd lost my mind. "Are you crazy?!" he hissed, his grip tightening just enough to keep me still. "I didn't do anything to you yet!"
I stopped struggling and looked up at him, my eyes blazing with fury. I jabbed a finger toward his face. "Exactly! You didn't do anything YET!" I shouted, putting all my spice into that last word. "God knows what you will do! You're a Watson, Keifer! You're the King of a bunch of delinquents! You guys think 'talking' involves breaking bones!"
"I am trying to protect you!" he roared back, his face inches from mine. His breath was hot against my skin, and his eyes were wild, like he was barely holding back a storm.
"From what?!" I shouted back, matching his volume.
"I don't need anyone's protection! I can protect my own life!"
I was tired of being the "damsel" of Section E. Tired of being the prize everyone was fighting over while I was the one getting slapped and stalked.
"Why are you not understanding—" Keifer started, his voice thick with frustration, his hands reaching out to grab my shoulders again.
"FUCK YOU!" I yelled, shoving his hands away with every bit of strength I had left. "I don't understand why you keep coming to me after I told you to leave me alone! Is it really that hard for you?!"
Keifer froze. The "Demon" was gone, replaced by a ghost.
"Is it that hard to just let me breathe?!" I continued, my chest heaving so hard it hurt. The tears were flowing freely now, hot and bitter against the cold night air. "You already got what you need. You used me? Congrats. You made me cry? Congrats."
I grabbed his hand and shook it mockingly, my movements erratic and desperate. I was practically vibrating with a mix of rage and heartbreak.
"What else do you need?" I asked, my voice rising to a shrill, hysterical pitch. "For me to sleep with you? Is that the final piece of your plan?"
Keifer's entire body went rigid. His eyes widened, and for a second, he looked like I had slapped him harder than Jeana ever could. "I already told you," he said, his voice straining to stay level. "Just wait until I come back from London, then I will explain everything."
"Why can't you just explain it now?!" I screamed.
I waited. One second. Two seconds. The silence was deafening. He just stood there, his jaw locked, his eyes filled with a secret that was clearly more important than my sanity.
"Exactly," I whispered, laughing through my tears. It was a dry, ugly sound. "Exactly, Keifer. Your goal was simple from the beginning: use me. And now that you're successful, you want to create another plan. You need to keep me on a leash until you get back."
I stepped forward, jabbing a finger into his chest, right over his heart—if he even had one.
"Let me remind you, Keifer. I am NOT your extra-time activity. You can't just come and go whenever you want and use me for your fun time! I'm a person! I'm not a game for you to play when you're bored with Section E!"
"Jay-Jay, that's not—" He tried to reach for me, his expression desperate, his lips trembling as he tried to find the words to defend himself.
"Please don't," I sobbed, putting my hands up to block him. I couldn't look at him anymore. Every time I looked at his face, I saw the guy I thought protected me, but all I felt was the sting of being a fool.
"I really don't have the energy to listen to your crap or your lies anymore. Just go to London. Go and don't come back."
I didn't wait for him to respond. I turned around and ran
I slammed my bedroom door and leaned against it, the cold wood pressing against my back. I took a deep breath and savagely wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
Leche.
I wasn't supposed to cry in front of him. I was the one who was supposed to be tough
But in front of Keifer Watson, I was always just... Jay-Jay. The girl who gets hurt. The girl who gets left behind.
"That asshole," I whispered to the empty room, my voice shaking. "Stay in London. Don't ever try to come back. You're a piece of shit anyways."
The words felt like ash in my mouth. I wanted to believe them. I wanted to hate him so much that it would burn out the feeling in my chest. If I hated him, then his flight tomorrow wouldn't matter. If I hated him, then the secrets wouldn't hurt.
I crawled onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, my bag of noodles forgotten on the floor.
I wish I never loved you.
If I hadn't loved him, I'd still be the simple girl who just wanted to pass math and go to collage and live her simple life.
I wouldn't feel like my lungs were collapsing every time I thought about him on a plane.
Why is it like this? Why is it so easy to love somebody but so damn hard to forget them?
It only took a few months for Keifer to become my entire world. It took one look for him to make me feel safe. But now, it feels like it's going to take a lifetime to forget the way he looks in the moonlight, or the way he says my name like it's the only word that matters.
Text notification: Ding!
I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat. I grabbed my phone, thinking it was him. Expecting a final apology or an explanation.
From GagonBaliw: Crying makes your eyes red, my queen. But don't worry... I'll give you a reason to smile soon.
For someone reason I wanted to talk to him maybe he made me feel safe just like that asshole
I typed out a message, my thumb hovering over the send button for what felt like an hour.
To GagonBaliw: Have you ever loved someone?
Leche. What am I doing? I'm asking a stalker for relationship advice? I almost hit delete, but my finger slipped. Sent.
I held my breath, clutching the phone to my chest. My heart was pounding for a completely different reason now. I expected him to mock me, or say something perverted again. But the reply came back faster
From GagonBaliw: Yes. After my 2 exes, she came into my life. At first I hated her, as time went by I grew closer to her. She is my life and my everything. I would do anything for her. She is my life, my wife.
I stared at the phone for a full five seconds. Leche.
"Ewww! So corny!" I whispered, physically recoiling from the screen. My emotional drama from earlier almost evaporated just because of the sheer cringe. "Wife? Seryoso ba siya? He sounds like a Wattpad character who drank too much milk tea."
But then, the realization hit me. My eyes widened and I sat up straight on my bed. Wait a minute...
"Son of a puta," I hissed. My fingers flew across the keypad.
To: GagonBaliw Asshole, if you're married and you have a 'wife,' then why the hell are you texting me and calling me your Queen?! You're a cheater too?! 🤬🤬🤬
I gripped the phone, waiting. First Keifer uses me, then this guy—who I was actually starting to feel bad for—turns out to be some married guy playing around?
From GagonBaliw: I didn't say I was married in court, Jay-Jay. In my heart, she is already mine. But she doesn't know it yet.
To GagonBaliw: You're crazy. Seriously. Get professional help.
I stared at the screen, my heart beating against my ribs like a trapped bird.
From GagonBaliw: I am crazy. Crazy for you. 😉 Go to sleep, Queen. Black eyes don't suit you.
I touched the skin under my eyes. He was right—between the crying and the lack of sleep, I probably looked like a panda that got hit by a truck. But that wasn't the point.
To GagonBaliw: Who the hell are you?
I waited, holding my breath. I was tired of the "Queen" talk and the perverted emojis. I wanted a name. I wanted a face.
From GagonBaliw: I already told you, my queen—I'm your future. But if you want a clue… fine. I'm the only man who gets angry when someone else touches you. The only one who always finds you, no matter where you run. You should know me by now.
"Huh?" I whispered, squinting at the screen. "What the hell is that?"
I read it once. Twice. Three times.
The only man who gets angry when someone else touches you? That described almost every guy I dated Jason was pretty possessive but he doesn't need to have an fake number to contact me
The only one who always finds you, no matter where you run?
Fear and confusion tangled in my gut. My mind flashed to Keifer appearing at the mini-market. Then to Yuri appearing at the school gate. Then to the Ulupongs who seemed to be everywhere I'm.
"I don't understand," I groaned, throwing my head back against the pillow. This guy thought he was being romantic, but he was just giving me a migraine.
To GagonBaliw: I asked you who you were and you're giving me a riddle, asshole! I'm not good at it! Just tell me your name! 🤬🤬🤬
I waited for the "typing..." bubble, but the screen stayed dark. He was gone. He had dropped the bomb and left me to deal with the explosion.
I looked at the clue again.
Always finds you.Gets angry when someone else touches you.
My mind immediately went to the guy I had just screamed at. SLEEP JAY DON"T WORRY ABOUT HIM HE IS AN ASSHOLE
I woke up the next morning feeling like I had been run over by a tractor. My cheek was still a bit tender, and my eyes felt heavy, but I didn't care. I looked at the clock.
9:30 AM.
By now, that asshole is probably already boarding his flight. Good. Let him go to London and be the King of Big Ben or whatever. I don't need a King who keeps secrets.
"Jay, don't think about him," I muttered to my reflection as I brushed my hair, trying to ignore the way my hand shook when I thought about him sitting in that plane seat. "Focus, Jay-Jay. Focus."
I had better things to focus on. Like Aries.
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💙🔥 QUESTION TIME — I NEED YOUR OPINION 🔥💙
Guys, be honest with me 😭✨
Do you want Aries and Ella back together…
OR do you want someone new for Aries 👀🔥
Please comment — your answers will decide his future 😭💙
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Who watched Ep 8 and cried… because SAME 😭💔 I was not prepared at all.
And guys… I'm REALLY not ready for the next episode. Not only is it the last, but it's also the most emotional chapter of the whole series 😭🔥
Even though Keifer has his reasons, watching Jay cry absolutely broke me 😭💙 I was getting mad at Keifer even though I knew how heartbroken he was too.
I'm sorry but… I genuinely feel bad for both Jay and Keifer. They're both hurting in different ways and it's PAINFUL to watch 😭💔🔥
I really hope Season 3 comes soon 😭🔥 I know Season 2 isn't even finished yet, but I'm praying they already started working on Season 3… or at least planned Season 2 and 3 together 😭💙✨