JAY JAY POV
The hallway felt longer than usual as I stood in front of Aries' room.
I raised my hand and knocked. Tok. Tok.
"Aries?" I called out, my voice softer than I liked to admit. "Can I come in?"
No answer. I waited, counting the seconds. My heart was thumping.
Tok. Tok. "Aries, don't make me stay out here. My legs are getting tired and I'm still hungry."
Then, I heard a soft click.
The doorknob turned slowly. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Good, you opened it, or I would've broken the door.
I rolled my eyes at my own thought. Just kidding. Aries would probably kill me if I actually did that, and knowing my luck, I'd just break my foot and he'd have to carry me to the hospital while laughing at me.
The door creaked open just a crack. I didn't wait for an invitation; I pushed it open and stepped inside.
The room was dim, the curtains drawn tight. Aries was sitting on the edge of his bed, his back to me. He looked smaller somehow.
"Aries," I said, closing the door quietly behind me. I walked over and sat on the floor right in front of him, forcing him to look at me. "Still alive?"
He didn't look up at first. His hands were clasped together, his knuckles white against his tan skin. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice sounding flat.
"I'm just here to check on my brother," I said simply.
He finally looked up and a small, tired smile played on his lips. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me. Besides, you have school today. Why are you not there?"
I crossed my arms and leaned against his desk. "Tss. Horoscope, we're skipping school today. Do you want to go to the amusement park?"
Aries' eyes narrowed and he glared at me, the old spark of annoyance finally returning to his face. "Call me a horoscope one more time—"
"So, yes! We're going to the amusement park!" I interrupted him, ignoring his threat. In this house, if you wait for permission, you'll be waiting until the next century. "We can call Percy; he will drive us there."
I reached out and grabbed his hands, pulling him toward a standing position. I could feel the tension slowly leaving his shoulders. This was what we needed—Just us and some overpriced cotton candy.
"Wear something new and shower," I said, suddenly letting go and holding my nose with a theatrical grimace. "You kind of stink, Aries."
"You little—!" He raised his hand as if to smack the back of my head, but I was already halfway out the door, laughing.
"Hurry up while I call Percy!" I yelled back into the room before slamming the door.
I stood in the hallway for a second, catching my breath. I felt like I was juggling a hundred grenades, and if one dropped, everything would blow up. But for Aries, I had to keep going.
I dialed Percy.
"Baby sistah! Miss me?" he answered immediately, his voice practically vibrating with his usual confidence. "Or maybe you just miss my handsome face?"
I rolled my eyes so hard I'm surprised they didn't get stuck. "Idiot. Pick me up. And also, Aries is coming."
"My baby Aries is coming?! Oh, I'm so excited!" Percy said, his voice going ten octaves higher. I could almost see him doing a little dance on the other side of the phone.
"Asshole, we're going to an amusement park," I interrupted, cutting through his drama.
"An amusement park?!" Percy gasped over the phone, his voice echoing with surprise. "Omo! Jay-Jay, are you sure Aries will enjoy that? He's more of a reading and learning guy. You know he'd rather be memorizing a dictionary than riding a roller coaster."
I leaned against the wall and lowered my voice, looking toward Aries' closed door. "Aries and Ella broke up," I said quietly, the weight of the words making my chest tighten. "We have to bring his mood up, Percy. He's stuck in his head and I can't let him stay there."
There was a brief silence on the other end as Percy processed the news. The usual playful banter disappeared, replaced by the protective loyalty of the Kings.
"Yup. On my way, baby sistah," he said, his tone suddenly determined.
He cut the call before I could say anything else. I knew Percy; he was probably already drifting his car out of his driveway.
I let out a long breath and went to my room to get ready. I pulled on a comfortable hoodie and my sneakers, trying to ignore the reflection in the mirror
When I got downstairs, Aries was already by the door. He looked a bit more present than before, though his eyes still had that hollow look that came with a fresh breakup.
"Let's go," I said, hitting his arm. "Percy is probably scaring the neighbors with his car right now."
Just as I said that, a loud, rhythmic honking echoed from the street. Beep-beep-beep-beeeeeeep!
"Speak of the devil," Aries muttered, a tiny ghost of a smile appearing on his face.
We walked out to find Percy's bright, polished car idling at the curb. Percy was leaning out the window, wearing sunglasses even though it was partly cloudy, looking like he was about to film a music video.
"My favorite siblings!" Percy shouted, waving his hand dramatically. "Get in! The chariot of the handsome Percy awaits!"
Aries climbed into the back seat without a word, and I hopped into the front. Percy looked at me, and for a split second, his playful eyes searched mine.
We piled into the car, but the moment I slumped into the passenger seat, I realized the "trio" I had planned was actually a quartet. Jare was sitting in the back, looking far too smug for someone who wasn't invited.
I turned to Percy and immediately pinched his arm as hard as I could.
"OWWWW!" Percy yelled, the car swerving slightly. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Asshole! You didn't tell me Jare was coming!" I shouted, reaching over to pinch him again.
"It was a SURPRISE!" Percy squealed, trying to dodge my fingers while keeping his hands on the wheel. I didn't care. I pinched his shoulder this time.
"OWWW!" Percy wailed dramatically. "Baby Aries, look! Look at what our baby sistah is doing to me! I'm being abused! Help your favorite hyung!"
Aries, who had been staring out the window, finally turned to look at the chaos. A small, genuine smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched Percy squirm.
"Jay, he's driving," Aries said, sighing dramatically. "Don't pinch him now—he might get us into an accident. Just wait and punch him after we reach the amusement park. It's safer for everyone."
I stopped mid-pinch and grinned. "I like that idea. Good thinking, Horoscope."
"Wow! My own siblings ganging up on me!" Percy cried, putting a hand over his heart as if he'd been stabbed. "I'm the one providing the transportation, the gas, and this world-class beauty, and this is the thanks I get? Jare, back me up here!"
Jare just chuckled from the back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Sorry, Perce. I'm with the Barakuda on this one. You really can't keep a secret to save your life."
Percy burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking as he gripped the steering wheel. "Barakuda! Hahaha! It fits so well, Jare!"
I shot Jare a murderous look, my face heating up. "You idiot! That was one time I drank too much and acted a little wild!" I yelled at him. "Stop bringing up that nickname!"
"It's okay, sis," Jare said, his voice dropping into that annoying 'superior older brother' tone. "Besides, you will sacrifice your pride eventually when—"
He started to say something else, but I didn't let him finish. I grabbed a pen I found in the dashboard storage and chucked it straight at his head.
"OW! What the hell?! Where are you getting a pen from?" Jare asked, rubbing his forehead as the pen bounced off his seat.
"It was in the front. Use it to write down 'Mind your own business'," I said simply, turning back around.
Aries, who had been listening intently, leaned forward with a confused frown. "Wait... Jare. I heard that Jenna had twins, but I didn't know you were the second twin."
"I'm the eldest," Jare corrected him, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know me. Grandpa wanted to keep our identities safe. That's why he sent Jay to the Philippines—to make sure she was hidden. Which, if you ask me, was a completely dumb idea."
The atmosphere in the car shifted instantly. The joking air evaporated, replaced by the heavy tension of the Mariano family secrets.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Aries asked, his confusion turning into suspicion.
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. My hands started to shake. This was exactly what I wanted to avoid today.
"JARE!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Enough! I already told you not to bring that matter up!"
Jare looked at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and warning. "Jay, he's going to find out eventually. Everyone is finding out what our so called mother did"
"I said SHUT UP!" I screamed, hitting the dashboard.
The car went dead silent. Even Percy stopped humming. The only sound was the wind rushing past the windows and my own jagged breathing.
"Jay-Jay..." Aries reached out, his hand hovering near my shoulder, but he didn't touch me. He looked scared—not of me, but for me.
"Percy, just drive," I whispered, staring straight ahead at the road. "Please. Just get us to the park."
Percy didn't say another word. He just stepped on the gas.
I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, trying to let the vibration of the car numb the static in my brain.
What our so-called mother did.
Jare's words felt like physical weights individualizing themselves on my chest. I could feel Aries' eyes on the side of my face, burning with a thousand questions he was too afraid to ask. He deserved the truth, but how could I give it to him when the truth was a poison that had already ruined my life?
The car ride continued in a suffocating silence. Percy, for once, didn't try to make a joke. He just kept his eyes glued to the pavement, driving faster than usual.
Ten minutes felt like ten years. Finally, the colorful tops of the Ferris wheel and the winding tracks of the roller coasters appeared on the horizon.
"We're here," Percy said softly, pulling into the parking lot.
I wiped my face, making sure there was no trace of the breakdown I just had. I forced a smile—the kind of smile that didn't reach my eyes but usually fooled Section E.
"Okay!" I said, clapping my hands together with forced energy. "Amusement park! Aries, you're the first one on the most terrifying ride they have. Jare, you're paying for everything because you're the 'eldest' and you have a big mouth."
Jare sighed, his anger fading into a look of deep regret. He reached over the seat and ruffled my hair, but I pulled away.
"Deal," Jare muttered.
Aries climbed out of the car, still looking at me with that guarded, worried expression. "Jay-Jay... if you want to go home, we can."
"Home?" I laughed, though it sounded a bit hollow. "And miss seeing you scream like a little girl on the Viking? Not a chance, Horoscope. Let's go!"
I leaned against the railing, clutching my stomach because I was laughing so hard. Seeing the my "serious" elder brothers lose their minds was the therapy I didn't know I needed.
"You three are so pathetic!" I wheezed, pointing at Percy, who was currently leaning against a trash can, looking slightly green
"It wasn't... the gravity..." Percy managed to choke out, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "It was the centrifugal force... and the fact that I saw my life flash before my eyes. My handsome face almost flew off!"
Jare was adjusting his shirt, trying to look composed, but his hand was still shaking as he tried to put his glasses back on. "I wasn't screaming, Jay-Jay. I was... vocalizing my disapproval of the safety restraints."
"Liar!" I shouted. "You yelled 'Mama!' when we did the second loop!"
"I did not!"
"You totally did!"
Aries, who was finally getting his breath back, straightened his hoodie and glared at me. "Ha ha ha ha," he said sarcastically, though a faint blush was creeping up his neck. "You're so funny, Jay. Let's see how much you laugh when we go on the ride I pick."
"Bring it on, Horoscope!" I challenged, sticking my tongue out.
For a split second, looking at Aries' annoyed but lively face, I forgot about everything
"Fine," Aries said, his eyes glinting with a bit of the old mischief. "The Haunted House. No running, no hitting the actors, and no using me as a shield."
"Deal!" I said, though my confidence wavered for a second.
As we started walking toward the giant, creepy-looking mansion at the end of the path, Jare hung back a little, walking beside me.
"Jay," he said quietly, his voice serious again. "I'm sorry about earlier. In the car. I shouldn't have..."
"Don't," I said, not looking at him. "Just... give me today, Jare"
Jare looked at me for a long time, then nodded slowly
"You ready, baby sistah?" Percy asked, having recovered enough to start teasing me again. "If you get scared, you can hold my hand. I won't tell anyone you were crying."
"In your dreams, Percy. You'll be the one crying when a zombie jumps out at you."
By the time we made it out of the haunted house, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purples and oranges. The park was glowing now, lit up by thousands of neon lights.
The three of them were doubled over laughing at me.
"I didn't use you as a shield!" I defended myself, though my face was red. "I was just... checking if your hoodie was made of high-quality material!"
"You screamed so loud the animatronic zombie actually looked confused, Jay-Jay!" Percy wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye.
Aries was shaking his head, a genuine grin on his face. "You literally tried to climb onto my back when that guy with the chainsaw appeared."
"Whatever!" I huffed, crossing my arms.
We were walking toward the food stalls when Aries, who was still looking back at me to mock me, bumped hard into someone coming from the opposite direction.
"Idiot! Watch where you're going!" the girl yelled, stumbling back. She had sharp eyes
Aries straightened up, his brow furrowing. "You watch where you're going! I was walking here."
"Asshole! Learn how to treat a girl!" she snapped, stepping closer and looking like she was ready to throw hands.
"Learn how to talk like a girl!" Aries shot back, his competitive streak flaring up.
The girl's eyes narrowed into slits. "Are you calling me a man?!"
"I don't know," Aries said, looking her up and down with an annoying shrug. "You tell me—are you a man or a woman?"
"Enough!" I shouted, stepping between them before Aries got himself slapped again—or worse, before he actually started a street fight in the middle of an amusement park.
I looked at the girl. My jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Amy? OMG, is that you?!" I asked, my voice high with disbelief.
The girl stopped glaring at Aries and blinked at me. Her expression softened instantly, shifting from 'ready to kill' to 'total shock.'
"Jay-Jay?" Amy's eyes widened. "OMG, you're Jay! You're really here!"
Before I could say anything else, she lunged forward and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
I hugged her back, laughing, while the guys stood there looking completely lost.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Aries asked, sounding annoyed that his "argument" had been interrupted.
"She's my friend, Horoscope! Behave!" I yelled over my shoulder.
I pulled back from Amy, looking at her. She looked great
"Care to introduce us to her?" Aries asked, his arms crossed as he continued to eye Amy like she was some kind of suspicious intruder.
"Yeah, sure," I said, pulling Amy closer. "Everyone, this is my old friend Amy. She goes to Holy Shits—I mean, Saints."
Percy snorted at my slip of the tongue, while Jare just gave a polite nod.
"Amy, these are my brothers." I said, pointing them out one by one. "That's Jare, that's Percy, and the one looking like he's about to lecture us is Aries."
Amy gave a sweet, bubbly smile to Percy and Jare. But when her eyes landed on Aries, her expression flattened faster than a pancake. She just rolled her eyes and looked away.
Aries scoffed. "The feeling is mutual, believe me."
"Jay, what school are you going to now?" Amy asked, turning her back on the guys to focus on me.
"I'm going to HVIS," I answered.
Amy's eyes lit up. "Really? Me too! I'm transferring over there starting next week!"
"That's good! What section?" I asked. If she was in Section E, we could cause some serious trouble together.
"Section A," she replied proudly.
The moment the words left her mouth, Aries made a face like he'd just swallowed a lemon. "Eww. You're the girl they informed me about?" he groaned.
Amy shot him a sharp, deadly look. "What's that supposed to mean, 'that girl'?"
"He is the President of Section A," I said to Amy, trying to suppress a laugh.I could already see the fireworks
"Wait, he's the President?" Amy asked, pointing at Aries with a look of pure disbelief. "HVIS must be desperate. Do they just hand out titles to anyone with a bad attitude?"
"Listen here, transfer student," Aries stepped forward, his President-mode activating. "Section A is for the elite. If you're going to be in my class, you better learn to keep your mouth shut and follow the rules."
"Rules?" Amy laughed. "I've spent five minutes with you and I already want to break every rule you've ever written."
"Aries, stop bullying her!" I yelled, shoving him back.
"I'm not bullying! I'm… orienting her!" Aries defended himself.
While the two of them continued to bicker, my eyes strayed toward the bright lights of the Ferris wheel. Two figures were standing near the entrance, and my heart nearly stopped.
"Jare, is that Ella and Freya?" I asked, grabbing Jare's arm.
Jare looked at where I was pointing. His jaw tightened instantly. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.
This was exactly what we were trying to avoid. One day. I just wanted one day without the drama
Then Percy saw her.
"FREYA BABY!" Percy shouted, his face lighting up as he practically skipped toward Freya, forgetting all about his nausea and his "handsome reputation."
Then Aries saw Ella.
The playful smirk he'd had while arguing with Amy vanished in a heartbeat. His whole body went stiff. Ella was walking toward him, her head down, looking like she'd been crying for days.
Aries turned around immediately, his face pale. "Jay, let's go. Now."
He tried to grab my hand to lead me away, but Percy was already in the way, blocking our path while clinging to Aries' arm like a toddler.
"Aries baby, please! Let me talk to Freya!" Percy begged, hugging Aries tightly so he couldn't run. "Just five minutes! Ten minutes! I need to explain her some things"
Aries let out a long, heavy sigh that sounded like it came from the depths of his soul. He looked at Percy, who was pouting with puppy-dog eyes, and then at Ella, who was now only a few feet away.
"Fine," Aries snapped, pushing Percy off him. "Go talk to her. But please, for the love of God, don't touch me again."
Percy didn't wait. He bolted toward Freya with a giant grin.
Amy, Jare, and I stood there awkwardly as Ella stopped in front of Aries.
"Aries," Ella whispered, her voice trembling.
Aries looked at her with eyes so cold I almost shivered. I had never seen him look at anyone like that—especially not her. "I already told you we were done."
"Aries, please understand! I had to explain to Yuri that—" Ella started, her hands reaching out for him.
"Look, Ella," Aries interrupted, his voice sharp. "You could've told me that you wanted to talk to Yuri. I would've been fine. But you decided to go behind my back."
"Aries, please… I love you," Ella said, tears finally spilling over.
"That's what you told Yuri," Aries said, stepping back as if her love was something poisonous.
I felt a pang of guilt watching them, but Amy, who was standing right next to me, didn't seem to share the sentiment. She leaned in, her eyes fixed on Ella with pure judgment.
"That girl needs to get a hint," Amy whispered to me, loud enough for it to be a risk. "Your brother clearly doesn't want to talk to her."
I almost laughed because of Amy's expression—she looked like she was watching a pathetic villain in a soap opera. But my heart skipped a beat when Ella's head snapped toward us.
"You? Who are you?" Ella asked, her voice turning from defensive to aggressive as she glared at Amy.
Oh shit.
I knew that look. I knew Amy. This was the recipe for a disaster. Amy will definitely get into a fight, and knowing her, she won't hold back.
"Me?" Amy stepped forward, crossing her arms over her chest and giving Ella a look that could melt steel. "I'm the person wondering why you're still talking when he clearly told you to get lost. Do you have a hearing problem or just a pride problem?"
"Amy, wait—" I tried to interject, but Jare caught my arm, shaking his head. He knew it was too late.
"You're just some new girl," Ella hissed, stepping closer to Amy. "You don't know anything about us. Stay out of it."
"I know enough to see a girl begging for someone who's over her," Amy shot back with a smirk. "And honey, it's not a good look. Especially not at an amusement park."
But Aries was faster. He stepped into the gap, his tall frame cutting off her path to Amy. He didn't just move; he moved as if protectively shielding Amy from the blow.
"Ella, stop!" Aries growled. His voice was deep and dangerous, the kind of tone he only used when he was truly at his limit. "Don't involve other people in this. Just leave. Now."
The air felt like it was buzzing with electricity. People passing by were slowing down, whispering and pointing. I glanced over at Percy. He was still several yards away, standing in front of Freya. But he wasn't his usual bubbly self. Even from here, I could see his slumped shoulders. He looked just as broken as Aries—
"So you're protecting her now?" Ella asked, her voice high and shrill, tears streaking her makeup. "You're choosing some stranger over me?"
"I'm choosing my sanity, Ella!" Aries shouted back.
"He's protecting me because I'm actually making sense," Amy muttered, undeterred by the drama.
Percy had finally walked back to us, his eyes red and his usual "handsome" swagger completely deflated. He looked like a balloon that had lost all its air.
"Let's go home, guys," I said, my voice shaking.
Percy looked at me, his expression uncharacteristically somber. "Jay... we're going to Kingground," he said quietly.
My heart dropped into my stomach. King's ground.