POV: Jayjay
The plan was simple.
Go together.
Cause chaos on the way.
Surprise Hex.
Section E never followed simple.
The car ride alone was madness.
Drew and Blaster were arguing about music.
Ci-N was already planning which snacks to steal first.
Yuri was filming everything.
David was trying—and failing—to keep order.
Keifer leaned closer to me and said casually,
"You know, Jay, road trips hit different when you're sitting next to me."
I didn't look at him. "Keep talking and I'll open the door."
He smiled. "Worth it."
We stopped at a shop for snacks.
Chips.
Drinks.
Candy.
Way too much chocolate.
Hex was going to complain—and then eat everything.
As we pulled up to the house, something caught my eye.
A pink scooter parked neatly by the gate.
I stopped walking.
Blaster whistled. "Oooooh. Looks like Hex has a girlfriend."
"Ten-year-old with game," Drew added.
I didn't laugh.
My chest felt… tight.
The front door was slightly open.
I stepped closer, the boys right behind me.
Then I heard a girl's voice.
"…so have you told Jay about the smoothie incident?"
I froze.
Hex's voice followed, calm but tired.
"No need for that."
The girl scoffed.
"But you're being bullied by a ten-year-old, Charles."
"I'm not bullied," Hex said quickly. "He just spreads rumors."
The girl didn't let it go.
"Charles Navarro, he poured smoothies on your clothes and your hair. He stepped on your bag."
My fingers curled.
Keifer tapped my arm lightly and whispered,
"Jayjay… stay calm."
I whispered back, my voice shaking,
"Why didn't he tell me?"
The girl continued, sharper now.
"And don't forget yesterday. He broke your headset. Then he insulted you for not having anyone to pick you up."
Something inside me snapped.
I pushed the door open.
"What?"
Hex froze.
The girl beside him turned pale. I didn't know her. I'd never seen her before.
"Jay—" Hex started.
I walked in slowly, my hands shaking.
"You didn't tell me," I said. "You didn't tell me anything."
Hex looked down. "I didn't want to worry you."
"Worry me?" My voice cracked. "You stopped talking to me. You barely replied. And this is why?"
Keifer stepped closer to me and whispered, "Jayjay… breathe."
I shook my head.
I looked at Hex. "Why didn't you defend yourself?"
"He's just a kid," Hex said quickly.
"And why do you keep defending him?" I snapped. "This isn't you, Hex."
Hex's shoulders trembled.
"He's not bullying me," he insisted weakly. "He just… spreads rumors."
I laughed bitterly. "He humiliated you."
Silence.
Then Hex whispered, "Because I think he's my stepbrother."
My breath caught.
"What did you say?"
Hex's lips quivered. "I saw her."
The room went still.
"I saw my mom," he said, tears finally falling. "She picked him up from school."
Everyone froze.
Luna came down the stairs with Diego.
Aunty Katherine rushed in behind them.
"You saw… your mother?" Luna asked, stunned.
Hex nodded, crying now. "She didn't recognize me."
Jayjay's voice dropped to a whisper. "Hex… your mom is alive?"
Hex sobbed harder. "I think she left because of me."
"What?" I breathed.
"I was stubborn," he cried. "I talked back. I caused trouble. Lola used to say I was too difficult. Maybe Mama got tired."
"No," I said sharply. "That is not—"
"She hugged him," Hex continued, breaking. "She hugged Marco. And she looked at me like I was nothing."
Aunty Katherine covered her mouth. "Oh my God…"
Hex clutched his chest. "Maybe Marco is better. Maybe that's why she chose him."
I rushed forward. "Hex, look at me."
He didn't.
"I didn't tell you because," he sobbed, "if you knew… you'd hate her. And I don't want you to hate my mom."
My heart shattered.
"You carried this alone?" I whispered.
Hex nodded.
"I didn't want to be a burden," he said weakly. "I didn't want you to leave too."
I pulled him into my arms.
"You idiot," I whispered, crying. "I would never leave you."
His crying worsened—loud, painful, helpless.
"I tried to be quiet," he said between sobs. "I tried to be good."
Suddenly, his body went limp.
"Hex?" I panicked.
"Hex!" Luna shouted.
He collapsed in my arms.
"Call someone!" Katherine cried.
Keifer was already moving. "Jayjay, sit him down—now."
But Hex was unconscious.
And for the first time since I met him—
The boy who never broke… finally did
**Check comment for hex's pic**