JAY JAY POV
2 MONTHS LATER
Life has been a total whirlwind over the past two months. If you had told the "London version" of me that I'd survive sixty days in Section E without losing my mind—or my dignity—I would have called you insane. But here I am, still standing, and somehow more entangled in the chaos of HVIS than ever before.
The boys in Section E and I have grown incredibly close. They treat me like family, and honestly, I've realized that behind all the "bad boy" reputations and the leather jackets, they're just a bunch of dorks who really needed someone to keep them in line.
Especially Ci-N. He is hands down the most childish person I've ever met. Half the time, I forget he's a literal genius because he acts so profoundly dumb whenever he's around me. If he's not following me around asking for snacks, he's accidentally tripping over his own feet or getting into an argument with a vending machine. But he's like the younger brother I never asked for—always there when I need help, and usually the first one to defend me when trouble comes knocking.
Then there's Keifer.
Things with Keifer are... well, they're a mood. We haven't slapped a label on it, but he definitely stakes his claim. Between the specific lollipop flavors left on my desk and the way he acts like a human shield whenever another guy so much as looks my way, it's pretty clear where we stand. And Jare? My twin is a total goner. Watching him and Mia pine for each other is like watching a soap opera with no "end" button.
I was wandering around the park today, just trying to get some headspace. The Manila heat was actually bearable for once, and for a few minutes, I wasn't thinking about Section E or my confusing non-relationship with a certain Lollipop King.
Then I spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench. It was Kit.
I walked over to him, my sneakers crunching on the dry grass. "Hey, Kit," I said, trying to sound casual.
He jumped slightly, wiping his face with the back of his hand before looking up. "Hey, Jay-Jay," he croaked.
I stopped in my tracks. His face was pale, and his usual high-energy vibe was completely extinguished. I sat down next to him
"Were you crying?" I asked him directly.
Kit shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. "No... why would you say that?"
I narrowed my eyes, leaning in to get a better look at him. "Red eyes, voice breaking. Come on, Kit. I've lived with Jare, my whole life—I know when a guy is trying to hide his feelings."
Kit let out a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping as he finally gave up the act. He looked smaller than usual, like the weight of whatever was bothering him was literally crushing him.
"Is it about your family?" I asked softly. "Or school?"
He didn't answer right away. He just stared at his shoes, his hands trembling slightly in his lap. For a second, I thought about calling Keifer or Yuri, but something told me that right now, he just needed a friend
"It's just..." Kit started, his voice cracking again. "Everything feels like it's falling apart, Jay. And I don't know how to fix it."
"You know Mayo, right?" Kit asked, his voice barely a whisper.
I felt a sharp pang in my chest. I knew there was a vibe between those two—the way they were always bickering but never left each other's side—but I didn't realize it had gone this deep, or that the stakes were this high.
I nodded slowly, putting the pieces together. "Relationship problems?" I asked, trying to keep my voice gentle.
Kit nodded, a fresh tear tracking down his cheek. "Mayo and I were in a relationship, and my family got to know about it. You know... they weren't really supportive of me being gay."
The weight of his words hit me like a physical blow. Suddenly, all of Kit's childish antics and high-pitched energy made sense—it was a shield.
"Kit, I'm so sorry," I said, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. "That's... that's incredibly tough. What did they do?"
"They're threatening to pull me out of HVIS," he choked out, his hands clenching into fists on his lap. "They told me if I don't 'fix' myself and break up with Mayo, they're sending me away. They think Section E is a bad influence, but they don't realize... this is the only place I actually feel like I can be myself."
I felt a lump form in my throat. This was so much messier than just a simple breakup. It wasn't just about his parents anymore; it was about the fracture between him and the person he cared about most.
"And Mayo?" I asked softly. "Does he know why you're pushing him away?"
Kit let out a long, ragged sigh, fresh tears welling up in his eyes. "He knows we had an argument. He told me... he said that I can't even stand up for him. That I'm too scared to take his side."
I winced. I could practically hear Mayo's voice saying that—out of hurt and frustration, not realizing that Kit wasn't just fighting a choice, but his entire family's expectations.
"He thinks I'm ashamed of him, Jay-Jay," Kit choked out, burying his face in his hands. "But I'm not. I'm just... I'm terrified of losing him and my future all at once. If I stand up to them, they take me away, and then I lose him anyway. I don't know how to be brave when the price is everything."
I shifted closer and put an arm around his shaking shoulders. "He doesn't see the cage you're in, Kit. He just sees the bars. You have to tell him the truth. You can't let him think it's because of him."
"How?" he whispered, sounding so small. "He's so mad at me. He won't even look at me in class."
"Jay," Kit said suddenly, his voice taking on a weird, desperate edge.
"Hmm?" I hummed, watching him closely.
"Make me a real man. Maybe then I can actually face this situation," Kit said.
I blinked, completely thrown. "Make you a real man, huh?" I asked, my London brain trying to process what kind of weird training montage he was expecting.
"Kiss me," he said, shifting closer and bringing his face toward mine.
I didn't panic. I didn't even flinch. I just calmly closed my fingers and held up a solid, ready-to-go fist right between our faces.
"Do you want to kiss my fist instead?" I asked him, my voice flat and unimpressed. "Because I can promise you, it's a very 'manly' experience. You'll probably see stars and everything."
Kit froze for a second, stared at my knuckles, and then burst out laughing. It wasn't that fake, shaky laugh from before; it was a real, wheezing Kit-laugh that made his whole body shake.
"You're violent, Jay-Jay! No wonder Keifer likes you," he gasped, wiping his eyes—this time from laughter.
"Why are you bringing Keifer into this?" I asked, sounding way more annoyed than I intended. My face felt like it had suddenly been placed in front of a space heater.
Kit grinned, that familiar mischievous glint returning to his eyes. For a second, the heartbroken boy from five minutes ago was gone, replaced by the Section E gossip-monger I knew and tolerated.
"Because it's obvious, Jay-Jay!" he teased, poking my arm. "He's been acting like a possessed bodyguard ever since you stepped foot in our building. And you—don't even try to deny it—you get all flustered every time someone mentions his name."
"I do not get flustered! It's the humidity! I've told you people a thousand times!" I snapped, waving my hand dismissively. "And he's not a bodyguard, he's just… bossy. He thinks everything in a five-mile radius belongs to him."
"Including you," Kit sang out, ducking away before I could actually use that fist I'd shown him earlier.
"Whatever," I muttered, looking away to hide the fact that he was 100% right. "We aren't talking about my disastrous life. We're talking about yours. Are you going to tell Mayo the truth, or do I have to drag him to your house and make him listen?"
Kit's expression softened again, the weight of reality settling back onto his shoulders. "I'll tell him. I just… I need to find the right time. Somewhere private where he can't start a scene."
"Just don't wait too long, Kit," I warned
I stood up and brushed the grass off my jeans. "Come on. Let's get out of here. If Keifer finds out I spent my afternoon in the park with you, he'll probably try to ban parks next."
"See!" Kit laughed, hopping up to follow me. "You're doing it again! You just mentioned him without me even saying anything!"
"I hate you, Kit. I really do."
After my heavy conversation with Kit, I headed home, my mind still reeling from everything he'd told me. I barely had time to kick off my shoes and slump onto the couch before my phone started buzzing.
I looked at the screen. Of course. The King of Assholes.
"What?" I answered, not even bothering with a hello.
"Nothing," Keifer's voice rumbled on the other end, sounding low and annoyingly smooth. "Just wanted to hear your voice. So, what are you doing for Christmas?"
I leaned back against the cushions, staring at the ceiling. "Nothing much. I was thinking of going back to London to see Mama and Papa."
"Hmm," was all he said.
"Hmm, what?" I asked, my brows knitting together. "Don't just 'hmm' me, Keifer. What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," he started, and I could practically hear the smirk on his face through the speaker, "that London is a very long way away. And it's very cold. You really want to leave all this tropical sunshine behind?"
"I miss my parents, you idiot," I countered, though my heart did a stupid little flutter at the thought of him actually caring whether I stayed or not. "Besides, Jare and I haven't spent a Christmas away from them, ever. It's a family tradition."
"Traditions are meant to be broken, London," Keifer said. "Or updated. I was thinking... maybe you should stay here. My mom is already planning a massive dinner, and she's mentioned your name about fifty times today. I think she prefers you to her own sons."
I let out a short laugh. "Tita Serina just wants someone to help her with the gardening. Don't let it get to your head. Why? Would the King of Section E actually miss me if I left?"
There was a brief silence on the line—the kind of silence that usually meant Keifer was weighing whether to be an asshole or actually be honest.
"I don't like it when things that belong in my sight aren't there," he finally muttered.
"I'm not a 'thing,' Keifer," I snapped, though I was smiling at my reflection in the darkened TV screen. "But I'll think about it. If the cold in London starts sounding too depressing, maybe I'll stick around to keep you out of trouble."
"Good," he said. "Because I've already bought your gift. And it's too heavy to ship to England."
I nearly jumped out of my skin. In all the chaos of Jare walking in, I had completely forgotten I was still holding the phone to my ear with Keifer on the other end.
"Jay-Jay!" Jare called out, strolling into the living room with that annoying "older twin" energy.
"Yes?" I squeaked, trying to act casual while simultaneously trying to hide the phone behind my hair.
"Who is the gift for?" Jare asked, holding up a shopping bag he'd clearly intercepted near the front door. He pulled out a large decorative jar stuffed to the brim with gourmet lollipops and a smaller, sleek box that definitely contained the expensive watch I'd heard Keifer yapping about a few weeks ago.
"Nobody!" I snapped, lunging forward and snatching the bag out of his hands like a hawk.
"Jay, why is there a bunch of—" Jare started, his eyes glinting with that irritating 'twin intuition.'
"Shut up!" I hissed. I could feel my face turning a shade of red that probably rivaled Yuri's hair.
Realizing that Keifer was still on the line—which meant he'd just heard Jare interrogate me about his own presents—I panicked and tapped the "End Call" button so hard I nearly cracked the screen.
Jare didn't back down. Instead, a slow, teasing smirk spread across his face—the same one he uses right before he makes my life a living hell. "Is it for him?" Jare asked, putting a ridiculous amount of emphasis on the word.
"Jare!" I warned, pointing a double-barrel finger at him.
"So it is for Keifer," Jare concluded, looking entirely too smug.
"It's a Christmas present, Kuya! Can't I even give a present to someone without it being a federal investigation?" I groaned, clutching the bag to my chest.
"A gift? Jay, you're basically funding his entire personality," Jare teased, dodging the pillow I threw at his head. "Lollipops and a watch? You might as well just get him a crown while you're at it."
I flip him off and went to my room
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