The first thing Jay felt—
was the weight.
Not pain.
Not weakness.
But presence.
Voices.
Breathing.
People.
Her fingers twitched.
The steady beeping of the monitor filled the silence—
until—
her eyes slowly opened.
The white ceiling blurred for a second before settling.
"…Where…"
Her voice came out dry.
Barely there.
And in the next second—
everything exploded.
"JAY!"
Kuya Angelo was the first to reach her.
Tita Gema right behind him.
Her mom froze for half a second—
before rushing forward.
"Are you okay?!""Can you hear me?""Say something properly—"
Jay blinked slowly.
Still adjusting.
"…You're loud."
Silence.
Then—
her mom's expression changed.
"Loud?" she repeated.
Slow.
Dangerous.
Jay realized.
Too late.
"…I mean—present."
"JAY."
Yeah.
No escape.
"Look at yourself," her mom said, voice shaking now."Bandages, IV, you were unconscious for hours—"
Jay shifted slightly.
Winced.
"…I've had worse."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT."
Percy stepped in.
"You disappeared."
Aries added,
"You got kidnapped."
Kuya Angelo crossed his arms.
"And then you fought like you had nothing to lose."
Jay opened her mouth—
"Don't," her mom warned.
She closed it again.
Kuya Angelo stepped closer.
"Come here."
Jay immediately shook her head.
"…No."
"Come. Here."
"…Why?"
He didn't answer.
That was worse.
Jay slowly leaned forward—
just a little—
Flick.
"OW—!"
He grabbed her ear.
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?" he snapped.
"OKAY—WAIT—WAIT—"
"You think you can just walk into danger and walk out like nothing happened?"
"IT HURTS—"
"GOOD."
Jay grabbed his wrist.
Trying to pull away.
"…Kuya—seriously—"
"Did you think about ANYONE here?"
She froze for a second.
"…I did."
"Then why did you fight alone?"
She didn't answer.
Her grip loosened slightly.
"…Kuya…"
Pause.
"…sorry?"
Her voice dropped.
Softer.
Smaller.
Kuya Angelo paused.
Just a second.
Jay noticed immediately.
"…Please let go…"
She blinked slowly.
"…It really hurts…"
Tita Gema sighed.
"Angelo, leave her—she just woke up."
Her mom exhaled sharply.
Kuya Angelo clicked his tongue—
but let go.
Jay instantly held her ear.
"…That was unnecessary…"
"Next time I won't hold back," he replied.
"…Abuse," she muttered.
"NO—DON'T LET HER SWITCH THE MOOD—"
Kit pointed at her like she committed a crime.
"You nearly died!" MJ snapped.
Kavin shook his head.
"That was reckless."
Gorya stepped closer.
"…Why didn't you wait for us?"
Kanning added quietly,
"…We were right there."
Aum crossed his arms.
"…You don't carry everything alone anymore."
Jay looked at all of them.
Then—
tilted her head slightly.
"…You're all done?"
"NO—"
Jay leaned back into the pillow.
Slow.
Careful.
"…My arm hurts."
Instant shift.
Gorya's expression softened.
"Of course it does—look at—"
MJ turned.
"…Don't fall for that."
Jay looked at him.
"…You're loud too."
Kit gasped.
"DON'T INSULT US—"
"…I'm injured," Jay added quietly.
Aum muttered,
"…She's weaponizing it."
The room shifted slightly.
Keifer stepped forward.
He hadn't spoken yet.
That made it worse.
"…You're done?" Jay asked quietly.
"…No."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"You don't get to brush this off."
Jay looked at him.
"…I didn't brush anything."
"You couldn't even stand properly."
"…I managed."
"And if you didn't wake up?"
Silence.
Jay looked away slightly.
"…They were going to hurt you."
That slipped out.
Too honest.
Keifer stepped closer.
"And what happens if you're not there next time?"
Jay didn't answer
She shifted slightly.
Then—
slowly—
reached out—
grabbed his sleeve.
"…Sit."
Keifer:
"…Jay—"
"…Please?"
That tone.
He exhaled.
Then sat.
Immediately—
she leaned into him slightly.
"…Still mad?" she asked quietly.
"…Yes."
"…Liar."
The air changed again.
Aria stepped forward.
"This is exactly why she gets away with it."
Leon added,
"…Emotional manipulation."
Jay glanced at them.
"…I'm just talking."
Dante:
"…You're deflecting responsibility."
Jay:
"…Smart."
Raven's voice cut in—
calm but sharp.
"You nearly died."
Silence.
Jay didn't joke this time.
Then—
the door opened again.
Heavy footsteps.
Disciplined.
Respectful.
The Black Devil Gang entered.
They didn't rush.
Didn't shout.
They stood in formation.
Their leader stepped forward slightly.
Head lowered.
"Queen."
The entire room shifted.
Jay blinked once.
"…Not now."
He didn't react.
"With respect…"
Pause.
"…that was unacceptable."
Silence.
Even Section E paused.
"You risked your life without command. Without backup."
Another voice added,
"That is not how a leader moves."
Jay sighed softly.
"…You too?"
"Especially us."
Now—
everyone.
Family.
Friends.
Allies.
Same message.
Different voices.
Jay looked around.
Then down.
Quiet.
"…I didn't want anyone to get hurt."
Her voice was softer now.
"…Too late," MJ muttered.
Gorya shook her head.
"…We're a team."
Keifer didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But stayed.
Jay stayed quiet for a moment.
Then—
slowly—
leaned more into Keifer.
Holding onto his sleeve.
Voice small.
"…I won't do it again."
Everyone paused.
Then she added—
"…probably."
"JAY—"
The entire room exploded again.
She smiled.
Just a little.
She was surrounded.
Outnumbered.
Scolded from every side.
And yet—
in the middle of all that chaos—
Jay sat there—
tired—
safe—
and completely unable to hide the fact that—
no matter how much trouble she caused—
no one was ever going to let her face it alone.