Jay's pov
I took the parcel to my room.
Well, it was sent by none other than Rhea.
God, she loves to spoil me.
When I opened it, there were beautiful outfits and some PJ's.
One of them was totally my style — baggy black cargos with a dark green cropped hoodie, the type that screams "don't talk to me unless you have food."
Then there was a soft pastel skirt with a white fitted top that looked way too cute for someone like me to wear.
A tiny black dress with silver straps was folded neatly beside it, looking all elegant and expensive.
There was also the fluffiest pajama set ever — baby blue with tiny clouds printed on it.
And then… there was that dress.
A silky dark red dress with a slit on the side.
Yeah.Rhea clearly had too much confidence in me.
"She really knows my taste," I muttered while grinning.
{a/n : pic of outfits in the comments}
I also wanted to congratulate her on her grand win.
I took my iPad and called her.
I was looking completely homeless.
Wearing an oversized hoodie with shorts and my hair tied into a messy bun.
She picked up the call in a few rings.
"MY BABY WON— YESSSS!!!" I shouted while jumping excitedly.
"Congratulationnnnssss Rheaaaaa," I finally said while looking at the screen.
Just to freeze.
Oh no.
It was not Rhea who picked up the call.
It was Jonathan.
One of Rhea's teammates.
And unfortunately… one of the biggest names in gaming right now.
The guy literally had a separate fanbase.
"Why do you have Rhea's phone?" I asked immediately.
God.This was so embarrassing.
He raised a brow lazily before smirking.
"Wow. No congratulations for me?"
"Well, you won because of her," I replied instantly.
"Oh no," he said dramatically. "I was the captain of the team. I do deserve congratulations."
"But if it wasn't for Rhea, you would've never won, duh."
Okay maybe my argument made absolutely no sense.
Like technically if he didn't choose her for the team, she wouldn't have participated in the first place.
But I hated losing arguments.
"Ah ah," he pointed at the screen. "If I hadn't taken her into my team, she wouldn't have participated at all."
…Shit.
He got my point.
"Well, I don't congratulate people who pick up or check other people's phones without permission," I said, trying my best to save whatever dignity I had left.
"Whoa," he laughed. "Your contact was saved as Baby Panda."
Oh my God.
"I got curious," he continued teasingly. "I thought she was cheating on Stefan."
"Baby Panda?"
Seriously?
"Are you crazy?!" I shouted at the screen.
"Why would you even say that?!" I asked.
"Well because Rhea is Rhea, Stefan is Stefan, and Baby Panda is Baby Panda," he said like that explained everything.
"Huh?? What are you even saying? Do you even hear yourself?"
"John—" a voice suddenly cut through.
"What the heck are you doing with my phone?!" Rhea shouted.
"Well, I was talking to Baby Panda," he replied casually.
"Jay called— hey give me my phone, Jonathan!"
Rhea tried snatching her phone from him while he kept moving it away with a grin.
"Ohhh so our Baby Panda has a name," he teased. "Wait… is this the same girl Ryan keeps talking about?"
"Yes, she is our best friend. No, she's literally like my sister now give me my phone!" Rhea said while still trying her best to snatch it away from him.
"Not until she congratulates me," he said proudly.
What? Never.
Why should I say that?
I will not lose my ground.
Now both of them were staring at me through the screen.
Rhea already knew I would never say it if I hadn't till now.
"Okay fine," I sighed dramatically. "Congratulations…"
The second he lowered the phone proudly, Rhea immediately snatched it from him.
"RHEAAAAA!!!"
I showed him my tongue.
HAHAHAHAH.
I never lose.
"Hey! That's unfair!" he shouted from somewhere in the back.
"Whatever," I replied proudly.
Finally.
Now I could actually talk to Rhea.
.
.
Finally it's Friday morning.
Today my mood is excellent.
I talked with Rhea. It's Friday which means tomorrow is Saturday.
Tbh I don't love Sunday as much as I love Saturday.
Because Sunday goes in thinking that it's Monday tomorrow.
But it's not like that with Friday nights and Saturdays.
After walking for what felt like 200 years,I finally reached my "school."
Section E was in its usual chaos.
Someone was shouting, someone was running, someone was literally sleeping on the last bench like education had already defeated him.
Normal day.
But I didn't find Cin.
Where is that kid?
Even the king was not here nor was his slave.
"Hoy Felix, is Cin coming today?" I asked while dropping my bag dramatically on the bench.
"I don't know."
He replied in the most non-Felix tone ever.
Okay… weird.
Idk.
Well I was getting bored and I wanted to talk to someone.
"Felix! Give me your number," I tried again while extending my phone toward him.
"Yeah." He took my phone and typed his number.
"Wait," he suddenly called before giving it back.
"Let me take yours too."
I handed him the phone again.
I wanted to ask him why his mood was like that.
But sir entered the class before I could.
Great.
I was still waiting for that kid.
But he didn't come.
That idiot didn't even text me.
It was finally break time.
I was bored like anything.
So I decided to try talking to Felix again.
But he wasn't in the class anymore.
As I entered the cafeteria, the usual groupism was there.
Everyone sitting in their fixed groups like their lives depended on it.
I wanted to talk with Rakkhi, Mia and Mica but they were already with Aries and the group.
But Hari was missing again.
Suspicious.
I took my lunch and looked around for somewhere peaceful to sit.
That's when I saw Kiko.
And he looked like he was searching for someone.
Uh oh.
Before he sees me, I need to run.
So using my last survival instincts, I escaped back to the music room in the Section E building.
My spot.
The room was quiet unlike the rest of the school.
Only the sound of the fan and distant screaming from the playground could be heard.
Peace at last.
As I entered, I felt like someone was there.
I slowly kept my lunch box down and took my seat carefully.
Then suddenly I saw a shadow in the corner.
"Hoy."
"AHH!" I screamed so loudly I almost dropped my lunch.
From the darkness, that gago came out.
"What the fuck?! Who sits like that in the dark?" I complained while holding my chest dramatically.
He ignored my suffering completely and looked at the lunch box in my hand instead.
"Give me your food."
Excuse me??
"No." I hugged my lunch box instantly.
"Tss." He leaned back lazily against the chair. "Then I'll eat you."
…What?
For a second our eyes locked.
Why does he stare like that?
Like he knows something I don't.
His messy hair was falling over his forehead while the sunlight from the window hit one side of his face.
Annoyingly handsome gago.
I was only bored anyway.
So maybe sharing food was fine.
Maybe.
"Tch. Fine," I muttered and pushed the lunch box toward him.
Without saying anything, he pulled the chair beside me closer and took the spoon from my hand like it belonged to him.
The audacity.
And why was my heart acting weird over a spoon?
I watched him take a bite quietly.
"Tss. Stop staring."
I immediately looked away.
"Who is staring at you gago?" I scoffed.
"Tss. Okay."
Why does every sentence from his mouth sound irritating?
For a few minutes only the sound of the fan and distant screaming from the playground filled the room.
Then suddenly he spoke again.
"You're Aries' cousin?"
I blinked at him.
What kind of stupid question was that?
"Are you crazy? You're asking like you don't know."
"Tss," he clicked his tongue softly. "You don't like giving straight answers huh."
I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"And you like asking dumb questions."
He ignored that completely.
"Then why don't you both talk properly?"
Oh.
So that's what he wanted to know.
I looked at him for a second before shrugging casually.
"Why don't you ask your beloved best friend? He can tell you many reasons."
His expression changed slightly.
Not much.
But enough for me to notice.
Without saying anything else, he took one last bite from my food and stood up.
Then he just walked away.
…Excuse me?
"At least say thank you!" I shouted from behind.
But that gago ignored me completely and left the room.
When I reached the class, the Hari and rooster both were not there.
Suspicious.
The school ended faster than expected.
Finally weekend YESSSSS.
As I was leaving through the school gate, I spotted Rakkhi, Mia and Mica standing near the juice stall outside.
"Jayyyy!" Mia shouted dramatically like she hadn't seen me in 10 years.
"You survived school?" Rakkhi asked.
"Barely." I sighed. "Today was emotionally exhausting."
"What happened now?" Mica laughed.
"I had to share my food with a gago."
The three of them immediately looked interested.
"Ohoooo."
"Shut up."
After talking nonsense for a few more minutes, we finally left.
By the time I reached home, Aries was already there.
Which was weird.
Very weird.
As soon as I entered, I heard Kuya Angelou scolding someone.
Correction.
Scolding Aries.
"You think rules don't apply to you?"
"I literally came home early," Aries argued back.
"Because you bunked!"
Oh.
Interesting.
I quietly removed my shoes near the door.
Although… I kinda wanted to see what exactly happened at school.
But maybe it was better that I wasn't there.
Because honestly?
When your sibling is getting scolded, there's always a chance the train suddenly changes tracks and crashes into you too.
One wrong eye contact and suddenly you're getting a lecture on responsibility and discipline.
So yeah.
It's fine that I missed it.
Before Kuya could remember my existence and start questioning why I came "late," I escaped.
Well technically I wasn't late.
Aries came early.
I think his gang bunked.
I should proudly mention that I did not.
"Jay?" Tita called the second she saw me. "How was your day?"
"It was fine, Tita."
"Go freshen up first then come downstairs."
"Yes ma'am."
At dinner the atmosphere was… weird.
Not bad.
Just weird.
Aries was sitting in front of me but he wasn't looking at me at all.
And honestly?
That annoyed me more.
So naturally I kept glaring at him while eating.
Did he look back?
No.
Rude.
Tito was talking about work while Tita kept asking random questions that nobody properly answered.
Then suddenly Kuya Angelou spoke.
"And your punishment for bunking," he looked directly at Aries, "is that from Monday you'll pick up and drop Jay from school."
I almost choked on water.
"What?!"
"No." Aries immediately refused.
"Yes," Kuya replied calmly. "You're responsible for her."
Excuse me?
I am not a package delivery.
"She can go herself," Aries muttered.
"And you can drive her yourself."
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Deserved.
For the first time that evening, I finally smiled proudly.
Aries glared at me.
I smiled more.
After dinner I went back to my room, wasted time scrolling randomly, then eventually slept.
Saturday mornings just feel different.
Peaceful.
Relaxed.
No uniforms.
No school.
No annoying teachers.
Perfect.
I woke up late, had breakfast late and basically did everything late.
I tried texting Cin again asking why he didn't come yesterday.
No reply.
I even called him.
Ghosted.
Wow.
Rude.
Tita, Tito and Kuya had already left for the weekend.
So the whole house was basically empty.
Well… except Aries.
But he disappeared since morning anyway.
So technically the house was empty.
By evening, I got bored out of my mind.
So I went downstairs to the basement.
My favorite place.
I tied my hair up messily, wore my headphones and played music loudly.
If nobody was home, might as well enjoy life properly.
The beat echoed through the basement as I started vibing dramatically.
"Tonight we're young, reckless and freeee—" I sang horribly while spinning around with zero shame.
I pointed an imaginary mic toward the screen.
"Hands up, no sleep, just music and memories!"
Yeah okay.
Maybe I was being extra.
But nobody was home so who cares?
And honestly?
I was killing it.
I was singing badly, dancing dramatically and sliding around the floor like I was in some music video.
My oversized hoodie kept slipping from one shoulder while my messy half-tied hair moved everywhere as I danced.
I didn't even notice until
_______________________________________________________
Keifer's pov
When we entered the Fernandez mansion, the house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Like nobody was home.
Why is that little chipmunk not home?
Where is she?
Well… it's great then.
We have the house to ourselves.
"Aries, is no one home?" Percy asked while throwing himself dramatically on the couch.
"I don't know. I was with you idiots the whole day, how would I know?" Aries answered.
"Come on let's go to the basement," Aries said.
Just as we reached near it, someone's singing voice echoed through the hallway.
Loudly.
Very loudly.
It was probably the little chipmunk.
When Percy pushed the basement door open, all four of us stopped.
There was Jay.
Wearing an oversized hoodie with shorts.
Her milky white thighs were visible while her messy hair bounced around as she danced carefreely around the room.
The colorful lights from the screen reflected softly on her face while she sang loudly into an imaginary mic completely unaware of our existence.
For a second… I couldn't look away.
She looked different like this.
Relaxed.
Happy.
Free.
Like someone who forgot the world existed for a while.
Get a grip Keifer.
I forced myself to look away and glanced at Aries instead.
He was staring at her too.
But differently.
In that protective older brother way.
The second he noticed me looking at him, he immediately looked away.
Then suddenly the singing stopped.
Seems like she finally noticed us.
"Nice dance Baby J," Percy grinned teasingly.
Jay immediately froze.
Her ears turning slightly pink.
Interesting.
Aries shot Percy a warning look before glaring at Jay instead.
"What the heck are you doing here Jay?"
Jay blinked slowly before crossing her arms.
"What the heck are you doing here Aries?" she mocked in the exact same tone.
"Stop repeating me."
"Stop repeating me," she copied again dramatically.
Percy almost choked trying not to laugh.
Aries looked seconds away from murder.
"I'm serious."
"And I'm hilarious."
"Jay."
"Aries."
"Can you act normal for once?"
"Can you stop acting like you own the whole house?"
The tension in the room shifted instantly.
Even Yuri stopped smiling.
Oh.
So this wasn't normal sibling bickering.
There was definitely something else underneath this.
Aries clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"You're annoying."
"And you're dramatic."
"At least I don't dance alone in the basement like a maniac."
"At least I know how to have fun unlike your emo gang."
"Jay."
"What?" she snapped.
For a second both of them just stared at each other.
Then Jay rolled her eyes aggressively and grabbed her headphones.
"Whatever."
She brushed past us and walked out of the basement angrily.
The room suddenly felt weirdly empty after she left.
"Damn," Percy muttered. "What was that?"
Aries ignored him completely.
But honestly?
Even I wanted to know.
Because every time Aries behaves like this around her, it makes me more curious.
There's something hidden there.
And I hate not knowing things.
The way they argue doesn't feel normal.
Not fully.
Like there's something both of them refuse to say out loud.
And the more I notice it…
The harder it gets to ignore.
——————————————————
Jay's pov
I was seriously going to throw Aries out of the window one day.
Who does he think he is honestly?
"You're annoying."
Mocking my dance.
Standing there with his stupid handsome friends like judges on some reality show.
UGH.
I flopped dramatically onto the couch upstairs while hugging a pillow angrily.
Why was he acting annoyed anyway?
He came into MY basement.
After a few hours, I finally calmed down.
Kind of.
The house was quiet again.
Too quiet actually.
Then suddenly I noticed shadows moving downstairs near the kitchen.
Why are they walking like thieves?
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
The kitchen lights were on but their movements looked so dramatic like they were in some horror movie.
Idiots.
Then suddenly
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Someone screamed.
LOUDLY.
Like a full horror movie female lead scream.
Wait.
Was that Percy?!
"What the hell happened now?" I muttered while immediately running toward the kitchen.
And the second I reached there
I froze.
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Hey loveliesss 💗
I hope you all are doing greattt!! And yes I know I kinda disappeared and didn't upload 😭 but I really hope the wait was worth it!!
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter <3
Please do comment down your thoughts because I seriously LOVE reading them. Your comments genuinely keep me motivated to continue writing 🥹
And I'm really sorry for uploading late today. I had a really bad headache and I still had to edit the chapter properly because there were many grammatical mistakes and small errors 😭
Alsooo today I wanted to talk a little about @redroses_9326 💗
I think many of you actually know me because of her 😭 She mentioned my book before and because of that many of her readers gave my story a chance. And honestly? I'm really thankful for that 🥹💗
Reading her books has genuinely been such a fun experience for me. Her plots are really unique and addictive and once you start reading you just want to continue 😭 The language is simple, smooth and easy to understand which honestly makes the reading experience even better.
And one thing I seriously admire about her is her consistency because uploading regularly is NOT easy at all 😭 Huge respect for that honestly.
Her books genuinely motivated me while writing too and I really enjoy reading all her stories. Except one time where I was aggressively supporting another ship 🤺😭
So thank youu for supporting me and thank you to her too 💗
Love you all endlesslyyy <333