JAY'S POV
WHAT THE HELL?!!!!!!!!!!
Right now, I am a complete mess.
My brain feels like it's about to explode with the number of questions running through my head.
Did I really hurt Aries?
Why did he protect me?
Why did he call me sister?
Does he hate me… or not?
Did I misunderstand him?
Did I talk too much?
And Section E…
Did they actually care about me?
Did they realize their mistake?
Was I too harsh to them?
Especially Ci.
The look on his face… he looked so hurt.
Did I become too cruel?
Oh God… save me.
I didn't even realize the cab had already stopped.
I stepped out and walked straight into the house, still drowning in my thoughts.
As soon as I entered the living room, I froze.
There was someone standing there.
She was—
"Ate Maya."
The moment I saw her, every question in my mind disappeared.
I rushed toward her quietly so she wouldn't notice me yet.
Then I gently placed my hands over hers.
She touched my hand—
and suddenly screamed.
"JAY JAY!"
I laughed and immediately pulled her into a tight hug.
"I missed you, Ate."
"I missed you too, baby," she said, hugging me just as tightly.
When we finally pulled away, both of us had tears in our eyes.
Ate Maya is not just my ate .
She's my sister .
She's my best friend.
My comfort.
My safe place.
"Jay baby," she said, wiping her tears. "You didn't even contact me for a whole damn year."
"I'm sorry, Ate," I whispered. "I promise I won't do it again. This time… I'm not leaving you again. Ever."
She flicked my forehead lightly.
"I forgive you. The important thing is that you came back. And about leaving again?" she smirked."I won't let you."
"Yes, ma'am."
We hugged again.
Then suddenly—
"Finally. The two lost sisters have their reunion after a whole year."
We both turned.
Kuya Cris.
Also known as…
CCTV.
"Shut up," Maya snapped. "You're disturbing us."
"Whoa, babe. Not fair."
"You're just jealous," I teased.
"Exactly," Maya agreed. "Ignore him."
"Ignore me? Babe, that hurts."
Maya rolled her eyes.
"You're dramatic."
"I'm your dramatic."
"Stop flirting in front of me," I groaned. "It's gross."
"Oh really?" Cris smirked. "Is that the same reaction you have when Keifer flirts with you?"
My cheeks instantly turned pink.
That stupid memory flashed in my mind—
Mrs. Watson.
"WAIT—WHAT?!" Maya gasped. "Who is Keifer? Jay, do you have a boyfriend?!"
"Not exactly, Ate…" I sighed. "It's complicated."
"Then let's un-complicate it," she grabbed my hand. "Come on. We have a lot to discuss."
"Hey! You're both leaving me?" Cris protested.
"Girls' gossip," I said.
"You're not allowed to interfere for the next three hours," Maya added.
"This is not fair."
"Everything is fair," I said smugly.
We marched upstairs to the terrace.
Our usual place.
The place where we used to spend hours gossiping, talking about life, love, and every stupid problem we had.
God… I missed this.
"I missed this," I whispered.
"Okay," Maya said, sitting down and crossing her arms."Start talking. And you are not allowedto skip a single detail."
"Fine."
So I told her everything.
Section E.
Keifer.
The forced engagement.
Percy.
Aries.
Everything.
By the time I finished—
Maya stared at me like she had just watched a full drama series.
"Oh. My. God."
"See? It's a huge mess," I groaned.
"Mess?" she said. "Jay, this is a whole telenovela."
"Please, my dear sister-in-law," I begged dramatically. "I need your advice."
She sighed.
"First question?"
"Am I being too harsh to everyone?"
"Of course you are—"
My heart dropped.
"—NOT."
I blinked.
"You absolutely had every right to do that," Maya continued. "They tried to use you. They even made a bet on you. What you did was completely justified. They deserved it."
"Then… what about Keifer?" I asked quietly.
Maya's expression softened.
"That one is complicated."
Great.
"But," she continued, "I think you're still doing the right thing. He needs to realize his mistake. He needs to understand how much you suffered because of his decisions."
She paused.
"He had no right to hide the truth from you."
I nodded silently.
"But," she added gently, "we also can't ignore the fact that he's hurting too."
My chest tightened.
"So when he genuinely asks for your forgiveness… you should forgive him."
"Because he loves you."
"I know," I whispered.
"And I love him too."
"That's exactly why I'm doing this."
Maya smiled softly.
"But right now the most important thing is Aries."
I stiffened.
"You need to talk to him and clear everything."
"But how can I face him?" I groaned. "I said so many harsh things to him."
"Jay," she said gently. "He's your brother."
My heart skipped.
"And from everything you told me… he regrets his actions. I don't think he'll refuse to talk to you."
She squeezed my hand.
"Just listen to him."
I nodded slowly.
"Okay… I'll try."
Then I hugged her again.
"You know, Ate… I'm really happy after seeing you."
"You're the best sister in the whole world."
"Of course I am," she laughed. "Now come on. You must be starving."
"Yes," I groaned. "I'm dying."
When we went downstairs, Kuya Cris was already sitting at the dining table.
"I hope we didn't make you wait too long," Maya said.
"Of course not," he replied sarcastically. "Only four hours."
"You're so annoying, CCTV," I said.
"I met her after a year. Four hours is nothing."
"Less," Maya agreed.
"You girls are unbelievable," Cris sighed.
Then he looked around the room and smiled.
"Well… looks like our usual chaos is back."
I smiled too.
"Yes."
For the first time in a long time…
I finally felt like I was home.
With my family.