Jayjay'sPOV
The three of us—me, Keifer, and Rakki—were now ducked inside the music room, panting for breath after that sprint.
"Oh my god," Rakki gasped, rubbing her chest to catch her breath. "Why were they following us?"
I didn't have an answer. Half the university seemed to be trailing behind us like we were some kind of parade.
"They're just trying to create more drama out of the fight that just happened," Keifer said, leaning against the door. Rakki and I both nodded. It made sense; gossip in this place spreads faster than a wildfire.
"I honestly didn't know you had such major anger issues," Rakki said, looking at me with a mix of awe and terror.
"I didn't know either," I admitted, looking at my slightly reddened palms.
"I knew," Keifer piped up, a smirk playing on his lips. "She punched me once when we were kids. My jaw was hurting for days."
I remembered exactly what he was talking about—the punch I landed the very first time we met. I guess some things never change.
Suddenly, the two of them looked at each other and then back at me, grinning widely. "Jayjay, you were so jealous," they said in perfect unison.
"Me?" I pointed a finger at myself, my eyes widening. They both nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, come on! I wasn't!"
"You were, bestie," Rakki sang.
"Shut your mouth or I'll kick you," I threatened. Rakki immediately pressed her index finger to her lips, making a 'zipped' motion. "Good."
"You were jealous," Keifer repeated, stepping closer. I whipped around to face him.
"I wasn't!"
"You clearly were," he insisted. Rakki started to nod again, but I gave her a death glare so sharp she immediately shook her head 'no' instead.
"I was not," I hissed.
"You were."
"Heck off! I wasn't! Can't you understand that I wasn't stupid jealous?!" I yelled.
The room went silent. They both looked at me, completely confused by my sudden outburst.
"Calm down, girl," Rakki said softly.
"We've already missed our first lecture. I don't want to miss the second one, so let's go," I snapped. I grabbed Rakki's hand and pulled her toward the door. I couldn't stand being in there for another second; if I stayed, he'd keep saying I was jealous, and this time I might actually punch him.
Was I jealous? No. Absolutely not. Okay... maybe a little. Yeah, just a little.
The second we stepped into the classroom, the whispers started. I felt every eye in the room land on me. I hated it.
"Just ignore them," Rakki whispered, squeezing my hand lightly. I nodded, keeping my head high as we walked to our seats.
"Jayjay literally slapped Claire so hard her lip was bleeding," a girl sitting behind me whispered to her friend.
"Girl, she deserved it," the other one whispered back.
"Did you hear what Keifer said? That her hand would hurt from slapping through a hundred layers of makeup?" The first girl giggled, and they both started laughing.
"Jayjay, I didn't know you knew how to fight," one of our classmates said, turning around in his seat.
"Yeah, I thought that too," another added. "I figured you always just called Keifer, Aries, or your older brother to fight for you."
The whole class erupted into laughter. My blood started to simmer. Why were they laughing like it was a joke?
"Shut the heck up, all of you!" I shouted.
"She's already in a bad mood," Rakki added, her voice dropping into a warning tone. "If you don't want to get beaten like Claire, then shut your stupid mouths and stop the shit that's coming out of them."
That silenced them. They all turned around quickly as the professor walked in. We started the lesson, but the whispers didn't stop completely. I just chose to ignore them. Honestly, I didn't give anything anymore, let the dogs bark.
One phrase kept looping in my head like a broken record: "Older brother." Percy is older than me, and I miss him more than I can put into words. But I miss the other one, too. And Aries... he's gone right now, and I can't even talk to him. I miss my idiotic brothers so much it actually hurts.
Then there's the third one. Even if we aren't related by blood, he's the one who raised me like I was made of glass—as if even the slightest breeze would scratch me. He protected me from everything. I miss him. I miss feeling that safe.
"Jayjay, eat," Rakki's voice broke through my thoughts.
I blinked and looked down at my plate. It was lunchtime, and usually, I'd be halfway through my meal by now. I love food, but today, my appetite was just gone. The hollow feeling in my chest was bigger than any hunger. I just wanted them back. I wished, more than anything, that he would walk through those doors right now.
"Jayjay."
The voice was deep and low, but it had a softness that I would recognize anywhere. Before I could even process it, happy tears were already blurring my vision. I turned around, and there he was.
"Kuya!" I yelled. I didn't just walk; I ran. I threw my arms around him, hugging him with everything I had. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me just as tightly. "I missed you so much."
"Princess, Kuya missed you even more," he whispered.
That's when I noticed Keifer. He was standing a few feet away, his eyes practically burning with jealousy as he watched another man hold me. He marched over, his posture stiff and intimidating.
"Jayjay, do you mind telling me who he is?" Keifer asked, his voice tight.
I wiped my eyes and nodded, though I couldn't stop smiling. "Keifer, this is Kuya Angelo. He's technically my cousin, but he's the one who raised me. He's my older brother in every way that matters." I turned back to Angelo. "Kuya, this is Keifer. My fiancé."
The air was thick with tension for a second as they sized each other up, it was like they were talking with eyes. Then, they both forced polite smiles and greeted each other. It was like watching two lions acknowledge each other's territory.
"Come on, let's eat," I said, breaking the silence. Angelo nodded, and we all headed back to the table where we'd left Rakki.
"Rakki, you remember me mentioning Kuya Angelo?" I asked as we approached.
"You're always mentioning them," she muttered, not looking up from her phone. Then, she realized I wasn't alone. She looked up, her eyes widening as she saw the person standing next to me.
"This is Kuya Angelo," I introduced him.
Rakki immediately straightened up and greeted him, and kuya gave her a polite nod in return.
"Kuya, where have you even been all this time?" I asked, finally finding my voice between bites.
"If you remember, I mentioned I joined the military," he said, and I nodded. "I was away for training and field practice. You wouldn't believe it, but I almost got shot once—"
I immediately choked on my food. Keifer didn't hesitate; he was already there, hurriedly handing me water and a napkin, his eyes darting between me and Angelo.
"Kuya, are you kidding me right now?!" I said as soon as I could breathe.
"What?" he asked, looking confused.
"You're talking about getting shot so casually, like it's nothing! What if something had actually happened to you? What if you had been permanently injured?"
"Oh, my little Princess, don't worry," he said softly, a calm smile on his face. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm sitting right here beside you, aren't I?"
"But still! I told you not to join the military," I huffed. "I can't lose you."
"Don't worry, that was just the final practice phase. I'm done with that now, so I'm not going back to military. Relax, Princess," he said, ruffling my hair.
As we kept eating and talking, Kuya started feeding me with his own hands. I didn't stop him—that's how he's taken care of me since I was a little kid. But I could practically feel the heat radiating off Keifer. He was beyond jealous; he was smoldering.
"Kuya Angelo, did you and Jayjay live together as kids?" Rakki asked, curious.
"Yeah. I raised this warrior myself," Kuya said proudly. I couldn't help but smile at that.
"Yeah, she really is a warrior," Rakki noted, but then her expression shifted. "So, basically, today..."
Before I could stop her, Rakki told him everything. Every. Single. Detail. About the girl Claire in the hallway, the crying, the tracking, and the "slap-marathon." By the time she finished, Angelo's face had turned into a mask of pure, cold fury.
"Mark Keifer Watson," Kuya said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, military-grade register. "If my sister sheds one more tear because of you, I will bury you alive. And I won't need a shovel."
"I'll never let that happen again," Keifer replied, surprisingly calm. He met Angelo's gaze head-on. "I won't make you a promise, because people only make promises they intend to break. Just watch me."
Angelo stared at him for a long beat before standing up. "I want to meet the Head of this university. Now."
"Why, Kuya?" I asked, my heart starting to race.
"I'll tell you later," he said shortly. He signaled for Keifer to follow him, and the two of them walked out of the canteen with an aura that made everyone jump out of their way.
"I think we're about to witness another drama," Rakki whispered, staring after them. I nodded slowly, feeling a pit in my stomach.
"That's Angelo Fernandez," I said. "He is terrifying when he's angry. When he wants something done, he can do anything. Literally anything."
Rakki and I shared one look before we both bolted. We weren't about to stay behind while those two marched toward the Head's office.
Angelo'sPOV
How dare she. How dare that girl make my Princess cry.
If it were up to me, I'd burn this university to the ground for letting it happen. I probably would have killed Keifer by now, too, but the way he looks at Jay tells me everything I need to know—he's fallen for her. Hard, and jayjay? I know that she is also fallen for keifer, she is just hiding it. And his words back in the canteen were the only thing that kept my temper in check.
We entered the Head's office without even bothering to knock. I didn't have time for pleasantries.
"I need Claire out of this university. Now," I stated, my voice echoing off the walls.
the Head looked up, startled. "Who even are you?"
"He is Michael Angelo Fernandez," Keifer answered for me, his voice cold and steady.
"F-Fernandez?" the Head stammered, his face turning pale as Keifer nodded. "Mr. Fernandez, please, take a seat."
"I'm not here to sit," I snapped. "I'm here to make sure Claire is kicked out of this institution today."
"Mr. Fernandez, I... I really can't do that," he whispered.
"Are you forgetting the families behind Jayjay, Keifer, and me?" I stepped closer to his desk. "Our families built the foundation of this place. The Watsons invested the most, followed by the Marianos and the Fernandez. We own the ground you're standing on."
"I know that, sir, but I really can't—"
The door swung open, cutting him off.
"Kuya," Jayjay said, walking in. I looked at her, my anger softening slightly. "I don't want Claire kicked out of the university."
"Why?" Me, Keifer, and Rakki all asked in total shock.
"Because she's from a poor family," Jayjay said quietly. "I don't like her, but I don't want to take her education away from her."
I sighed. Oh my god, Jay, why did you have to be so kind-hearted? It was her greatest strength and the thing that made me want to protect her the most.
"As you wish," I said, conceding. I turned back to the Head, my expression turning back to ice. "But if she causes one more bit of drama, that will be the last day of your career. Am I clear?"
He nodded vigorously.
We all walked back outside into the hallway. "Your break is almost over, and I need to head out," I told her. Jayjay's face fell instantly.
"Why?" she asked, her voice small.
"I only had permission to come here for the day. I have to get back," I explained. She looked upset, but there was a spark of something else in her eyes. "Why are you upset and happy at the same time?"
"Happy because I got to see you," she said, hugging me. "Upset because you're leaving already."
"Hey, don't worry. I'll be back soon," I promised. Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Pinky promise?" she asked, holding out her small finger.
I couldn't help but smile. Despite being a "warrior," she was still my little sister. I hooked my finger with hers. "Pinky promise."
After talking for a few more minutes, I finally left. My heart felt lighter than it had in months. I was happy I got to see my little warrior today—and even happier knowing she's becoming a woman with a heart of gold.
Jayjay'sPOV
"You're really close to your Kuya, aren't you?" Keifer asked, his voice trailing off as he looked at me.
"Do you have a problem with that?" I challenged.
"No. Why would I have a problem? What am I anyway... just a forced fiancé in your life?" he muttered.
"Are you jealous?" I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips.
"Why would I be jealous?" he snapped. I just nodded slowly.
"Hmm... maybe because—" I was about to give him a piece of my mind when Rakki cut me off.
"The class is starting! Run!" she yelled. We both bolted toward the classroom, and thank god, the professor hadn't arrived yet.
I sat down, but I didn't even have a second of peace. "Jayjay, who was that man with you earlier?" a girl named Sara asked. I've always disliked her; she lives for drama and making up stories, so I just ignored her.
"And you were hugging him, too," she added, her voice loud enough for the people around us to hear. I turned and looked her dead in the eye.
"It's none of your stupid business," I said coldly.
"Why? Afraid I'll tell Keifer?" she taunted.
"I'm not afraid of anyone. And for your information, Keifer knows him," I replied.
"Oh, yeah. He was standing right there, watching his fiancée hug another man. That's pathetic," she sneered.
That was the final straw. I couldn't hold back my anger anymore. I walked over to her seat, and before she could even blink, I landed a sharp slap across her face.
"He is my brother!"
Slap. "He raised me!"
Slap. "He taught me how to handle people like you!"
Slap. "He's in the military!"
Slap. "He supports me!"
Slap. "Keifer knows everything!"
One last, heavy slap. "And you don't have a single right to judge me or my character!"
I turned on my heel and went back to my seat, the room deathly silent.
"Good job, Jay. I think you've officially mastered the art of the slap," Rakki whispered, patting my arm.
"That was good," one classmate whispered in awe.
"That was savage," another added.
"I am definitely not messing with her now," a third person muttered.
The teacher walked in, and we started the lecture, but the room was still buzzing. Everyone was talking about the two girls I'd handled today.
I looked at my hand. Kuya Angelo was the one who taught me how to do that. It sounds ridiculous, but he actually gave me a lesson on it once. He told me never to slap with my fingers—it applies less pressure and ends up hurting your own hand. Instead, you have to use the center of your palm. It provides maximum pressure, doesn't hurt you, and leaves the opponent stunned.
I guess his "warrior" lessons were paying off after all.
The day finally came to an end. Rakki and I were walking toward the exit when she excused herself to take a call from Yuri. When she came back, she was practically glowing. She said Yuri had just arrived back in the city and she wanted to see him as soon as possible because she missed him so much.
Aww, I thought, watching her excitement. Will Keifer and I ever be like that? I immediately shook the thought out of my head. Yuck! Eww, Jayjay, stop it. Get a grip!
After Rakki left to find her boyfriend, I stood by the entrance waiting for Keifer to bring the car around. I noticed too many students were still lingering, staring at me and whispering about the slaps from earlier. Feeling suffocated by the attention, I decided to walk out toward a quieter spot near the gate.
I stood there for a few minutes, enjoying the cool air, when I felt a hand drop onto my shoulder. I turned around quickly, assuming it was Keifer finally arriving.
But it wasn't Keifer.
Before I could even scream or react, the man pressed a heavy black cloth over my mouth and nose. A sharp, chemical smell filled my lungs. My knees went weak, the world began to spin, and my vision faded into a dark, hollow black.
Then, everything went silent.
The End 🌸
so in this book Angelo is a sweet brother but a total red flag towards the people who are jayjay's rivals.
I have a shout-out for my two readers, they didn't ask for it, I just want to do it. They are "Pallavi_Farkade" and "_Aisha_12". These two always comments on my chapter and I'm not doing this just for comments, I just thought bcz these two are always honest. Thanks a lot for appreciating my work Pallavi_Farkade and _Aishi_12, love you so much. I love my all readers but you two are in the bottom of my heart 🥰.