THYME POV
She went upstairs and all of us just looked at each other silently.
No one said anything for a few seconds because honestly… what were we even supposed to say?
Jay came back after years looking tired, thinner, quieter… and somehow still the same annoying girl.
We all knew one thing.
There was a lot we needed to catch up on.
But first, we started handling the things Jay told us earlier. The girls eventually went home while mom disappeared somewhere inside the mansion, probably already calling half the country to arrange things for Jay.
That was how mom was.
The moment she loved someone, she moved like a military commander.
After almost an hour, we heard footsteps coming downstairs.
Jay walked in wearing oversized clothes and her hair tied messily. She looked around before speaking.
Jay : kuya i want to continue my high school
I nodded immediately.
Thyme : you will. But online first. After that university.
Her eyes lit up a little and she nodded.
Jay : where is ate
Thyme : mom called her. She is coming back.
Jay : ok
She looked unusually calm.
Too calm.
Normally she would already be stealing food from the kitchen.
Suddenly the front door opened loudly.
Thyme sister : JAY!
Jay's eyes widened.
Jay : ATE!
My sister literally dropped her bag on the floor and ran toward Jay before hugging her tightly.
For a moment Jay froze.
Then she hugged back.
Thyme sister : how are you? are you hurt anywhere? did you eat properly? why are you thinner? why is your hair dry? why—
Jay : ate breathe first
We laughed quietly.
My sister pulled away dramatically.
Thyme sister : i came back as soon i heard you returned and i brought gifts for you
Jay blinked.
Jay : really?
Thyme sister : yes look!
She dragged Jay toward the sofa and opened multiple shopping bags proudly like she had won a competition.
Inside were jewelry, skincare, perfume, shoes, hair accessories, and random cute things.
Jay stared at everything like a child.
Jay : ate this is too much
Thyme sister : nonsense. this is only the beginning.
Jay laughed softly.
Honestly…
Hearing her laugh again felt strange.
Good strange.
Thyme sister : i was going to buy clothes too but i didnt know your size anymore
Thyme : wow. amazing. you never buy me gifts.
My sister looked at me with disgust.
Thyme sister : because you are rich. buy your own.
The others burst out laughing.
Thyme : discrimination.
Jay grinned.
Jay : kuya you deserve it.
Thyme : wow now both of you bullying me.
Ren nodded seriously.
Ren : as you should.
Thyme : traitor.
MJ suddenly picked up a pink fluffy hairband from the bag.
MJ : can i wear this?
Thyme sister : no.
MJ : too late.
He immediately wore it.
Jay laughed so hard she nearly fell sideways.
Kevin took out his phone.
Kevin : wait let me take picture evidence.
MJ : delete it.
Kevin : never.
Ren : this is blackmail material for future use.
MJ chased Kevin around the living room while still wearing the pink hairband.
For the first time since Jay returned, the atmosphere felt normal.
Warm.
Alive.
Jay looked at all of us quietly for a second before speaking again.
Jay : kuya when will my online classes start?
Thyme : let me enroll you first then i will tell you.
Jay : ok.
My sister disappeared somewhere.
Then Jay stretched lazily.
Jay : then i will go for a walk.
Immediately all of us looked at her.
Thyme : absolutely not.
Jay blinked.
Jay : what why?
Ren : because you disappeared once already.
Kevin : we are traumatized.
MJ : yes we deserve compensation.
Jay rolled her eyes.
Jay : dramatic.
Thyme : sit down first and tell us everything properly.
Jay : kuya is it really important?
F4 : YES.
She sighed dramatically before walking toward the couch.
Jay : fine fine.
We all settled down.
Ren leaned forward.
Ren : start talking.
Jay took a deep breath.
Jay : ok so it all started—
And then she told us everything.
About her stepfathers.
About Cyrus.
About entering Section E.
About how they treated her badly at first before slowly becoming close to her.
About the forced engagement because Fer Crop was struggling and Hanamitchi family was helping them.
About Mariano Crop helping later.
About the "i used you."
That sentence alone made all of us angry.
Then she talked about Jeena.
The cruel words.
The app.
The bet.
The test.
Every single thing.
The more she talked, the quieter we became.
At some point my fists were clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white.
I wanted to find every single person who hurt her.
Especially the ones who made her believe she was alone.
When she finally finished, the room stayed silent.
Jay looked around awkwardly.
Jay : after that i came here. anything else? if no then i am going to ate room because we need shopping and i need my sonolarx.
A small laugh escaped all of us.
Even after everything…
She still somehow managed to say weird things.
Kevin frowned.
Kevin : what even is sonolarx?
Jay : it is a toy.
MJ : this girl suffered too much. her brain stopped working.
Jay threw a pillow at him.
Jay : shut up.
Ren finally smiled a little.
Ren : welcome back annoying girl.
Jay grinned proudly.
Jay : thank you handsome man.
Thyme : excuse me?
Jay : jealous?
Thyme : yes.
Everyone laughed again.
Then Jay stood up and stretched.
Jay : ok serious emotional moment over. lets go shopping tomorrow.
My sister appeared out of nowhere.
Thyme sister : yes!
Jay : and kuya will pay.
Thyme : why me?
Jay : because you are rich.
My own words betrayed me.
The girls disappeared upstairs while still arguing about shopping brands.
The moment they left, silence returned.
A heavier silence this time.
MJ leaned back against the couch.
MJ : she really went through a lot.
Kevin nodded slowly.
Kevin : yea.
Ren looked upstairs toward the direction Jay went.
Ren : but now that stops.
Thyme : yes.
I stared at the stairs quietly.
She came back smiling.
Laughing.
Joking.
But behind those smiles was a girl who carried too much pain alone.
And now?
She would not carry it alone anymore.
Not while we were here.
Not while I was here.
I dont know if her family and friends are still searching for her.
I dont know how far they will go to find her.
But one thing was certain.
I would never let anyone hurt her again.
Thailand was her home now.
And this time…
We would protect her.
++++++++++++END+++++++++
sorry for late update
i will tell you a fact
my mom birthday and ashtine birthday comes on a same day 19 may
bye