Chapter: The Girl in the Frame
(Jay's POV)
It was supposed to be a normal evening.
After getting roasted for my "WiFi password language," I went to the kitchen to grab water. Aries was in his room pretending to study. Kuya Angelo was on a call in the balcony — serious voice, strict tone, usual CEO mode.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
That's when I noticed it.
On the side table near the staircase.
A photo frame.
I had walked past that table a thousand times.
But this frame?
New.
Or maybe I never paid attention before.
I picked it up.
It was a picture of Kuya Angelo.
Smiling.
Not his usual controlled half-smirk.
An actual smile.
And next to him—
A girl.
Soft eyes. Long hair. Comfortable smile.
Standing close.
Too close to be random.
My stomach tightened.
I flipped the frame over.
Nothing written.
Just the photo.
"Who are you?" I whispered to myself.
Footsteps.
Aries appeared behind me out of nowhere.
"What are you doing?"
I held up the frame. "Who is she?"
His expression changed immediately.
Too fast.
"Why are you touching random things?" he deflected.
"Aries."
He scratched the back of his neck. "Put it back."
That was not an answer.
"Who is she?"
"Jay…"
"Why does Kuya look like that in this photo?"
"Like what?"
"Happy."
Aries went quiet.
That made it worse.
Kuya Angelo walked in at that exact moment.
He saw the frame in my hand.
And stopped.
The air shifted.
I looked between both of them.
"Who is she?"
Silence.
Kuya Angelo walked closer and gently took the frame from me.
Careful.
Like it was fragile.
"An old friend," he said calmly.
Old friend?
That didn't feel right.
"She doesn't look like just a friend," I said before I could stop myself.
Aries muttered, "Jay…"
Kuya Angelo's jaw tightened slightly.
"It's not something you need to worry about."
That's the worst sentence adults say.
When they don't want to answer.
I crossed my arms. "So I can't ask?"
"You can."
"Then answer."
His eyes met mine.
Strict.
But not angry.
Just guarded.
"Her name is Zoya," he said finally.
Zoya.
The name sat heavy.
"Where is she now?"
Silence again.
Aries looked at the floor.
Kuya Angelo didn't answer immediately.
That pause told me everything wasn't simple.
"She's not here," he said.
"That's not an answer."
"It's enough."
My chest felt weird.
I didn't even know why I cared so much.
Maybe because I'd never seen him look like that.
Like someone who wasn't always responsible.
Always strict.
Always strong.
"Why is the picture still here?" I asked quietly.
Because if she's gone…
Why keep it?
Kuya Angelo's voice lowered slightly.
"Some memories aren't meant to be erased."
That shut me up.
Aries finally spoke softly, "Jay, drop it."
I looked at him.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't teasing.
He was serious.
That scared me more.
I looked back at Kuya Angelo.
For a second—
He didn't look strict.
He looked… tired.
And maybe a little hurt.
I swallowed.
"Sorry," I muttered.
He nodded once.
"It's fine."
He placed the frame back exactly where it was.
Precise.
Careful.
Then he walked away without another word.
Aries exhaled loudly after he disappeared.
"You always choose chaos," he muttered.
"I just asked."
"And you almost opened a locked door."
I looked at him.
"Who was she really?"
He hesitated.
Then shook his head.
"Not my story to tell."
That answer annoyed me.
But also…
Made me curious.
Very curious.
I glanced at the frame again.
Zoya.
The only person who made Kuya Angelo smile like that.
And no one wanted to talk about her.
Which means—
There's definitely a story.
And now I want to know it.