Chapter: The Call
(Jay's POV)
I was in Aries' room.
Again.
At this point, that room has seen more drama than the entire school.
Aries had stepped outside to get snacks, and Ci N was probably bullying someone in the corridor like usual. I was alone, sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
My mind was still stuck on that girl.
That photo.
Zoya.
Why does everything suddenly feel connected?
Just then—
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I frowned.
I don't usually answer unknown calls.
But something in my chest felt strange.
Like I had to.
I picked up.
"Hello?" I said cautiously. "Who are you?"
There was silence for a second.
Then—
"Jay."
My heart stopped.
"I'm Percy."
The room felt smaller.
Percy.
That name.
I hadn't heard it in years.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"W-what?" I whispered. "Percy…?"
"Yeah."
My throat went dry.
"Percy… our Percy?" I asked slowly. "My father and your father… are the same?"
"Yes," he replied calmly. "We have the same father."
I stood up without realizing.
"That's impossible," I breathed. "Everyone said you're dead."
There was a pause.
"I wasn't dead," he said quietly. "I was paralyzed."
My vision blurred for a second.
Paralyzed?
All these years?
"Why didn't you tell us?" My voice shook. "Why did everyone say you were gone?"
"It was easier that way," he replied. "For everyone."
Easier?
Nothing about this feels easy.
"Where are you?" I demanded. "Show up. Come here. Let me see you."
"No, Jay."
His tone softened.
"It's not the correct time."
I hate that sentence.
First Keifer.
Now him.
Why is everyone hiding things from me?
"When is the correct time?" I snapped.
"Soon," he said. "But remember something."
I held my breath.
"I am your stepbrother."
The word echoed inside me.
Stepbrother.
"I've always watched over you," he added softly. "Even if you didn't know."
My heart felt heavy.
"I don't understand anything," I whispered.
"I know," he said gently. "Just trust that I'll come when it's safe."
Safe?
Safe from what?
"Percy—"
The line cut.
Call ended.
I stared at my phone.
No number.
No trace.
Just silence.
I slowly sat back down on the bed.
Same father.
Alive.
Paralyzed.
Not the correct time.
Why does everyone keep saying that?
Why does it feel like I'm standing in the middle of a story that started long before I was born?
I pressed my palm to my chest.
Why does it hurt?
Suddenly—
The door BURST open.
"JAYYYYY!" Aries screamed dramatically.
Ci N followed right behind him. "You traitor! You ate my chips yesterday!"
I blinked at them.
What.
Aries jumped onto the bed. "Why are you sitting like a tragic heroine?"
Ci N squinted at me. "She looks like she discovered she's adopted."
I choked.
If only you knew.
"What happened?" Aries asked, but not seriously. More like he was expecting gossip.
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
No.
Not now.
Not like this.
"Nothing," I said quickly. "You two are just noisy."
They looked at each other.
Suspicious.
Then—
Aries gasped. "WAIT. Did you touch my hoodie without permission?!"
"I did NOT!"
Ci N pointed at me dramatically. "LIAR."
And just like that—
The room exploded into chaos.
Aries grabbed a pillow.
Ci N threw a notebook.
I grabbed the nearest soft toy and attacked back.
Within seconds, we were screaming, laughing, throwing random harmless stuff at each other like absolute idiots.
Aries tripped over the chair.
Ci N fell onto the bed dramatically.
I ended up on the floor laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
For a moment—
I forgot.
Forgot Percy.
Forgot secrets.
Forgot the weight in my chest.
But when the laughter slowly faded…
And they were still arguing about absolutely nothing…
My mind drifted again.
Percy.
My stepbrother.
Alive.
Somewhere.
Watching.
And not ready to show himself.
What is happening to my life?
And why does it feel like everything is about to change?