Jay's POV
I was still fuming when I reached home.
Not angry.
Not upset.
Fuming.
Like volcano-about-to-erupt, don't-even-look-at-me kind of fuming.
Aries was lying on my bed scrolling through his phone, and Ci N was sitting on the floor assembling some stupid puzzle like the calmest human alive. Meanwhile, my brain was replaying one scene.
"Maki, open your mouth."
Maki.
MAKI.
I swear if that nickname touches my ears one more time—
My phone vibrated.
The screen lit up.
Mark Keifer Watson calling.
Aries immediately looked at me. Ci N slowly lifted his head like he sensed drama.
I stared at the screen for three seconds.
Then I answered.
"What?" I said flatly.
"Wow. No hello?" Keif's voice came through smooth. Too smooth.
Aries mouthed: Speaker.
I rolled my eyes and put it on speaker.
"What do you want, Mark Keifer Watson?" I asked.
There was a small pause.
Then he said it.
"I love you, Jay."
Aries choked.
Ci N froze mid-puzzle piece.
And I?
I smiled.
Cold.
"Oh really?" I said sweetly. "That's cute."
Silence.
Then I snapped.
"Because from what I saw tonight, it looked like you love Honey Bee Ryder."
Aries burst out laughing.
Keif groaned. "Jay—"
"No no no," I interrupted. "Please. Continue. Tell me more about how you 'love me' while letting another girl feed you like you're a toddler who can't hold a spoon."
Ci N covered his mouth trying not to laugh.
"Jay, she was just—"
"Just what?" I shot back. "Just sitting beside you? Just calling you Maki? Just grabbing your phone? Just breathing too close to your oxygen?"
Aries clapped silently.
Keif sighed. "You're jealous."
I stood up from the bed.
"Jealous?" I repeated slowly. "Mark Keifer Watson, I am not jealous. I am disappointed in your lack of taste."
Aries wheezed.
Ci N whispered, "Ate Jay savage mode."
Keif's voice lowered. "You were glaring at her the whole time."
"Oh please," I said. "I glare at ugly shoes in stores too. Doesn't mean I want to wear them."
Aries fell back on the bed laughing.
"Jay—"
"No, let me speak," I cut him off. "You bring a Halloween leftover decoration to dinner and expect me to smile?"
"That's not fair," he muttered.
"Neither was calling you Maki," I snapped. "Since when does she get to rename my boyfriend?"
"Your boyfriend?" he teased.
Aries and Ci N both turned to look at me.
I froze.
Then I recovered.
"Don't flatter yourself," I said quickly. "It's just… temporary ownership."
Keif laughed softly. "So I am yours."
I crossed my arms.
"You are on probation."
Aries whispered loudly, "He's done for."
Keif cleared his throat. "You punched her."
"Correction," I said calmly. "I adjusted her nose alignment."
Ci N gasped. "ATE."
Keif tried not to laugh. "Jay—"
"She started it," I said. "Bringing my mom into it? Big mistake."
The room went quiet for half a second.
Keif's voice softened. "I know."
I hated when he did that.
That soft voice.
That understanding tone.
So I attacked again.
"But honestly," I continued, "where did you even find her? Buy one get one free at the Halloween clearance sale?"
Aries was fully invested now.
"She's just a friend," Keif said.
"Friends don't feed you," I replied instantly.
"She was joking."
"Oh so she jokes. Good. I also joke," I said. "Next time I'll joke by sitting on Yuri's lap."
Dead silence.
Aries slowly looked at me.
Ci N dropped the puzzle piece.
Keif's voice turned sharp. "Don't."
I smirked.
"See? That's how it feels."
"You wouldn't," he said.
"Try me."
He inhaled slowly. "You're impossible."
"And yet," I said sweetly, "you called me to say you love me."
Aries covered his face.
Ci N whispered, "I think they like fighting."
Keif ignored them. "I do love you."
I rolled my eyes but my chest tightened slightly.
"Love isn't flirting with another girl in front of me," I said.
"I wasn't flirting."
"Oh really?" I shot back. "Then what was that? Charity?"
Aries nearly fell off the bed.
"She grabbed my phone," he defended.
"And you let her," I replied instantly. "If someone grabs my phone, I grab their wrist."
There was a pause.
"Are you done?" he asked.
"Not even close."
Aries whispered, "Continue please."
I paced around the room.
"You sat there smiling like she was the only girl in the room," I said.
"I was trying to make you jealous," he admitted.
I stopped walking.
"You what?"
"I wanted to see your reaction."
Aries and Ci N both gasped.
I laughed.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"So let me get this straight," I said calmly. "You risked your life tonight."
"What—"
"Because if I had picked up that fork," I continued, "you would not be alive right now."
Aries clapped once.
Keif groaned. "Jay."
"You play stupid games, Mark Keifer Watson, you win stupid consequences."
"You're cute when you're mad."
I froze.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
I narrowed my eyes at the phone like he could see me.
"Don't try to distract me."
"Jealous Jay is adorable."
"I am not jealous!" I shouted.
Aries and Ci N burst out laughing.
Keif chuckled. "You just screamed."
"I screamed because your stupidity is loud."
"Say it."
"Say what?"
"That you're jealous."
I leaned closer to the phone.
"I would rather hug Honey Bee Ryder than admit that."
Silence.
Aries whispered, "She wouldn't."
Keif's voice dropped. "Liar."
I felt my ears heat up.
"Whatever," I muttered.
Then he said softly, "I love you, Jay."
My heart did something annoying again.
So I attacked.
"Go tell that to Honey. Maybe she'll frame it."
"I don't want her."
"Sure."
"I want you."
Aries and Ci N both stared at me.
I swallowed.
"Then act like it," I said quietly.
There was a pause.
Then his tone changed — serious.
"You think I'd let anyone replace you?"
I didn't answer.
"Jay," he continued, "you're the only one who punches people for me."
Aries snorted.
Ci N nodded proudly.
"And you're the only one who scares me," he added.
I smiled slightly.
"Good."
"Why good?"
"Because fear keeps you loyal."
He laughed.
"You're crazy."
"And you love me."
"I do."
I rolled my eyes again.
"Stop saying that."
"Why?"
"Because I'm still mad."
"You'll forgive me."
"Not tonight."
"Tomorrow?"
"We'll see."
He sighed dramatically. "So no goodnight?"
I smirked.
"Goodnight, Mark Keifer Watson."
"Say it properly."
"Sleep."
"Jay."
I paused.
Then softly, so only the phone could hear —
"Don't flirt again."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
I hesitated.
"…Goodnight."
"Goodnight, jealous Jay."
"Shut up."
I hung up.
Aries immediately jumped up.
"You two are insane."
Ci N grinned at me. "jayy you were scary."
I threw myself onto the bed.
"I am not jealous," I muttered.
Aries laughed. "Sure."
Ci N nodded. "Very not jealous."
I covered my face with a pillow.
But deep down?
When he said I love you…
I didn't hate it.
And that was the real problem.