Jay Jay's pov
I woke up to gentle shaking.
"Jay... anak... wake up."
Tita Gema's voice pulled me out of sleep. I groaned, burying my face into the pillow.
"Five minutes," I mumbled.
She laughed softly. "If you don't wake up now, Aries will leave you."
That did it.
I shot up immediately. "I'M AWAKE."
I got freshen up faster than usual and headed downstairs. The house was already awake.
Breakfast smelled warm and familiar. For once, the house didn't feel heavy. Just... normal.
I slid into my chair, still half-asleep, when Angelo suddenly spoke like he was announcing the weather.
"Ma," he said calmly, sipping his coffee, "Tita Jeena is coming today."
My spoon froze mid-air.
"...Coming?When?" I asked, forcing my voice to sound bored. Casual. Uninterested. Totally not panicking.
Angelo looked straight at me and raised an eyebrow slowly. Way too knowingly.
"In two hours."
Oh.
I blinked.
Twice.
Then exhaled without realizing I was holding my breath.
Two hours meant nothing bad happened to her.
Relief settled in quietly, spreading through my chest.
So she's okay.
I looked down at my plate, thoughts drifting. I already knew what happened to my mom. But Aries didn't. And that was why things between him and her were still... broken.I tried to fix but it never worked.
He still didn't like her.But i need to do something.I need to fix the misunderstanding.
Middling mode on.
"Jay," Aries said suddenly, already standing, backpack on his shoulder. "Hurry up or I swear I'm going to school without you."
"HEY..." I protested, jumping up. "You won't dare."
He smirked. "Watch me."
I rushed upstairs, heart lighter than yesterday, but mind already racing toward what the next two hours.
I quickly got ready and headed towards downstairs.
The car ride was quiet.
Not the uncomfortable kind. Just... soft.
The city passed by outside the window, buildings blurring together.
Two hours.
That number kept replaying in my head.
Aries drove with one hand on the wheel.
Suddenly my mind remember something.
Last night.
Flashback
I came back with the first aid box clutched tightly in my hands.
I didn't look at his arm.
Not directly.
I focused on the small things instead the sound of the latch clicking shut, the crinkle of the bandage wrapper, my own breathing. Anything but the blood.
"Jay, I can do it," Yuri said again, his voice low, careful. "You don't have to—"
"Don't move," I cut in, sharper than I meant to.
He went quiet.
I cleaned the wound quickly, eyes fixed anywhere except where they wanted to go. My hands shook a little, but I forced them steady. Dab. Wipe. Pressure. I wrapped the bandage around his arm, tighter than necessary, like that would somehow keep everything else from spilling out.
Yuri hissed softly.
"Sorry," I muttered, adjusting it just a bit.
When I was done, I finally stepped back and exhaled like I'd been holding my breath the entire time.
Then I looked at him.
"How did you get hurt?" I asked.
He hesitated.
"It was..." he started, voice dragging. "Just a... fight."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of fight?"
He swallowed. "It was... the one—"
I didn't let him finish.
"The thieves?" I asked quickly. "The ones who tried to rob you?"
He nodded too fast.
"Yeah. Yeah," he said hurriedly.
My brain went:
THIEVES.
Of course it was thieves.
Obviously.
I mean, what else could it be? A secret underground fight club? A dramatic anime backstory? Please. This is real life.
Thieves are violent. Thieves have knives. Thieves cause blood. Case closed.
I nodded to myself like I had just solved a crime.
Wow, Jay. You're so smart.
But why is he avoiding my eyes.
Whatever.
The story was already complete.
Thieves tried to rob him.
Yuri fought back.
Yuri got hurt.
End of story.
Simple. Clean. Makes sense.
Flashback end
The school gate came into view way too fast.
Drama, dressed up as routine.
Aries parked the car, and I let out a slow breath, bracing myself.
While walking toward Section E, I spotted Yuri.
"Hoy, Yuri," I called, stepping closer and lightly hitting his arm without thinking.
He winced. "Ah—Jay! Why are you smacking my arm like that?"
"Oh..sorry, sorry," I said quickly. "I forgot."
"It's okay," he replied, forcing a small smile.
I narrowed my eyes. "You weren't home this morning. Why?"
"Ah... I came early," he said, a little too fast.
"Oh," I replied, not pushing it.
Then I noticed it.
His hair.
The color near the roots looked... lighter. Like it was fading, just slightly, but enough for me to notice. I reached out instinctively, fingers lifting
"Yuri, your hair—"
"It's nothing," he cut me off sharply, stepping away and quickening his pace. "Nothing."
Before I could say anything else, he was already walking ahead of me.
Okay... weird.
I watched his back for a second, unease settling quietly in my chest, then followed him into the classroom.
Inside, everything was the same as always.
Noise.
Shouting.
Laughing.
Chaos.
Soon, class started, and Sir Alvin entered the room.
"Everyone, settle down. I have an important announcement."
The noise faded instantly. We all sat up, mentally preparing for whatever academic bomb he was about to drop.
"The final exams are right around the corner," Sir Alvin said calmly. "All of you need to start studying seriously. Review properly. If anyone fails, they won't be able to complete graduation."
A collective groan spread across the room.
"So study," he continued, unfazed. "And if anyone has questions, ask me now."
That announcement alone was enough to ruin everyone's mood.
"Sir, I have a question," Eren said, raising his hand.
"Yes?" Sir Alvin replied.
"Is there any way to graduate without giving the exam?"
The class exploded into laughter.
Sir Alvin didn't even blink. "No. There is no such way. So start studying."
Denzel leaned back in his chair and grinned. "Bro, just ask one of your girlfriends to give the exam for you. They'll do it eagerly apple pie."
That did it.
The entire class burst into laughter again, louder this time, while Sir Alvin shook his head, already regretting his life choices.