Ang Mutya ng Section E – Book 3: The Unwritten Destinies
Chapter 9: The Height Problem
(Jay's POV)
The moment I walked into the apartment, I knew something was wrong.
It was too quiet.
Which meant only one thing.
Aries and Percy were planning something stupid.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I stepped inside, placing my bag on the couch.
"Why is it so quiet?"
No response.
Suspicious.
"Aries?" I called.
"Percy?"
Still nothing.
I walked further into the living room.
And that's when I saw them.
Standing near the wall.
Holding a measuring tape.
I stopped walking.
"…What are you two idiots doing?"
Aries turned around slowly with the biggest grin on his face.
"Oh look, Percy."
He pointed dramatically at me.
"The tiny human has arrived."
My eyes instantly narrowed.
"I'm leaving."
But Percy quickly stepped in front of the door.
"Too late."
I crossed my arms.
"What nonsense are you planning now?"
Aries held up the measuring tape like it was some scientific equipment.
"Today is an important day."
"For what?"
"For science."
I blinked.
"…What?"
Percy nodded seriously.
"We're conducting an experiment."
"On what?"
Aries looked me up and down.
"On how someone can be this short and still have such a big attitude."
I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at him.
"SHUT UP!"
He dodged it easily.
"VIOLENCE! See Percy? Short people are always aggressive!"
"I AM NOT SHORT!"
Both of them looked at each other.
Then back at me.
Then they burst out laughing.
"Jay," Percy said between laughs.
"You're literally the shortest person in this house."
"That's because you two are giants!"
Aries suddenly walked toward the wall.
"Come here."
"No."
"Come here."
"NO."
Percy grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the wall while Aries stretched the measuring tape.
"Stand straight!"
"I hate both of you!"
"Stand straight!"
"I AM standing straight!"
Aries measured my height carefully.
Then he looked at Percy.
And slowly shook his head.
"What?" Percy asked.
Aries sighed dramatically.
"It's worse than we thought."
My eye twitched.
"WHAT does that mean?"
Percy looked at the measurement and gasped.
"Oh my God."
"STOP BEING DRAMATIC AND TELL ME!"
Aries looked at me with fake sympathy.
"Jay… you're officially classified as a smol bean."
I slapped his arm.
"I WILL THROW YOU OUT OF THE WINDOW!"
Percy laughed loudly.
"Relax, shorty."
"I AM NOT SHORT!"
Aries leaned against the wall.
"You know… this explains a lot."
"Explains WHAT?"
"Why Keifer always had to bend down to look at you."
The moment he said that name…
The room went quiet.
My heart skipped slightly.
I immediately looked away.
"Don't bring him into this."
Percy noticed the change in my expression.
But Aries, being Aries, kept talking.
"I mean seriously," he continued. "The height difference was ridiculous."
"Aries," Percy warned quietly.
But Aries didn't stop.
"Like that time he rested his chin on your head—"
"ARIES."
This time Percy's voice was firm.
Aries finally stopped talking.
The silence returned.
I stared at the floor for a moment before forcing a small smile.
"You two are annoying."
Percy walked closer and ruffled my hair gently.
"But you love us."
"Debatable."
Aries crossed his arms.
"Anyway."
He pointed at me again.
"Conclusion of today's experiment."
"What now?"
"You are officially tiny."
I rolled my eyes.
"And you are officially stupid."
Percy laughed.
Aries looked offended.
"I am a genius."
"You measured someone's height for fun."
"…Okay fair point."
Despite everything…
I ended up laughing with them.
And for a moment…
Things felt normal again.
But later that night, when I looked at my reflection in the mirror…
A memory suddenly appeared in my mind.
Keifer standing behind me.
Teasing me about my height.
Resting his chin on my head just to annoy me.
I closed my eyes quickly.
"…Stop thinking about him."
But no matter how much I tried…
Some memories refused to leave.
Especially the ones that once made me happy.