Chapter 2: The City That Doesn't Sleep
(Jay-jay's POV)
Airports always felt strange to me.
People running.
Announcements echoing.
Suitcases rolling across polished floors.
Everyone going somewhere.
Everyone leaving something behind.
I stared out the airplane window as the city lights of Manila disappeared beneath the clouds.
Beside me, Percy Mariano was asleep already.
Of course he was.
He could sleep anywhere.
Meanwhile my mind wouldn't stop replaying one moment.
"I used you. And the whole Section E knows."
My fingers tightened around the armrest.
Keifer Watson.
Even thinking about his name made my chest hurt.
Stupid heart.
Stupid memories.
Stupid boy.
I turned my head and looked outside again.
The sky was endless.
Maybe that was the point of leaving.
To start somewhere so far away that the past couldn't follow you.
"Hey."
Percy's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"You're doing the dramatic window stare again."
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous activity."
I rolled my eyes.
"Go back to sleep."
He stretched.
"Nope. Can't. Someone has to make sure you don't jump out of the plane."
"That's not funny."
"It's a little funny."
I sighed and leaned back.
"Percy."
"Yeah?"
"Why does he suddenly want to see me?"
Percy didn't answer immediately.
That alone told me something.
"He's changed," Percy said finally.
I frowned.
"People don't change after fifteen years."
Percy shrugged.
"Maybe he regrets things."
Regret.
Another dangerous word.
I closed my eyes.
"Too late for that."
New York City
The moment we stepped outside the airport, the cold air hit my face.
Buildings stretched toward the sky.
Cars honked.
Lights flashed everywhere.
The city felt alive.
Louder.
Faster.
Bigger than anything I had ever seen.
"Welcome to New York City," Percy said with a dramatic bow.
I stared up at the skyscrapers.
"It's… huge."
"Everything here is."
He grabbed my suitcase and started walking.
A black car waited near the curb.
The driver stepped out immediately.
"Mr. Mariano is expecting you."
My stomach twisted.
Hearing that name felt strange.
Mr. Mariano.
My father.
Fifteen years.
And now I was about to see him again.
The car ride through the city felt unreal.
Bright billboards.
Endless traffic.
People everywhere.
Finally, the car stopped in front of a massive glass building.
"Here we are," Percy said.
I stared up.
"Please tell me we're not living here."
"We're not."
He smirked.
"He is."
Of course.
We entered the building.
Everything inside looked expensive.
Marble floors.
Golden lights.
Security guards.
I suddenly felt underdressed in my hoodie and jeans.
The elevator ride was silent.
Floor numbers kept rising.
My heart started beating faster.
Finally the elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
A large office hallway stretched ahead.
At the end of it stood a tall man by the window.
His back was facing us.
The city lights glowed behind him.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Percy cleared his throat.
"She's here."
The man slowly turned around.
My breath caught.
He looked older.
Of course he did.
But the sharp eyes…
The same ones staring back at me in the mirror every morning.
Alejandro Mariano.
My father.
He studied my face carefully.
Like he was memorizing every detail.
"Jay-jay," he said quietly.
I crossed my arms.
"Hello… Mr. Mariano."
The title made Percy wince slightly.
But my father didn't react.
Instead he stepped closer.
"You look like your mother."
The mention of her name tightened something in my chest.
"I get that a lot."
Silence filled the room.
Fifteen years of absence hung between us.
Finally he spoke again.
"I know you have every reason to hate me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Good. At least you're self-aware."
Percy covered his mouth to hide a laugh.
My father sighed.
"I asked you to come here because there are things you deserve to know."
"Like why you disappeared for half my life?"
"Yes."
I stared at him.
Waiting.
But before he could speak, Percy's phone buzzed loudly.
He glanced at the screen.
Then smirked.
"Well well well."
"What?" I asked.
Percy turned the phone toward me.
One name flashed on the screen.
Kuya Angelo.
I hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
Angelo's voice came through immediately.
"Jay-jay."
"You already know, don't you?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"You should've told us."
I leaned against the desk.
"It happened fast."
In the background I heard another voice.
"Give me the phone."
Aries.
"Jay."
His voice sounded awkward.
Like he wasn't used to talking to me.
"Yeah?"
"You're really in New York?"
"Yeah."
Another pause.
Then he said quietly,
"You should've told me."
The words surprised me.
Aries wasn't the emotional type.
"I'm telling you now."
More silence.
Then Angelo spoke again.
"Does Keifer know?"
My chest tightened.
"No."
Aries muttered something in the background.
Then Angelo sighed.
"You might want to prepare yourself."
"Why?"
His answer came slowly.
"Because Keifer Watson just found out you left."
My heart skipped.
"And?"
Angelo's voice became serious.
"He didn't take it well."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
But Angelo didn't answer right away.
Instead he said one sentence that made my stomach drop.
"He's looking for you."
Across the room, Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Let me guess," he said casually.
"Angry boyfriend?"
I glared at him.
"He's not my boyfriend."
But somewhere deep inside…
A terrifying thought appeared.
What if Keifer really comes here?
To New York City.