Jay's POV..
Me and keiren were waiting for keifer as he was coming to pick us up.
As keifer arrived keiren straight went to hug him and I came behind him.
" How was your exhibition "
" It was very nice kuya and ate Jay helped me" He smiled and nodded and then turned towards me .
" Jay Angelo called me and said that your mom is coming so you should visit her and stay with her, I will drive you home"
I nodded and he drove towards Fernandez villa.
As soon as we reached I said bye to him he kissed my forehead and left .
I went inside .
Mama hugged me as soon as she saw me followed by tita gema .i greeted Aries, kuya Angelo .
At night after dinner i went to Room and didn't Wait for keifer's call as he told me he has some Important paper work to do.
I felt asleep feeling feeling excited about Tommorow.
The first thing I did when I woke up was reach for my phone.
Half-asleep, eyes barely open, I unlocked it quickly—almost instinctively.
Nothing.
No messages.
No missed calls.
No notifications that actually mattered.
For a few seconds, I just stared at the screen, waiting… as if something would suddenly appear.
"…Maybe it's too early."
I muttered it to myself, placing the phone back beside me, trying not to think too much.
They were probably sleeping.
Or busy.
Or… planning something.
Right?
I got up slowly, getting ready without my usual energy. There was this strange feeling sitting in my chest—something between expectation and disappointment, and I didn't like it.
Still, I tried to ignore it.
I even tried to help them remember.
Little things.
Small hints.
I checked my phone again while brushing my hair, hoping maybe someone had texted by now.
Still nothing.
"…Wow."
A small laugh escaped me, but it didn't reach my eyes.
I walked downstairs, adjusting my sleeves absentmindedly.
Voices reached me before I even entered the dining area.
Normal voices.
Casual.
Like any other day.
When I stepped in, everyone was already there.
Kuya Angelo sat at the head of the table, calm as always, going through something on his phone. Aries was beside him, eating quietly, his expression unreadable. Mom and Tita Gema were talking about something random, completely relaxed.
No one looked up immediately.
No sudden "happy birthday."
No reaction.
Nothing.
"Good morning," I said, trying to sound normal.
"Morning," Mom replied with a soft smile.
Tita Gema glanced at me briefly, nodding. "Sit, eat before it gets cold."
Aries didn't say anything, just gave a small glance before going back to his food.
Kuya didn't even look up.
I stood there for a second longer than I should have.
Waiting.
Hoping.
But nothing came.
"…Yeah."
I pulled out the chair and sat down quietly, my fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the table.
This was… normal.
Everything was normal.
Too normal.
"So," Tita Gema continued talking, "we might have to shift the schedule for next week—"
Mom nodded, responding like it was just another usual conversation.
Aries reached for the water.
Kuya finally spoke, but it had nothing to do with me.
"Aries, pass the salt."
That was it.
That was really it.
I picked at my food, not really eating.
Maybe they were joking.
Maybe they were waiting for the right moment.
Maybe—
I looked up again.
Just in case.
Just hoping someone would suddenly remember and go—
"Oh wait—"
But no one did.
My grip on the spoon tightened slightly before I forced myself to relax.
"Did something happen today?"
I asked it casually, as if it didn't matter.
As if I wasn't testing them.
Mom looked at me, slightly confused.
"Hmm? No, why?"
Tita Gema shook her head. "Nothing important."
Aries didn't react.
Kuya simply said, "Eat your breakfast."
That's it.
"Oh… okay."
I lowered my gaze back to my plate.
I shouldn't feel like this.
It's just a birthday.
It's just one day.
They're here. Everyone's fine. Nothing's wrong.
Then why did it feel like something was missing?
I swallowed quietly, forcing myself to take a bite even though I wasn't hungry anymore.
Maybe I expected too much.
Maybe I thought—
Just this once—
They would make it feel different.
My phone stayed silent the entire time.
Not even a single message.
Not even from him.
That was the part that hurt the most.
I didn't need everyone.
I didn't need a big celebration.
I didn't even need gifts.
I just needed one message.
From him.
"Happy birthday, Jay."
That's all.
But even that…
didn't come.
I pushed my chair back slowly after finishing, even though I barely ate anything.
"I'm going upstairs."
No one stopped me.
No one asked anything.
"Hmm," Mom nodded. "Rest if you're tired."
"I'm fine."
I walked away before my voice could betray me.
Back in my room, I closed the door gently and leaned against it for a moment.
The silence felt heavier now.
I picked up my phone again.
Checked it.
Unlocked.
Locked.
Again.
Still nothing.
"…Seriously, Keifer?"
I whispered under my breath, a small frown forming.
"You too?"
I let out a quiet sigh, walking towards my bed and sitting down slowly.
Maybe he was busy.
Maybe he forgot.
Maybe—
No.
He wouldn't forget.
Right?
I lay back, staring at the ceiling, my phone resting on my chest.
Waiting.
Still waiting.
And downstairs…
laughter continued like it was just another ordinary morning.
But for me—
It wasn't.