JAY JAY POV
I went inside Tita Gemma's house, feeling like my heart was doing parkour in my chest.
"Tita," I said, immediately pulling her into a hug. I needed to ground myself before I totally lost it. I felt like a soldier returning from a very confusing, very expensive war.
"Jay-jay," a voice called out. I looked up to see Kuya Angelo standing there, looking like he was ready to conduct a Senate hearing.
"Evening, Kuya," I mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact.
He glared at me, his arms crossed over his chest. "How did the date go between you and that Watson?"
He knows. He definitely knows. The air in the room was suddenly thinner.
"It went fine, Kuya," I said, trying to sound bored, as if getting engaged to a billionaire over red velvet cake was a Tuesday occurrence.
"Yeah? And are you planning to invite us to your wedding or not?" he asked, his voice dripping with tension.
"Wedding?!" Aries, my other brother, practically teleported into the room. Aries is only a year older than me—twenty-four—and usually, he's the one I can joke around with, but right now his face was unreadable.
"Aries, my favorite brother! Did I ever tell you that you might be more handsome than Percy claims to be ?" I said, trying to deflect. I was desperate. I needed to survive this interrogation.
"Jay-jay," Kuya Angelo said, cutting through my nonsense. "Cut the act."
I sighed, deflating like a popped balloon. "He asked me and I said yes. He looks like a nice guy and... and I like him."
"I don't mind the fact that you said yes to him," Kuya Angelo said, stepping closer. "What I hate is the fact that you had to say yes because Keifer made a rule—that you marry him and he saves the company."
My blood ran cold. How did he know the exact details? My brain stalled.
"How did you—"
"Keifer told me everything before sending me the legal papers," Kuya Angelo said, holding up his phone.
Can he read my mind? And fuck you, Keifer! My own brother knew the terms of my 'sale' before I even got home to explain. He didn't even give me the chance to break the news gently.
"No, I can't read your mind, if that's what you're thinking," Kuya Angelo added flatly.
I jumped back, pointing a finger at him. "You devil! You're reading my mind right now!"
"I'm not reading your mind, Jay-jay. Your face is just an open book," Kuya sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Aries walked over, his eyes softening as he looked at me. He's always been protective, the kind of brother who would fight the world for me even if we were just arguing five minutes prior.
"Jay, you don't have to do this," Aries said, his voice low. "We can find another way to save the business. You shouldn't have to marry a man who uses folders and contracts to get a wife. We aren't that desperate."
"It's okay, Aries. Really," I lied. I forced a small smile, even though my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant Watson-sized hand. "It's not just about the business. He's... he's different. And besides, have you seen his face? It's a very high-quality face."
Aries didn't look convinced.
Tita Gemma just stood there, looking back and forth between us, her hands clasped to her chest. "Oh, my Jay-anka... are you sure about this? I wanted you to be happy, not to be a sacrifice."
I pulled her into another hug, hiding my face so they couldn't see the doubt in my eyes. "I'm sure, Tita. It's going to be okay"
But deep down, I knew Keifer Watson wasn't just an element. He was a whole natural disaster.
Kuya Angelo just shook his head, looking completely drained, and walked away to take a call—probably another legal bombardent from the Watson camp. Tita Gemma, on the other hand, scurried off to the kitchen. I knew that look; she was going to bake a cake. In our house, stress was usually countered with sugar.
Aries and I walked toward the hall, the silence between us heavy with all the things we weren't saying. I could feel his protective radar pinging like crazy. Just as he opened his mouth to likely stage an intervention, my phone vibrated in my hand.
"Who is it?" Aries asked, peering over my shoulder.
(A/N — PERCY IS NOT JAY'S OLDER BROTHER IN THIS STORY, but he still acts like one toward her 🤍✨)
"Your one and only handsome friend," I said, rolling my eyes as I checked the screen.
"What?" I answered, pressing the phone to my ear.
"Open the door. I'm here," Percy's voice boomed from the other end.
I huffed and walked over to the front door, Aries trailing right behind me. I swung it open to find Percy standing there, looking way too energetic for the dramatic mood of the evening.
"My baby sistah! Did you miss my pogi face?" he asked, grinning wider than a Cheshire cat.
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch despite the existential crisis I was currently inhabiting. "I want to throw up now," I said flatly.
"Ouch. Direct to the heart," Percy joked, clutching his chest as he strolled inside like he owned the place. He looked at Aries and gave him a bro-nod before turning back to me. "So, I heard rumors. Big, wealthy, arrogant rumors involving a certain Watson. Tell me I'm not about to lose my favorite sister-figure to a guy who probably uses gold bars as paperweights."
Aries snorted. "Too late. She already said yes."
Percy's jaw dropped. "No way. Jay-jay, please tell me you're joking. I leave you alone for five minutes and you get engaged?"
"It's a long story, Percy," I groaned, leaning against the wall
"Galit agad?" Percy laughed, but his eyes turned serious as he looked at me. "But for real, Jay... are you okay? I know how you are. You're doing this for them, aren't you?"
I looked from Percy to Aries. These were the people who actually stood by me when my biological mother decided I was a ghost. They were my real protection.
"I'm fine," I insisted, though my voice lacked its usual Science-teacher authority. "It's just a contract. I can handle one arrogant businessman. I handle Section E every day; how much harder can Keifer Watson be?"
Percy and Aries exchanged a look that said, She has no idea.
"Anyway," I said, trying to shake off the gloom. "Tita is making cake. Let's just eat and pretend the world isn't ending for an hour."
After my dramatic entrance, we all ended up back in the living room. Tita Gemma was already in the kitchen, and the smell of baking chocolate was the only thing keeping me from having a full-blown meltdown.
"Wait," I started, looking at the two of them. "Do you guys actually know him? Like, for real?"
Percy and Aries exchanged a look—one of those 'bro-codes' looks that usually means trouble.
"We were friends," Percy explained, leaning back on the sofa. "But we don't really talk anymore."
I narrowed my eyes. My teacher-senses were tingling. "What happened? Did someone steal someone else's pancit canton? Why the drama?"
Aries shrugged, looking incredibly bored, which usually meant he was hiding something. "Nothing. We just grew apart. Different paths and all that deep stuff."
Yeah, right. Like I'd believe that. I turned my gaze to Percy. Percy is like a leaky faucet—if you stare at him long enough, the truth eventually drips out.
"Percy..." I said, using my 'I-will-give-you-extra-homework' voice.
Percy buckled instantly. He leaned in, whispering loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. "Aries and Keifer fought over a girl before. The girl chose Aries. Then, well, everything went downhill from there. Oh! And there was also this other guy involved, his name was Yuri. Total chaos."
He said it all in one breath, like he was trying to finish a speed-run of our family's dirty laundry.
Aries' face went from zero to 'I-am-going-to-bury-you' in 0.5 seconds. He glared at Percy, his knuckles whitening.
"You asshole!" Aries barked, lunging forward to give Percy a piece of his mind (and his fist).
"Whoa! Jay, control your brother! He's going feral!" Percy yelled, diving behind me and using my shoulders as a human shield.
"Aries, stop it! Let him go!" I screamed, but I was mostly laughing. I was currently the only thing standing between Percy and a black eye.
It was total chaos in the living room. Aries was trying to reach around me, Percy was practically clinging to my back like a koala, and I was just trying to stay upright.
"Aries! Enough!" I wheezed, still giggling. "You're going to knock over the vase!"
I looked at Aries, who finally stopped lunging but was still breathing hard. My mind, however, was spinning. So that was the history? A girl? A rivalry? And who was this Yuri guy?
It felt like I was living in a teenage drama series, but instead of being the main character, I felt like the person in the background just trying to make sure everyone got fed.
If Aries and Keifer had that kind of history, then my marriage to a Watson wasn't just a contract—it was like walking straight into a battlefield with nothing but a slice of cake for protection.
"Are you done?" I asked, fixing my hair that Percy had successfully messed up.
Aries just grunted and sat back down, still looking like he wanted to fight someone. Percy slowly peeked from behind my shoulder, checking if the coast was clear.
"Is the scary man gone?" Percy whispered.
"Shut up, Percy," Aries and I said in unison.
I sat down, the gravity of the situation finally hitting me again
Jusko. If this were a movie, I'd be asking for a refund. But since it's my life... I guess I'll just wait for Tita's cake. Sugar makes everything better, right? Even if you're about to marry your brother's nemesis.
Aries stood up and headed to the bathroom, probably to wash off the urge to punch someone. The moment the door clicked shut, I leaned in toward Percy, my eyes narrowed.
"Spill it," I commanded. "No filters, no bro-code. Give me the full recipe of this disaster."
Percy didn't even hesitate.
"Ella," he said, the name sounding like a bad omen. "That was the girl's name. She chose Aries first. They dated for about three months, acting all lovey-dovey and making everyone else feel single as heck. But then? She dumped Aries and went straight to that rooster, Yuri."
I stared at him, my mouth slightly agape. I felt like I was watching a drama series, but with more hair gel and masculine pride.
"So you, Aries, Yuri, and Keifer were all best friends at first... but the friendship died because of one girl?" I asked, leaning back and crossing my arms. "How stupid. Seriously? You guys are like the 'Power Rangers' of bad decisions. All that drama over a girl named Ella?"
Percy nodded solemnly, though he looked more amused than repentant. "It was a mess, Jay. But you can't really blame Keifer for being the way he is now. I mean, the guy is intense. He gets crazy possessive when he thinks you're his."
A shiver—and not the good, kilig kind—ran down my spine. Crazy possessive?
Just as I was about to grill Percy for more horrifying details, the bathroom door opened and Aries walked back in, looking significantly less like he was going to commit a crime.
"Kids! Cake is ready!" Tita Gemma's voice sang out from the dining room.
My ears practically perked up. Cake. The universal band-aid for a bleeding soul.
"Ohh! Let me get mine!" I yelled, jumping up from the sofa. My survival instincts were fully directed toward that chocolate goodness.
I practically skipped to the kitchen, my eyes already visualizing the moist, fudgy center of Tita's baking. But when I reached the table, my heart didn't just drop—it deflated like a week-old balloon.
There, standing in the way of my happiness, was a giant platter of... vegetables. Steamed broccoli, carrots, and some sort of leafy greens that looked like they were mocking me.
"Tita... what is this greenery?" I asked, pointing a trembling finger at the plate.
"Dinner first, Jay-anka," Tita said, slapping my hand away from the cake stand. "Vegetables and proper food before you touch the sugar. You need the vitamins to handle all this stress."
I let out a groan that was probably heard by the neighbors. "But Tita! My soul is hungry! This is a life crisis! Broccoli cannot fix a Watson-related emergency!"
"Eat, Jay," Kuya Angelo said, sitting down and looking way too disciplined for my liking.
I slumped into my chair, staring at a piece of broccoli.
"Life is unfair," I whispered to a carrot.
Percy snickered from across the table. "Think of it as training, Jay-jay. If you can survive Tita's healthy cooking, you can survive anything."
I glared at the greenery on my plate while stabbing a broccoli floret with enough force to make it realize it was unwanted. Fine. I'll eat the greens. I'll be a responsible adult. But I'm doing this under protest.
"Stop glaring so much, you won't get killed. Veggies are good for you," Aries said, sounding like a fitness coach I never asked for.
And then, as if my life wasn't already a tragedy, he had the audacity—the utter nerve—to scoop another mountain of greens onto my plate.
"Percy! He's giving me more food!" I complained, pointing my fork dramatically at Aries like he'd just committed a felony. "Look! He gave me the green mushy stuff! It looks like pulverized Hulk!"
"It's sautéed spinach, Jay. Eat it," Tita Gemma's voice drifted from the kitchen, sounding way too calm for someone witnessing a vegetable-based assault.
"Jay, just eat it so we can get to the cake," Percy said, though he was busy hiding his own carrots under a piece of chicken. Traitor.
"It's mushy, Percy! It's like eating a swamp!" I hissed, poking the spinach
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