Jiya,s pov
I don't know why, but dad and mom seem to be drifting away from me. I'm desperately trying to find them, but I can't. Then I see that Sofy isn't talking to me either. And Alex… Alex is leaving too…
"Alex! Alexxxxxxx…!"
I screamed and suddenly sat up. I looked around — I was in a hospital.
It was just a dream.
Morning had already come.
Thankfully, no one was in the room.
After a while, Alex came out from the bathroom and said,
"No one just called my name loudly, right?"
Me: "No, you're mistaken, sir."
But he had heard me scream.
Alex… came out from the bathroom… that means… was Alex here all night?
Was Alex really here with me?
If Alina finds out, she'll probably show up with a knife and kill me.
Or… did he just come early this morning? I don't know, I can't figure it out.
Me: "Sir, my phone and bag are at your place. I need them."
Alex: "I brought your phone. Someone named 'Dudu' kept calling again and again."
Sofy was calling.
Me: "Sir, please give me the phone."
Alex brought my phone to me, but it was locked with Face ID. And now, with the condition of my hand even worse, I couldn't do anything. My thumb and index finger were both bandaged together.
I tried really hard, but I couldn't operate the phone.
Alex noticed and took the phone from me to help.
"Which app do you want me to open?"
Me: "WhatsApp."
He opened it.
Then I told him to video call Dudu.
He made the call.
Sofy picked up on the first ring.
Sofy: "Bubu, my love…"
But the moment she saw me, she was shocked.
She stared at me, stunned, then asked,
"What happened to you?!"
Me: "Listen to me carefully. I had an accident. I haven't been able to call Ammu since the day before yesterday. Please call her and tell her that Jiya is busy with work, so she couldn't call. You and I talked once, so you know the situation. Please, don't let her know anything right now."
Sofy: "I understand. But what happened to you?"
Me: "I'll tell you everything later. Ending the call now."
Sofy: "Forget everything else. First tell me about ale."
I knew exactly what she meant by "ale," so I quickly said,
"Sofy, this is my boss, Alex sir, and sir, she is my best friend Sofy."
Sofy covered her mouth and stared wide-eyed at me. She was clearly in shock.
Alex said, annoyed, "Are you done talking? Can I end the call now?"
Me: "Yes, sir. Please hang up."
He hung up and sat on the sofa.
Alex looked tired. Maybe he didn't sleep last night… or maybe he came very early in the morning.
Me: "Sir, have you been here since last night?"
Alex: "I don't want to Answer ."
Why does he say things like that sometimes?
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Anisha and their grandma entered the room.
I instantly felt a little better.
Alex's grandma smiled and sat beside me.
She said, "I brought food for you and Alex. Soup for you, my little bird."
Then she looked at Alex and said,
"You didn't eat anything since last night. Eat something now."
Wait…
Does that mean Alex really stayed here with me all night? 🥹
I looked at him.
He glanced at me, then turned his focus to his phone.
Anisha served me soup.
I ate.
Alex's grandma gently combed my hair, starting from the bottom, avoiding the bandaged area.
She couldn't comb through my whole head because of the bandages.
Anisha and Alex were quietly eating.
It felt so nice to see everyone together.
Last night I had no one, but today everyone is here.
It felt really good.
Suddenly, Alex's grandma looked at me and said,
"From today, you'll stay with me."
Wait… what?
What did she just say?
Alex choked on his food hearing that, and started coughing.
Anisha, surprised and happy, said, "Really, Grandma?!"
Me: "I don't understand."
Grandma said again,
"What's not to understand? From today, you'll stay with me. As long as you're in the Philippines, as long as I'm alive, and until you get married — you'll live with me at my house."
Huh?!
She really said that?
The first thing that came to my mind was…
Alex doesn't like me.Alina doesn't like me.
I can't stay at Alex's house.
Alex lives in his own house. Even if his grandmother doesn't stay there, he'll still be at his father's place. But how can I stay there? The main thing is, sir doesn't even like me.
Me: "Ma'am, that's not possible."
Alex was staring at me.
Me: " I'm just a junior employee at sir's agency, and he's a huge celebrity. If anyone finds out that I'm living in his house, it will cause a lot of problems. And how can I possibly stay in his house? It's just not possible. I'm sorry, ma'am."
Given how Sir reacted the last time when I stayed at his place, I probably shouldn't even walk near that street.
Grandma started speaking again,
"First, call me Grandma. Second, I don't care how big of a celebrity Alex is — that's only outside. At home, he's just a normal person. And this is not about Alex's house, this is about my house. I want you to stay with me, not him. So I don't think there should be any more arguments. You're coming with us today — that's final."
Me: "But?mam,Wherever you stay, Alex sir's parents will be there too… and maybe they won't like me. I don't know how I could stay somewhere I might not be welcomed".
Before I could finish, Grandma cut in again,
"I have my own separate house. You and I will live there together. And you will call me Grandma from now on — no more ma'am."
I tried to speak again, but she interrupted,
"I won't hear another word. You're coming with me. That's final."
Anisha added, "You can't argue with Grandma. Once she says something, it's decided.
Oh, and… welcome home."
She smiled.
I looked at Alex.
He was staring at me with a serious look.
It was clear —
Alex absolutely did not want me to stay with his grandma.
I could feel it.
I don't know what to do. Maybe I should try talking to grandma again and see if she listens to me.
Me: "Grandma, can I tell you something—"
I didn't even finish my sentence when she gave me a sharp look. Alex was sitting quietly, saying nothing. I looked at him, but at that very moment, he got up and left the room.
I knew that Alex didn't like the idea of me staying with grandma.
Anisha came and sat beside me.
Anisha: "Don't worry about anything, grandma is really happy about you coming to her house."
Grandma: "I'm feeling so happy. I'll take good care of my golden bird."
Anisha: "I don't visit grandma's house often, but now that you'll be staying there, I'll come more."
Grandma: "So, you like Jiya more than grandma then?"
Anisha: "It's true that I like Jiya a lot, but I also love you so, so much, grandma."
Grandma laughed, "Alright, alright, I understand what you mean."
I was feeling very happy, but at the same time very bad, thinking that maybe Alex is angry.
I don't think staying with Grandma is right, but Grandma is not listening to me at all.
She is very happy about me staying with her.
Anisha: "Grandma, if you and Jiya stay at your house, does that mean you'll never stay with us again?"
Grandma: "No, I don't enjoy staying at your house . I'll stay in mine."
Just then, a nurse came in and said,
"Your car has arrived, and Ms. Niti, our nurse, will be going with you."
She looked at grandma and said, "Just like you wanted."
Anisha helped grandma out of the room, and a nurse came and held my arm. We all got into the car.
Huh… that's life — you never know what will happen next.