Sunday noon, the mall was bright and airy, filled with the aroma of food and the sound of people's laughter. In a corner of the restaurant, a few members of the Jakefanatics gathered for casual bonding—not an official fan meet, just a simple get-together of fan friends.
Jayvee, Jake's cousin, was busy setting up the table and checking if the orders were complete. Almost simultaneously, Aya, Maureen, Anna, Janine, Mica, Alex, Janine, and Mike arrived.
Narrator / Scene:
While eating and talking each other, there was something unusual but simple in Jayvee's actions—he handed Aya water, made sure she was comfortable in her seat, and always smiled at her when he spoke.
The sweetness of Jayvee's gestures did not escape the eyes of the whole group. They all smiled, slightly giddy from those little gestures. And Janine noticed.
Janine's POV:
"Ugh, this is too much,"
Janine whispered to herself while watching the two. Jake's cousin was so gentle, and Aya—it just seemed natural for them to be together.
"The vibe is so happy. Wow, I hope Aya realizes she suits Jayvee better than Jake."
She continued observing the way Aya laughed—genuine, carefree, not minding anyone else. And Jayvee? No rush, no grandstanding, just simple but incredibly affecting.
Every smile, every small touch Jayvee gave Aya seemed to spark across the table. Janine's eyes didn't miss a thing—she became watchful, a little jealous, but mostly left with a fluttery feeling inside.
(While they were eating at the table)
Maureen:
"Wow, do you notice guys how gentle Jayvee is with Aya? He's so sweet!"
Anna:
"Yeah! Almost every move he makes seems to care for Aya. It's so heart-fluttering."
Mica:
"Exactly, so simple but his presence is different. Not just showing off, you know?"
Alex:
"True, at least he's not just trying to look cute in front of everyone. His aura with Aya is natural."
Mike:
"Ayeeee, Jayvee might be making a strong impression on the girls."
Jayvee:
"Stop it, I just want to serve Aya properly, right Aya?"
Aya (slightly unable to answer immediately):
"Ah-eh yes, and besides, we're just friends guys."
Janine (while taking a bite of dessert gelatin):
"Really? Honestly, you really suit Jayvee more than Jake. Forget your feelings for Jake, okay?"
Aya's POV:
"Here she goes deciding again, Janine. But what if I still like Jake? There's nothing you can do."
The teasing continued, especially from Janine, who wanted to push Aya toward Jayvee to indulge her own fantasies about Jake.
Maureen (suddenly interjecting):
"Hahaha Janine! Is that you? Looks like you're the most supportive at the table now, huh?"
Janine:
"Supportive? Yes, but that's not all… I just want to tell Aya… seriously, they really do suit each other hahaha!"
Anna:
"Awww, this is such a flutter moment, right? So you won't have any competition over Jake, right? Hahaha."
Narrator:
They all laughed, continued eating, and even had a live chat with those who couldn't come, like Admin Rose and Lyca, who were far away. Afterwards, they strolled around the mall… And of course, the highlight of the bonding was Jayvee's simple kindness. For Janine, every scene was a reminder that she didn't need to be too jealous of Aya over Jake.
Meanwhile, that night in Hong Kong, Lyca was relaxing in her bedroom, placing cucumber slices over her eyes to unwind. Suddenly, her phone vibrated—Tita Carol was calling.
Scene: Lyca & Tita Carol (Night Call)
Lyca:
"Hi Tita Carol! How are you? Did you call for me?"
Tita Carol:
"Hi, dear. Are you relaxed now? Sorry for calling late, but I just wanted to tell you something."
Lyca:
"That's okay. What happened?"
Tita Carol:
"Next week, Jake will be going back to the Philippines."
Lyca (somewhat surprised):
"Huh? Really? Why now? I'm not in the Philippines, Tita, what a waste huhu."
Tita Carol:
"He has a project in Manila, he's signed a contract with a Star Record Company, and he'll be making an album. But I also want his return to be well planned, and Lyca, important—don't tell the fandom yet. This is a secret. I want his arrival to be smooth and joyful."
Lyca:
"Yes, I understand. Secret first. Hahaha, that's exciting!"
Tita Carol:
"And one more thing, I also want… I want Aya and Jake to have a blind meet-up."
Lyca (smiling, slightly surprised):
"Blind meet-up? But why?"
Tita Carol:
"I just want, dear… Jake to move on from his ex, Hershey. And maybe Aya can teach him how to make a simple heart happy. But it has to be a surprise for everyone."
Lyca:
"Hahaha, wait… this is your secret plan for Jake and Aya?"
Tita Carol:
"Yes. So we need to be careful. At the right time, they'll see each other. But for now, no one should know—it must stay secret."
Lyca:
"Yes, Tita Carol, I understand. Promise, it stays secret."
Tita Carol:
"Thank you, dear. I know I can trust you. I haven't told Rose yet because she's busy with her child's school events. Now, you're the one I've told regarding this, so rest now, dear, and enjoy the night. Big things are coming, okay?"
Lyca:
"Yes, Tita Carol. Thank you for the update!"
Tita Carol:
"But you can also tell Aya to just prepare, and if she finds out about Jake's return, don't tell anyone in the fandom yet. It must remain a secret about Jake and her."
Lyca:
"Okay, Tita, I'll make sure Aya knows properly, haha."
Tita Carol:
"Thank you, dear. Now rest and goodnight."
Lyca:
"Thank you again, Tita. Goodnight too."
Narrator:
After the call, Lyca lay on her bed, smiling. Excited and slightly nervous—Jake was returning to the Philippines with a big surprise and secret. How she would handle this with the fandom and her friends, and how she would tell Aya, was still a mystery…
Author's Note:
The conversation between Lyca and Tita Carol that night ended with only them knowing a big secret: Jake was coming back to the Philippines, with a planned blind meet-up with Aya. 😉 But shhh… this stays secret from the fandom!
What will happen when they discover the surprise? And how will it affect the dynamics of Aya, Jake, and Janine? Stay tuned for the next chapter! 💙
To be continued…
Chapter 9: Whispers of Surprise