Jay jay's POV
Section E is chaos. Literal chaos.
Calix trying stupid lines on Mica, Felix is dramatically groaning over something about math again, and Ci-n is waving a slice of pizza like it's a weapon or a peace treaty—I'm not sure which.
"Jay! Eat! Or I'm eating it and you're officially dead to me!" Ci-n shoves the slice at me.
I grab it. Obviously!
"Thanks," I mumble, forcing a smile. My stomach flips anyway. My pocket itches. My phone. That damn glowing reminder from Yuri.
Don't drag anyone else into this. Especially him.
Awesome. Perfect. Totally fine. Totally normal. My brain is already on fire.
Ci-n pokes me again. "Uh-huh. Sure. Totally fine. You look like a stressed-out ghost?"
I force a smile as I keep thinking about the message! I look towards Keifer, he is talking on the phone with someone? Is it Yuri? I look back at Ci-n as I see him turning to me.
"Aww worried about your boyfriend? Trust me he will be fine!" Ci-n teases as the whole section E cracks up.
"Shut up Ci-n" I playfully hit his arm. He pretends to tear up. Omg that kid!
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Yuri's POV:
Jay jay... i just hope she understands!
Just stop messaging me... it isn't safe!
If they find out that your texting me...
From: Jay Jay
Yuri why aren't you replying
From: Jay Jay
Where are you!?
From: Jay Jay
What do you mean don't drag anyone into this!?
From: Jay Jay
What's happening why are you acting so weird
From: Jay Jay
What was that paper in your pocket from Drew's house?
Jay Jay.
The messages. They keep coming. Fast. One after another. My chest tightens. My hand hovers over the phone. I can't reply. I can't. Not yet.
Just stop messaging me… it isn't safe.
But she won't. She never stops. I can feel her panic radiating through each word. Where are you!? What do you mean don't drag anyone into this!?
And the last one… What was that paper in your pocket from Drew's house?
I close my eyes. I don't want to lie to her. I don't want to keep secrets. I wish I could tell her everything. But if I do… if anyone else finds out… it could ruin everything.
I stare at the glowing screen, fingers twitching, mind racing. I want to say I'm fine. I want to say I'll explain later. I want to say trust me.
But all that comes out is silence.
Because silence, at least, keeps her safe for now.
From: Jay Jay
I know you are online! Stop ghosting me.
-----------------------------------------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--------------------------------------------Jay Jay's POV:
I stare at my phone:
Yuri- online
Are you kidding me!?
I jump on my bed as I scroll through our past texts- when we used to be friends- share everything to each other...
Don't drag anyone else into this… His words keep flashing in my mind, and suddenly my chest feels tight. What does that even mean? What's happening? Why is he being so secretive?
I type, delete, type again.
To: Pres. YuriPlease… just tell me you're okay. That's all. I just need to know.
The three dots appear. He's typing. My heart leaps. My hands shake.
Then… nothing.
The dots disappear. My chest sinks.
I groan, tossing the phone onto my lap. "Why are you like this, Yuri!?" I mutter to myself.
I can't stand it. I can't just sit here doing nothing. My brain is screaming for answers, for something, and all I get is silence.
Then a tiny, cautious notification pops up:
Typing…
I grip the phone like it's a lifeline. My heartbeat is racing. Come on, come on, come on…
And just when I think I might lose my mind…
From: Pres. Yuri
Stop messaging me.
I blink. I stare. I don't even breathe for a second.
WHAT.
My thumb hovers over the keyboard. I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to type BUT WHY?! and ARE YOU OKAY?! and I CAN HELP! all at once.
Instead, I type… and erase… and type again…
To: Pres. YuriI… I just want to make sure you're safe! That's all!
The three dots appear again. My heart leaps. Maybe he'll explain this time. Maybe he'll…
Typing…
Then, just as quickly… nothing.
I groan, tossing my phone onto the bed. My fingers are shaking. My chest feels like it's about to explode.
Why is he being like this?! Stop messaging me—does he even realize how that sounds?? That sounds like he's in danger and I can't… I just…
I sit there, hands tangled in my hair, staring at the blank screen. Keifer's words from earlier echo in my mind: "I'd trust you with my life. But not with your lies."
And suddenly I realize… maybe I have to.
Even if I don't understand him.
Even if it kills me not knowing.
I pick up my phone again, trembling, and whisper to myself:"Okay… fine. I'll trust you… for now."
But my fingers still hover over the screen. Just in case.
I'm still staring at my phone like it might explode in my hands when a booming voice drags me out of my thoughts.
"JAY JAY! DINNER!"
Aries. Of course. The Horoscope! Timing is impeccable. My stomach growls, because apparently it can't care about my life-or-death texting drama—it only cares about food.
I scramble off my bed, tossing the phone onto the chair like maybe if I leave it there it won't combust.
Downstairs, the smell of garlic and something sweet hits me like a tidal wave. My mouth waters, but my brain refuses to switch gears. Yuri's fine… probably… maybe… what does stop messaging me even mean?
"Finally! I was about to come upstairs and drag you myself," Aries grumbles, setting plates on the table like a drill sergeant.
Kuya Angelo sits down as he stares at my soul. What did I do!?
"Stop texting Yuri"
The table is quiet. Too quiet. The smell of garlic rice and adobo doesn't help when my stomach feels like it's been replaced with rocks.
Kuya Angelo's eyes are locked on me. Calm. Sharp. Unreadable.Aries is leaning back in his chair, but his jaw is tight, his stare just as heavy.
And me? I'm sinking lower and lower into my seat, clutching my fork like it's a weapon.
"Stop texting Yuri," Kuya Angelo says again, slow and certain.
My chest tightens. I blink rapidly, trying to look anywhere but at him. "I don't—what do you mean?"
Aries exhales through his nose, almost a scoff. "Jay. Don't play dumb. We've seen your face every time your phone buzzes."
My fork clatters against the plate. OH. MY. GOD. They noticed. They actually noticed.
"I-I was just—" I scramble for words, for anything. "He's my classmate! I just wanted to check if he's okay, he hasn't been at school and—"
"That's exactly why you don't message him," Kuya cuts in, voice low but firm. "Yuri's not missing school because he's sick, Jay. He's avoiding something. Something you don't want to get pulled into."
His words slam into me like a punch. "Avoiding… what?"
Neither of them answers.
The silence stretches. The only sound is the faint tick of the clock on the wall. My hands feel clammy. My throat closes.
"Jay," Aries says finally, softer than before. "Trust us on this. Whatever Yuri's caught up in… it isn't safe for you."
I swallow hard, forcing out a whisper. "But he's my friend."
Kuya Angelo's expression doesn't change. "And that's exactly why you need to stay away."
My chest burns. My head spins. And the words from Yuri's last message echo over and over in my skull—
Don't text me again. It's not safe.
My foot! He is my friend and I am going to find out what's going out! Without Kuya or Keifer knowing or I am straight to the grave!
Is it only Yuri, Kuya or Keifer that have their own ways? Ha I will too... somehow?