The park looked like a scene from a sun-soaked postcard — kids screaming, balloons floating, couples walking dogs that clearly walked them instead.
Jay tilted her head back and exhaled, finally, a normal day that didn't involve boardrooms, business wars, or emotional damage.
Too bad "normal" didn't exist when Percy was around.
Gemma's phone buzzed then — she glanced at it and sighed. "Jeana, we have to leave soon, remember the meeting with the board?"
Jeana stood reluctantly. "Right. Angelo, can you drive us?"
Angelo, who had been lazily leaning on the railing, nodded immediately. "Sure. You all behave while I'm gone." His eyes flicked at Jay in mock warning.
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"
Aries snorted. "Because you and Percy together are chaos incarnate."
"True," Percy said with a proud grin, flipping his skateboard like it was a trophy.
As Jeana and Gemma left with Angelo, Jay watched the kids again, her eyes following the motion of the skates. Percy caught the look and smirked.
"Finally," she groaned, tugging her hoodie sleeves down. "A normal day. No explosions, no hit lists, no League drama."
"Give it five minutes," Aries muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Can you not curse my peace?" she shot back, glaring.
Before Aries could retaliate, Percy whistled loudly, spinning a shiny black skateboard in one hand. "Who wants to learn from the master?" he said, grinning wide enough to flash all his teeth.
Jay's head snapped toward him. "Master? Please. The last time you tried this, you face-planted into a bush."
"Details, baby sista, details," Percy said dramatically, pointing at her.
"Come on, I'll teach you how to not fall on your pretty face. Just call me Kuya Percy. Otherwise, I refuse to teach such a disrespectful youth."
Jay blinked at him. "Kuya Percy the— what? Are you high on caffeine again?"
Percy dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "Blasphemy! This is natural talent and charisma, baby sista."
Aries, standing a few feet behind them, folded his arms, jaw twitching.Keifer, beside him, muttered under his breath, "Natural stupidity, maybe."
He held out his hand with exaggerated seriousness. "You gotta call me Kuya Percy first."
Jay froze, frowning. "What?"
"Yup," Percy said cheerfully, stepping backward with the board. "If you want the lessons, you gotta say it. Loud and clear."
Aries leaned forward, smirking. "She doesn't even call me Kuya, good luck."
Keifer chuckled lowly, glancing sideways at Jay. "You're really walking into fire, Percy."
Jay gave Percy a look so flat it could slice marble. "You sure about this?"
"Positive."
A pause. Then she sighed dramatically and muttered under her breath, "Kuya Percy."
Percy gasped. "I heard that, but I need more emotion! Louder!"
Jay gave him the fakest, brightest smile. "KUYA PERCY!"
Keifer coughed into his fist, suppressing a laugh. Aries rolled his eyes so hard it was audible. "Can't believe I'm witnessing this."
Percy grinned proudly. "See? That's how you show respect."
Jay tilted her head, sarcasm dripping. "Oh totally, my respect level for you is through the roof now."
"Attitude!" Percy clicked his tongue dramatically. "Kids these days— no discipline."
Jay just grinned wider. "Says the man who once tried to fry instant noodles without water."
Aries choked on his drink. Keifer looked impressed. "You actually did that?"
Percy puffed his chest. "Experimentation, not failure!"
Jay stepped on the skateboard cautiously. Percy stayed close, steadying her arms. "Okay, relax. Balance, don't lock your knees."
"I am relaxed," Jay said through clenched teeth. "You're making me nervous."
"Me? I'm the best teacher ever."
Aries muttered under his breath, "Not what your high school report card said."
Jay snorted. "Valid point."
Keifer leaned against a tree, arms folded, jaw tight but trying to hide it. Every time Percy steadied Jay by her arms or laughed when she wobbled, something sharp flickered behind Keifer's calm expression.
Aries noticed it too — his eyes narrowed slightly, not liking the sight either. "She doesn't even call me Kuya like that," he mumbled, annoyed for reasons he couldn't name.
Keifer chuckled dryly. "You sound jealous."
Aries gave him a look. "You're one to talk."
Percy ignored them both with royal grace, grabbing Jay's hand and balancing her on the skateboard. "Okay, baby sista, trust your Kuya, and—"
"I'm going to push you down the hill," Jay said flatly. "Accidentally."
"Oh, violent tendencies! Just like mother," Percy gasped, clutching his chest as if wounded.Jashfer, who was sitting on a nearby bench with a fond smile, chuckled quietly. "He definitely gets that from her side."
Keifer snorted. "No doubt."
Meanwhile, Aries' eye twitched every time Jay giggled. Every single time Percy said baby sista, Aries' soul aged another decade.
Aries, who had been standing a few feet away, suddenly stepped forward. "Don't call her that."
Percy looked over, unimpressed. "Why not? She is my baby sista, kind of."
"She's my baby sister," Aries corrected, glaring.
"Technically," Percy said, tilting his head, "you're not even—"
"Finish that sentence and you'll be skating in a hospital hallway," Aries snapped.
Jay groaned. "You both sound like toddlers fighting over the last cookie."
"Why are you even calling him Kuya, Jay?" Aries snapped finally. "You don't even call me that anymore."
Jay shot him a sideways smirk. "Because Percy's teaching me something useful. You just taught me how to win arguments."
"Exactly," Aries said proudly before realizing it was sarcasm. "Wait—hey!"
Percy laughed so hard he nearly dropped the skateboard. "Ah, young jealousy! Don't worry, Aries, you'll get your turn when I open Percy's School of Fabulousness!"
"Does it come with a refund policy?" Keifer murmured.
Percy gasped again, overdramatic as ever. "Excuse me, Watson! Do you even know how many girls cry when I walk by?"
Jay deadpanned, "Yeah, out of fear."
That sent Jashfer into a full laugh — the kind of rare, unguarded sound that made him look less like the business tycoon of Mariano Corp and more like a dad just enjoying his kids' chaos.
Then, as if summoned by comedic timing, Percy twirled the skateboard and puffed his chest. "Now! Baby sista, trust me. I, Kuya Percy, shall teach you the art of balance—"
Jay wobbled. "Yeah, you're teaching falling with style."
"Excuse me!" Percy exclaimed. "I was a national-level skater!"
"Of which country?" Keifer asked dryly. "Delusion?"
Even Aries cracked a smirk at that one.
Jay rolled her eyes, stepping on the board with mock confidence. "Boys, please. If I fall, at least one of you will die from guilt. So focus."
"Or jealousy," Percy muttered under his breath, earning a glare from both Keifer and Aries.
She managed to push herself forward, balancing perfectly for three seconds before wobbling. "Hey, look at me! I'm doing—AHHH!"
She crashed directly into Keifer, who caught her effortlessly like some cliché romance movie hero.
"Seriously?" he said, his lips twitching in amusement. "You just wanted me to catch you."
Jay smacked his arm. "Shut up."
From the bench, Jashfer laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, young love. And jealousy issues."
Aries scowled. "She's not—"
"—your property, yes, I know," Jashfer said, cutting him off. "Relax, son. You're all so dramatic."
Percy, now sulking, flopped down beside Jashfer. "I liked it better when she called me kuya."
The chaos paused when Jashfer called out, "Careful, Jay."His tone was gentle — too gentle for a man known for cutting down competitors in boardrooms. Keifer turned to him instinctively, the way one soldier notices another commander.
"You care for her a lot," he said quietly, looking at Keifer.
Keifer nodded, eyes still on Jay. "More than anything, sir."
Jashfer's face softened. "She's my only daughter. I wasn't there when she needed me most. But you—" he paused, searching for words. "Don't you ever hurt her. Not even by accident. I'll trust you with her heart… if you promise not to break it."
Keifer met his eyes firmly. "I'd rather break myself than her, sir."
Jashfer smiled faintly. "Good answer."
"Sir," Keifer said, respectful, "don't worry. I'll make sure she doesn't fall."
Jashfer smiled — slow, knowing. "I trust you, Keifer. But if you ever hurt her, not even the League will protect you."
Keifer met his gaze steadily. "Sir, I'd destroy myself before I'd ever hurt her."
That silenced everyone for a beat — even Percy, who for once looked serious.
After several wobbly attempts — and Percy nearly tripping trying to show off — Jay finally managed to glide a few meters. She turned toward him with a proud grin.
"See! I did it!"
Percy threw his hands up. "Ladies and gentlemen, my baby sista has officially learned how to stand on wheels!"
Aries groaned. "You're acting like she won an Olympic medal."
Percy put an arm dramatically around Jay. "To me, she did!"
Keifer rolled his eyes again. "You're gonna regret calling her that when she eats all your fries."
Percy froze. "Wait— you said fries?"
Everyone groaned. "Percy!"
"What?" he defended, "Skating burns calories! We need fuel!"
Jay immediately nodded in full support. "Exactly. Let's get something to eat."
Aries stared at her, disbelief written all over his face. "Jay, we just had lunch an hour ago."
"So?" Jay shrugged, completely unbothered. "I burn calories faster when I laugh at you."
Jashfer laughed so hard he had to wipe tears. "She has gotten jeana's sarcasm"
Percy threw his arm around Jay again. "That's my baby sista! Food is always priority number one."
Aries smirked. "Yeah, that's why she eats like a pig."
Jay pouted. "Mean!"
Before she could say more, Keifer wrapped his arm around her waist protectively. "She's my piggy, so watch it, horoscope."