JAY-JAY POV
I'm still in Kuya Angelo's house. I don't even want to be here, but Percy keeps saying it's "still not safe" for me, so… yeah. Fun.
I tried asking him about Jare, but he immediately changed the topic like I wouldn't notice. Classic Percy.
Idiot.
I don't want to go back to school. But Kuya is forcing me because apparently I "can't miss any more days." And after yesterday's drama, he doesn't even trust me to go alone — he's making my so‑called fiancé drop me off like I'm five.
Annoying. I don't want to step foot in that stupid school.
Stupid school. Stupid Section E.
Just thinking about what they did still hurts.
That jerk actually said he used me — used me — just to get revenge on Aries.
I cried the whole night over it. And I hate that I did.
"Jay, come out, sweetie," my so‑called mother called from outside the door.
God, she is so annoying.
Now she suddenly wants to "bond" after everything she did? Please.
I'm pretty sure she's only trying to get close so she can dig for information about Jare.
She was about to knock again, but I swung the door open first.
"What the hell do you want?" I snapped.
"Jay, don't talk to me like that. You're getting late for school, so get ready," she said, trying to sound firm.
"Can't you see I'm already dressed?" I muttered, brushing past her as I headed downstairs.
"Jay, don't—" she started, but I was already halfway down, done with the conversation.
When I got downstairs, Kuya was already in the living room talking to Yuri.
Yuri looked up the moment he saw me and smiled like we were best friends or something.
"Jay, Yuri's here. Go eat breakfast and then you two can head to school," Kuya said, giving me that pointed older‑brother stare.
"I'm not hungry," I muttered.
Before Kuya could argue, Aries came stomping down the stairs behind me.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" he snapped, jabbing a finger at Yuri.
"Aries. Language," Kuya warned. "And he's here to pick up Jay."
Aries shot me a look, rolled his eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck, and marched to the dining table to eat.
"Jay, go and eat," Jenna said as she came down from upstairs.
"I already told you I'm not hungry. I'm going to that fucking school," I snapped, already heading for the door.
"Jay! Yuri said he didn't eat breakfast!" Kuya yelled from the kitchen.
"I don't care," I shot back without even looking at him.
"JAY!" Kuya barked, louder this time.
Normally, that tone would've scared me into stopping. But right now? I didn't care about anything he had to say.
Yuri walked over and said, "Jay, shall we go to school?"
I didn't bother answering. I just headed straight for his car and got into the back seat.
He slid into the driver's seat and glanced at me. "Jay, you can sit in the passenger seat," he said gently.
I shot him a look that made it very clear I wasn't moving.
He got the message, started the engine, and drove us to school
He opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but I was already done with the conversation.
I slipped my AirPods in without even looking at him, making it obvious I wasn't interested in whatever speech he had prepared.
Then my phone started dinging nonstop.
Mia — my best friend from Holy—
Holy shit, I mean Holy Saints.
Our group chat lit up: Mia, Ben, Robin, and me.
Ever since I had to move to HVIS, we barely talk. We try to meet once a week, which is… something, I guess.
Honestly, those three are the only good thing I've got going for me right now.
My phone buzzed again and again.
FROM: Quad Squad
MIA:Jay, how are you doing?
Great. She definitely knows something.
ROBIN:Hello? Jay? Answer.
He's impatient as always.
BEN:Jay, we know.
I typed back fast.
ME:How the fuck do you guys know?
A second later:
ROBIN:Well… Percy told us.
I stared at the screen.
That motherfucker.
He's so dead when I see him.
MIA:Should we meet again?
ME:Not now.
ROBIN:Don't shut yourself off again.
BEN:Jay, please. Let's meet. You don't sound like yourself.
ME:I'm fine.
I closed the group chat before any of them could reply.
They're my friends — have been for almost ten years.
We all went to the same school back in New York.
Then I had to move to the Philippines… and somehow, a few months later, their parents moved too, and they ended up in the same school as me again.
Lucky coincidence or fate, I don't know.
But they're the closest thing I have to home.
Before Yuri even finished pulling into the parking lot, I'd already yanked the door open and jumped out.
I didn't care if the car was still rolling — I just needed to get away from him
"Jay!" Yuri called after me, his voice tight with worry.
I didn't look back.
I just kept walking toward the school like the ground might swallow me whole if I stopped for even a second.
Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Section E's door.
My eyes were already stinging.
Damn it, Jay.
Be strong. Why the hell are you crying over those assholes?
They used you. They made a fool out of you.
They don't deserve a single tear.
But my chest still hurts anyway.
I pushed the door open, and the whole room went silent. Every pair of eyes snapped toward me.
"Jay!" Ci‑n called out, way too excited, like nothing had happened.
I didn't even bother answering. I just sat as far away from those snakes as I could get which is by the door
Let them stare. I wasn't giving them anything.
Then the whispers started.
"She actually came."
"Is she still mad?"
No, I'm thrilled. Obviously.
"What matters is that she showed up."
If only they knew I'd rather be anywhere else. Hell, I'd rather disappear than stand here with them.
And then the king of assholes walked in.
Our eyes met for half a second before he looked away like I burned him.
"Jay, you're actually here," David said, sounding relieved.
"No, I'm just a hologram," I deadpanned.
A few of the snakes chuckled.
I turned to them slowly. "I don't know what's so funny. Please—tell me a joke. I'll laugh too."
Silence.
The whole room froze.
Good.
Then Sir Alvin walked in.
"Morning, class," he said, and everyone scrambled back to their seats like nothing had happened.
He started teaching, and for a moment I thought I might actually get through the period without anyone bothering me.
"Jay," Ci‑n whispered.
I glanced to the side—and nearly swore out loud.
His desk was right next to mine.
Son of a—
When the hell did he manage to move it there?
I turned back to the board and ignored him completely.
"JAY" he called out again
Ignore him
"Jay-Jay"
You hear nothing!
"Psst!Jay"
Lalalalaalala
"Jay‑Jay… Barakuda."
The snakes chuckled.
Wait—
You son of a—
Calm down, Jay. Don't snap at Ci‑n. He's just a kid.
A kid who helped with that fucking plan.
"Why aren't you answering? Didn't you brush your teeth today?" he whispered again.
I wanted to bang my head on the table.
Don't, Jay. Don't.
"Ja—"
"What the hell do you want?" I snapped before he could finish.
His face fell, like he didn't expect me to bite back.
What did he want me to do? Smile? Pretend nothing happened?
The whole room went silent.
Even Sir Alvin looked up.
"Miss Mariano, is there a problem?" he asked carefully.
"Yes, sir. There is a very big problem."
I stared right at him. "Can you solve it, sir?"
He froze. He knew exactly what I meant.
And he didn't say a damn thing.
"I didn't think so," I muttered, grabbing my backpack and standing up.
"Miss Mariano," Sir said softly, almost pleading.
I ignored him and walked out.
Behind me, I could already hear the snakes whispering again.
Let them.
I was done with all of them.
I took out my phone and called Percy.
"Baby sistah, did you already miss my handsomeness?" he answered, sounding way too proud of himself.
"Percy… can you please come here?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Stay calm, Jay.
If you yell or cuss at him, he won't come. Just breathe.
"Okay, give me ten minutes," he said, then hung up.
I stared at my phone, scoffing under my breath.
"Ten minutes of lifetime you get after telling them what happened?" I muttered to myself.
My hands were shaking a little.
Anger, embarrassment, exhaustion—whatever it was, it sat heavy in my chest.
Ten minutes felt like a lifetime.
While I waited, I kept getting that weird feeling—like someone was watching me.
I turned around.
Nothing.
Just the empty hallway and my own heartbeat in my ears.
Then, finally, Percy's car pulled up like he'd broken every traffic law on the way here.
"Miss me, baby sistah?" he called, hopping out with that stupid grin he always used when he was trying to lighten the mood.
"Take me to King's Ground," I said, sliding into the passenger seat.
"What? No." His smile dropped instantly.
"Take me to King's Ground," I repeated, sharper this time.
But that idiot was still standing outside the car, arms crossed, protesting like a toddler refusing vegetables.
So I got out, walked around, and got into the driver's seat instead.
"Jay," Percy warned, voice low.
I didn't listen.
I turned the key.
"JAY!" Percy yelled, sprinting toward the door.
I didn't listen.
I drove straight to King's Ground, his voice fading behind me like background noise I'd already muted.
I only stopped once I was far enough from the actual place.
You can't trust King's Ground — leave a glass outside for two seconds and it'll get stolen. And I was not about to deal with Percy crying over his "baby car" going missing.
I parked, got out, and headed inside without hesitating.
The music was loud, the lights were low, and the air smelled like smoke and bad decisions. Perfect place for the mood I was in.
I walked straight to the bar and dropped onto a stool.
The bartender glanced at me, wiping a glass with a towel that definitely wasn't clean.
"Ma'am, what would you like to have?" he asked.
"Something for heart‑breakers," I said.
He blinked at me, confused.
I sighed. "Just give me something strong."
That, at least, he understood.
He nodded and slid a drink toward me in less than thirty seconds.
I stared at it.
Then I just… drank it.
Damn, it was strong.
Yeah, I asked for a strong shot, but holy hell — this thing could burn a hole through concrete.
I took one sip, slammed the glass back onto the counter, and made a face I couldn't even control.
My whole expression twisted like the drink personally offended me.
Just as I was about to take another sip, a hand grabbed my wrist.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" a girl snapped.
Mia.
Of course.
"Drinking. Isn't it obvious?" I said, pulling my hand back.
"Jay, stop drinking," Robin said, reaching for the glass like he had any right.
"Don't you dare stop me," I said, my voice rising before I could control it.
Ben stepped in, jaw tight. "Do you think drinking like this is good for you?"
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt — then took the sip anyway, just to piss them off
They sighed in unison and sat on the stools beside me, like exhausted parents dealing with a feral child.
"So," I said, setting the glass down, "how did you know where I was?"
"Percy told us you basically stole his car and came to King's Ground," Robin said.
"Luckily we were nearby and came here as fast as we could," Ben added.
I snorted. "Of course he did."
Mia leaned closer, eyes soft but worried. "Jay… what happened?"
"What do you think happened?" I said. "You already know everything."
"Fucking Section E," Robin muttered under his breath.
I didn't respond.
I just finished my drink.
Damn, it was only making everything worse.
I thought drinking would help — numb it, blur it, drown it — but no.
It was dragging every memory back to the surface.
I used you and the whole Section E knows it.
I used you to get to Aries.
Those thoughts hit me like a punch to the chest.
"Fuck off," I muttered to myself, shaking my head like I could knock the memories loose.
I pushed my stool back and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Ben asked.
"The washroom. Want to join me?" I shot back sarcastically.
Ben rolled his eyes, but he didn't say anything else
I could feel it again.
That heavy, invisible stare.
What the fuck?
Why was I getting this feeling?
Why did it feel like someone was watching me every time I turned my head?
I shook it off and went into the bathroom, splashed some water on my face, tried to breathe.
When I came out—
A few boys were outside