Jay's Pov
"JAY! BREAKFAST!"
Aries' voice echoed through the house like he was announcing the apocalypse.
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow.
Why does morning exist?
I dragged myself to the mirror and stared.
My hair looked like it had survived a hurricane.
My eyes were swollen.
I looked exhausted.
"Wow," I muttered at my reflection. "You look like a rejected zombie from a low-budget horror movie."
I splashed water on my face and went downstairs.
Breakfast was waiting.
I sat down and started eating.
One hotdog.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Aries slowly lowered his fork.
"…Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You just ate five hotdogs."
"And?"
"You only do that when you're stressed."
I glared at him. "Focus on your horoscope, Aries."
He gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? Says the girl who once cried because the ice cream vendor left before she could buy one."
"That was ONE time!"
"You screamed like the world ended."
"You called me dramatic!"
"You ARE dramatic, monkey."
"Say that again, Horoscope"
We kept roasting each other until I grabbed my bag and left before he could say something worse.
—
When I reached school, Section E was already chaotic.
Cin was arguing with David.
Someone was throwing paper balls.
People were laughing.
And then I saw him.
Keifer.
Leaning back in his chair.
Smirking at me.
My phone buzzed.
Robin.
Again.
I stopped walking.
Decline.
It rang again.
Decline.
I took a deep breath and walked inside.
Cin immediately shouted, "Jay! Why do you look like you fought your pillow?"
"Because I did."
Laughter filled the room.
My phone rang again.
This time, I felt stressed.
Keifer noticed.
—
KEIFER POV
She wasn't normal today.
Jay was loud. Dramatic. Annoying.
But today she looked tired.
Her phone kept ringing.
She kept declining it.
"Jay," I said softly, "your phone."
"I know."
"Who is it?"
She flashed a forced smile. "Unknown."
I nodded slowly.
I didn't believe that.
She suddenly stood up. "Washroom."
She left her phone behind.
It rang again.
Robin.
My jaw tightened.
Before I could stop myself, I answered.
"Hello?"
"Jay, please. I need to talk to you. Meet me at Café Virelli at five. Please."
My grip tightened around the phone.
Jay walked in.
She froze when she saw me holding it.
She snatched it.
"Hello?"
I watched her face carefully.
Her expression changed.
"…Okay."
She ended the call.
"Who is Robin?" I asked, jaw tight.
She looked up at me.
Glared.
Then walked back to her seat without answering.
—
JAY POV
When I came back from the washroom, I saw this king of ulupongs holding my phone.
I quickly snatched it.
"Hello?"
"Jay, is it you? Who was that before?"
"No one."
"Please, Jay. Just meet me at Café Virelli at five. Please."
"…Okay."
"Thank you so much. It means a lot."
I declined the call.
Then Keifer asked, "Who is Robin?"
I glared at him.
Ignored him.
Sat down.
The rest of the period, he tried talking.
I shut him up with one word answers.
The bell rang.
I grabbed my bag and walked out.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him walking toward me.
I ran to the parking lot.
"Aries! Take me home."
Ella also jumped in the car.
When we reached home, I ran straight to my room.
My phone buzzed.
Keifer calling.
Texting.
I ignored everything.
I was furious.
He answered my phone without permission.
Then had the nerve to question me?
I wanted to punch him.
But I controlled myself.
Robin texted the time again.
5 PM.
It was only 3 PM.
I lay down.
"I'll just rest for five minutes."
I dreamed I was marrying a lechon.
Yes.
A roasted pig.
I was about to walk down the aisle—
RING RING.
I woke up screaming.
"ARGHHHH!"
Robin.
"Jay, it's 4:45. You're coming, right?"
"YES! I'm coming! You said five!"
I looked at myself.
"Shit."
I ran to my closet.
Showered quickly.
Brushed my teeth.
Did skincare.
Changed.
I ran downstairs—
"Ahem."
Kuya Angelo.
"Did you ask permission? Where are you going?"
"K-kuya… I'm meeting Section E."
"When will you come home?"
"Six!"
"JAY NO—"
Too late.
I ran to my bike and started pedaling.
He shouted behind me, "JAY! I SAID NO!"
But I didn't stop.
—
CAFÉ VIRELLI
Robin stood when I entered.
"Jay."
"Hi."
We sat near the window.
I kept looking outside.
I thought I saw a familiar car.
No.
It can't be.
Robin asked, "Are you okay?"
"Is that a serious question?" I snapped. "After everything, you're asking if I'm okay?"
He grabbed my hand.
"Jay, I'm sorry. My grandparents were sick. My parents' business collapsed. We had to move to New York. Everything happened so fast."
"You could've told me."
"I couldn't risk dragging you into our mess."
"You left me when I needed you."
"I know. I was wrong. Please give me another chance."
"Why are you back anyway?" I asked without thinking.
His eyes hurt.
I immediately grabbed his face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"It's okay," he said softly.
He stood up.
I panicked.
I hugged him tightly.
"Please don't leave again. I hated what you did, but you're still my best friend."
He hugged me back.
"I won't leave again. I promise."
We stayed like that for almost ten minutes.
When I pulled back, I looked up at him.
"I forgive you."
He looked shocked.
Then hugged me again.
"Jay, I'm so happy."
"Okay stop being dramatic. I skipped lunch for you."
He laughed. "Typical Jay."
We ordered food.
He placed his hand over mine.
It felt like a small electric shock.
I pulled my hand away slightly.
"Remove your hand. I'm eating my cupcake."
He laughed and did.
When we walked out—
I froze.
Across the street.
Keifer's car.
He was inside.
Staring.
Jaw tight.
Fists clenched.
His eyes weren't just angry.
They were hurt.
He got into the car and drove away.
I couldn't move.
"Jay?" Robin said. "Need therapy money?"
I glared at him.
He laughed.
He dropped me home.
—
Kuya Angelo was waiting.
"It's 6:30. You said six. And you didn't ask permission."
"I did! You didn't let me finish!"
He pulled my ear.
"AHH KUYA!"
Tita Gemma came out. "Angelo, stop it."
I escaped inside.
At dinner, Aries smirked.
"Late again?"
"Shut up, horoscope boy."
"At least I don't run away from home."
"At least I don't look like a confused monkey."
"You're the monkey."
"You're Kokey."
We kept fighting until I went upstairs.
I lay on my bed.
Robin's words replayed.
"I'll never leave you again."
Then I remembered Keifer.
The way he looked at us.
Oh no.
Did he hear everything?
I called him.
No answer.
Again.
Again.
Almost twenty missed calls.
Nothing.
I fell asleep from exhaustion.
—
KEIFER POV
She ignored me the whole day.
I tried apologizing.
She wouldn't listen.
When the bell rang, she ran.
I followed her but she left with Aries.
Then I remembered.
Café Virelli.
It was 4:50.
I drove there.
I arrived before five.
I told myself I just wanted to make sure.
That's all.
Then she walked in.
Robin stood.
Held her hands.
Then—
He knelt.
My fingers curled into fists.
He was apologizing.
She was crying.
She hugged him.
Not a small hug.
A tight one.
And she said—
"Don't leave me again."
Again?
Ten minutes.
Ten minutes they stayed like that.
Then I heard—
"I forgive you."
Forgive him for what?
What did he do?
What did I not know?
When they came out laughing together—
She saw me.
Froze.
And I drove away before I lost control.
Forgive him for what?
Are they…?
Is she cheating?
The thoughts wouldn't stop.
That night, she kept calling.
Texting.
"I can explain."
I ignored all of it.
I trust Jay.
But after what I saw…
I don't know anymore
NEXT DAY
Lunch – 2nd Floor
Jay's POV
I went upstairs.
Robin was there saying.
"Won't let my best friend starve."
We sat on chairs near the railing.
"You still eat like a dinosaur," he teased.
"You breathe like one."
He laughed.
I smacked his shoulder.
"Ow!"
"You deserve it."
We kept teasing and laughing.
Then—
I felt it.
A stare.
I looked up.
Keifer.
Standing at the staircase.
Watching.
His expression wasn't loud.
But it was heavy.
He didn't come closer.
He just watched.
And walked away.
Robin walked me to class.
"Why are you coming?"
"I want to see your chaotic classroom."
We entered.
Section E froze.
Then—
"OHHHHH!"
Cin stood up. "WHO IS THIS?"
Robin smiled. "Robin."
"THE Robin?" David asked dramatically.
"Yes, the Robin."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Robin looked at the back. "Where do you sit?"
I pointed.
Right beside—
Keifer.
Yuri was absent.
Robin sat in Yuri's seat.
Right next to Keifer.
The air shifted.
Keifer didn't move.
But his jaw tightened.
Robin leaned back casually. "So you're Keifer."
Silence.
Keifer looked at him calmly. "And you're Robin."
The class went dead quiet.
Robin turned to me. "Jay, remember yesterday? When your kuya pulled your ears?"
My eyes widened. "YOU WERE THERE?"
"I heard everything."
Section E screamed.
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
Robin grinned. "She came home thirty minutes late. Didn't ask permission."
The class exploded.
"JAYYYYY!"
"She ran away!"
"Monkey!"
I covered my face.
Keifer didn't laugh.
He was watching me.
Watching how comfortable I was with Robin.
Watching how I hit his shoulder playfully.
Watching how we leaned close while teasing.
The teacher walked in.
Robin slipped out quickly.
But the damage was done.
After School
I tried talking to Keifer.
"Please listen—"
He walked past me.
Got into his car.
Looked at me once.
And drove away.
My stomach dropped.
KEIFER POV – The Spiral
I told myself I wouldn't overthink.
But then I saw them upstairs.
Laughing.
Eating together.
She hit him like she hits me.
Smiling.
Then he sat beside me in class.
Like he belonged there.
The class teased her.
She didn't deny it.
She looked embarrassed.
But comfortable.
Comfortable.
And that scared me more than anger.
After school, she tried explaining.
But all I could see—
Was her hugging him at the café.
"I forgive you."
Forgive him for what?
What did he have that I didn't?
When she kept calling at night—
I stared at my phone.
But I didn't answer.
Because if I did—
I wasn't sure what I'd say.
Robin picked her up.
I saw them laughing in the parking lot.
She looked happy.
Too happy.
During class, she tried to talk to me.
I ignored her.
Lunch.
I went looking for her.
Second floor.
I found her.
Laughing.
Smacking him playfully.
Eating together.
Something inside me twisted.
I walked back to Section E.
Cin stared at me. "Did you see a ghost?"
I didn't answer.
Then she walked in.
With him.
He sat beside her.
On Yuri's seat.
He teased her about her kuya pulling her ears.
Section E exploded laughing.
She looked embarrassed.
Teacher entered.
He left.
After school, she tried to talk to me.
I drove away.
—
JAY POV
He won't answer my calls.
He won't text back.
He won't look at me.
Did he hear us?
Did he misunderstand?
Oh no.
Oh no.
What have I done.
I quickly went downstairs
"Tita, I'm going out."
"Eat first."
"I'll be back."
I didn't wait for permission.
I grabbed my bike and left before my courage disappeared.
The ride felt wrong.
Like something bad was waiting at the end of it.
I rang the bell at Keifer's house.
Keigan opened the door.
"Jay?" He blinked, surprised. "You okay?"
"I need to talk to Keifer."
"Oh." He stepped aside immediately. "He's upstairs. Same room."
"Is he okay?"
Keigan hesitated.
That was enough to make my stomach drop.
I didn't wait for more.
I walked up the stairs.
The door was half open.
I didn't knock.
I walked in.
Three bottles.
Empty.
One in his hand.
His knuckles white around the neck of it.
He didn't look at me.
"Get out."
"No."
"Jay."
"Put it down."
He laughed.
Low.
Unstable.
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
"And you don't get to destroy yourself because you're jealous."
That made him look at me.
Jealous.
The word hit.
"You think this is about jealousy?"
"You watched me hug someone and lost your mind."
"I watched you look like you didn't need me."
"I never said I didn't."
"You didn't have to."
Silence.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"I don't need you to breathe," I said. "But I want you."
His jaw flexed.
"That's worse."
He set the bottle down too hard.
Glass hitting wood.
"You forgave him."
"Yes."
"You don't forgive people that easily."
"You don't get to decide how I heal."
He stepped closer.
"So what was that? Closure?"
"Yes."
"You held him like you meant it."
"I did."
His eyes darkened.
"You're admitting that?"
"Yes."
His chest rose faster.
"You looked happy."
"I was relieved."
"You smiled."
"I survived."
He ran a hand through his hair.
Frustrated.
Pacing.
"I stood there feeling like I was being replaced."
"I didn't replace you."
"You made it look easy."
"Because you shut me out."
"I was protecting you."
"From what? Yourself?"
His voice dropped.
"You don't understand what I become when I feel like I'm losing you."
"Then control it."
"You think it's that simple?"
"Yes."
His laugh was sharp.
"You think I don't see it? The way you soften around him."
"I was closing a wound."
"You looked comfortable."
"I was done hurting."
"You don't look at me like that."
That one hit.
Hard.
"You don't let me," I shot back.
His eyes flashed.
"So now it's my fault?"
"Yes."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His hand hit the wall beside my head.
Not touching me.
But trapping me in heat.
In anger.
In him.
"You think I didn't notice?" he said quietly. "The way he still looks at you."
"I don't control his eyes."
"But you didn't step away."
"I didn't need to."
"You didn't want to."
"Stop twisting everything!"
"Then stop giving me reasons!"
"I gave you honesty!"
"You gave him forgiveness!"
"And I'm giving you a fight!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Breathing colliding.
"Say it," he said low. "Say you didn't feel anything when you hugged him."
I opened my mouth.
And hesitated.
Not because I loved Robin.
But because it wasn't nothing.
It was relief.
Closure.
An ending.
That second of silence—
Destroyed him.
His expression shifted.
Cold.
"Oh."
"That's not what—"
"Don't."
He stepped back.
Laughing once.
Bitter.
"I knew it."
"You're twisting it."
"No. I'm finally seeing it."
"Seeing what?"
"That if he asked again… you'd choose peace over me."
"That's not fair."
"You didn't answer."
"I'm answering now."
"Too late."
Something inside me snapped.
I grabbed his shirt.
"Stop deciding what I feel!"
"Then prove it!" he shot back.
"By what? Cutting everyone off? Erasing my past?"
"By not making me feel like I'm second!"
"You are not second!"
"Then why did it feel like I was watching you move on?"
"I wasn't moving on!"
"You looked free."
"I was exhausted!"
"You looked lighter without me in that moment!"
"That's because you weren't yelling!"
Silence cracked.
His breathing was uneven now.
Mine too.
"You kissed him?"
My eyes widened.
"Don't."
"Did you?"
"Don't cross that line."
"Answer me."
I shoved him back.
Hard.
"Don't you dare disrespect me like that."
He stumbled half a step.
Then straightened.
Pride keeping him upright.
"You walked in here," he said low, "like everything's fine."
"I walked in because you're drinking over something I didn't even do."
"Maybe I should drink."
"Maybe you should trust me."
"I don't know how!" he exploded.
That stopped me.
Silence.
Real.
Raw.
"I don't know how to not feel like I'm losing you," he said, voice cracking under the anger. "Every time someone else touches you, it feels like something's being taken from me."
"I am not something you own."
"I know that!"
"Then stop treating me like territory!"
"I just don't want to be replaceable."
"You're not."
"You made it look easy."
"I fight this hard for you," I said, voice shaking. "I don't fight for anyone else like this."
His breathing faltered.
Just slightly.
"You're exhausting," he muttered.
"You're impossible."
"You make me crazy."
"You make me furious."
"You scare me."
"You hurt me."
We were inches apart now.
Anger.
Heat.
Fear.
Everything tangled.
"You don't get to walk in here," he said, voice shaking, "and act like I don't matter."
"You don't get to accuse me like I betrayed you."
"You didn't deny it fast enough."
"You didn't trust me enough."
And that was it.
That was the breaking point.
Before pride.
Before ego.
Before either of us could say something unforgivable—
I grabbed his shirt.
And kissed him.
Hard.
Not sweet.
Not careful.
Frustrated.
Almost angry.
He froze.
Again.
Then his hand gripped my waist.
Firm.
Grounding.
Like if he didn't hold on, something would fall apart.
It wasn't romantic.
It was desperate.
Breath clashing.
Teeth almost hitting.
Too much emotion with nowhere else to go.
When I pulled back—
His eyes were wide.
Shocked.
Still burning.
But no longer doubting.
"You don't kiss someone like that if you're choosing someone else," I said.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"You're insane."
"You pushed me."
The door creaked.
We both turned.
Keigan.
Half visible.
Eyes huge.
Hand over his mouth.
"…Should I call someone?" he whispered.
"Get out," Keifer snapped.
Keigan jumped.
"Okay okay— I saw nothing."
Door slammed.
Silence returned.
Electric.
Unstable.
But no longer tearing.
He looked at me.
Still jealous.
Still hurt.
Still intense.
But this time—
Certain.
"I still don't trust him," he muttered.
"I know."
"I'm still mad."
"Me too."
A pause.
"But I'm not walking away."
And this time—
He believed me.
Guyss! Tell me if you have any ideas for next chapter!And please commentt i'm not getting any comments please 😓