Jay's POV (FaceTime Scene)
"So finally you remembered me…"
I said, narrowing my eyes at the screen.
"Sorry na, Jayyy," Rhea dragged my name.
"Uk na we were busy—but ya, that does NOT justify our disappearance," Ryan said quickly."And especially when you needed us the most… Jay, we're really sorry."
Okay.
That hit.
But—
"No drama," I said immediately. "I'm not crying today."
"Liar," Rhea said.
"Shut up."
A second of silence.
Then—
"JAYYYYY," they both screamed suddenly.
I flinched.
"WHAT??"
"CONGRATULATE US FIRST???" Ryan said, offended.
Oh.
OH.
"WAIT—OH MY GOD—6 MILLION???" I sat up straight."@RiotVortex hit 6M???"
Rhea flipped her hair dramatically.
"As expected."
"Excuse me?" Ryan said. "It's because of ME."
"Delusion is free," Rhea replied.
"NO, YOU—"
"STOP," I cut in. "Both of you are embarrassing. But also—"
I grinned.
"I'm so proud of you guys."
They both went quiet.
Soft.
Happy.
"Thank you…" Rhea said.
"Obviously," I added. "Without me, you'd be at 6 followers. And 3 of them would be fake accounts."
"JAY!!!"
We all burst out laughing.
"Okay but wait," Rhea leaned closer to the camera."We have a surprise."
Oh no.
That tone.
"WHAT is it. Tell me right now."
"Calm down," Ryan said.
"I am calm."
"You're not calm."
"I AM CALM, JUST TELL ME—"
"We're coming next month."
Silence.
My brain stopped.
"…what?"
"We're coming," Rhea repeated.
"WHAT???"
A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
"FINALLYYYYYYY."
"Yeah, yeah," Ryan laughed. "Missed us that much?"
"Shut up," I said quickly. "I was thriving."
"Liar," both of them said together.
They looked at me.
Properly this time.
Ryan's tone softened.
"How's your new school, Jay?"
I groaned.
"Don't ask."
"That bad?" Rhea asked.
"Well… you know my record," I shrugged. "So obviously I got dumped into a messed-up section."
"Of course," Ryan muttered.
"And," I continued, "it's an all-boys section."
"…what."
"And they don't want a girl."
"…WHAT."
"So yeah," I said casually. "Fun."
"So they're bullying you," Ryan said, voice dropping.
I looked away for a second.
"…yeah."
"WTF?" Rhea snapped. "How dare they bully OUR princess??"
"I know right," Ryan added immediately.
"Relax," I said. "It's not that serious."
"Jay."
That tone.
I sighed.
"It'll take time, I guess… I don't know."
Then I smirked.
"But if they mess with me—"
"They're messing with the wrong girl," both of them completed.
We paused.
Then laughed again.
"Still," Rhea said softly, "you okay?"
There it was.
That question.
The one I was avoiding.
"I just…" I started, then stopped.
A lump formed in my throat.
Damn.
Not now.
"I just wish…" I swallowed."…you were there, uk."
Silence.
"I miss you so damn much."
"Hey…" Ryan said quietly.
"We miss you too," Rhea whispered.
Tears blurred my vision.
Great.
Amazing.
Perfect timing.
"Hoi," I sniffed. "You both look like pigs when you cry."
"JAY!!!"
"And you look worse," Ryan shot back.
"Excuse me???"
And just like that—
we were laughing again.
Yuri's POV
Finally.
I reached Malina.
Uff hat old fossilLolo Tyrannosaurus.
He gets on my nerves.
It was suffocating there.
Who the hell wears a kimono on vacation?
Well… if you can even call that a vacation.
Now I'm finally alone.
And the only thing I missed from Japan?
RAMEN.
So here I am.
Mini mart.
Not the best ramen but it's close to school, so whatever.
I paid for my ramen and took a seat.
Then
Oh.
Wait.
This is not the full order.
I went back to the counter.
Came back.
And
A GIRL.
Sitting on my seat.
And she had already opened my ramen.
What the hell?
I walked up.
Took the tray in front of her.
Then paused.
Wait.
Same uniform?
HVIS?
She didn't even notice me.
Eyes closed.
Headphones on.
Music leaking out
something upbeat, like "haters gonna hate hate …"
She was completely into it.
Enjoying it.
Like the world didn't exist.
Fine.
Whatever.
It's still my ramen.
So I took the box.
And started eating.
A second later
The music stopped.
I could feel her staring.
"Hoy!" she snapped.
Ignored.
"Hoy, why are you eating my ramen? Excuse me, I'm talking to you!"
Still ignored.
The audacity.
Calling it her ramen.
"Hey, if you don't have money, I can buy you one. No need to eat someone else's food without asking."
…
Excuse me?
Me? No money?
If I wanted, I could buy this whole store.
Who even is this girl?
Never seen her before.
And she clearly didn't notice my uniformwell, my jacket's zipped up so…
"Hello? What the hell—stop ignoring me. Are you deaf or mute?"
Girl, isn't it obvious I don't want to talk?
"Wait, you know what"
She grabbed the extra fork.
And took a HUGE bite.
"…what the fuck"
I finally looked up.
"So you can hear and speak," she said.
"Why would you do that?" I snapped.
"What did I do??"
"Oh, so we're playing this game now?"
"What game?!" she shot back.
Who is she?
I looked at her properly this time.
No makeup.
Hair messy.
Nothing special
I've seen better.
Wait.
Why am I staring?
"Why the hell are you eating from my box and then asking if I'm broke?" I said.
"Huh??"
"It's my table. I paid for that ramen. It's mine."
"It's my table."
She looked around.
I looked around.
My stuff?
Where is
…
Oh.
I turned slightly.
And there it was.
My actual tray.
On the next table.
Untouched.
…shit.
fuck.
She followed my gaze.
Paused.
Then
"WAIT—THAT'S YOUR ORDER?!"
And she started laughing.
Not smiling.
Laughing laughing.
Oh my god.
Kill me.
"And you were showing attitude to me?" she said between laughs.
"…I mistook the table," I muttered.
"And you've eaten half my ramen."
Great.
Amazing.
Perfect.
I stood up, grabbed my actual tray, and pushed it toward her.
"Here. Take mine. It's the same."
But she wasn't looking at the ramen.
She was looking at
Me.
No.
My
ID.
Right.
The strap.
"Uh… thanks… I guess," she said. "Why am I even saying thank you… never mind."
I turned to leave.
Because yeah
I'm not standing here after this embarrassment.
"Are you in HVIS?" she called out.
"…yes."
"Well, same."
like I couldn't see .
"Oh."
"Jasper Jean Mariano," she said, extending her hand."You can call me Jay Jay."
Why is she still talking?
"Yuri Hanamachi."
I shook her hand.
Her expression flickered for a second.
Like she recognized the name.
But she hid it quickly.
"She seems… normal," I thought.
Too normal.
"Don't worry," she said, grinning. "I won't tell anyone in school. Happens. Happened to me too."
Then
"Just don't show that kind of attitude to people."
I scoffed.
I was about to ask her
which section
but her phone rang.
"uh wait a min.."
She turned away mid-conversation.
And just like that
she was gone.
I stood there for a second.
Still annoyed.
Still embarrassed.
But also
thinking.
There was something about her.
I couldn't figure it out.
Not her face.
Not her voice.
Just
something.
And for some reason
I had a feeling
this wasn't the last time I'd see her.
Jay's POV
I came back
and that rooster was gone.
Didn't I tell him to wait?
Ugh.
Tita called, that's why I left.
I hope she's okay.
She had a really bad headache… that's why I had to eat at mini mart.
And that rooster just
"this is my table… blah blah blah…"
Ugh.
Ruined everything.
Now I'm pretty sure he's from Aries' group.
Wait
yeah.
ci-n told me.
And I think someone else mentioned him too…
At least he could've asked me if I wanted a ride.
Like
basic manners?
But no.
Mr. Attitude just left.
And now I have to walk.
Great.
Amazing.
Fantastic.
Ughhhh.
I don't want to walk.
Whatever.
Let me just continue my concert.
I put my headphones back on.
"I got the whole room spinnin' like it's tipsy…" (a/n: guess the song guys)
Yeah.
That's my mood.
Ignore everyone.
Survive the day.
Finally
I reached school.
Section E?
Same chaos.
Same noise.
Same nonsense.
I dropped my bag on the desk.
Sat down.
Mentally prepared myself for another disaster.
And then
he walked in.
Oh.
You've got to be kidding me.
Rooster.
Same messy red hair.
Same attitude.
Same I-own-the-world face.
Wait.
Don't tell me
He's in Section E.
No.
No no no.
This day just keeps getting better.