Jayjay'sPOV
I woke up to the sound of frantic yelling and shouting. I groaned, rubbing my eyes, and stumbled downstairs to see what kind of disaster was unfolding now. When I entered the kitchen, I froze. My eyes widened at the scene.
Percy was standing on top of the dining table like a madman. Aries, Yuri, and Keifer were surrounding him, looking like a pack of hungry wolves. Percy was triumphantly holding a single egg in one hand and a lone slice of bread in the other, both arms thrust high into the air.
"I'M NOT GIVING YOU THESE!" he screamed.
"LET'S SEE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO STOP US!" Yuri yelled back, trying to grab the edge of the table.
"IT'S OKAY, YURI! LET HIM HAVE THEM!" Keifer yelled, clearly the only one trying to keep the peace.
"NEVER!" Aries and Yuri shouted in unison.
"IT'S THE LAST OF THE FOOD! I'M EATING IT!" Percy bellowed. They were about to lung for him when I finally found my voice.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" I yelled.
All four of them snapped their heads toward me.
"Baby sista, save me!" Percy cried. He jumped off the table and scrambled behind me, clutching my shirt like a human shield.
"Hoi! Get off me!" I snapped, trying to shake him loose, but he just shook his head and held on tighter. I looked at the other three. They were slowly advancing on Percy—and by extension, me. "Stay right there or I'll hit you!" I grabbed a spatula off the counter and held it up like a sword.
They backed off immediately.
"Why are you guys fighting over one egg?" I asked. Keifer was the first to answer.
"There's only one slice of bread and one egg left, Jay," he explained with a sigh. "Since the roads are closed, nothing can be delivered. These three have been at it for twenty minutes."
"There's more food, you idiots," I said flatly. They all stared at me like I'd just told them I could fly. "Tita hid a stash in the back of the fridge because Aries kept skipping dinner to eat eggs and toast."
Aries didn't wait. He dived into the fridge, digging past the jars until he let out a triumphant cry. "HERE IT IS!"
"Don't yell!" I snapped, and before I could stop myself, I whipped the spatula at him. It caught him right on the forehead with a loud clack.
"Oww!" he groaned, dropping the eggs onto the counter and rubbing his head.
"Why do you always favor Ci-n, Felix, and Percy so much?" Yuri asked, looking genuinely curious—and maybe a little bit jealous.
"Because Felix and Ci-n are my favorites, and Percy is my brother who was with me when I found out about that damn fake plan," I said firmly.
Yuri's mouth dropped into a perfect 'O' shape. He went quiet instantly, the reminder of that plan clearly hitting a nerve. Percy, on the other hand, puffed out his chest and gave a smug little nod, feeling proud to be on the "favorites" list.
Aries finally got to work, and soon the table was loaded with plates of eggs and toast. We all sat down and started eating like we hadn't seen food in days.
"I still think I deserve the extra slice of toast for my performance on the table," Percy muttered, his mouth half-full.
"You deserve a trophy for 'Most Dramatic Idiot,'" Yuri retorted, though he was too busy eating to really put much heart into the insult. He looked at me. "You know, Jayjay, if you ever run out of favorites, I'm available for a promotion."
"In your dreams, Stick," I teased.
As the plates started to clear, the real tension began. Everyone's eyes slowly drifted toward the sink, which was now piled high with greasy pans and egg-stained plates.
"I cooked," Aries said quickly, dropping his fork. "I'm officially retired for the day."
"I was the one being hunted," Percy argued, gesturing to himself. "A victim shouldn't have to do chores. It's bad for the trauma recovery."
"I'm the guest," Yuri added smoothly, leaning back. "And guests don't touch dish soap."
"Hey, Keifer," Aries said, pointing a finger at him. "Since you're the 'New Man,' are you going to wash the dishes? Or are you calling the butler for that, too?"
Keifer looked at the stack of greasy pans and then back at his clean, fresh clothes. "I think the 'New Man' prefers to supervise while the 'Old Aries' handles the scrubbing."
"In your dreams!" Aries barked. "You have the longest arms, you reach the bottom of the sink better!"
"That is the worst logic I've ever heard," Keifer countered. "Yuri has the most 'delicate' hands, maybe he should do it."
"Hey! My hands are for sushi-making, not scrubbing!" Yuri defended.
"ENOUGH!" I interrupted, leaning back in my chair with a devious smile. "Since you guys almost broke the table fighting over an egg that wasn't even the last one, I think you all should do the dishes. Together."
The four of them looked at the sink, then at each other, and finally at me.
"Teamwork makes the dream work, right?" I added, winking at Keifer.
"I'm the guest!" Percy tried one last time.
"You're the brother who used me as a human shield five minutes ago," I reminded him. "Go get the soap."
"Actually," Keifer said, his voice dropping into that smooth, persuasive tone. "Who was the one who told us the eggs were in the fridge?"
"Jayjay," the other three said in perfect, creepy unison.
"And who," Aries added, a devious glint in his eye, "is the only one here who didn't actually cook or participate in the 'Great Egg War'?"
"Jayjay," they chimed again.
I narrowed my eyes. "Wait a minute. Don't you even dare—"
"It only makes sense!" Percy interrupted, pointing at me. "As the savior of the breakfast, you should finish the mission. It's like... a victory lap. In the sink."
"I am not doing a victory lap with a scrub brush, Percy!" I snapped. "I'm the one who saved you from starving! You should be bowing down to me, not handing me the sponge!"
"But Jay," Yuri said, putting on his most innocent 'Stick' face. "We are so exhausted from the stress of almost losing that one egg. Our muscles are weak. We've been through a lot."
"I don't care! I'm not doing them!" I argued, crossing my arms firmly. "Get one of your 'weak' muscles over to this sink right now."
I was winning. I could see them starting to crack—until Keifer stepped forward. He didn't yell or join the chanting. Instead, he walked right up to me, ducked his head a little to meet my eyes, and made the most ridiculously cute face I'd ever seen. He gave me those wide, shimmering puppy eyes, pouting his lip just a tiny bit.
My heart did a traitorous little flip. Oh, come on. Not the face.
"Jayjay... please?" he whispered, looking so soft and innocent that I felt my resolve crumbling like a dry biscuit. "My hands are still a bit sore from all that bed-drying yesterday. Just this once?"
I stared at him, trying to stay mad, but it was impossible. He looked so sweet that I actually felt myself melting. The other three stayed silent, watching the master at work.
"Fine!" I huffed, throwing my hands up in defeat. "Stop looking at me like that! I'll do it!"
The four of them erupted into cheers. Keifer's "puppy" look vanished instantly, replaced by a triumphant, boyish grin as he leaned in and squeezed my hand before bolting out of the kitchen with the others.
"I hate all of you!" I yelled after them, though my heart wasn't really in it as I grabbed the sponge.
I was almost finished with the last few plates, my mind already wandering to what I'd do for the rest of the day, when my hands—slick with soap—slipped.
The plate hit the floor with a deafening crash. Before I could even react, the shattered porcelain shards flew across the tiles. I tried to jump back instinctively, but a sharp piece caught the side of my foot.
"AHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, the sharp sting hitting me all at once. I stumbled back, clutching the counter for support as tears immediately sprang to my eyes. "Owwww," I whispered to myself, looking down at the red blooming on my skin.
I couldn't even move; I just stood there, shaking and crying because the pain was so sudden.
I didn't have to wait long.
The sound of four sets of frantic footsteps thundered down the hallway. The kitchen door burst open so hard it hit the wall.
"JAYJAY!" Keifer yelled, his face pale as he skidded into the room.
Aries, Percy, and Yuri were right behind him, their faces frozen in pure terror. They saw the broken plate, and then they saw me clutching my foot.
"Don't move!" Keifer commanded, his voice shaking. He didn't even care about the glass on the floor; he walked straight through the mess to get to me. "Aries, get the first aid kit! Percy, get a broom! Now!"
Aries and Percy were still frozen, staring at the floor in shock.
"NOW!" Keifer bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. That snapped them out of it instantly, and they scrambled to follow his orders.
"Jayjay, are you okay?" Yuri asked, his voice trembling.
"What do you mean? Can't you see she's not?" Keifer snapped. Yuri just nodded quickly, looking pale.
I looked down at my foot. Blood. It was starting to pool on the tile. No, no... not now. I don't want to hurt anyone. The sight of it made my head spin.
"Jayjay, look up! Don't look at the blood," Keifer commanded, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. I was spiraling. He reached out, holding my face firmly in his hands and forcing me to look at him. "Look at me. Don't look down."
"Keifer, stay away!" I gasped, trying to push him back. But he wouldn't budge. "Keifer, please... I don't want to hurt... STAY AWAY!" I yelled the last part, my voice cracking.
But he was Keifer; he didn't listen. He moved closer, lifting me carefully and making me sit on a chair. My breathing became uneven and heavy, panic clawing at my chest. "Keifer, I don't want to hurt anyone," I sobbed.
"You won't. I know you won't," he said firmly, his eyes locked on mine. "Yuri! Give me something to hide this blood!"
Yuri bolted upstairs and returned seconds later with one of Aries' shirts. Keifer took it and immediately wrapped it around my foot to block the view. Percy and Aries were busy clearing the glass from the floor, their usual playfulness completely gone.
Keifer unwrapped the cloth just enough to work. He picked up the tweezers, his hands steady despite the chaos. I forced my eyes shut tight. I didn't want to see—if I saw too much, I knew I'd lose control. I could feel every sting, every sharp movement. I flinched when the antiseptic hit the cut.
"Just two more minutes, Jay," he whispered softly, his voice a calm anchor in the storm. I nodded, my eyes still squeezed shut. He finished treating it and wrapped the shirt back around my foot, tying it securely.
"Did she see it?" Aries asked, his voice thick with worry.
"She saw, but not for long," Keifer replied.
I finally opened my eyes. I didn't even realize I had started crying until I felt the tears hot on my cheeks. Aries didn't hesitate; he hurried over and wrapped me in a tight, protective hug.
"Hey, hey... it's okay," he murmured into my hair.
"What if... what if I had hurt one of you?" I choked out, the fear still lingering in my mind.
"You didn't. So it's okay," he promised, holding me tighter. I leaned into him, letting out all the built-up fear and pain. I cried for a while, the adrenaline finally leaving my body, until my eyes grew heavy and I fell asleep right there against his chest.
I woke up on something incredibly soft. Wait, soft? I tried to remember—the kitchen, the broken plate, the injury. They all helped me, but there was a gap in my memory. I saw blood. Blood. BLOOD.
"ARIES! KEIFER! YURI! PERCY!" I yelled, bolting upright.
My eyes darted around, but the room was empty. Panic flared in my chest. Did I hurt anyone? Did I lose control? I looked around and realized I was in the living room, but it looked completely different. The big couch was gone, and there were five mattresses spread out across the floor like a giant indoor campsite.
A second later, the thundering sound of footsteps filled the house as they all came running into the room.
"You alright?!" Percy asked, breathless.
"Did I hurt anyone?" I demanded, my voice trembling.
"No, you didn't," Aries said, his voice calm and steady.
"But I saw blo—"
"You saw it, but you didn't do anything," Keifer interrupted, meeting my eyes with a reassuring nod. I let out a long breath I didn't know I was holding and nodded back.
"Shall we watch a movie to lighten the tension?" Yuri suggested, trying to shift the mood.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" I agreed.
Before I could even blink, they all dove onto different mattresses. I had to admit, putting five mattresses together was pretty impressive work.
"What should we watch?" Keifer asked, holding the remote like a scepter.
"Something romantic!" Percy suggested, surprisingly.
"Ewww, no. Something funny!" I countered.
"Funny has no fun," Aries argued. "Let's watch something knowledgeable."
"Boring!" Yuri groaned. "Let's watch something normal, bro."
"No, funny!" I insisted.
"Knowledgeable!" Aries yelled.
"Romantic!" Percy added to the noise.
"Funny!"
"Knowledgeable!"
"Romantic!"
"HORROR." Keifer's voice cut through the shouting like a knife, making us all shut our mouths instantly.
"Yeah!" the other three said in perfect unison, suddenly switching sides.
"NO!" I yelled, but I was too late. He had already pressed play. The opening credits for The Nun appeared on the screen. Screw you, Keifer.
Every time the Nun appeared on screen, I screamed at the top of my lungs. The four of them didn't even flinch; they just sat there laughing silently, clearly enjoying every second of my terror.
"Scaredy cat," Percy whispered with a smirk.
"Screw you!" I snapped, grabbing a cushion and hurlng it at his head. "I'm going to my room!"
I tried to stand up to make a dramatic exit, but a sharp spike of pain shot through my foot, forcing me back down onto the mattress. Oww. I was trapped. Realizing I couldn't escape, I did the only thing I could—I pulled the blanket over my head, burying myself in the fabric every time the music got creepy.
"Stupid Nun," I muttered under my breath. "She's already dead, and now she's trying to kill me too!"
Thank God the movie finally ended. I glanced at the clock and my heart nearly stopped. I had woken up at 7:00 PM! Thank goodness we finished clearing the syllabus yesterday, or I would definitely fail that exam tomorrow.
Then it hit me. The news said the roads would be open by tonight. That meant Yuri, Percy, and Keifer would be going back to their own homes. I wasn't sure if I should be happy or sad. Happy, because the chaos would finally end? Or sad, because it would just be me and Aries alone again? I thought about sleeping in Aries' room tonight, but then I remembered how I accidentally beat him up in my sleep once. Yeah... he'd never allow that.
Wait—if the roads are opening, that means Kuya is coming back tomorrow too! He's going to kill me when he finds out Keifer was here. I still don't get why he has such a big problem with him.
"JAYJAY!"
The four of them yelled my name in unison, snapping me back to reality.
"We've been calling you for so long! Were you even listening?" Percy asked, crossing his arms.
"Oh, sorry," I muttered. "I was just thinking about something."
"Wait, how can you think?" Aries asked, looking genuinely confused.
"What do you mean 'how'?" I snapped. "Everyone thinks!"
"No, but you don't have a brain, so how is it physically possible for you to think?" Percy teased with a smirk.
"Whatever, idiots," I rolled my eyes and tried to stand up. I forgot about my injury for a split second, and my balance gave out. I started to fall, but Aries' arms caught me before I hit the floor.
"Are you crazy? Your foot is still injured and you're trying to walk? You're so stupid!" he scolded, though his grip on my arms was gentle.
"It's all your fault!" I huffed as he helped me sit back down on the mattress.
"Our fault?" They all asked at the same time, trying to look innocent.
"Yeah! You all ganged up on me and made me do the dishes! If I wasn't at that sink, I wouldn't have been hurt!"
They all immediately looked away, some of them suddenly finding the ceiling very interesting while others started whistling poorly. Stupids. All of them are just big, whistling idiots.
"Wait, I'll come to the door too!" I said, starting to push myself up.
"No, your foot is injured," Yuri reminded me, gently pushing me back down. I looked at the bandage on my foot and sighed. He was right.
"Okay then. Bye-bye," I called out.
"Bye-bye!" the three of them yelled in unison as they headed for the door. A moment later, I heard the heavy thud of the main door closing, and Aries sliding the lock into place.
Suddenly, the silence was swallowing the whole house. It felt weird—empty, almost.
"It's so quiet," I whispered. Because the house was so still, the words seemed to echo.
"I know," Aries said, walking back into the living room and sitting on the mattress next to mine. "You should rest now. Tomorrow is our exam."
"But I'm hungry," I complained, my stomach letting out a small growl to prove the point.
"You always are," he teased. I didn't even hesitate—I smacked the back of his head.
"Hey!" I barked.
"Okay, okay! I'm bringing food here!" he laughed, rubbing his head as he stood up. He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a plate of sushi. I remembered them making this together earlier—a rare moment of teamwork. "Your foot should be better by tomorrow morning so you can at least get to school," he said, handing me the plate.
"I know," I murmured.
We ate in total silence. No bickering like before. No fighting over the last piece. No shouting. We just finished the meal, and I handed the empty plate back to him. I lay back down on the mattress, staring at the ceiling and realizing just how much I actually missed the chaos.
I'll meet them tomorrow for our last exam, I told myself. With that thought, and the comfort of Aries nearby, I didn't even realize when I finally drifted off to sleep.
The End🌸.
Should I add some Pakistani/Indian traditions?