Chapter 27 – Letters From India
Night had finally settled quietly over the Mariano-Fernandez house.
For once—
no Percy screaming.
No Aries threatening violence.
No Keifer appearing out of nowhere calling her "wifey" like he had no survival instincts.
Just silence.
JJ stepped outside in oversized pajamas and loose slippers, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she walked toward the mailbox near the gate.
The cold breeze brushed against her face softly.
And honestly?
She needed that.
Because lately—
her thoughts had become too loud.
She opened the mailbox absentmindedly.
Then froze.
Two envelopes.
India.
A tiny smile appeared on her face instantly.
"Finally…"
The handwriting alone made her chest feel lighter.
Care.
Lyra.
Her people.
No matter how far away they were.
---
She took the letters upstairs carefully and sat near her window, legs folded beneath her blanket.
The room glowed softly from the yellow lamp beside her desk.
Outside, the city lights flickered quietly.
Inside—
for the first time all day—
JJ felt safe enough to breathe.
She opened Care's first.
---
Letter From Care
> JJ,
Before I say anything important—
I would like to officially announce that Cole Castillo is the most irritating human being alive.
Actually no.
"Human" is generous.
That man is a walking ego with expensive watches.
Yesterday we had another argument.
And before you ask—
NO.
It was not my fault.
We were in the hospital cafeteria because Lyra forced me to eat after my shift, and Cole suddenly sat across from me and looked at my coffee cup like it personally offended him.
Then this idiot said:
"That's your fourth coffee today."
FOURTH.
As if he was counting.
I told him:
"Mind your business."
And he had the audacity to say:
"You faint during surgeries because your body survives on caffeine and anger."
JJ.
JJ I nearly threw hot coffee at him.
LYRA STARTED LAUGHING.
BETRAYAL.
Then later that same evening—
this irritating man showed up with actual food because apparently I "forgot dinner."
Which is fake news by the way.
I simply…
delayed dinner.
For six hours.
Slightly.
Also he keeps calling me reckless.
WHICH IS FUNNY.
Because last week he literally drove through rain at midnight because his friend had a fever.
But apparently I'm the reckless one.
Lyra says we act like divorced parents.
She's dramatic.
Anyway.
Tell me more about your school.
Especially your "President."
I still don't trust him.
But honestly…
the way you write about him now feels different.
Softer.
You used to complain about him.
Now you complain while smiling through your letters.
Which is suspicious.
Also please eat properly.
And sleep properly.
And stop acting strong all the time.
Some people are allowed to care about you too.
—Care
JJ smiled softly while reading.
Then laughed quietly at the coffee part.
Because yes.
That sounded exactly like Care.
Always arguing.
Always caring secretly.
Always pretending she didn't.
JJ pressed the letter lightly against her chest for a moment before opening Lyra's.
And immediately knew chaos was waiting.
Because Lyra decorated the entire envelope with tiny stars, flowers, and a badly drawn heart with "Care + Cole" written inside it.
JJ snorted instantly.
"Poor Care…"
---
Letter From Lyra
> JJJJJJJ!!!
First of all—
CARE IS IN DENIAL.
COMPLETE DENIAL.
That girl is in love and everyone except her knows it.
Yesterday Cole rolled up his sleeves while working and Care literally stopped talking mid-sentence.
MID-SENTENCE.
I SAW IT.
She stared at him for five whole seconds.
Then immediately started arguing with him again because apparently feelings scare her.
Honestly they're exhausting.
BUT ALSO—
Alex came to our study session again.
And I need you to understand how unfair life is.
WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT.
JJ.
That man sat across from me wearing glasses and reading quietly and I forgot basic mathematics.
BASIC MATHEMATICS.
Care kicked me under the table because apparently I was "staring like a Victorian widow watching her husband leave for war."
Which was rude.
Accurate maybe.
BUT RUDE.
Also Alex keeps doing confusing things.
Yesterday I complained my hands were cold and this idiot silently held my coffee cup for ten minutes so it would stay warm for me.
THEN HE HANDED IT BACK LIKE IT WAS NORMAL.
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT NORMAL AFTER THAT??
And today?
TODAY THIS MAN TUCKED MY HAIR BEHIND MY EAR WHILE TALKING.
JJ I almost evaporated.
Care nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Then later when we walked home, Alex moved me to the safer side of the road without even thinking about it.
LIKE SIR???
PICK A STRUGGLE.
Either act like a friend or stop behaving like a male lead in a romance movie.
Because I am LOSING THIS BATTLE.
Also Care says I smile differently whenever his name appears.
Which is slander.
Maybe.
Probably.
Fine maybe not.
Anyway—
enough about my emotional suffering.
Tell us more about your school chaos.
Your letters lately feel happier.
Messier too.
Like you're actually living instead of just surviving.
I think these people matter to you now.
Especially Keifer.
And before you deny it—
yes.
You absolutely like him.
Nobody writes:
"He annoyed me today."
with THAT much detail unless they're gone emotionally.
Also the profanity rule still makes me laugh.
You really let a boy weaponize kissing against you.
Embarrassing honestly.
But cute.
Also tell Percy and Aries I adore them.
Your brothers sound chaotic.
And tell your President that if he hurts you, Care and I will arrive in your country personally.
We may be short.
But we are dangerous.
Especially Care.
She bites emotionally.
—Lyra
By the time JJ finished reading—
she was laughing through tears.
Not sad tears.
Just emotional ones.
Because somehow—
even from another country—
they still felt close.
Like home.
Like people who knew every version of her.
Even the broken ones.
Her smile slowly faded though.
Because eventually—
reality returned.
The room became quieter again.
The medicine bottle on her desk caught her eye.
And suddenly—
her chest hurt.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
She stared at the letters for a very long time.
Then slowly pulled out paper.
Pen trembling slightly in her fingers.
---
JJ's Reply
> Care.
Lyra.
First of all—
Lyra stop exposing Care's nonexistent marriage.
Care stop threatening to poison people.
You both sound insane.
Which honestly makes me miss you more.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips while writing.
Then slowly—
that smile weakened.
> School here is chaotic.
Section E feels less like a classroom and more like a daily survival game.
Cin screams every five minutes.
Percy behaves like he escaped from a comedy show.
Aries threatens violence at least twice a day.
And Keifer…
Keifer is still annoying.
She paused.
Then quietly added:
> But maybe you both are right.
I think I like him too.
Which is unfortunate for me honestly.
JJ laughed softly under her breath.
Then the laughter faded again.
Because this part—
this next part—
felt impossible to write.
Her pen hovered above the paper for nearly two whole minutes.
Before finally—
she started writing again.
Slower this time.
Carefully.
Like every word carried weight.
> There's something I never told either of you.
And maybe I should've.
But I was scared.
Because once people know…
things change.
Her eyes blurred slightly already.
But she kept writing.
> I have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
There's no cure.
Doctors already told me that months ago.
I asked them how much time I had left.
They said around ten months.
Maybe less now.
Her hand trembled.
A tear dropped onto the page.
JJ wiped it quickly and continued.
> I didn't tell anyone here.
Not Percy.
Not Aries.
Not Angelo.
Not Keifer.
Nobody.
Because I don't want them looking at me like I'm fragile.
I don't want pity.
I don't want my remaining time to become sadness.
Her breathing became uneven now.
But she forced herself to continue.
> I think that's why I keep throwing myself into chaos lately.
Into friendships.
Into laughter.
Into stupid moments.
Because I know they're temporary.
And maybe…
so am I.
The tears came harder now.
Quiet.
Silent.
Lonely.
> I'm scared sometimes.
Not of dying exactly.
But of disappearing.
Of becoming a memory people slowly move on from.
And the worst part is—
I think I'm falling in love with someone who looks at me like I'll stay forever.
And I can't.
JJ stopped writing completely after that.
She covered her eyes with one hand, shoulders shaking slightly as silent tears slipped down her face.
Alone in her room.
Holding letters from the only two people in the world she finally trusted enough to tell the truth.
And outside—
the night stayed painfully quiet.