Jay Jay's POV
The car fell into a quiet rhythm.
Soft engine. City passing by. Too much unsaid.
I leaned my head slightly against the window, watching the streets blur—but I could feel it.
His gaze.
Constant.
Unapologetic.
"You're staring," I said without looking at him.
"Can you blame me?"
I turned my head slowly.
Big mistake.
Because he was already looking at me like that.
Like I was something he never really lost.
His eyes moved over me again—slower this time. Taking in the outfit, the way I carried myself, the way I wasn't shrinking anymore.
"You've changed," he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "People do that."
"Hmm," he hummed softly. "Not like this."
A pause.
Then, quieter—
"You're sharper now."
I smirked faintly. "Maybe I just stopped pretending."
His lips curved slightly at that.
Dangerous.
Too comfortable.
I looked away first.
A few minutes passed before I spoke again.
"So," I said casually, "this whole thing… Percy and Mia ditching us?"
"Planned," he admitted.
"Of course it was." I said
"They think we need to 'talk'." He said
I let out a dry laugh. "How cute."
Silence again.
But this one felt different.
Heavier.
Closer.
Then—
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
I didn't look at him. "Do what?"
"Back there."
A pause.
"Calling me Jass again."
My fingers tightened slightly on my bag.
I shrugged lightly. "Felt like it."
"That's not an answer."
I turned to him, meeting his gaze directly now. "Why? Did it bother you?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"No," he said quietly. "It didn't bother me."
A beat.
"It meant something."
That… I didn't expect.
I held his gaze for a second too long.
Then broke it.
"Don't read into things," I muttered.
"Too late."
The car slowed slightly at a signal.
And somehow—
We were closer now.
Not physically.
Something else.
"You know," he said, voice lower, "you only used to call me that when you were—"
"Jason."
I cut him off.
Firm.
Warning.
He stopped.
But the corner of his lips lifted.
"Still running?" he asked.
I scoffed. "From what?"
"From me."
I turned fully toward him now, my expression sharp. "You really think this is about you?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Yes."
That confidence.
That certainty.
It annoyed me.
It pulled at me.
It—
I leaned closer suddenly.
Close enough that I could see the shift in his eyes.
Feel the slight change in his breathing.
"If this was about you," I said softly, almost a whisper, "you wouldn't be sitting this calm."
His gaze dropped to my lips for a fraction of a second.
Then back to my eyes.
"And if this wasn't about me," he replied just as softly, "you wouldn't be this close."
My heartbeat stuttered.
Just for a second.
I pulled back instantly, crossing my arms. "You're impossible."
"And you came with me anyway, darling."
I didn't reply.
Because he wasn't wrong.
A few minutes later, the car finally stopped.
I looked outside.
A beachside café.
Of course.
Mia's kind of place.
I sighed. "They really planned this."
Jason got out first, walking around and opening my door.
I stepped out, adjusting my bag.
And there they were.
Mia and Percy.
Already seated.
Already watching.
Mia's grin was huge.
"Oh my God," she whispered dramatically as we walked closer, "look at them. Tension. Chemistry. Plot."
"Shut up," I muttered, sitting down.
Percy smirked, leaning back. "Took you long enough."
"Blame your planning skills."
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
I didn't answer.
Because Jason pulled the chair beside me.
Close.
Too close.
Mia leaned forward immediately. "Soooo… how was the ride?"
"Peaceful," I said.
"Interesting," Jason said at the same time.
Mia's eyes sparkled. "I love conflicting answers."
Percy chuckled. "This is going to be fun."
I glanced at Jason from the corner of my eye.
He was already looking at me.
And this time—
Neither of us looked away.
Because whatever this was—
It wasn't over.
Not even close.
Later
Of course it wasn't just a café.
Because Mia could never do something simple.
"Nope," she said, dragging me by the hand the moment we finished eating. "We're going somewhere actually fun."
"And by fun, you mean chaos?" Percy added.
"Exactly."
And that's how—
We ended up at an amusement park.
Lights.
Music.
People everywhere.
The kind of place where everything feels loud enough to drown your thoughts.
Perfect.
"First ride!" Mia announced, already pulling me toward a giant roller coaster.
"I just ate," I complained.
"Even better. Adds thrill."
"Adds death."
Percy laughed. "Relax, Jay. Live a little."
Jason, walking beside me, leaned slightly closer. "I'll be right next to you, darling."
I didn't look at him.
"Did I ask?"
"No," he said calmly. "But you'll be glad I am."
I rolled my eyes.
But I didn't argue.
---
The line for the roller coaster was long.
Too long.
But Mia, of course, had zero patience and somehow dragged all of us into the fast lane with nothing but confidence and a random excuse about "urgent emotional recovery rides."
I didn't even question it.
At this point, I was just… going with it.
Or maybe—
I was distracting myself.
Jason stood right behind me.
Close.
Too close.
I could feel the warmth of him even without turning. His presence was constant—like something I couldn't shake off even if I tried.
"You're quiet," he murmured.
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous," he replied instantly. "For everyone."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Before I could respond, Mia turned around dramatically. "Okay, ground rules. No one dies. No one cries. And if anyone screams, I'm recording it."
"You're evil," I muttered.
"I'm iconic," she corrected.
Percy snorted.
But I could feel something, maybe someone's watching us...well I shrugged off that thought
When we finally got seated—
I didn't even realize what I was doing.
I just sat.
And somehow—
Jason ended up next to me.
Of course he did.
Mia and Percy were behind us.
The safety bar came down.
The ride started moving slowly upward.
Click.
Click.
Click.
My heart matched the rhythm.
Not from fear.
From everything else.
"You scared?" Jason asked, leaning slightly closer.
"No."
"Liar."
I turned to him. "I'm not scared."
"Then why are your fingers curled like that?" he pointed subtly at my hand gripping the seat.
I looked down.
Annoyed.
Then back at him.
"Relax, darling. I've got you."
"Shut up!" I yelled over the noise—but I didn't let go.
"Mind your business."
He smirked. "You are my business, darling."
"Stop calling me that—"
The ride dropped.
And everything disappeared.
The scream left my lips before I could stop it, the wind crashing against my face as the world flipped and twisted.
Instinct took over.
My hand shot out—
And grabbed his.
Tightly.
Really tightly.
I felt it instantly—
His fingers closing around mine.
Firm.
Steady.
Grounding.
"I've got you," he said, his voice somehow calm through the chaos.
I didn't reply.
Couldn't.
But I didn't let go either.
Not during the drops.
Not during the turns.
Not even when the ride slowed down.
---
When it finally stopped—
I realized.
My hand.
Still in his.
And not just holding—
Clinging.
I pulled away instantly.
Too quickly.
"Relax," he said softly. "You survived."
"I was never dying," I snapped.
"Hmm," he hummed. "Could've fooled me."
I glared at him.
He just smiled.
---
"Again!" Mia shouted behind us.
"No!" I said immediately.
Percy laughed. "She's traumatized."
"I'm not traumatized!"
"You were screaming my name," Jason added casually.
I froze. "I was not."
He leaned slightly closer. "You were."
"Shut up."
He chuckled.
And that—
That irritated me more than it should have.
---
We got off the ride and walked toward the next section.
.Wow. You guys look like you're having fun."
That voice.
I froze.
Slowly turning around.
Keifer.
Of course.
I crossed my arms. "You followed us here, right?"
He scoffed. "No. I came here with my brother. He wanted to."
"Did I?" another voice cut in.
A boy—Keiren—stepped forward, clearly unimpressed.
He looked straight at me, then at Keifer.
"No, actually, Keifer kuya forced me to come," he said bluntly. "I wasn't even interested. He wanted to watch you."
Silence.
Then Mia choked trying not to laugh.
Percy turned away, hiding his smirk.
I raised an eyebrow slowly.
"Oh?"
Keifer shot his brother a glare. "Shut up."
Keiren shrugged. "Anyway, I'm here now. Might as well enjoy."
I smirked.
But before I could say anything—
Jason stepped closer.
Very close.
His hand brushed against mine.
Then—
He held it.
Casually.
Possessively.
"Ohh," he said lightly, looking at Keifer. "Didn't know we had an audience darling."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"Her name is Jay," he said sharply. "Stop calling her that."
Jason didn't even look bothered.
He glanced at me instead.
"If Jay tells me to stop," he said calmly, "I will."
All eyes on me.
A moment.
A choice.
And I smiled.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then leaned slightly into Jason.
"Why would I?" I said softly.
The reaction was instant.
Keifer's expression darkened.
Jason's grip on my hand tightened just a little.
Mia whispered, "Oh my God…"
Percy muttered, "This is getting dangerous."
---
We started walking.
Jason stayed close.
Our hands still linked.
Our shoulders brushing occasionally.
"Careful, darling," he murmured. "You're escalating."
I leaned slightly toward him, my voice soft but intentional. "Maybe I want to."
His eyes darkened.
And I knew—
He understood.
---
"This isn't you," Keifer said, his voice lower now.
And that—
That made me laugh.
Not loudly.
But enough.
"Oh come on," I said, turning fully toward him. "You don't even know me properly."
He frowned. "Jay—"
"No," I cut him off. "He was the most important part of my life when you didn't even exist."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
I stepped even closer to Jason.
Our hands still linked.
"And this?" I tilted my head slightly. "This is nothing in front of what we were."
That line—
It hit.
Jason stilled beside me.
Just for a second.
Like something real slipped through.
Keifer?
He looked like he might actually lose control.
---
Jason recovered quickly.
Of course he did.
His hand slipped from mine—
Only to land on my waist.
Slow.
Intentional.
Pulling me closer.
And this time—
There was no space left.
"Come on, darling," he said softly. "Let's not waste time."
My breath hitched.
Just slightly.
But I didn't move away.
Didn't stop him.
Because now—
This wasn't just acting.
Or maybe it was.
But I wasn't backing down.
---
We moved toward a game stall.
Bright lights.
Loud sounds.
But everything felt focused on us.
Mia leaned toward Percy, whispering loudly, "This is insane."
Percy smirked. "And highly entertaining."
---
Jason picked up a ring toss.
"Win something for me," I said casually.
He glanced at me. "Anything."
"Confident."
"For you? Always, darling."
Keifer snapped instantly, "Her name is Jay."
Jason didn't even look at him.
"Like I said," he replied calmly, "if she wants me to stop, I will."
I leaned slightly into him.
Just enough.
"I don't."
Keifer looked away, frustrated.
---
Jason won.
Of course he did.
A small plush toy.
He handed it to me.
"For you."
I took it.
Our fingers brushed again.
Lingering.
"Thanks," I said quietly.
He smiled slightly. "Anything for you."
---
We walked again.
This time slower.
Closer.
And somehow—
More dangerous.
Because now—
It didn't feel like a game anymore.
At least not fully.
---
Keifer stepped in front of us suddenly.
"Jay, stop this."
I looked at him calmly. "Stop what?"
"This," he gestured again. "You and him."
I tilted my head. "Does it bother you?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Honest.
And for a second—
Something inside me paused.
But then—
Jason's hand at my waist tightened slightly.
Grounding.
Present.
And I chose.
"I'm just getting started," I said.
---
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Tense.
Unavoidable.
Jason leaned closer, his voice low near my ear.
"You're playing with fire."
I turned my head slightly, our faces inches apart.
"Maybe," I whispered. "But I'm not the one who gets burned easily."
His gaze dropped to my lips.
Then back to my eyes.
And for a moment—
Everything felt like it was about to cross a line.
---
Behind us—
Mia whispered, "They're insane."
Percy replied, "And this is just the beginning."
---
And for once—
I agreed.
Because whatever this was—
It wasn't ending anytime soon.
Not with this tension.
Not with this history.
Not with the way his hand still rested on my waist—
Like it belonged there.
And maybe—
That was the most dangerous part of all.
---
The haunted house looked worse than I expected.
Dark entrance. Flickering lights. Fake fog spilling out like something was breathing inside.
"Absolutely not," I said, stopping at the entrance.
Mia turned instantly. "Oh yes. Absolutely yes."
"I'm not going in there."
"You literally survived worse things than fake ghosts."
"Fake ghosts don't jump at your face!"
Percy smirked. "This is going to be fun."
I crossed my arms. "I hate all of you."
Jason stepped closer beside me, his voice low. "Relax, darling. I'm right here."
Before I could reply—
Keifer snapped, "Stop calling her that."
Jason didn't even look at him. "Still waiting for her to say something."
I didn't.
Instead, I walked in.
Because I wasn't backing down now.
Not in front of anyone.
---
The moment we stepped inside—
Darkness.
Not complete, but enough to mess with your head.
Dim red lights flickered. Shadows moved where they shouldn't. Random noises echoed—footsteps, whispers, something dragging.
Mia grabbed Percy's arm instantly. "If I die, tell everyone I was iconic."
"You're not dying," Percy said dryly.
"Not helping."
Jason walked beside me.
Close.
Again.
His hand brushed mine once… twice…
Then held it.
I didn't pull away.
Not this time.
---
A loud bang echoed from somewhere.
I flinched.
Just slightly.
But he noticed.
"Scared?" he whispered.
"No."
"Liar."
Before I could argue—
Something jumped out from the side.
A masked figure.
Right in front of us.
I gasped and instinctively moved back—
Straight into Jason.
My hands grabbed onto him without thinking.
His arms came around me instantly.
Steady.
Warm.
"I've got you," he murmured.
My heart was racing.
Way too fast.
"I'm fine," I said quickly—but I didn't move away immediately.
Big mistake.
Because now—
I could feel him.
Too close.
Too real.
---
"Guys?" Mia's voice came from somewhere ahead.
"Where are you?" Percy added.
"I hate this!" she yelled.
Another noise.
Another turn.
And somehow—
We got separated.
One second they were there.
Next—
Gone.
Just me.
And Jason.
---
The silence felt heavier now.
The kind that wraps around you.
Makes every sound louder.
Every breath sharper.
"Stay close," he said.
"I am," I replied quietly.
Another flicker of light.
Another shadow.
Something moved behind us.
I grabbed his arm again.
This time—
I didn't even pretend.
"Okay… maybe a little scary," I admitted.
He smiled slightly.
Soft.
Different.
"Come here."
And before I could react—
He pulled me closer.
Not just holding my hand.
Closer.
His hand at my back.
Firm.
Protective.
I could hear his heartbeat.
Or maybe it was mine.
"I'm not letting anything happen to you," he said quietly.
And for a second—
I believed him.
Completely.
---
We walked slowly.
Carefully.
But I didn't let go.
Didn't want to.
Because despite everything—
This felt…
Safe.
Another loud sound.
I flinched again, pressing closer.
He exhaled softly.
Then—
His hand moved slightly.
To my face.
Tilting my chin up.
"Hey," he said gently. "Look at me."
I did.
And suddenly—
The fear faded.
Just a little.
"You're okay," he said.
His thumb brushed lightly near my cheek.
And then—
He leaned in.
Softly.
And placed a kiss on my forehead.
Everything stilled.
My breath caught.
Because that—
That wasn't part of the game.
That wasn't for anyone else.
That was…
Real.
---
I looked up at him.
Slowly.
Our faces closer now.
Too close.
The noise.
The darkness.
Everything faded again.
Just him.
His eyes.
That look.
The one I remembered.
The one I tried to forget.
"You're not scared anymore," he murmured.
I shook my head slightly.
"No."
But my voice wasn't steady.
Because this—
This was worse than fear.
---
He didn't move away.
Neither did I.
The space between us—
Barely there now.
His hand still on my face.
Mine still gripping his shirt.
Our breaths mixing.
And for a second—
It felt like we were about to cross something.
A line we couldn't uncross.
---
And then—
"Jay!"
The voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Angry.
Keifer.
Before I could even turn—
He was there.
And in the next second—
His fist connected with Jason's face.
Hard.
Jason stumbled back slightly.
I gasped. "Keifer, what—?!"
But he wasn't listening.
He grabbed Jason's collar, pulling him forward.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snapped.
Jason's expression darkened instantly.
His hand came up, gripping Keifer's wrist.
"Let go," he said, voice low.
"Stay away from her," Keifer shot back.
I stepped forward. "Stop it, both of you—"
But neither of them moved.
Neither of them listened.
Because now—
It wasn't about me being scared.
It wasn't about the game.
It wasn't even about the past.
This—
Was something else.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
And dangerously close to breaking.
---
"Stop it!"
My voice barely cut through the tension.
Keifer's fist had already landed.
Jason had already grabbed him.
And something inside me snapped.
"Enough!" I shoved Keifer back, hard enough to break them apart. "Are you insane?!"
He tried to step forward again—
I didn't let him.
I grabbed his arm and dragged him away, not caring where we were going, just needing distance—away from Jason, away from that moment, away from everything.
A dim side room.
I pushed the door open and pulled him inside.
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
I turned on him instantly.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" My voice shook, anger spilling over everything else. "Why do you keep acting like you have a right on me?!"
Keifer just stared at me.
Like he didn't expect this.
Like he didn't expect me.
"Jay—"
"No," I cut him off sharply.
He stepped closer.
I pushed him back.
"Stay away from me!" My voice cracked this time, but I didn't stop. "And stop playing these games with me!"
"I'm not playing—"
"Yes, you are!" I snapped. "You show up, you interfere, you fight him, you act like you get to decide what I do—what is that, huh?"
"I can't tell you."
The words came out low.
Rough.
And that—
That made me pause.
"What?" I frowned.
He looked away.
Jaw tight.
"I said… I can't tell you."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"Of course you can't," I muttered. "Because that would actually make sense, right?"
He didn't answer.
Just stood there.
Silent.
And suddenly—
That silence hurt more than anything.
My eyes burned.
I blinked fast, but it didn't help.
A tear slipped down anyway.
I wiped it angrily.
"You don't get to do this to me," I said, quieter now—but sharper. "You don't get to act like this and then not even give me a reason."
"I'm trying—"
"No," I cut him off again. "You're not trying. You're hiding."
That hit.
I saw it.
But I didn't stop.
"Do you even realize what you're doing?" I continued. "You confuse me, you control situations, you show up like this—what do you expect from me?"
He looked at me again.
And this time—
There was something different in his eyes.
Something raw.
Something… breaking.
"Jay…"
His voice was softer now.
But I shook my head.
"No."
I stepped back.
Creating space.
Needing it.
"I'm not yours," I said, every word deliberate. "You don't get to act like I am."
His hands clenched slightly.
His eyes—
They weren't just angry anymore.
They were… wet.
And for a second—
That almost broke me.
Almost.
But I held it together.
Because I was done being the one who felt everything.
"I'm done with you," I said.
The words came out quiet.
But final.
They hit harder than anything else I had said.
Keifer's expression shifted.
Like something inside him cracked.
And still—
He didn't speak.
Didn't explain.
Didn't stop me.
So I did it myself.
"I don't even want to know anymore," I added, my voice trembling despite how hard I tried to steady it. "Whatever your reason is… I don't care."
A pause.
My chest felt tight.
Too tight.
"Everything's over between us."
Silence.
Dead.
Heavy.
His eyes closed for a second—
Like he felt that.
Really felt it.
But when he opened them—
He still didn't say anything.
And that was it.
That was my answer.
I nodded once.
More to myself than to him.
Then turned.
Walked to the door.
My hand paused on the handle—
Just for a second.
But I didn't look back.
Because if I did—
I might not leave.
And I had to.
So I opened the door—
And walked out.
Leaving him behind.
This time—
For real.
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Do complete it fastly so I can new chapters💗