Keifer's POV
I watched Jay-Jay get dragged away by Aries, her face a mix of frustration and that adorable "I'm-scared-of-my-Kuya" look. The sidewalk felt a lot emptier the moment she turned the corner.
I turned back to Elara, ready to head to the car, but I was immediately blocked by a frantic Felix.
"Hey, bro! Since you're giving Ate Elara a ride... give me one too! Please! My legs are like jelly!"
I rolled my eyes, letting out a long, annoyed breath. "Ugh. Seriously, Felix?"
"Please! I've been a servant all day! I have servant fatigue!"
"Fine. Get in the car before I change my mind and make you walk home backwards," I muttered.
I watched them climb into the back-Elara with her usual grace and Felix collapsing like a sack of potatoes. Once they were settled, I didn't get behind the wheel immediately. I saw Rory and Edrix standing a few meters away, their faces devoid of the laughter they had just been sharing with the group.
I walked over to them, my voice dropping into a low, serious tone. "Edrix. Did you find anything out about that device?"
Edrix didn't speak at first. He reached into his pocket and handed the small, metallic object back to me. "No," he said shortly.
I frowned, taking the cold metal into my palm. "What do you mean 'no'? You're the tech expert. How can you have nothing?"
"Keifer, it's complicated," Edrix explained, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "It's definitely a communication device, but it's heavily encrypted and locked. It has a fail-safe. If we try to bypass the security or force our way into the hardware, the internal memory will trigger a self-wipe. The data will be gone forever."
I gripped the device tighter. "Then what are we supposed to do with it? It's useless if we can't see who's on the other end."
Rory leaned in, his eyes scanning the street. "Edrix, is it possible that this thing is a tracking device? Are we literally carrying a beacon that's pinpointing our location to them right now?"
"No," Edrix shook his head confidently. "From what I've investigated, the circuitry is built specifically to avoid being tracked. It's ghost-tech. Whoever made this doesn't want to be found, and they don't want the user to be found either."
I let out a heavy sigh, looking at the small device. It was a lead that led to a brick wall.
"Alright," I said, tucking the device away securely. "For now, things are stable. Yuri's mom is safe and tucked away, and Yuri has successfully moved back into his house without raising alarms. Things are going smoothly, but that's exactly when we tend to get sloppy."
I looked at Edrix, my expression stern. "Take care of your mom, Edrix. I've already talked to Angelo. We've increased the security patrols around all the houses, but stay vigilant. If anything feel unusual, call me immediately."
"Got it," Edrix nodded.
"Stay safe, guys," I added.
I turned back toward my car. The exam was over, and the "I love you" was out in the open, but as I looked at the dark screen of that mystery device, I knew the real test for Section E hadn't even started yet.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jay-Jay's POV
The moment I stepped inside the house, I knew I was walking into a trap. The lights were dimmed, and the only glow came from a laptop sitting on the coffee table.
"Jay-Jay. Sit," Kuya Angelo said. He wasn't even looking at me; he was just staring at his coffee like it held the secrets of the universe.
I sat on the couch right next to him, my knees knocking together. Aries stood by the door like a silent gargoyle, watching the execution.
"So," Angelo began, his voice dropping into that terrifying 'Kuya' baritone. "I heard a rumor. A very loud, very public rumor involving a certain Watson and a certain kiss. Care to explain before I decide to delete your social life permanently?"
"Kuya! It was a medical misunderstanding! Keifer was just-he was checking my-"
"Checking your what? Your tonsils with his lips?" Angelo's eyes snapped to mine. He raised his hand, and I flinched, fully expecting a light smack to the back of my head for being so dense.
But just as his hand was mid-air, a loud PING echoed from his laptop.
A bright notification popped up on the screen. Since I was sitting right next to him, I couldn't help but look. My eyes widened.
[Message from: "My Love 💖"]
"Hi Gelo-patootie! I bought those cute matching pajamas we talked about! Can't wait to see you in the ducky set! I love you so much, my grumpy bear! 🐻✨"
The silence that followed was deafening. Angelo's hand froze in the air. His face went from 'Terrifying Mafia Boss' to 'Bright Red Tomato' in point-two seconds.
"Gelo... patootie?" I whispered, my fear vanishing and being replaced by a wicked, soul-deep joy. "Matching ducky pajamas, Kuya? Grumpy bear?"
"It's... it's not what it looks like," Angelo hissed, scrambling to slam the laptop shut, but it was too late.
Percy suddenly appeared from the kitchen, leaning over the back of the couch with a grin that could rival a shark's. "Did I just hear 'ducky pajamas'? Is our fearless leader a secret waterfowl enthusiast?"
"Shut up, Percy!" Angelo barked.
"Oh my god, Kuya!" I started cackling, leaning away as he tried to grab me. "The 'Big Boss' of the household is a 'Grumpy Bear'! Does 'My Love' know you're currently interrogating me for a kiss while you're planning to wear ducks tonight?!"
Aries walked over, looking confused. "What happened? Why is Jay-Jay vibrating?"
"Nothing!" Angelo yelled, lunging across the couch to cover my mouth with one hand and Percy's with the other. "Nothing happened! Go back to your room, Aries!"
Percy and I were both struggling, muffled laughter bubbling out of our throats as we tried to scream "GELO-PATOOTIE!" at the top of our lungs.
Flick! Flick!
"OUCH!"
Angelo delivered a swift, expert flick to both of our foreheads, finally silencing us.
"One more word about the ducks," Angelo growled, though his ears were still bright pink, "and neither of you will get dinner. And Jay-Jay? You're still grounded. Even if I am a... grumpy bear."
I rubbed my forehead, grinning like a maniac.
I might be in trouble, but I have the ultimate weapon now. If he tries to lecture me about Keifer again, I'm just going to make a 'quack' sound.
Kuya make us run into our rooms.
I grabbed my phone to text the news to the only person who would appreciate this level of blackmail.
to Keifer:
"WEYYYY!!! 🚫🦆 kYuA iZ a dUkKkY bEaR!! 🐻✨ gElO-pAt00tiE hAs mAtChInG pJz!!!! 😱 h3 cAnT sY nYtInG n0wZ!!!! 🤣🤡 dNt w0rRy u r sAfE fR0m tEh nWzPypR!!!! 📰🙅♂️ quAck quAckkK!! 🐥"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Keifer's POV
I was sitting on the edge of my bed, tossing my car keys in the air. I was honestly expecting a text from her saying "Goodbye forever, I'm being sent to a convent," or a text from Angelo saying "Stay away or I'll delete your existence."
Then, my phone buzzed with a notification so chaotic it nearly rattled off the nightstand.
I opened the message. I had to squint just to make sense of the first three letters.
From future Mrs watson: "WEYYYY!!! 🚫🦆 kYuA iZ a dUkKkY bEaR!! 🐻✨ gElO-pAt00tiE hAs mAtChInG pJz!!!! 😱 h3 cAnT sY nYtInG n0wZ!!!! 🤣🤡 dNt w0rRy u r sAfE fR0m tEh nWzPypR!!!! 📰🙅♂️ quAck quAckkK!! 🐥"
I stared at the screen. I've become pretty fluent in "Jay-Speak," but this? This was a whole new level of linguistic disaster.
"Let's see..." I muttered, rubbing my chin.
I got the part about being 'sAfE fR0m tEh nWzPypR'-which was a relief, because a folded newspaper in Angelo's hands is a lethal weapon. And I understood that something happened that made him unable to 'sY nYtInG n0wZ'.
But then I hit the wall.
"Dukky bear? Gelo-patootie?"
I leaned back, a confused smirk tugging at my lips. Was she calling him a bear? Was she calling me a bear? And what on earth is a patootie? It sounded like a dessert or a very tiny, very aggressive bird.
I started typing a reply, deciding to lean into the chaos.
Keifer: "Jay, I've spent months learning your 'dialect,' but you finally broke me. 😂 I understood that I'm not getting beaten up tonight (thank God maybe), but I have no idea what a 'Dukky Bear' is. Is that a threat? Is it a code word for a secret weapon? Or did you finally lose your last marble and start speaking in animal sounds? 🦆🐻"
I paused, looking at the "quAck quAckkK" at the end of her message. I could practically feel her excitement through the screen.
Keifer: "Whatever it is, I'm glad you're safe, my little chaotic bird. But you're going to have to explain 'Gelo-patootie' to me tomorrow. Slowly. With actual vowels. 😉 Rest well, Jay. I'd say dream of me, but you're probably busy dreaming about ducks. 🐍💖"
I hit send and watched the 'Read' receipt pop up instantly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jay's pov
I didn't wait for his reply and drift to sleep.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
My brain felt like it was being poked with a dull stick. I groaned, burying my face into my pillow, but the sound didn't stop. It was my phone, and it was screaming for attention like a needy toddler.
I flailed my arm out, patting the nightstand. Nothing. I checked under the bed. Nothing. I even checked inside my pillowcase.
"Find, find, find... where is it?!" I muttered, my hair probably looking like a bird's nest after a hurricane.
The door flew open. Percy stood there, looking like he'd been woken up from a ten-year slumber. "Oh my dear sistahhhh! Please! For the love of all things holy, for my handsome handsomeness, stop that ringing! I was dreaming about a buffet, and your phone just turned it into a fire alarm!"
"I'm trying, Percy! I can't find it!" I scratched my head, spinning around in circles.
"What do you mean you can't find it? It's literally vibrating the floorboards!"
Suddenly, Aries-the human horoscope himself-appeared behind Percy, looking irritated.
"What is happening, Jay? Stop this ring. Some of us actually value our morning peace."
"Aries, I lost my phone! It's gone! It's vanished into another dimension!"
"It's in the house, Jay. Follow the sound," Aries said, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
The three of us started a frantic search. We checked the closet, the laundry basket, and even inside my shoes. Finally, the sound led us to the bathroom.
Percy reached into the washbasin and pulled out my phone. It was sitting right there, next to the soap, buzzing happily.
"In the washbasin?" Percy asked, holding it up like a wet fish. "How does a phone even get here? Do you brush your teeth with it?"
"I don't know! I must have dropped it when I was washing my face last night!"
I grabbed the phone. The screen showed a missed call from Keifer. He was probably calling to check if I'd been eaten by a newspaper. I immediately ended the call and tossed the phone onto my bed because my brothers were still standing there, and the last thing I needed was more "Keifer-talk."
"You're a disaster, Jay," Percy laughed, leaning against the doorframe. "A literal walking disaster."
"Disbelief," Aries muttered, shaking his head. "Absolute disbelief."
Suddenly, the heavy footsteps of Kuya Angelo echoed in the hallway. He marched into the room, his face set in "General" mode, ready to deliver a lecture on responsibility and morning noise levels.
"What is all this shouting?!" Angelo began, his chest puffed out. "Jay-Jay, I told you last night that if you-"
He opened his mouth to deliver a world-class scolding, but I didn't let him finish. I looked him dead in the eye and let out a small, mischievous smirk.
"Gelo-patootie," I whispered. "Grumpy Bear."
The silence that followed was glorious. Angelo's jaw didn't just drop; it practically hit the floor. His face turned a shade of red that was darker than a cherry, and his "authoritarian" posture collapsed instantly.
Percy exploded into a fit of wheezing laughter, clutching his stomach. "Oh my god, I forgot! Patootie! The ducky bear!"
"Jay-Jay, shut up!" Angelo hissed, looking around frantically as if the walls had ears.
Aries just stood there, looking back and forth between us with a face of pure confusion.
"Potato? Bear? What are you guys talking about? Is this a code? Did she finally lose her mind?"
"Nothing, Aries!" Angelo barked, his voice cracking. "It's nothing! Everyone! Downstairs! Now! And Jay-Jay... don't you dare say that word in public."
I grinned, grabbing my bag and walking past him with a little skip.
Oh, I am definitely saying it in public. I am going to hold this over his head until I'm eighty. The King of Snakes might be scary, but the Grumpy Bear? He's officially my favorite weapon.
I looked at Aries, who was standing there like a confused statue. His "horoscope" brain clearly couldn't process why our big, scary Kuya was currently looking like he wanted to melt into the floorboards.
"Aries, you see-" I started, leaning in toward him with a wicked glint in my eye. "Kuya is actually a-"
WHOOSH!
Before I could finish, a large, calloused hand slapped over my mouth. Angelo had lunged across the room with the speed of a ninja, pulling me back against his chest.
"Mmph! Mmmph-mmph!" I struggled against his grip, my words coming out as muffled squeals.
"Nothing! She's saying nothing!" Angelo shouted, his face still a brilliant shade of crimson.
" Please explain to me too!" Aries demanded, crossing his arms.
"What is this 'potato' and 'bear' thing? Why is everyone acting like they've inhaled laughing gas except me?"
"I'll tell you, Aries!" Percy chirped, raising his hand like a kid in class. "I also have a mouth, and it's currently free of Kuya's giant hands!"
Angelo's head snapped toward Percy, giving him a glare so sharp it could have sliced through steel. "PERCYYYYY. I will throw you both out of this house! I'll pack your bags myself! I'll change the locks!"
"You can't throw us out if you're too busy being a Gelo-pa-"
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Angelo roared.
Seeing my opening, I didn't use my strength-I used my secret weapon. I reached back and started tickling Angelo's sides with everything I had.
"Aha-hah! Jay-Jay! Stop! No-!"
The "Big Boss" of the house, the man who scares the most dangerous gangs in the city, burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. His grip loosened, and I wiggled out of his arms like a slippery eel, running toward the door.
I stopped at the threshold, pointing a finger at him while catching my breath. "Okay, okay! I'm not telling Aries now! But you better be nice to me, Kuya! Beware the power of the ducks! Quack quack!"
"JAY-JAYYYYYYY!"
I bolted down the hallway, my laughter echoing through the house.
"Aries, what is happening?!" I heard Aries wail from the room. "Why is Kuya laughing? Why are there ducks?! Is the house haunted?!"
Poor Aries. He's the only one left in the dark. But for now, I have to get to school. I have a certain 'King' to update on the status of our 'Grumpy Bear.'