AUTHOR'S POV :
The night was a cruel void, cold and merciless, wrapping around her like the grave's embrace.
The room lay in suffocating darkness, lights long extinguished, mirroring the hollow ache devouring her from within.
Jay stood motionless on the balcony, eyes fixed on the stars—cold, distant witnesses to her unraveling, mocking her solitude with their eternal indifference. Sadness pooled in her gaze, deep and bottomless, a tide pulling her under.
The fresh bandage on her nose, stark white against her pale skin, throbbed relentlessly—a cruel badge of the day's savagery, where trust shattered like fragile bone.
The breeze slithered through the open window, icy and unrelenting, caressing her face with the chill of forgotten promises.
She lit a cigarette, the match's feeble flame trembling like her fading will. Smoke curled into the night, bitter as her tears.
Jay's thoughts : Why did every hope curdle into despair? Why do I always end up here, alone with my fractures?
She unlocked her secret phone—the one lifeline to a world untainted by Section E's venom—and dialed the number. Rings echoed like heartbeats in the void until the call answered.
"Bro…"
The whisper escaped her, frail as a dying breath.
"I'm mad at you! You didn't call for ages! Don't talk to me."
A voice pierced the silence, laced with hurt beneath the tease.
Jay paused, the words catching in her throat like shards of glass.
"…Kuya Percy," she breathed.
Her voice trembled, low and broken, a plea she rarely allowed herself.
"Jay, what happened?" Panic sharpened his tone instantly.
Because Jay never calls him 'Kuya' unless the world had cracked her open. Unless the weight was too much to bear alone.
She tried to control her sobs, biting her lip until she tasted blood anew.
She never broke, not fully—not before Percy, not before the world. Walls were her armor, cracks her secrets.
Percy was different. He was her sole refuge, untoxic light in her poisoned sea. Sharing made her heart ease a bit. But she never breaks with him either.
"I-I thought he would be my savior," she stammered, the words spilling out like poison she needed to purge.
"I thought Kiefer was my solution, the one to fix everything broken in me. B-but he… he became the cause of my tr-tr-trigger today. His anger, his hate—it exploded, and now this."
She grazed the bandage, pain blooming fresh, a echo of betrayal.
"He didn't see me, Percy. Just Aries's shadow."
He didn't interrupt. He never did.
He let her unravel, listening as she poured out every jagged detail—the accusations, the shove, the sickening impact that left her nose throbbing and her spirit in ruins.
Her tears finally broke free, but she cried silently, shoulders shaking in the dark.
Why did love always twist into weapons? Why was she forever the villain in someone else's story?
"Jay, you're not wrong," Percy said softly when her words ebbed.
"They are jerks. Blind with revenge, chasing ghosts. They don't know you—the real you, your past and pain."
"B-but Kief—"
"Baby, listen to me. I know him inside out. Kiefer turns into a monster when anger blinds him, yeah. But in love? He crowns you queen—his queen. I know he hates you because of Aries right now, that cousin blood tying you to his pain. But trust me—when he falls for you, truly falls, Aries fades. The cousin shadow dissolves. You'll tame his rage, and he'll heal your wounds. You'll control the storm, baby. Just be patient. Make him see you. Guide him to you. I know you both will be epic."
Percy's words wrapped around her like a balm, consoling, motivating. His words were a faint glow against the gloom, stirring embers of resolve amid the ashes of doubt.
Deep down, doubt whispered: Could she really rewrite their story? Or was she just chasing illusions, dooming herself to more bruises?
"Thank you, bro. You're the best."
"I know," he drawled, voice dripping with that signature arrogance.
"I mean, look at me. Perfection like mine doesn't come easy——flawless golden skin, jaw carved by gods, eyes that could launch a thousand crushes. Who else could pull off this level of perfection while dodging all these admirers? Girls—and guys—hunting me down daily. Beautiful people curses, Jay. Mere humans like you can't fathom this divine burden."
She huffed a weak laugh despite herself, the sound raw.
"Yeah, yeah. Uglily beautiful men problems. I will never understand."
"Hey!" He hissed in mock offense, but the laughter bubbled up between them, lightening the night just a fraction.
Silence stretched after, comfortable yet heavy.
"Sooo, how is Felix?" He asked, shifting the weight.
She sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion.
"Felix… he's mad at me too. For being Aries's cousin. Another layer of hate I didn't ask for."
Percy hummed, empathetic shadow.
"When will you return?"
Desperation bled through.
"He deserves the truth, Percy. He misses you—like a ghost haunting his days. They all do—your family, crumbling without you."
He sighed, long and weary.
"I can't, Jay. Even if I'm right here in the Philippines, I can't. Not yet."
"But Percy—"
"You know my situation. This back pain—it could flare up again, cripple me in front of them. I can't let Felix see me like that, weak and broken. Better they think I'm dead than worry over my mess."
She sighed, frustration mingling with her sorrow.
"So you're just gonna leave him in the dark? Let them drown in their problems while you hide? It's cruel, Percy. Your family needs you—the glue holding them together."
"You think I don't know?" His voice softened, pained.
"I know every detail—their fights, the fractures. But revealing myself now? It'd just add my burdens to theirs. Darkness is kinder than fear."
"Fine," she relented, though her heart rebelled.
"If you won't tell, I won't push. But show yourself before it's too late, okay? Don't make me bury another piece of you."
"Okay… When are you planning to go back to school?"
"Ummm, soon. I need time to calm this storm inside."
She touched the bandage again, the throb a constant echo of betrayal.
"Hmmm. Okay… Baby, when can we meet? I need my favorite person to worship this god-tier face in person."
"Perceeey…"
A faint smile ghosted her lips.
"It's not safe right now. Section E's eyes are everywhere—watching, waiting."
"Yeah, but come on. Don't you crave this masterpiece? Perfect hair, killer smile, body sculpted by the heavens themselves. Admit it—you miss it."
She laughed softly, the sound fragile.
"Fine, ego monster. We can meet, but not now, okay? Soon."
"Fine. I'll wait. Bye, baby."
"Bye, bro."
The line died. She stared at the phone, the screen's glow fading like her brief spark of light.
Suddenly, sharp pain lanced her fingers—the cigarette had burned down to the filter.
She flung it away with a curse. The sting between her fingers was trivial, a fleeting annoyance against the cavernous pain in her heart.
Jay gripped her pendant tightly—the black chain with its dog tag and cross, cool metal biting into her palm like a frozen echo of the one she'd lost forever.
She missed her with a grief that carved out her core: the woman she'd been tethered to soul-deep, now silenced by death's thief, leaving only this weight against her chest as remnant.
Memories surged unbidden—her voice, soft yet ironclad:
"Jay, don't fret, my love. One day, Kiefer will heal you. He'll love you fiercely—I believe it with everything I am."
Clutching it harder, doubt coiled like smoke in Jay's thoughts:
Heal me? Love me?
Those words, once a lifeline, now rang hollow against today's bloodied bandage and shattered trust—beautiful lies from a ghost, too fragile for the wreckage of reality.
Tears soaked the chain. Percy soothed her present fractures, but that eternal bond, that irreplaceable void—no one, not even Kiefer, could touch its depths.
Yet in the melancholic shadows, her faint promise lingered, doubted but unslayable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(the next is same—the ice cream parlour scene. But there is a small difference so I'm combining both. The scene starts from when section e bumps into jay.)
After purchasing, I headed out. I was checking what I bought when someone bumped into me.
Shit! My nose!
I immediately held it and checked.
I heard laughter. "Her nose is so red! Hahahaha!"
I looked at the idiots laughing. Fuck you!
I also looked at the person who bumped into me. -_-!
"You look stupid!"
Bastard! Stupid, huh? Damn you! Damn you! F*** you!
I didn't say anything and just walked away.
"Wait! Jay! Come with us!" one of them called out.
"I don't want to!" I gave a short reply and walked off.
I barely took a few steps when someone grabbed my arm. Ouch!
"What the hell?!" I snapped angrily at the jerk who stopped me.
Keifer? What's his problem?
"Tss. Come with us."
"No!"
"Childish!"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Tss. I said no! What part of "No" don't you understand?! Annoying!" I tried to pull away, but he only gripped me tighter.
"You're the annoying one!" He suddenly started walking, practically dragging me along.
"Son of a... I'm gonna trip! Let go!"
"Tss."
Freaking weirdo! So annoying!
What? Yeah, I like him. But that doesn't mean I can handle this level of his attitude. Mark my words, I'll teach you a lesson.
People were already staring at us because of the scene we were making. We looked like idiots.
We stopped in front of an ice cream parlour. His three companions went inside, and we followed. We went up to the second floor, and there was a VIP section right in front of us.
"Sit!" he ordered me while pointing at a chair.
The way he said "Sit!"-like I was some kind of dog?! I didn't follow. I just crossed my arms and glared at him.
"What the hell do you want? I'm leaving!"
"Sit down!"
"What is this about?!"
"DAMN IT! IS IT THAT HARD TO SIT?!" he snapped angrily.
"NO! IT'S HARD TO SIT WITH YOU!"
He looked like he is planning to kill me. I didn't care. I'm not scared of him. At all!
"Jay, I'm trying to be nice here"
I rolled my eyes, yet I sat down and looked away from him. I didn't care if he was mad, but I didn't want to make a scene.
"Nice, my foot" I muttered.
"Kit... Order for me. Your specialty," Keifer ordered one of our classmates.
Keifer suddenly grabbed my chin and forced me to face him. I was about to fight back, but his deadly glare froze me in place. But I managed to glare him back the same way.
"Don't move," he said as he examined my nose.
Yeah, take a good look at what you did!
I held my pendant tightly, trying to make my heart ease.
He took out the item I bought from Watsons pharmacy store and opened it. He also removed the strip on my nose.
"Owww..."
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Is that even a question?!" I snapped at him.
He suddenly pressed my nose.
Harrrooooo! That hurts! Damn it! Dear Lord, I hate making a scene!
"You son of a... It hurrrttts... You freak..." I groaned, trying to keep my voice low and controlled.
I saw Keifer's two remaining friends laughing.
"I'm asking you properly here," Keifer said.
"It's obvious... Why even ask? Idiot?"
I carefully touched my nose. Oh no! What if I turned into Voldemort?!
He grabbed my chin again and forced me to face him. He had already gotten a new strip from what I bought and was about to stick it on my nose.
"Do it properly... or you'll regret it," I threatened him.
"Tss. Hold still," he said as he carefully placed the strip on my nose.
He had already put it on, and I suddenly found myself staring at him, and he stared back.
I tightened my grip around my pendant. My is basically racing a leopard.
Then he rolled his eyes at me.
Ugh!
Kit arrived with the special order that Keifer the jerk had requested. He placed it in front of Keifer.
Wow! It was overflowing with ice cream, had a stick-o stuck in it, was drizzled with chocolate syrup, and was topped with marshmallows and sprinkles.
I thought he was going to eat it, but he suddenly pushed the big Mason jar filled with ice cream toward me.
"This is for you..." he said.
"What's this? A bribe?"
"If that's what you'd like to call it, then fine. A bribe."
I stared intently into his eyes. "Do you think you can win me over with this?"
"Yeah... This is every girl's weakness."
"No. Not me. I don't like ice cream."
Really?! Are you sure, Jay?
I won't fall for a bribe. Sorry, ice cream! T_T
"Then... what do you want?"
Whoa... Your buddy is persistent! Looks like he feels guilty about what he did to me. Good.
"A simple apology from here." I pointed at his heart. "...Then, an explanation of why you did it."
He chuckled.
"Apologizing is not my thing, nor is explaining."
I chuckled too, leaning back like I owned the place.
"Bribes are poison to me, Watson. Apologize, explain—while you still can—don't make me ask twice."
"You're so full of yourself, huh? What makes you think I will apologise?" His voice, becoming low.
I shook my head.
"I'm not full of myself. I just know myself…Trust me, one day, I'll make you apologise" I challenged.
He smirked.
"Challenge accepted. I hope you won't be ashamed much, jay jay"
I smirked back.
I stood up and went to the counter. I ordered ice cream. Bigger than him. I could feel him staring. I took my ice cream and walked away, completely ignoring him.