Jay's POV
Home felt louder than school sometimes.
Which honestly said a lot considering I studied in Class 3-E. 😐
The second I entered the house—
I heard voices from the living room.
Dad laughing.
Mom talking dramatically.
Aunty Gemma definitely gossiping about somebody's life.
Normal evening. 😌✨
I slipped off my shoes near the door and walked inside slowly.
Immediately Mom looked up from the couch.
"There she is."
Dad smiled slightly. "Our festival champion."
I gasped dramatically.
"News travels fast."
Aunty Gemma crossed her legs proudly.
"I have connections."
"You literally stalk the parents' group chat."
"Information is information."
Fair enough honestly. 😭
I dropped onto the couch tiredly between Mom and Aunty Gemma.
Everything in my body hurt.
My legs.
My shoulders.
My dignity after wearing vampire clothes publicly.
Tragic day. 💀
Mom gently touched my hair. "You look tired."
"I survived Felix for twelve hours."
Dad nodded seriously.
"That explains everything."
Exactly.
Finally.
Someone understood my suffering.
Aunty Gemma leaned closer immediately. "So?"
I blinked. "So…?"
"How was the festival?"
I stared at her suspiciously.
That "so" sounded dangerous.
Very dangerous.
"It was normal."
Three adults looked at me blankly.
"…Normal?" Mom repeated.
Oops.
Right.
Wrong answer.
I sighed dramatically. "Fine. Rory fake-died inside a coffin, Felix scared children emotionally, Ci-N almost caused three public disturbances, and our class won first place."
Dad burst out laughing immediately.
Mom covered her face trying not to laugh too.
Aunty Gemma looked proud for absolutely no reason.
"That's my niece."
"I'm concerned that you're proud."
"You people sound entertaining."
"Entertaining is one word for it."
Dad leaned back against the couch smiling. "So you actually had fun?"
I paused slightly.
Then shrugged casually. "…Maybe."
Mom smiled knowingly.
Dangerous woman.
She noticed too much.
Always.
Then suddenly I looked around the living room.
"…Wait."
Mom blinked. "What?"
"Where's Aries?"
The room became quieter for a second.
Not bad quiet.
Just softer.
Dad answered first.
"He's still in California."
Right.
California.
I almost forgot.
Aries had traveled there a few days ago for some business meetings connected to the company.
Something about investors.
Important people.
Boring rich people things honestly. 😐
"He called earlier," Mom said gently. "He said he might return very soon."
A small smile appeared on my face automatically.
"…Good."
Aunty Gemma smirked immediately. "You miss your brother?"
"No."
"Liar."
"…A little."
Okay maybe a lot.
The house felt weirdly empty without Aries annoying everybody.
Even Dad noticed it.
Which was terrifying honestly. 😭
Dad suddenly looked toward me again.
Then narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Uh oh.
That expression usually meant:
parental investigation mode.
"You've stopped the illegal racing, right?"
Silence.
My soul almost exited my body. 😃
Mom looked at me calmly.
Aunty Gemma slowly turned too.
Three pairs of eyes.
Absolutely terrible experience.
I smiled beautifully.
"Of course."
Lie. 😌
Dad stared at me for a few more seconds.
Like he was trying to read my soul directly.
Rude behavior honestly.
Then finally he sighed. "Good."
I almost celebrated internally.
Almost.
Mom however…
kept looking at me quietly.
Too quietly.
Which worried me more.
Then softly she asked:
"When are you going to tell your friends the truth?"
My smile disappeared slightly.
The truth.
My past.
Everything I kept hiding.
The room suddenly felt colder.
And somehow…
I didn't know the answer either. 🌙
End of Chapter 📖✨
*********************************
🌙 "Some lies protect people.
Others only delay the truth."