Jay pov.
Seriously? If I get kidnapped one more time, I swear to god I will demand a PhD for it. With extra credits. Because what do you mean I waste all that energy getting kidnapped and exhaust myself, and I don't even get anything back for it?! How's that fair? They should atleast get me good food.
Or have good hospitality. Like that ABCD gang, who listened to my story about Kiefer and even sided with me and gossiped with me! That was really fun...
Anyways, I slowly cut my ropes off and slipped away, knowing exactly where I was heading. To the Gala. Today is March 19. And today, is the day I'm going to reveal my identity as the founder and CEO of JJM empire. Publicly. But the will of the Mariano? That had to wait until my birthday. Until I had legal rights to claim the inheritance. (A/N : Jay's birthday is in June 12 guys. I changed it as it didn't match my timeline.)
After today, I'm going back to school regularly. I've been going like on and off. Somedays, when the threat was too high, I couldn't risk bringing the danger to section E. Then they'd get involved in my mess.
But after this reveal, almost half my problems will be sorted. Having a secret identity is exhausting. I said half as my identity as a Mariano will still stay hidden until my birthday. And today, after the news reaches everyone, I'll tell section E I forgive them. Because they've been genuinely trying so hard, before they even knew about my wealth. It just shows that they like me for me, and not for what I can give them.
Because that's all I've ever experienced in my old school. I never had any friends back then. I was always the 'savior' and the 'protector' because I used to stop bullying. The whole school was under my control. And I was basically the queen. But no one cared about my happiness.
They only came to me if they were in trouble, or if someone was hurting them and they needed my help. But section E was the first place I felt like I belonged. The first place where they not only accepted me, but also protected me without expecting anything in return. I think... I'm ready to forgive them. Exept kwanan, of course.
It's been almost a month since Kwanan left for London. And his birthday is over too. I still remember what happened on his birthday...
Flashback
What do you do when you're literally discussing strategies to stay alive from your own family with your brothers and a creep who has been messaging you for a month asks you to wish him for his birthday on the same day as the boy who you loved (and still do) but who broke you? Because that's exactly what happened to me.
I was in a meeting. A very serious meeting. Life threatening meeting. When I recieved a I-want-to-end-you-life message from gagong baliw. Yeah. That's what I saved him as. It suits him.
Honestly? I've asked huge networks within my control to find out this guy. But even I wasn't sure to find out who the hell this dude is. He keeps texting me? Calling me his wifey and all that shit.
For some reason though, he doesn't feel dangerous. He feels... safe. Like I can say anything to him. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's to trust my gut feeling.
Kiefer pov.
Flashback continues in Kiefer pov. From when he is in his birthday party, and just found out about the forced engagement with Ion.
I was absolutely furious. What were these dickheads thinking trying to get me married when I'm already married to my wife? My life. My Jasper Jean Mariano Watson.
"You need a powerful wife, Kiefer. Someone who's worthy of your status. Not that Fernandez girl."
"Speak about my girl one more time, and I will make sure you can never speak again. Hurt me, and I'll break a few bones. Touch her? And I'll open the gates of hell." I hissed.
There is no way in hell I am going to let this proceed. I shut it down immediately. I literally threatened the elders until even they were shaking in their expensive leather shoes and looked shocked, the first hint of fear appearing in their pathetic faces as they sensed the anger radiating off me. I stormed off there, shutting myself in the first empty room I found.
Slowly, all the anger left me. Leaving nothing but exhaustion. Exhaustion of having to pretend every day. Pretend I wasn't missing her. Pretend I didn't want to run back to her. Pretend I didn't love her. I slowly sank to the floor.
Why? Why do we have to go through this? Haven't I given enough already? Do I have to give even more? Will fate not stop until I'm stripped bare of everyone I've ever loved? First us getting abused. Then my mother's death. I was left to take care of 2 kids on my own.
Don't get me wrong- I love my brothers. I definitely don't think of them as a burden. And if I was given a chance to protect them I'll do it again in a heartbeat. Because they are my family.
After that came Percy's death. Even though he's alive now, the pain I experienced then was real. Then Kiegan getting worse. And now Jay too?
No. I won't let anything or anyone touch her. I can't. Not her too. I didn't get realise that tears were streaming down my eyes. I fidgeted with my phone, pulling it out and scrolling through pictures of her. Seeing her made a fresh wave of tears well up in my eyes. She looked beautiful. Not beautiful in the fake plastic way. She looked naturally beautiful. Pretty.
I don't think she realises her beauty. I know she used to feel insecure about her face. But honestly? Her looks alone is enough to ruin a man completely. Not to mention her personality. That's what made me fall for her even harder.
Suddenly, someone called me claiming it was an emergency. I left hurriedly, not even bothering to close my phone, and just left it there. When I came back to the room after clearing the commotion.... Ion was texting someone. From my phone.
"So, she's the one huh. I'm not going to lie, Watson. She looks like an angel. Her face reflects innocence, and strength. How did you even manage to pull her off?" Ion asked.
"I know I'm lucky, okay? What about you? Why did you even agree to this engagement? We both know you still love Angelo."
At the mention of his name, her face turned sad. "I am forced too. Just like you. If I refuse now, then I have to leave everything of the Watson wealth behind. And then I'd be left with nothing. I don't have my own company, unlike you, mr CEO of MKW."
My head snapped up at that. "How do you know that?" I asked sharply.
"I just do. Also, your girlfriend is really nice to talk to." She replied.
She was texting Jay? Oh shit. I snatched the phone away from her. Apparently she had sent Jay a photo of me. And now Jay was texting back.
From: My future Mrs Watson.❤️✨
You know that idiot?
Ion snatched my phone back from my hands and continued texting.
To: My future Mrs Watson.❤️✨
Yes, unfortunately. Why? Do you want me to tell something to him?
From: My future Mrs Watson.❤️✨
Yeah, tell him he's a complete douche bag for leaving me hanging. But I also have a message for you.
How is that possible? Did she find out it was me? But that's impossible. I brought a new phone specifically to message her and made sure this phone is untraceable.
To: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
For me? You don't even know who I am. Ion typed back, still refusing to hand over the phone to me. I just sighed and accepted my fate, letting her text with Jay. Seriously though, why does everyone steal my wife?
From: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
You can't run from your past. Sooner or later, you're going to have to face it. Let it be now.
To: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
What?
From: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
You know who I'm talking about. Kuya Angelo.
Ion's eyes widened in shock. Honestly, I was shocked to. How did she even...
Ion quickly typed back a reply. Her fingers flying across the letters in the phone. (A/N: like how I'm doing rn hehe)
To: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
I don't know what you're talking about.
From: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
Sure you don't...
Ion let out a sigh of relief. Maybe she doesn't know after all. But before I could relax, another message came in from Jay.
From: My future Mrs Watson.
... Ion Dela Cruz.
My breath caught. She knew? But that was impossible. Even if she managed to track the phone, it should have led to me. My name. How did she figure out it was Ion? Was she here? Is she here right now.
(A/N: guys I don't know ion's full name. So I kept it as Ion Dela Cruz. Idk what her real last name is...)
Before Ion could even send a reply, two more messages came from her.
From: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
Or should I say Ion Fernandez. Because it's soon- to- be Fernandez.
From: My future Mrs Watson.
Don't worry, I know it's not you who's been texting me from the start. You only got hold of this phone now, didn't you? Would you please mind telling me which creep this phone belongs to? Who's been texting me before you?
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. She didn't know it was me. I mean, of course she didn't. If she got to know, she would have blocked me immediately.
Ion looked it me."Should I tell her?" She asked.
I glared at her. "Don't you dare. She will block me if she knows it's me."
Ion chuckled. "Relax. I won't." She quickly sent back a reply
To: My future Mrs Watson❤️✨
I'm sorry, Jay. I don't know. I just found this phone and saw your contact name and wanted to text you, in case you wanted to tell anything to Kiefer for his birthday. Speaking of which, I should probably put the phone back and leave now.
There was a slight pause on the other end. Then, a call incoming. She was calling me. Ion looked at me. I nodded, telling her to accept it. She accepted the call.
"Jay? What do you want me to tell him?"
I signalled ion to put the call on speaker. She did it. Now I could hear Jays voice.
"Tell him.. that I wish him a happy birthday. And that I hope he chokes on his birthday cake. Just a little."
ion laughed at that. Even I couldn't help but smile.
"Also, tell him that... He's needed here. His fellow snakes miss him. Don't take too long, don't make them wait too much. They're still hoping he will come back, they're still waiting for him."
Do you miss me too Jay? Are you also waiting for me? I hope you haven't given up on me.
Ion asked the thing I was thinking.
"Are you still waiting for him?"
There was a faint pause in the other end. "Am I? Honestly, I don't know if I am. I don't even know what I feel anymore. But I know that whatever this is, I believe I'm strong enough to face my problems. I'm not running away. I can't even if I try to."
Tears slipped out of my eyes. My woman. My strong beautiful girl.
"And, I wish that, no matter who he lies to- he should always stay true to himself. That's my wish for his birthday."
Stay true to myself.... I don't know why or how, but I felt like that statement, that sentence from her was healing something in me that was breaking apart...
"Why do you want to tell him that?" Ion asked genuinely curious.
"I don't know... I just have a feeling he needs to hear it." She replied.
I do. I really do.
"Don't worry. I'll tell him." Ion said, looking straight at me while saying it. "Is there anything you want to share? About yourself? Are you ok? I heard you aren't going to school regularly. You can tell me. I won't tell Kiefer."
Jay pov.
I knew about the engagement between Kwanan and ion. I knew it even before Kwanan did. And that's because Kuya Angelo said he's going somewhere, suddenly. He was acting suspicious as hell and I asked James to find out about where he was going.
And apparently, he was going to Kwanan's engagement. With his ex lover there. Kuya thinks I don't know about ion. But I happen to have ears for gossip everywhere. I was snooping on Kuya's past love life when I found out about ion. Or maybe it's ate ion for me hehe. So, kiefer's getting engaged is he? How exciting.
It's okay. I know Kwanan doesn't even know about it. And I also know that it's forced and that he was furious when he got to know about it. But it still stung. It still hurt. I pushed my feelings down.
He doesn't love me anyway. What does it matter?
I already knew the answer. It mattered because I still love him. Painfully so. I'm trying to stop, but I think I fell far too deep too climb back that quickly.
Fun fact: one of the elders who are torturing Kwanan is a Mariano. My grandfather, to be exact. He's actually slightly better than the other elders. Just slightly. Though he's not as good as uncle Kier.
That man- my so called grandfather- was good for nothing. I don't like him as he never took proper care of Leo, he never showed Leo love- only obligation. But, I guess he didn't hate us either, and he took Leo in without complaining and never hurt Leo. That should count for something.
I was on a call with my grandfather that time, trying to talk to him about his lovely daughter who killed her own brother (that is our Father) just because our grandfather didn't write his will off to her. He gave the company over to my father because he was the only one who put in work and effort. Every single time my grandfather told my aunt to do something she'd shrug it off and be careless, or make a situation even worse.
He literally couldn't leave his company over to her when he decided to retire, because she wouldn't listen even when he tried to teach her about business. He DID leave her land and assets. But she was greedy. She wanted the company.
Anyways, I was on the call with him when he mentioned that it was strange ion was holding some random phone he had never seen before. He knew because the phone he was using to talk to me was ion's as his phone died of no charge. He was the one who told me he saw ion taking a picture of Kwanan the exact second I got it.
That's how I knew it was her. I tried to ask my grandfather for more information, but he said he's not saying anything and to 'figure out your own problems' (his words exactly, not mine) and cut the call. Stupid old man.
Something about talking to ate ion felt... right. Then she asked me what nobody has asked me in 9 years...
"Is there anything you want to share? About yourself? Are you okay? I heard you're not going to school regularly. You can tell me. I won't let Kiefer know."
And I don't know why, maybe it's because I didn't have anyone else to speak to... I decided to open up. Even if just a little.
Kiefer pov.
When ion asked that, I genuinely expected Jay to just cut the call or lie and say she's fine as usual. But, instead, she actually spoke.
"I'm just- I'm tired. I'm so damn tired. I'm pretending so hard, I forgot what's real anymore. Pretending I'm fine, pretending I'm strong, when the truth is... I'm really just breaking apart."
Tears slid down from my eyes as I felt her trying to control her own tears on the other end.
"I have to be fine. I have to be strong. For my brothers, for my younger brother. I have to be okay, even when I'm not. My elder brother and my twin... They're scared too. They think they're being subtle- but I can see it. They don't want to worry me, but I know that if I tell them how much I'm hurting, they'll just be even more hurt and burdened."
But... Why are Jare and Percy scared? Of what? As if she heard my question- she answered.
"I'm not going to say everything, I can't. Not today, but I will say one thing. Our lives are in danger. I mean, everyone knows that, it's not really big news- but still. It's getting harder and harder each day to keep pretending."
"I understand, Jay. But maybe you should tell it to your brothers. Maybe saying this out loud will help make the weight atleast a little lighter for you. Or else, just talk to me. I'll text you from my own phone. Anyways, I like talking to you" ion said. I frowned. Why is she trying to steal my wife?
"Just- remember what I said ion. Or ate ion. You can't keep running from your past. Talk to him. Make things right, okay? Kuya deserves someone in his life. Also he's becoming way too grumpy." Jay said.
Just as she said that a sleek white car pulled up at the entrance. Angelo had arrived.
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Hello fellow homosapiens!
First off all, I'm really sorry for not positioning for so long. To make up for it, I literally wrote a 3000 word chapter for y'all. Literally the longest chapter till now.
Now for the reason of my absence- school. It's always that😭😭. Just as my exams got over and I finally relaxed thinking- well I can post regularly now- they were literally like no. Oh you don't have exams? You're too free- that doesn't look right. Let's just give loads and loads of homework.
Also, why do teachers give random class tests? Like, I swear to god, if they don't feel like teaching they're just like- okay, surprise test time!
AND, I had to take leave for 2 days. Why is it every day I go to school, they're just giving tests or just teaching, but the exact days I put leave- they suddenly decide to complete classworks?
I have like a shit ton of work now😭✌️.
I was finally able to complete this chapter 2day. I have been writing it little by little each day.
Hope it was worth the wait!
Byeee guys!!