CRIS'S POV
Why do I feel like something is wrong?
Maya is here with me… but Jay-Jay isn't.
Is she okay?
Why didn't she call me again? Did Percy give her food or not?
"Damn…" I muttered under my breath. "Why do I feel like something bad happened to her?"
Maya looked at me, confused."What happened? What are you talking about?"
"It's Jay," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I'm not having a good feeling. I think something is wrong."
"Then stop overthinking and call her right now."
"Yeah…"
I immediately dialed her number.
No answer.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
Once. Twice. Three times.
No response.
Worry started creeping in, slowly turning into panic.
"She's not picking up?" Maya asked.
I shook my head. "No… she's not answering."
Maya's expression turned serious."You're right. Something's wrong. Call Percy. Ask him to check on her."
I nodded and called him.
He picked up after a few rings.
"Yes, Kuya. Everything fine?" Percy asked.
"Where are you?" I said quickly. "And where is Jay-Jay?"
"I'm at the hospital—wait… Jay-Jay is not with you?"
My heart dropped.
"Hospital? What happened? And no—she's not here."
"It's not me… it's Aries," Percy replied. "Like you said, I brought food for Jay. But when I reached there… she was fighting with some guys. Aries was on the ground, coughing blood."
My grip on the phone tightened.
"I helped her in the fight, and we brought Aries to the hospital. But—"
"But what?" I snapped. "Speak, Percy!"
"She was blaming herself… for Aries… and for Angelo," he said quietly. "She was crying nonstop. Then suddenly she stopped and said she was going back to school."
My chest tightened.
"But after some time, one of her friends called me. They said she ran out of school after meeting Angelo. I don't know what happened between them… but she was crying. I thought she came back to you."
"Fuck…" I muttered, pacing. "She's not here. She must be drowning in pain again… alone."
I clenched my jaw.
"Percy, I'm sending you her car number. Find her."
"On it."
I ended the call and told Maya everything.
"Oh God…" she whispered. "This girl… why didn't she come home?"
"I don't know," I said. "But first, we find her."
I quickly called my assistant.
He picked up instantly."Yes, sir."
"I'm sending you a car number and my sister's details. Find her. Right now."
"Understood."
Within minutes, a location popped up on my phone.
A hospital. I didn't have time to panic.
"I got her location. Let's go."
I drove as fast as I could.
When we reached the hospital, Percy called me again.
"Kuya, I found her. She's in a hospital."
"I'm already here. Come fast."
"I'm on the way."
We rushed to the reception.
"Is there any girl admitted? Name—Jasper Jean Mariano," I asked urgently.
The receptionist shook her head."No, sir. But a girl did collapse here. We took her to a room for treatment. She was wearing a school uniform, but she didn't have an ID, so we couldn't confirm her identity."
My heart skipped.
"Can I see her?"
She nodded and gave us the room number.
We rushed there.
And the moment we reached the door—
We froze.
There she was.
Lying on the bed.
Pale.
Too pale.
I walked closer slowly.
An IV drip was attached to her hand. My chest tightened painfully. What happened to her… in such a short time?
Maya stepped closer and gently caressed her hair.
"She looks so pale…" she whispered. "Like she doesn't have any energy left. She looks exhausted…"
Before I could respond, a doctor entered the room.
"Are you her family?" he asked.
We both nodded.
"What happened to her?" Maya asked anxiously.
"She fainted due to exhaustion and extreme stress," the doctor explained. "She also had a high fever. Her body was burning."
My heart sank.
"We've given her medication. But she needs proper rest. And most importantly—no stress."
"Thank you, doctor," I said quietly. "We'll take care of her."
He nodded and left.We sat beside her in silence, his words echoing in my head.
Then suddenly—
The door burst open.
"Kuya!" Percy rushed in. "What happened to her?"
"She has a high fever," I replied. "And the doctor said she's been under too much stress."
I looked at him seriously.
"There's something we still don't know. Tell me everything that happened at school."
Percy nodded and told us everything.
The demolition of Section E.
Aries.
The fight.
The hospital.
Angelo.
When he finished, silence filled the room. I looked at him, my eyes sharp.
"Is that everything? Or is there something else you're not telling me?"
Percy shook his head firmly.
"That's all, Kuya. Everything I told you… it's exactly what happened. Ci-n was the one who gave me the information."
I looked at her again.
"Why is she like this…?" I whispered. "Why does she always blame herself for everyone else's mistakes?"
I leaned closer, gently brushing her hair away from her face.
"You're not a burden, Jay," I said softly. You're everything to us."
My voice lowered, filled with quiet determination.
"And I won't let you face everything alone…Not while I'm here."
I took my phone out and called my assistant. My voice was firm and serious.
"Buy HVIS at any cost. And arrange a meeting tomorrow with the new owner—Jasper Jean Mariano. You have half an hour."
"On it, sir."
I cut the call.
When I turned back, Percy was already looking at me with wide eyes.
"Whoa, Kuya… that was impressive. Buying the whole school for her? You're spoiling her."
Maya smiled softly.
"She deserves to be spoiled. She's our sister."
I glanced at Jay lying on the bed, my expression softening.
"I can do anything for her… as long as it makes her happy."
Percy chuckled.
"Sure, sure. But what about Mykel?"
My eyes darkened slightly.
"Jay-Jay already did her part. And Angelo has already threatened him. For now… it's enough."
I paused, my voice turning colder.
"But if he even tries to breathe near her again… I'll do my job."
Percy nodded, then hesitated.
"And what about the Fernandez family? She doesn't want to meet them… and she's still blaming herself because of them."
Maya stepped in calmly.
"I'll talk to her. Leave that to me."
I nodded.
"Alright."
Then I looked back at Percy.
"How is Aries right now?"
"He's stable now," Percy replied. "She saved him on time. Otherwise, the doctor said the condition could've been much worse."
I exhaled slowly.
"We'll come to meet him soon."
Maya added,
"Yes. Keep us updated about his health."
Percy smiled.
"Of course, Ate."
Then suddenly, his expression turned mischievous.
"By the way, Kuya… when are you two getting married? By now, you should've been parents of two kids—and me as the most handsome tito of them."
"PERCY—"
Both Maya and I said in unison.
Percy rolled his eyes dramatically.
"What? I'm just saying… at this rate, I'll grow old waiting. At least give me a niece or nephew before I lose my youth."
"Shut up, Percy! This is not the place to talk about these things," Maya said, her face slightly red.
"Yeah, you're right," Percy nodded seriously. "We'll continue this when we get home."
I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
"Oh God… this boy…"
Percy smirked immediately.
"Is handsome."
Maya and I looked at each other, completely done.
"I'm done."