JAY'S POV
Why is everything… black? Where the hell am I? I looked around, trying to find something—anything—to understand where I was.
Then—
Voices.
"Listen to us…"
"She's a hot chick…"
"Me first…"
"Her mother doesn't care about her…"
"Just do as I say…"
Where am I?
"Leave me alone…"
"You're stubborn…"
"You are a burden…"
My head started hurting badly.
The voices were mixed—some were mine, some were Jeana's… and some I couldn't even recognize.
It hurt. So much. I felt terrified. I didn't want to hear them anymore. What is happening to me?
Then suddenly—
My eyes shot open.
"Ahh—!"
A sharp pain went through my head.
"Jay-Jay, are you okay?""Jay-Jay, did something happen?""Jay, look at us!"
I blinked and looked around.
They were here.
Kuya… Ate… Percy.
Maya came closer, her face full of worry.
"Are you okay, Jay? Did you see a nightmare?"
"I'm okay, Ate," I said softly. "It's just… my head was hurting badly."
I wasn't planning to tell them the truth. Not now. They would worry too much. And I already had too many problems to deal with.
Maya handed me a glass of water.
"Take this. You must be thirsty."
I drank it slowly.
But when I looked up—
They were all staring at me.
No… glaring.
Like I had committed a crime and my punishment was death.
"What?"
Kuya crossed his arms.
"You're asking what? Don't you think we should be the ones asking you that?"
Maya added sharply,
"Percy told us everything. So don't even think about lying."
Percy stepped forward.
"Jay-Jay… what is happening to you? You fainted. The doctor said you were under too much stress."
Kuya's voice softened, but it still carried weight.
"You didn't think of coming to us? Jay… aren't we your family?"
I looked at their faces. Full of worry. Guilt hit me hard.
"No, Kuya… you all are my only family," I said quietly. "I just thought I was giving you stress. You're already doing so much for me… I didn't want to add more problems. That's why I didn't come home."
Suddenly—
Maya stood up and pulled my ear.
"Ate! You're tearing my ear apart!"
"I need to do that," she said, "so you come back to your senses."
"Please, Ate! Leave me—I'm sorry! I won't say anything stupid again. Promise!"
She finally let go.
I looked at them.
Maya was still glaring. Kuya was smiling. And Percy was trying not to laugh.
"You traitors," I complained. "I was about to lose my ear and you're laughing."
"No, we're not," Kuya and Percy said together.
Maya shot them a deadly glare.
They immediately shut up.
She really had an aura…
Then she turned back to me.
"Jay-Jay, listen carefully," she said seriously."You are our family. Our sister. You are not a burden."
Her voice softened.
"You are our responsibility. It's not a favor—we want to take care of you. You were always there for us. When your Kuya needed you, you supported him. When I needed you, you were there for me."
A small smile formed on her lips.
"You even helped him while he was courting me, remember?"
I blinked.
She continued—
"You were always the one fixing things when we fought. So don't ever think you're a burden. Because you are our world… our everything."
Her words hit straight into my heart. Tears fell before I could stop them.
I hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry, Ate… I won't do that again. I promise. I'll come back to you… to our home. I was stupid to think like that."
She hugged me back.
Kuya chuckled.
"Finally. The barracuda is back to her senses."
Percy grinned.
"My baby sister! Your brain is finally working. I'm so proud."
I should have shouted at them.
But instead… I laughed. I felt… relieved.
Then suddenly—
Aries.
"Percy… is Aries okay? Did he wake up?"
"He's fine," Percy replied. "Yes, he's awake. He was asking about you. I told him you're not well and resting."
I sighed in relief.
"Good."
Kuya clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright. Now that everything is back to normal, let's get to the real issue. Tell us, Jay—what's stressing you?"
I nodded.
"First—Section E's building demolition. They're treating us like we don't even exist. When Mykel was beating Aries, no authority came. Not even when Calix was getting hurt."
My voice hardened.
"But when I fought back, they threatened to expel me."
Kuya smirked slightly.
"That matter is already solved."
I blinked.
"How?"
"I bought the school," he said casually. "And made you the owner."
My brain completely short-circuited.
"Wait—what?!"
"You heard me," he replied calmly. "The meeting is already arranged. The decision is in your hands now."
"Kuya, you didn't—"
"I already did," he cut me off. "And you have no right to object. Now, tell me the second problem."
I sighed.
"Fine… I thought I was the reason Aries got hurt. And Kuya Angelo's company is suffering because of me. I've always been bad luck for them…"
Maya crossed her arms.
"Looks like the last lesson wasn't enough."
Kuya looked straight into my eyes.
"Tell me, Jay. Did you propose that marriage?"
"No."
"Were you willing to marry him?"
"No."
"Did you ask Mykel to hurt Aries or Calix?"
"No."
He leaned closer.
"Then it's not your fault," he said firmly. "They forced you. You refused. And someone else used that to take revenge."
His voice softened.
"It has nothing to do with you. Got it?"
I nodded slowly.
"Anything else?"
I hesitated.
"Yeah… this morning, I found an envelope on my car. It had death threats. All signed with one name—R. Sato."
Percy frowned.
"Wait… how?"
"I'll explain later," Kuya said, then looked at me."You don't need to worry. I'll make sure that jerk doesn't come near you."
I smiled faintly.
"I trust you, Kuya."
He smiled back.
I felt safe.
My Kuya was here.
My Ate was here.
My brothers were here.
And maybe…
I wasn't alone after all.