Jayjay's Pov:
I woke up to the light streaming through my window and suddenly realized today was my first day of university. I quickly ran downstairs, shouting, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! I'm late. Papa! Mama! Why didn't you wake me up? I'm going to be late on my first day! Mama, where are you? Papa?"
They both came out of the kitchen, and Mama said, "Jay, Aries has already left, so you'll have to walk. Now, come eat, get ready, and go to your university."
"Okay, Mama. By the way, good morning! Sorry, I forgot to greet you," I said while sitting in my chair.
"No, it's okay. Your screaming was greeting enough for us," Papa said with a laugh.
"Oh, Jay, by the way... Keifer is also at that university, so you'll see each other again after eight years," Mama mentioned while bringing over my breakfast.
"Ugh, Mama! You mean that so-called fiancé of mine? Well, I'll deal with him later. I don't want to ruin my day," I said, stuffing a pancake into my mouth. Mama smacked the back of my head and said, "Jay, he is your fiancé. Just a little respect, please!"
She sat down, and I quickly finished my breakfast. She kept talking about Keifer, and I was getting so annoyed that I just told her I was going to get ready. I ran upstairs, took a bath, and got dressed. I got ready quickly, ran downstairs to say goodbye to Mama and Papa, and then started my walk to the university. As I walked, memories of the past started to resurface.
Flashback:
"Jayjay is so short, oooo!" Keifer teased, sticking his tongue out at me.
"Keifer is an arrogant jerk, oooo!" I retorted, mimicking his childish face.
"And Keifer is definitely not smart, hehe," Percy added, standing right beside me.
"Percy, Jay, Keifer—that's enough! Don't ruin the mood. Look at how beautiful the sky looks today," Aries said, pointing upward.
"Aries, are you kidding me? It's just a normal sky—clouds and a sun," I replied in a bored tone.
"Whatever," he muttered.
"Tsk," Keifer added.
"Tsk your face!" I snapped.
"Yeah, tsk your face!" Percy echoed.
Soon, Percy and Aries went inside, leaving Keifer and me alone.
"You're so short, you can't even do that," Keifer said, leaning against a wall. I was trying to climb the wall because my ball had gone over to the other side. I wanted to be a superhero—or well, a heroine.
"I can! Don't tell me what to... Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" I screamed as I lost my footing. Just as I was about to hit the ground, someone caught me. It was Keifer. He set me down, and I immediately started brushing off my clothes.
"Ewww! Your hands touched me! Ewww!" I cried, rubbing my outfit as if I were dusting off actual dirt.
"Wow. Just... wow. No 'thank you'? You're so mean, Jayjay," Keifer said, shaking his head.
"Shut up!" I yelled before running inside.
End of Flashback
Omg, we really were enemies from the very start. Like, he was 8 and I was only 7 years old when this ball incident happened. Our parents want to turn this long-standing family friendship into a relationship—it's so frustrating! Keifer doesn't have any sisters; if he did, maybe she would have been the one in Aries' life instead. But then again, if that happened, I might never have met Ella.
Ugh, why do parents always want to turn friendship into a forced romance?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize where I was going until I slammed right into a man. I was falling toward the ground when he suddenly caught me. My heart skipped a beat. Oh my god, he was so handsome. He was covered in sweat, his hair damp and falling over his face, wearing a white polo that made everything visible. He had dark brown eyes with long lashes; omg, I wanted to be lost in his eyes. I couldn't stop staring.
Keifer's Pov:
I was on my way to university when I saw some thugs bullying a boy. I couldn't just stand by, so I stepped in. As I got closer, I realized they were the same thugs who had tried to steal my wallet before. I punched one of them, sending him straight to the ground.
He scrambled up and recognized me. "Oh, you again?" he sneered. "Hey boys, leave that kid alone and come here. We have an old guest."
"I want my revenge," I growled, and the fight broke out.
There were eight of them at first, but soon only four were left standing while the others groaned in pain on the floor. Suddenly, a girl bumped into me. She started to fall, but I caught her by the waist just in time. Our eyes met, and my breath caught—she was incredibly beautiful and cute. She was wearing grey baggy jeans and an oversized orange shirt. Ear Pods in her ears, hair fully open, she hadn't done any makeup but she was looking damn gorgeous.
"Hey! Let me go!" she snapped, pushing me away. Oh, first she was staring and now she's pushing me? Wow, just wow.
"No 'thank you'? I caught you while you were falling," I reminded her.
"It's your fault for fighting in the middle of the path anyway!" she retorted.
"Fine, whatever. Just get going to wherever you're headed before you get hurt," I warned.
"Excuse me? Hurt? No way," she said.
Before I could react, she spun around and punched a man coming up behind me. She moved like a whirlwind, finishing off the remaining four thugs. By the time she was done, they looked even more beat up than the ones I'd handled. She was really something.
She turned back to me and said, "I'm not a girl who gets hurt by random thugs. I'm a woman who can beat up more than ten people."
Then she just left. Honestly, I thought she was going to punch me too, but she didn't. She was gorgeous, cute, and dangerous. If it weren't for that damn engagement hanging over my head, I would have asked for her number. Well, if I ever saw her again, I'd definitely ask.
I realized I was running late for uni, so I ran as fast as I could. When I arrived, I saw my friends waiting for me.
"Why are you so late?" Aries asked.
"I got into a fight," I replied.
"Oh, that's normal. You're always in a fight," Aries sighed. "Now come on, let's go to class or we'll be even later."
We nodded and headed to our lectures. Once the classes before the lunch break ended, we made our way to the cafeteria. That's when I saw her again—the girl from the street. Aries must have noticed me staring because he asked why I was looking at her.
"Umm... do you know her?" I asked him.
"Hmm," he hummed in response.
"Well, can you give me her number?"
Aries looked at me suspiciously. "Why? Do you want to cheat on my sister?"
"Huh?" I stammered. Just then, I noticed she was walking straight toward us.
"Hey, Horoscope!" she called out to Aries.
"Hey, Sleepyhead," Aries replied with a grin. Wait... is this girl and Aries related???
Jayjay's Pov:
After fighting with those guys—I mean, after defeating those thugs—I went to uni. When I entered, I saw my girlie gang and I literally started jumping as I went to them. As soon they saw me, they yelled "Jay!" and we did a group hug. I was so happy after seeing my girls because we hadn't met in five days.
"Why are you late on the first day, and why didn't you come with Aries?" Ella asked, looking like a mom asking a child a question.
"Actually, that Horoscope—oh sorry, I mean your boyfriend—left me, and then I got in a fight, Mom," I said while rubbing the back of my head and emphasizing the word "Mom."
"Oh, okay—wait, what? Mom?" she asked.
"Well, you were looking like a mom asking her child a question, so I said what I wanted to say," I said and started laughing, and the others did too.
"Okay, okay, stop now. Come on, let's eat," Grace said.
"Yeah, that's totally fine," Rakki said.
I nodded.
"No, we have a class in 6 minutes, so no, or we will get scolded on the first day," Freya said.
"Yeah, she has a point," Ella said, and we all nodded in agreement. We went to class and our lectures before lunch went normally. Then it was lunchtime. Me and my girls were in the canteen when I noticed Aries talking to a boy. Now I wanted to ask him why he left me. But wait... is that boy—the SAME boy from the morning? Now I want to show him my face and take revenge. But wait, revenge? Seriously? Okay, not revenge, but I want to fight with that Horoscope! After all, he left me.
So I started walking towards him and when I reached him:
"Hey, Horoscope!" I said.
"Hey, Sleepyhead," he replied with the same energy as mine.
"I'm not a sleepyhead!" I protested.
"Then why were you left sleeping in the morning?" he asked while smirking.
"It was your duty to wake me up! You're the worst. Percy is better than you; he wakes me up and then he brings me coffee and spoils me, which you don't do," I said. I could see him burning because, apparently, he and Percy have a competition over being the "good brother." Hehe, taking advantage. "He is the best brother," I finished.
"Oh, really? Okay then, I think I will not order food at midnight for you anymore. Ask your 'best brother,'" he said and turned his face away. Now I could feel my girls behind me.
I hugged him and said, "No, no, he is not the best. You're the best. No, the greatest brother in the world!" I could see him smiling now.
"Sure? You won't change your mind now?" he asked.
"Nope, I'm sure," I said while hugging him. Then I noticed that the boy was now giggling while watching us so I want to ask him who is to Aries and what was he talking about with Aries"By the way, you... Mr. Arrogant," I said, pointing my index finger at Keifer.
He pointed his index finger at himself, asking, "Me?"
"Yeah, you! Listen, why were you talking to my brother, telling him that I got in a fight, huh?" I asked him, fully pissed.
"Excuse me?" he said.
"Oh no, Jay, you're getting it wrong. He is my best friend. By the way, do you know each other?" Aries asked.
"Yeah, apparently I was fighting and then this sister of yours dumped into me and then started fighting—wait, sister? You are her brother, right??" he said to Aries. I was confused because the way he said "sister" was... I don't know.
"Jayjay," Aries said in a deep voice, clearly ignoring the question the boy asked. I swallowed hard.
"Well, that's only half the story. He told me to go where I was going or I'll get injured. And you know your sister, right? He said I'll get injured, but I injure people, I don't get injured! So I showed him who I am," I said.
"Jayjay?? Wait, does that mean??" Keifer asked Aries, but Aries pretended he didn't hear him.
"Oh," Aries said, then turned to the boy. "Don't underestimate her. She can bury you alive," he almost whispered, but I heard it.
"HEY!" I lightly punched his arm.
"Ouch! See? By the way, you don't know each other's names or identities, right?" Aries asked, and we both nodded.
"So, Jayjay, this is my best friend, Keifer. And Keifer, this is my sister, Jayjay."
We both yelled, "WHAT!!" at the same time.
"So it's you," he said.
"Yeah, it's me," I replied, crossing my arms.
"So you're the one I got engaged to forcefully? Now I have to get married to a psycho," he said.
"Oh hello, you're the only psycho here! And how dare you call me a psycho, you gago!" I said.
"I don't want to marry you," he said, leaning in a little.
"Oh, like I'm dying to marry you, huh?" I said, leaning in too.
"Well, I don't like you," he said.
"Like I love you, huh?" I said.
"Oh, just go. I don't want to waste my time on a shortie," he said, straightening up.
"HOI! I'm not short, but you are tall like the Eiffel Tower!" I said, straightening up too.
"Oh, at least I don't meddle in other people's fights," he said.
"Oh, at least I don't fight in the middle of the road!" I said.
"Aries, I'm losing now," Keifer said.
"Oh yeah, no one can win against me!" I said confidently.
"I was saying I'm losing my patience now, Shortie," he said, emphasizing the word "Shortie."
"Hoi, you gago, ulupong, jerk, idiot, and... and stupid!" I said. I walked towards him, ready to punch, but Ella and Freya stopped me.
"Jay, c'mon, let's go. Don't waste your time on a jerk," Freya said.
"Yeah, you're right," I said, and we all went to one table.
"He is so arrogant," Rakki said.
"Yeah, such a jerk," I replied, my brows frowning.
"And an idiot," Freya said.
"And stupid," Grace added. I nodded.
"I don't know why Aries has a best friend like him. Like, he is so rude," Ella said. I slammed my palm on the table.
"EXACTLY!!! I was thinking this too! And he is like this from childhood," I said.
"So, is there an incident involving you two from childhood?" Rakki asked, grinning so wide my brows knitted.
"Yeah, there is," I said.
"Okay, so tell us!" Grace said.
"Yeah, spill the tea," Freya said.
"Wait, why do you guys want to know—ohhh," Ella said while turning to me.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Nothing, just spill!" Rakki said.
"What are you guys thinking?" I said, looking at each of them. They were looking at me so suspiciously.
"Okay, fine," I finally said.
"Yeah!" they all said, clapping their hands.
"Wait, wait! First, tell us where, when, and how you both met for the first time, and also tell us how you became enemies," Rakki said. I just nodded.
"Well, I think Keifer and Jayjay's story is going to be enemies-to-lovers," Grace teased. I shot her a sharp glare, and she immediately straightened up.
"Ooooooohhhhhh!" Freya, Ella, and Rakki chimed in, grinning from ear to ear.
"Do you all want to know or not?" I threatened.
"Okay, okay! We'll stop teasing you before you turn into a tomato," Freya said.
"I'm not telling now. That's final!" I said, turning my head away.
"Hey, guys, don't tease her. If you don't want to know the start of their story, then leave. Let me listen, at least," Ella said, trying to calm everyone down.
"Yeah, Ella is right. Grace and Freya, you two can go," Rakki added.
"Okay, fine. I'll stop. But if Freya teases her now, don't blame me," Grace said.
"I won't either," Freya promised, clearly struggling to control her laughter.
I decided to just ignore them. "Okay, I'll start," I said, and they all leaned in.
"But start from the very beginning!" Grace insisted. I nodded.
"So, when that Mr. Arrogant and I were only five years old, we met for the first time. My family and I were in a very quiet park for a picnic. Suddenly, our dad called us..."
Flashback
"Percy, Jayjay, Aries! Come here, quick!" Dad called out to us.
"Coming!" Percy replied. "Come on, Baby Sista and Horoscope," Percy said, looking back at us.
"HEY!" Aries and I shouted in unison.
"I'm not a baby!" I protested.
"And stop calling me Horoscope! Or are you forgetting I'm taller than you now? I can beat you up," Aries said, puffing out his chest.
"Papa! These two are fighting!" I shouted. Both of them suddenly straightened up, acting like nothing was going on. We walked over to Papa and asked why he had called us.
"My friend is coming here to have some fun with us. Aries and Percy, I hope you guys remember Keifer," Papa said.
"Of course! How could we forget him?" Percy said.
"Yeah, Papa. Even though we haven't met in two years, he's still my friend. We can't forget him that easily," Aries added.
"Who is... uhhh, what was his name again? Yeah, Keifer. Who is Keifer?" I asked, since I had never met him.
"He is a boy—basically Aries' best friend. He is so arrogant, stupid, and... uh, an idiot," Percy told me.
"Hey! He is not arrogant or stupid! Watch your tongue or I'll tell him and he'll beat you up," Aries snapped.
"Why would he beat Percy? If he touches my brother, I'll kill him!" I said, turning to Percy. "Hey, once he gets here, we won't let him live peacefully, okay?" I grinned widely.
"Yes!" Percy shouted like he had just won a prize. I raised my eyebrows, and he quickly added, "Oh, I'm just happy because now someone is on my side to help beat Mr. Arrogant!"
"I will always be there when you want to beat someone up," I promised.
"Okay, let's go play for a bit, because after he arrives, we'll be too busy teasing him," Percy said. We started running through the park until a car suddenly pulled up.
A boy stepped out—he looked about one years older than me. My whole family went over to greet the people in the car while Percy and I stood back, watching. I noticed Aries and the boy doing a complicated bros' handshake—bumping shoulders, clashing fists, and finishing with a slap before they started walking and talking.
Suddenly, I realized Percy was gone. He was already over there greeting the adults. I ran as fast as I could because I didn't want to look like a "bad girl."
"Hi, Tita and Tito!" I said, hugging Tita and shaking hands with Tito.
"Hi, Jay! How are you?" Tito asked.
"I'm fine, Tito. How are you both?"
"Oh, we're fine! Jay, this is Serena, and this is Tito Keizer. And that boy over there is our son, Keifer. Do you want to be friends with him?" Tita Serena asked, pointing toward him.
I grinned. "Of course, Tita! I'll just go talk to Percy first, then I'll go to... uh, Keifer."
I walked over to Percy. "So, ready?" he whispered.
"Always," I replied, smirking as I kept my eyes on Keifer