Jay's POV
After what felt like years in the province, buried under business talks, family legacy discussions, and hours of late-night study sessions, it was finally time to go home.
And honestly? I couldn't be any happier.
But if I thought I was happy, then Aries was on another level entirely. That boy looked like he'd been released from prison.
The entire ride home, I had my nose buried in review notes, mumbling to myself like some sort of academic cultist. I swear, I was one mock test away from losing my mind. My brain felt like it had short-term memory loss. Like I'd just read something, blinked, and it disappeared into the void. Meanwhile, Aries was chilling beside me like he'd already mastered all his subjects three weeks ago. Annoying.
As soon as we got back to the house, I didn't waste a second. I threw my bags down and dove straight into my last-minute worksheets and mock tests like my life depended on it. I think I may have started mumbling answers in my sleep.
Eventually, my body gave up. No energy. No strength. Not even to message anyone. My phone was on Do Not Disturb, and honestly, it felt like a sacred silence. I ate dinner without really tasting it, crawled into bed, and knocked out the moment my head hit the pillow.
Then came the alarm.
The most dreaded one.
First day of exams.
The sound practically clawed into my brain. I groaned, peeled myself off the mattress, and got dressed in autopilot mode. Breakfast was an event in itself Kuya cooked my favorites, and I stuffed myself like it was a farewell meal. Shouldn't have. Now I felt like I was going to vomit.
Aries and I arrived at school, and I was a bundle of nerves. My hands were shaking. My heart was beating so loud I could hear it in my ears. Aries must've noticed because he gave me a small smile and said, "Good luck, Jay."
I forced a grin. "Good luck to you too," I whispered, clutching my bag like it was a weapon.
The moment I stepped into the classroom, chaos erupted.
"JAYYYY!"
It was the ulupongs. Of course.
"You just left us and went to the province?!" Calix shouted dramatically, flailing his arms. "We thought you joined a cult!"
"Guys, I swear, I didn't have a choice," I said, trying not to laugh. "And it wasn't even fun."
Cin pulled me into a hug. "Missed you, Jay."
I smiled and hugged him back, heart warming. "Missed you too, Cin."
David leaned forward over his desk. "How's the prep?"
I gave him a half-confident shrug. "I think I'm good to go." Maybe.
My eyes drifted toward the back, where I caught him staring.
Keifer.
His eyes were locked on me, unreadable. I smiled at him softly, then mouthed, good luck.
He blinked, then smiled back.
Mouthed it right back.
My heart did that annoying fluttering thing again.
Before I could process anything else, Miss Cindy entered, holding the exam papers like they were our death warrants. Three hours. That was all we had.
I took a deep breath, whispered a prayer, and started writing.
The moment I stepped out of the room, it felt like a dam had burst.
Students flooded the hallway, voices rising, everyone dissecting every question, comparing answers like their lives depended on it. But that was never me. I didn't want to know what I got wrong. I just wanted to survive and move on to the next battle.
I quickened my pace, trying to slip through the crowd unnoticed.
"Jay!" Calix appeared beside me, followed by Felix. "How was it?"
"Better than I expected," I said truthfully.
He grinned. "Same here."
Behind them, Mayo and Kit raised their hands in victory. "One paper down! Just a few more to go!"
I chuckled tiredly. "Let's not jinx it."
Keifer appeared beside me, his bag slung lazily over one shoulder. "Hope your paper went well."
"It did," I said, smiling up at him.
We locked eyes for a moment. Just a moment. But it was enough to calm something in me.
Yuri joined our little group, as always, walking like he ruled the hallway. I asked how his paper was not that he needed validation. He was basically a genius like Keifer and Cin.
"It was easy," he said with a cocky smirk.
Classic Yuri. He always kept his cards close. Even around us, he was a mystery. But that was just Yuri.
Keifer, on the other hand, kept insisting on dropping me home. I resisted at first, but eventually I gave in. Of course, I told Aries and let's just say he didn't look thrilled. But he didn't argue.
That week passed in a blur of notes, coffee, group calls, breakdowns, and mock tests. Keifer and I were each other's anchors, constantly checking in, making sure the other was eating, breathing, and still alive. Even if we were both sleep-deprived zombies,mostly me but it was comforting to have him around.
And then… finally…
The last exam.
I could feel my soul rising from my body. Freedom was so close.
The ulupongs were already planning post-exam celebrations. Road trips, beach days, movie nights—every chaotic thing you could imagine.
Denzel and Grace were also busy with baby Grazel Jay—yes, they actually gave her my name. I still felt weirdly emotional about it. Grace said she wanted her daughter to be just as brave. I tried not to cry on the spot when she said that.
Keifer and I were sitting together under our usual spot in the courtyard, talking about Keigen—who was getting better and Keiren, who had developed an obsession with colored paper pins. He even arranged them in rainbow gradients.
"Do you think that's normal?" I asked.
"No," Keifer laughed. "But it's very Keiren."
Before I could respond, Rory and Edrix suddenly approached, their faces serious.
"Keifer," Rory said tightly, "Can we talk? Alone. It's urgent."
Something in their tone made my heart drop.
Keifer looked at me apologetically. "You can go with Aries. I'll talk to you later."
I nodded, but something inside me twisted. I didn't like this. Not one bit.
And I was right.
⸻
Keifer's POV
The second Rory and Edrix opened their mouths, I knew something was wrong.
I didn't even let them finish. "Is it about Section E?"
They hesitated. That hesitation was enough to light a fire in my chest.
"Is it about Jay?" I growled, the venom in my voice making Rory flinch.
Edrix swallowed. "It's about that day… when she got shot."
Everything around me went still.
"We got our hands on CCTV data from that area," Edrix continued. "It was corrupted, but I managed to retrieve some footage."
His next words made my heart stop.
"I saw who pulled the trigger."
Rory stepped in. "It's someone we never expected to be there, at that time."
I could feel the rage rising, my body shaking. All the guilt I'd buried came rushing back.
Jay. In that hospital bed. Pale. Still. Almost gone.
It was my fault. I should've protected her.
I clenched my fists. "Who was it?"
They looked at each other, then back at me.
"Clyde," Edrix said quietly. "Clyde Watson."
My ears rang.
My cousin.
My flesh and blood.
My enemy.
Rage erupted. I didn't think. I moved.
I stormed out of the building and dialed his number. My hands were shaking.
He answered after one ring. "What?"
"You sick son of a—" I snapped. "Why the fuck did you pull that trigger?! WHY WERE YOU THERE?!"
There was silence. Then laughter.
"Relax, Keifer. She wasn't the target. She just got in the way."
"You think that makes it better?!"
"Love's made you soft," he mocked. "You were never meant to be this weak."
"I don't care," I snarled. "If you want to hurt me, fine. But don't you ever touch her again."
"Or what?"
I clenched my jaw. "You say love makes me weak? No. It makes me dangerous. You hurt her again, and you'll see what I'm capable of."
He hung up.
And I stood there, breathing hard, my phone trembling in my hands.
Jay didn't know.
But she would.
And when she did, I'd be there. Not just to protect her.
But to burn down anyone who ever dared to hurt her again.
Even if it meant burning my own family to the ground.
Because she's not just mine.
I'm hers.
She's my purpose.
My only reason to breathe.
Without Jay, I'm nothing.
Without her, I'm lost.