JAY-JAY'S POV
"I don't want to! Why are you forcing me?" I cried.
"Just solve this one," he said, pointing at the math problem on the paper.
I was kneeling in front of him. I'm sorry, but can we stop reviewing now? It's been two hours, yet we're still stuck on math problems. Math tends to create problems and expects others to solve them. You're good at math, great.
"Is this the last one?" I asked, annoyed.
"This is the last one, I promise. Then we'll move on to the next topic—English."
"Let's not speak English. I've already learned a lot from you."
"Like what?"
"Like what," I mimicked him.
He chuckled. "Nice try."
"Nice try," I repeated, copying his voice.
He looked at me intently, still smiling. I glared at him.
"Enough with the games," he said, clearly testing my patience.
I tried to hold back my smile, but it kept creeping out. I know he knows what I'm about to do.
Oh, you wanna play? Fine.
"Enough!" I screamed before I could finish my imitation, startled by his sudden tickling attack on my sides.
But he didn't stop. He kept tickling me, and I kept trying to grab his hands to stop him, but I was too weak from laughing.
"That's enough!" I yelled, laughing.
"Still copying me?"
I collapsed onto the floor, making it easier for him to keep tickling me. "No! No! I give up!"
Luckily, he finally stopped. He was still laughing as he looked at me, while I was completely exhausted, trying to catch my breath from all the laughing and dodging.
"I don't want to do this anymore. I'll be nice, I promise," I pleaded.
He was still smiling at me. He looked just as tired, beads of sweat forming from all his nonsense.
"Water?" he offered.
I nodded, and he got up to go to the kitchen. I took the chance to sit properly and take deep breaths. I feel like I just ran a marathon. I must have burned everything I ate for lunch.
I'm hungry again.
"Bring food too!" I shouted after him.
I started tidying up the table and gathering the scattered papers from our chaos. I was about to crumple the sheet he made me solve when he returned with a glass of water and a plate of Crema de Fruta.
"Mine," I said, reaching for it.
He handed it to me before placing the glass on the table.
"Jay?" he called, sitting next to me.
I looked at him while chewing.
"What's my name?"
"Watson."
"That's my last name. I'm asking about my first name."
I paused, swallowing my food. "Why? Did you forget your own name?"
Does he have amnesia?
"It's because you keep calling me kwanan. What does that even mean?" he asked, looking annoyed.
"Instead of your name."
He frowned. "Why? What for?"
I didn't answer and just continued eating. I even slightly turned away from him because of his critical gaze.
Think about it.
"Jay? I'm asking you."
I still ignored him. Even though I had finished everything on my plate, my attention remained elsewhere. Absentmindedly, I scooped up the remaining crema on the plate.
"Jay! Stop! That's gross!" Kei-kwanan looked up and tried to grab the plate, but because of the distance, he only managed to grasp my arm.
"Ew! Don't touch me!"
I immediately pulled my arm away. "What?! Don't touch me!"
"What's wrong with you?" he asked irritably.
"Don't touch me!"
"What the hell is your problem?"
"Just—don't touch me!"
"Tell me why!"
"I AM FRAGILE!" I shouted right in his face and turned away again.
Look at you.
I try so hard to avoid you, to build my walls, and yet here you are again, melting the steel in my heart.
I admit it—I am fragile. Who wouldn't love him? Especially me, who has been waiting for him. Waiting for his explanation. There are nights when I howl and cry, wishing he would come back. I want to see him—to slap him.
Of course, I have to be strong. How can I do that when just hearing his name makes my heart race? Sometimes, I think I hear people calling my name, but it turns out they're calling his. I can't help but turn toward them. I almost changed my name.
I almost became Kei-kwanan.
I need to build a real wall around myself so I won't be weak for him. God, it's so hard. The kind of pain that makes me want to run straight into his arms and hug him. ❤️
I need to be strong. I must be strong. My heart is still not healed, but my foolish soul is excited.
"No, you're not," he said, clearly frustrated with me.
Why do you still know me so well?
I turned to look at him. His face was serious, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Because if you were, you wouldn't still be putting up with me like this."
"What do you expect? That I'll welcome you with open arms?" I asked sarcastically.
"No. But at least care enough to listen to me."
I ignored him again and turned away, pretending to focus on a math problem he had asked me to solve. I didn't even know if my answer was correct—I just wrote down a number.
"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about," he said, then suddenly stood up.
Is he mad now?
I subtly followed him with my gaze. He walked straight toward the door and disappeared outside. I watched him until he reached the beach, but after a few seconds, he was gone.
I stood up from my seat. Did the sea swallow that idiot? After gathering my papers, I walked out to follow him.
The sun was still setting, and the heat lingered. The sand stuck to my feet, and even through my slippers, I could still feel the warmth seeping in.
This feels like a fake farewell.
"Kwanan!" I called out, but there was no response.
I looked around, thinking he might be nearby. I even peeked behind the trees, wondering if he had climbed up somewhere to hide.
"Kwanan!" I called again. Still nothing.
Then, I spotted a large rock standing at the top of the hill where I had run yesterday. I approached it and tried to look up from below.
"Kwanan! I know you're up there!" I shouted, but he didn't turn around.
He didn't seem to hear me. I tried climbing up to get closer, but I was only halfway there when he walked toward the edge of the rock.
"Hey! Kwanan!"
"That's not my name," he whispered almost directly into my ear.
"Again?"
"My name is not Kana," he clarified.
I quickened my pace, climbing even faster. In my rush, I almost scraped my knee several times. When I finally reached the top, at the far end stood the hideous King of Serpents. Every step I took was slow, hindered by the uneven stones beneath my feet.
As I adjusted the bone in my grip, I struck him there.
"Hey! Whoa!" I called out while stepping closer.
He turned to face me, clearly annoyed. "Stop calling me that."
I snorted at his frustration, but then my movements froze. My eyes widened when I realized he wasn't wearing a shirt.
His bare skin was on full display, and… uh-la-la.
Stuff it. Just stop thinking about it.
"W-what's the problem?" I asked, shaking off my distraction.
"Say my name," he ordered.
"Why?"
"What's wrong with my name?"
"Why are you forcing me to say it?"
He shook his head, his patience wearing thin. With a slight turn, he stepped away.
"This is pointless—Fuck!"
"Keifer!" We shouted in unison as he slipped and fell.
Wow. Shunga!
I immediately rushed to the spot where he had been standing. Leaning over, I tried to peer down. The waterfall below was dangerous, the current strong.
Where is he?
My breath hitched when I finally saw him—floating. His back had risen above the surface, but his head remained submerged. Panic surged through me. Something was wrong.
I hesitated, debating whether to climb down the same way or just jump. Jumping would be faster, but what if I lost consciousness too? We'd both be dead meat. A shark's lucky day.
But screw it.
I pinched my nose, shut my eyes, and leaped into the sea. The impact sent pain shooting through my legs and body, but I quickly resurfaced and scanned for his lifeless form.
There—Keifer.
I swam toward him as fast as I could. A deep scratch ran along his arm and side, likely from hitting the rocks. But what really caught my attention was an old, dried wound on his back. A gunshot wound?
I quickly lifted his face, patting his cheek.
"Hey! Wake up!" I pleaded, but there was no response.
No, no, no. Don't do this!
Fear tightened its grip on my chest. I didn't know what to do. If I waited any longer, things could get worse. Tears threatened to spill when I suddenly remembered—mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!
Oh no.
Even though I had no idea how to do it properly, I had to try. I squeezed his jaw, prying his lips open, then leaned in to blow air into his mouth. But halfway there, I froze.
Wait. What if my breath kills him instead?
I hesitated, completely flustered. My thoughts were a tangled mess.
I pulled back to check him again, but he was still unconscious. I slapped his cheek lightly before deciding to try again. This time, just as I was about to breathe into his mouth, a firm hand gripped the back of my neck—forcing our lips to press together.
My eyes widened in shock.
The audacity!
I shoved him with all my strength, and he finally let go.
"You're crazy! Were you faking it?!" I snapped, furious.
The shameless idiot just laughed, though he still looked like he was in pain from the fall.
"Your kiss saved me," he teased. ❤️😅
"Ulol! What are you, Sleeping Beauty? Woke up from a kiss?"
He simply shook his head, gazing up at the cliff where he had fallen. That's when I noticed the fresh gash on his shoulder.
Yeah. He didn't just slip. He was pushed.
"You're such a jerk! No matter how much you act tough, you've slipped up! If you've been punished, does that make you a fool?!" I scolded him, and he just smiled at me.
"You have nothing to worry about. That's actually a great spot for cliff diving."
"Why shouldn't I worry? If you died, how could I go home? Would I just sit here watching your corpse rot?"
He suddenly burst out laughing. It didn't seem real. I should be worried. He was still as twisted as ever.
Still a snake.
"You could eat my corpse so you wouldn't go hungry," he said, and I immediately splashed water at him.
"I'm hungry, but I'm not a cannibal!" I snapped, annoyed. "And you don't look good either."
He looked at me with a playful smirk. "Would you like to try and taste me?"
Oh no! Ew!
"I'll drown you!" I threatened, but he only laughed louder.
Annoyed, I swam away from him, but I hadn't gotten far before I felt someone grab my waist.
"What?!" I gasped, wriggling like a fish caught in a net.
"Stay close," he said as he started swimming.
Since he was still holding onto me, he pulled me along until we reached the shore. I crawled onto the sand, completely exhausted, not caring if I got covered in it.
He followed and sat beside me. That's when I noticed his leg and thigh were red and trembling. I looked closer and realized he had a deep scratch. Some of the skin looked like it had peeled off. And he had been in the seawater this whole time.
"Doesn't that hurt?" I asked, surprised, pointing at his wound.
He glanced at it briefly. "Of course it does. But salt water helps disinfect it."
"Even so! That must be painful."
He smiled slightly, and I knew this shameless guy was about to tease me again, so I quickly stood up.
"Let's go back. We need to clean that up," I said, offering him my hand.
He took it and stood, but I could clearly see him wincing from the pain. He quickly masked his expression, as if trying to hide it.
For some reason, that annoyed me. He did the same thing when he was shot. Why was he so afraid to show pain? Did he think it would make him less of a man?
He was about to take a step but suddenly stopped. He didn't say anything, but I could see how pale he had become. He was also breathing heavily. That wound must hurt more than he's letting on.
"Can't walk?" I asked, irritated. "Does it hurt? Just admit it already. Stop acting tough."
I immediately looked around for something he could use for support, but all I saw were coconut palm fronds. Then, an idea hit me.
I grabbed the largest palm fronds I could find, about three in total, and layered them together. Turning to Kei-kwanan, I showed him my creation.
"Get on," I ordered.
"What?"
"Sit on it."
He glanced at his injured leg before looking at me with doubt. "I don't think this will work."
"Just do it. I'll handle it." I insisted.
Though obviously unsure, he sat down and tried to get comfortable. I moved to the other end, facing away from him. I started to pull the makeshift sled, but I barely managed a step before stumbling.
Damn! He's heavy!
"Jay?" Kei-kwanan called.
"Don't rush me! I'm just stretching!"
"I can still walk—"
"Oh no! It's not enough that you're in pain, and now you want to walk, too? Just sit still and be quiet!"
I grabbed the ends of the soles again and pulled. This time, I had a belt, so I could pull properly. The sand was fine and smooth, making it easy to drag him all the way to the front of the house.
Panting like a dog, I finally let go. It felt like everything I had eaten had suddenly disappeared. Even though I was soaked in seawater, I knew I was sweating.
"Jay?" he called again.
I immediately approached him when I saw him trying to stand up. I helped him until he could sit properly on the porch. He gasped for air, then turned to me as I sat beside him.
"Are you okay? You should have just let me walk," he said.
"We're here now, so stop complaining," I replied, annoyed, before glancing at his leg. "We need to clean that up."
I stood up and helped him to his feet again. "Take a shower first."
"Give me a bath," he said seriously.
I almost let go of him—not just because of what he said, but because of how he said it. He was completely serious while looking straight at me.
Panic.
"I'm going to kill you!"
"Come on, I'm injured," he said, laughing.
I winced. It was hard not to notice his bare body, and now he wanted me to bathe him? That was creepy!
I said nothing and helped him up the stairs. He kept groaning in pain.
I thought he would go to another room, but instead, he walked straight into the one where I had been sleeping—the same one he was using.
I opened the bathroom door and stood him under the shower. Letting go of him, I quickly went to the cabinet, found a towel, and hung it nearby.
"You can do it yourself. I'm leaving now," I said, looking up at his irritating smirk.
I wanted to knock his teeth out.
"You don't want to help me? How about joining me?"
I immediately grabbed the nearest bottle of lotion and was about to throw it at him.
"I'm injured! I'm injured!" he shouted, raising his hands in defense.
"Are you going to stop now? You're an injured animal, and you're still whining!"
He just laughed loudly.
Putting the bottle back down, I turned and left the room, closing the bathroom door behind me.
That idiot needed to be treated. I wasn't even sure if there was a first aid kit here. I decided to check the other rooms.
The first door led to a bedroom. The second was a bathroom. The third was a storage room. Looking up, I spotted a container that looked like a medicine box. I reached for it and brought it back to the room.
When I opened the door, Kei was already in shorts but still shirtless.
"Are you done?" I asked.
He turned to face me. "Yeah."
Noticing what I was carrying, he reached for it, so I handed it to him.
"Treat your wounds. I'll take a bath," I said.
He took the box from me, and I went straight into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I showered and cleaned up. It felt amazing. Thankfully, there were plenty of clothes here.
When I came out, he had finished treating the wounds on his leg and shoulder, but he was still struggling with the one on his side.
"I'll do it," I said, grabbing the cotton from his hand before sitting beside him.
He turned slightly to face me, handing me the medicine. The moment I touched his wound, he flinched.
"Take it easy!" he snapped.
"I know," I replied.
I continued cleaning the wound, and luckily, he didn't complain too much. After finishing, I helped him put on his shirt.
"There! That's it! Next time, don't be so stupid!" I scolded, making him frown.
"This is your fault! You keep calling me 'Kwanan'," he grumbled.
Oh wow.
I poked the wound on his arm. He almost screamed in pain. I shot him a glare while he glared back at me.
"Whose fault is it now?"
"M-me."
I gave him a plastic smile. "You have no fight. I'm holding your wound."
"And my heart."
Oh, shit.
I frowned at him. He really wouldn't agree to not being able to sneeze.
"I know a lot. I'll cook. It's embarrassing for you."
"My precinct."
"What will you cook?"
"Anything can be fried."
He grimaced. "I think there's a frozen fish in the freezer. Defrost it and cook it however you want."
I nodded and left the room. I went straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge. There, I found the fish he was talking about.
I took it out and placed it in the sink, letting the water run over it. While waiting for the ice to melt, I gathered everything I needed. I heated the pan and turned on the stove. Once the pan was hot, I added oil.
I checked on the fish again, but the ice still hadn't melted. I chuckled a little when the stream of water hit the fish's mouth.
"Poor thing. You've drowned," I said, and the fish's mouth opened even wider.
Amused, I played with the fish some more. Then, I imagined it swimming, opening its mouth to let the water flow in. I even thought about blocking the sink drain so the water would get deeper, submerging it completely.
They were all drowning.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I smelled something burning. Ignoring it, I kept watching the fish.
"JAY-JAY! BEHIND YOU!" Kei-kwanan shouted.
The sudden yell startled me.
When I turned around, I saw the pan on fire. Panic and fear rushed over me. I instinctively used my hands to scoop water and sprinkle it onto the flames—but that only made them grow bigger.
I screamed, my voice almost reaching the ceiling.
"Fire! Fire!" I shouted, about to run out, but Kei-kwanan met me at the door. Without hesitation, he pulled off his shirt, dunked it in the sink full of water, and threw it over the burning pan.
I stood frozen, even after the fire was gone, paralyzed by fear. My heart pounded as the King of Serpents rushed to me, gasping for breath.
He hugged me.
"Sshh... It's okay. No one got hurt."
I clung to him, and tears fell from my eyes on their own. I cried from fear and regret.
We had nothing left to cook. No dinner!