Jay-Jay POV:
I wanted to clear Aries’ confusion, so I looked him straight in the eye.
Jay: “Aries, about the hitlist—”
Aries: “About what?”
Jay: “He knows about the hitlist with Yuri.
I decided I’ll tell Angelo tomorrow, but you must promise me you won’t say a word to Angelo about it tonight.
Promise me.”
Aries (sighing): “Fine, I promise.”
(Jay in mind:
I know I’m lying to you, Aries, but I don’t have any choice.
If I don’t say this, you’ll definitely go straight to Angelo, and I can’t let things blow up just yet.
It’s the only way.
But why does Kaizer want to talk to Angelo?
And about what?
)
My head pounded as I tried to figure it out, but exhaustion won and I drifted off to sleep.
Aries POV:
I didn’t understand why Jay stopped me, but she swore she’d tell Angelo tomorrow about the hitlist.
Still, she made me promise not to mention a single word to him—not now, not later.
I had a terrible feeling about this.
But knowing how stubborn she is, I knew I couldn’t win.
So I gave her my promise.
Once she fell asleep, I gently pulled her blanket up and quietly walked out.
The moment I stepped into the waiting hallway, everyone turned and stared at me.
“Why are you all staring at me like that?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Percy (grumbling): “You were in there for almost an hour!
Why does Jay give you so much special treatment?”
I chuckled, leaning against the wall.
I teased,”Because I’m her favorite brother, obviously.”
Percy: “Hey!
I’m her brother too!
And Angelo is her brother!
Why only you?”
I just smirked, enjoying how annoyed they were getting.
I could hear a few of them cursing me under their breath.
Keifer walked over, looking exhausted and deeply worried.
Keifer: “How is Jay?”
I don’t particularly like the guy, but I know he genuinely cares about her.
Aries: “She’s sleeping soundly.”
Keifer nodded quietly and walked into her room.
Keifer POV:
I stepped into her room.
She looked so peaceful lying there.
I walked over, softly caressed her hair, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
She looked so cute when she was asleep.
I want to be with her in every possible way.
I want to give her all the happiness in the world.
But I don’t even know if she wants me the same way.
(I promise I’ll kill that monstrous father of mine one day.)
If he already knew Drew was working with us, why did he hit Jay?
Maybe she cursed him out after seeing the state we were in.
What would I do without you, Jay?
Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at her.
(I can’t lose you.
Please don’t leave me like mom did.
You’re the bravest girl I’ve ever seen.)
I placed another gentle kiss on her forehead, fixed her blanket, and left to grab some food for her.
I knew the moment she woke up, her stomach would be growling.
Jay-Jay POV:
When I opened my eyes again, almost everyone was gathered around my bed.
Just then, Keifer walked in holding a tray of fresh food.
It felt like he could read my mind.
Ahh I love him so much!
I quickly took the tray from him and devoured the food.
Once I finished, I sat back comfortably against the pillows.
Ci-N immediately walked over and threw his arms around me in a tight hug.
I hugged him back tightly before we pulled away.
Ci-N (dead serious): “Jay…
where on earth did you learn to fight like that?”
Jay (teasingly): “Why?
You want me to teach you?”
Ci-N: “No, I’m serious!
You knocked down 30 to 35 fully grown men all by yourself!”
Edrix: “Yeah!
Even we can’t take down more than 7 guys at once.
Heck, even Keifer and Angelo can’t handle more than 10 at a time!”
Jay (grinning): “So my ‘angel-pretending’ brother is actually weaker than me?
That’s why you all should respect me!”
The room erupted in laughter.
As Ci-N and I were talking, David suddenly nudged me.
“Jay.”
I looked at him.
“Hmm?”
He silently pointed toward the doorway.
My eyes followed his finger, and my heart froze.
Kaizer was standing at the door.
The only good thing was that Angelo wasn’t in the room.
Keifer, Aries, and Percy spotted Kaizer at the same time, their tempers flaring as they started charging toward him.
“Stop!” I called out, stepping out of bed and walking up to Kaizer myself.
He smirked down at me, leaning in so only I could hear his voice.
Kaizer: “I didn’t know a girl could be so capable.”
Jay (smiling fake): “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”
Kaizer (keeping his dark smile): “Don’t you think I could kill you right here?”
I leaned closer to his ear.
Jay( cold , dangerous tone): “Before you try, check your surroundings.
Do you really think anyone in this room will let you walk out alive if something happens to me?”
Kaizer’s eyes darkened.
Kaizer: “At first, I only wanted to eliminate them.
But now…
I will kill you too, Jay.”
Jay: “Try it if you can.”
Furious, Kaizer turned around and walked away.
Ci-N (puzzled): “What was that?
Are you guys playing whispering games?”
I laughed it off as everyone started crowding around me, demanding to know what Kaizer said.
I couldn’t tell them the whole truth, so I made up a quick cover story.
Jay: “He just told me to tell Keifer that he’s going to take back what’s his, one way or another.
So I told him it was never his to begin with, and he doesn’t deserve it.”
Keifer stepped forward and pulled me into a protective hug.
We pulled back just as Angelo walked into the room.
Angelo: “What’s going on here?
What happened?”
Everyone started explaining at once.
I gestured for Kuya Angelo to bend down to my level.
Jay (whispering): “He wants to talk to you.”
I watched Kuya’s face carefully, trying to catch his reaction before he could hide it.
A subtle shift in his eyes confirmed it—he knew exactly what Kaizer wanted.
To break the tension, I immediately switched my tone.
Jay (grinning): “Kuya, can Aries and I go with Keifer to get ice cream?
I think the ice cream is missing me.”
Angelo let out a rare laugh and nodded.
Everyone stared at Angelo in absolute shock—nobody had seen him laugh in a long time!
I pulled Keifer and Aries toward the exit.
They looked completely confused, but they didn’t ask questions.
On my way out, I grabbed my keys, asked Ci-N to come along, and whispered something to Edrix.
Edrix burst out laughing and nodded enthusiastically.
Jay: “Edrix, I’m going for ice cream!
I’ll tell Keifer to send you money for your own party.
Bye!
My ice creams are calling!”
We got into Keifer’s car, and I told him to drive to the parlor.
When we pulled up, all three of them looked at me.
Aries, Keifer, & Ci-N: “Why are we here?”
Jay: “I want ice cream, and Keifer is paying!”
Ci-N literally jumped with excitement, Aries let out a deep sigh, and Keifer just stared at me.
Keifer: “Why am I hosting a party again?”
I hit him with my best puppy-dog eyes.
“Please?”
Keifer sighed, helpless.
He could never say no to that face.I know how to have him agree…
hehe…!
After eating our ice cream, I reminded Keifer, “Don’t forget to send some money to Edrix.”
Keifer: “Why?
Did something happen?”
Jay: “No, but I mentioned it to them, and they wanted to tag along.
I just wanted some peace, so I promised you’d sponsor their party instead.”
Keifer (smiling): “Okay.”
Jay: “Really?”
Keifer: “Anything for my wifey.”
Aries (glaring): “My sister is no one’s wife.”
Keifer (smirking): “Not yet, but soon.”
Shortly after, Aries had to leave with Ci-N, leaving just Keifer and me.
I asked for another scoop of ice cream, and he happily ordered it for me.
We also bought a tub for Keigan and Keiran.
Afterward, we drove back to the hospital.
Technically, I hadn’t been discharged yet—I had basically snuck out with permission!
When we returned, Angelo was preparing to take Keigan and Keiran home.
We handed them the ice cream, and they thanked us before leaving.
Only Aries, Percy, and Keifer stayed behind to spend the night in my room while the rest went home.
Percy walked over to my bed.
“You’ll be discharged tomorrow morning.
Aries brought your fresh clothes—they’re right there in the corner.”
I smiled and nodded.
Keifer: “Alright, time to take your medicine and sleep.”
After taking my meds, Aries and Percy crashed on the couch, while Keifer lay on the extra hospital bed next to mine.
As I lay under the covers, my mind drifted back to Kuya Angelo’s expression earlier.
It was crystal clear—he already knew what Kaizer wanted to talk to him about.
They were keeping secrets from me, just like I was keeping secrets from them.
But before I could overthink it any further, the heavy drowsiness from the medicine took over, and I drifted off to sleep.
mwuah!