Jay’s POV I had barely managed to usher everyone into the living room when the peaceful silence of the house was interrupted by a familiar voice echoing from upstairs.
“ATE!” A smile instinctively tugged at my lips.
Before I could answer, hurried footsteps pounded down the staircase.
Marcus appeared around the corner with a game controller hanging from one hand, his face bright with excitement.
“Ate, let’s play video ga—” The rest of his sentence died on his lips.
His eyes slowly swept across the unfamiliar faces occupying our living room.
Felix was looking around at the décor, Rory had already made himself comfortable on the couch, Blaster was peeking toward the kitchen, while Cin stood there with his usual shameless grin.
Yuri remained quiet as always, and Keifer…
Keifer’s eyes were already on me.
Marcus’s smile disappeared.
The excitement drained from his face so quickly it made my chest tighten.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around the controller until his knuckles turned white.
He didn’t complain.
He didn’t ask why they were here.
He just looked at me.
That disappointed look in his eyes hurt far more than if he had yelled.
I’d promised him today would be ours.
No school.
No work.
No Section E.
Just me, him, and Kate.
And somehow…
I’d broken that promise without even meaning to.
The awkward silence didn’t last long.
Another set of lighter footsteps echoed from upstairs before Kate skipped happily down the staircase, humming to herself.
“Kuya, hurry!
We still have to beat Ate in—” She stopped beside Marcus, blinking curiously at the crowd filling our living room.
Unlike Marcus…
Her face lit up.
“So many visitors!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Without the slightest hint of shyness, she walked straight toward them as if she’d known them forever.
Cin immediately smiled and crouched down to her height.
“Hello there,” he greeted warmly, placing a dramatic hand over his chest.
“I’m Cin.” Kate stared at him for several seconds.
Then recognition suddenly flashed across her face.
“Oh!” She pointed at him without hesitation.
“You’re Cin!” Cin blinked. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“…You know me?” Kate nodded enthusiastically.
“You’re the one Ate took the blame for!” The room instantly fell silent.
Cin’s grin slowly faded.
Felix looked between Kate and me.
Rory stopped mid-step.
Even Blaster’s teasing smile disappeared.
Kate, completely oblivious to the sudden tension, continued innocently.
“Well!
I saw the internet.
I saw Kuya Ari-” “Kate.” Marcus’s voice cut through the room sharply.
Kate immediately stopped talking.
She turned to look at her older brother.
Marcus slowly shook his head.
Just once.
A silent warning.
Don’t.
Kate’s lips immediately closed.
“…Oh.” She lowered her head slightly, finally realizing she’d almost said something she wasn’t supposed to.
The silence that followed felt painfully heavy.
Everyone in Section E already knew the story.
They knew I’d confessed to stealing the money even though it hadn’t been me.
They knew the rumors that followed.
They knew my photo had spread across social media with captions calling me a thief before the truth ever came out.
No one had expected my little sister to remember it.
Or almost reveal the rest.
Cin’s cheerful expression disappeared entirely.
His eyes slowly found mine.
For the first time since I’d met him…
There wasn’t a single joke on his face.
Only guilt.
“Jay…” His voice was barely above a whisper.
I simply smiled.
A small one.
“It was a long time ago.” “It doesn’t matter anymore.” But judging by the silence filling the room…
None of them believed me.
Keifer hadn’t spoken once.
His gaze shifted from Kate…
to Marcus…
…before finally settling on me.
There was something different in his eyes now.
Not curiosity.
Not annoyance.
Something quieter.
Something heavier.
“…Who are they?” he asked.
I hesitated.
For years I’d kept my home life completely separate from school.
Marcus and Kate deserved a normal childhood, far away from rumors, gossip, and the chaos that always seemed to surround me.
But there wasn’t much point hiding it anymore.
I exhaled softly.
“…They’re my younger siblings.” My eyes drifted toward Marcus.
“That’s Marcus.” “He’s fourteen.” Marcus gave the group a polite nod, but his expression remained guarded, almost protective as he instinctively stepped a little closer to Kate.
I smiled faintly before looking at my little sister.
“And that’s Kate.” “She’s ten.” Kate immediately waved with a bright smile, as though the awkward silence from moments ago had never happened.
“Hi!” Most of Section E smiled back.
Marcus…
Didn’t.
His eyes lingered on every single one of them before stopping on Keifer.
And for reasons I couldn’t explain…
Neither of them looked away.
– – – – A/N: Hey guys!
As promised I posted on my book: when revenge sparks with love (Jayfer) book 2!
Check it out Also!
If you all use phone you can see my reading list so do see it.
Also give me time to add more ongoing books i read.
Just give me some time.
Since I read book in my other account and not in this one it is kinda hard to find the book.