AUTHOR’S POV
The school day had ended.
The sun had already disappeared behind the city.
And Mariano Mansion…
was unusually quiet.
Not because there was no chaos.
There was.
But tonight…
everyone was trying to keep it under control.
Because tonight was the night.
They were leaving the Philippines.
Jay stood in the middle of her bedroom.
Her suitcase was open on the bed.
Clothes were folded neatly.
A few books.
Her Krishna idol.
Some photographs.
Important documents.
And a small box containing things she couldn’t leave behind.
She looked around her room one last time.
This room had held years of memories.
Childhood.
Pain.
Laughter.
Tears.
Secrets.
And now…
she was leaving it behind.
A knock came.
“Baby?”
Percy.
Jay looked toward the door.
“Come in.”
Percy entered.
He was dressed completely in black.
His expression was serious.
Everything was ready.
Cars.
Security.
Luggage.
The plane.
The route.
Everything.
Jay looked at him.
“Everyone ready?”
“Yes.”
“All nine?”
“All nine.”
Jay nodded.
Then she looked around her room again.
“Perse…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to miss this place.”
Percy understood.
He walked closer.
“You can always come back.”
Jay smiled sadly.
“I know.”
She picked up the tiny Krishna idol from her table.
“This is coming with me.”
Percy smiled.
“Obviously.”
Jay carefully placed it inside her handbag.
Then she closed the suitcase.
“I’m ready.”
Percy took the suitcase.
“I’ll carry it.”
Jay immediately protested.
“I can carry my own suitcase.”
“No.”
“Perse.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re pregnant.”
Jay stared at him.
“You’ve been waiting for an opportunity to say that, haven’t you?”
Percy smiled.
“Maybe.”
Jay rolled her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
“Thank you.”
DOWNSTAIRS
The entire ASTRA team was waiting.
Kade.
Raphel.
Thyme.
Ren.
MJ.
Kevin.
Cole.
Sam.
And Percy.
Ten people in total with Jay.
Every person had luggage.
Every person was dressed casually but ready for travel.
Kevin looked around.
“Are we actually leaving?”
MJ nodded.
“Yes.”
Kevin looked at Jay.
“You’re really serious.”
Jay smiled.
“Very.”
Thyme looked toward the mansion.
“I’m going to miss this place.”
Ren nodded.
“Same.”
Cole smiled.
“Not the stairs.”
Sam laughed.
“Why?”
“I nearly died there three times.”
Kevin immediately pointed at him.
“That’s because you can’t walk properly.”
Cole stared at him.
“Do you want to die tonight?”
Kevin ran behind MJ.
“PROTECTION!”
MJ laughed.
Jay shook her head.
“Idiots.”
Kade looked at Jay.
“You okay?”
Jay nodded.
“I’m okay.”
Raphel studied her face.
“Really?”
Jay smiled.
“Really.”
Percy looked at everyone.
“Before we leave…”
Everyone became quiet.
“No one posts anything.”
Kade nodded.
“No location.”
Raphel added,
“No photos.”
Ren nodded.
“No calls that can reveal where we are.”
Percy looked at Kevin.
“Especially you.”
Kevin placed a hand on his chest.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re the biggest risk.”
Kevin looked offended.
Everyone answered together—
“No.”
Kevin gasped.
“Traitors.”
Jay laughed.
ONE LAST LOOK
Before leaving…
Jay walked through the mansion.
Slowly.
The living room.
The staircase.
The dining room.
The kitchen.
The small corner where she and Percy had eaten late-night food.
The sofa where everyone had watched movies.
The hallway where everyone had fought over stupid things.
She stopped near the entrance.
Percy stood beside her.
Jay looked at the mansion.
“Goodbye.”
Percy didn’t say anything.
Jay smiled faintly.
“Not forever.”
She looked at him.
“Just for now.”
Percy nodded.
“Exactly.”
THE DRIVE
Two black SUVs left the mansion.
Jay sat in the first vehicle with Percy.
Kade and Raphel were with them.
The other members followed in the second vehicle.
Jay looked out the window.
The city lights passed by.
She watched silently.
Philippines.
Her home.
The place where so much had happened.
The place where she had loved.
The place where she had been hurt.
The place where she had built herself again.
Percy looked at her.
“You okay?”
Jay nodded.
“Yes.”
“You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m thinking.”
“About?”
She looked outside.
“Everything.”
Percy didn’t push her.
Instead, he quietly held out his hand.
Jay looked at it.
Then took it.
Their hands remained together.
Kade watched from the front seat.
Raphel noticed.
Neither said anything.
PRIVATE HANGAR
The vehicles entered a private hangar.
The massive doors slowly closed behind them.
Inside…
a private aircraft waited.
Large.
Elegant.
Completely prepared for a long international flight.
Jay stepped out of the SUV.
She looked at the plane.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“That’s ours?”
Percy nodded.
“Yes.”
Kevin stepped out behind them.
He stared.
“Okay…”
He slowly looked at Percy.
“You’re secretly rich, aren’t you?”
Percy ignored him.
Kevin turned toward MJ.
“He’s secretly rich.”
MJ laughed.
“We already knew.”
Jay looked at Percy.
“You didn’t tell them?”
Percy shrugged.
“They don’t need to know everything.”
Thyme looked at the aircraft.
“Well…”
He smiled.
“At least we’re leaving in style.”
Ren laughed.
“Definitely.”
Sam picked up his bag.
“Let’s go.”
INSIDE THE PLANE
The interior was beautiful.
Comfortable leather seats.
A private lounge.
A small dining area.
Bedrooms.
A quiet section for Jay.
Everything had already been prepared.
Jay looked around.
“Perse…”
“Hmm?”
“You prepared all this?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“While you were sleeping.”
Jay smiled.
“You really don’t sleep, do you?”
“Not when you’re involved.”
Jay shook her head.
“Overprotective.”
“Correct.”
Kade walked over.
“Where are you sitting?”
Percy pointed.
“Jay’s here.”
Kade nodded.
“I’m beside her.”
Raphel immediately said,
“I’m on the other side.”
Jay stared at them.
“Seriously?”
Kade smiled.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re our responsibility.”
Jay sighed.
“I’m surrounded.”
Raphel smiled.
“Exactly.”
TAKEOFF
Everyone finally settled.
The aircraft doors closed.
The engines started.
Jay looked through the window.
The hangar slowly disappeared behind them.
Then— the plane began moving.
Jay’s fingers tightened around the armrest.
Percy noticed.
“Nervous?”
“No.”
“Scared?”
“Then?”
Jay looked outside.
“Just thinking.”
The plane accelerated.
Then— it lifted.
The Philippines slowly disappeared beneath them.
Jay stared through the window.
City lights became smaller.
Smaller.
Until they were just tiny dots.
She whispered—
“Goodbye.”
Percy looked at her.
“Don’t look back.”
Jay turned toward him.
“Why?”
“Because you’re starting something new.”
Jay smiled.
“You’re right.”
She placed one hand gently over her stomach.
“We’re starting something new.”
Percy looked at her hand.
His expression softened.
“The five little ones are going with us.”
Jay smiled.
“Obviously.”
CHAOS AT 30,000 FEET
Thirty minutes into the flight…
peace was officially over.
Kevin was standing.
“WHO TOOK MY HEADPHONES?”
Thyme pointed toward Ren.
“He did.”
Ren immediately protested.
“I didn’t!”
MJ laughed.
“Check your bag.”
Kevin opened his bag.
Silence.
His headphones were inside.
Everyone stared at him.
Kevin slowly closed the bag.
“…I knew that.”
Cole laughed.
“You didn’t.”
Sam shook his head.
“Idiot.”
Kevin sat down.
“Nobody respects me.”
Jay laughed.
Percy looked at her.
“Don’t laugh too much.”
Jay stopped.
“Why?”
“You’re tired.”
Jay rolled her eyes.
“I’m fine.”
Kade immediately handed her water.
“Drink.”
Jay stared at him.
“You too?”
Raphel handed her a small snack.
“Eat.”
Jay looked at both of them.
“You’ve become Percy.”
Kade smiled.
“We learned from the best.”
Percy looked proud.
“Good.”
Jay groaned.
“Oh God.”
Everyone laughed.
LATE NIGHT
Eventually…
the plane became quiet.
Thyme was asleep.
Ren had headphones on.
MJ was watching something.
Cole was sleeping.
Sam was reading.
Kevin had finally found peace with his headphones.
Kade and Raphel were still awake.
Percy sat beside Jay.
Jay looked outside the window.
The sky was completely dark.
Only clouds and stars were visible.
She whispered,
“Perse.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you think we’ll be okay?”
Percy looked at her.
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Because we’re together.”
Jay smiled.
“What if Keifer finds us?”
Percy’s expression became serious.
“He won’t.”
“And if he does?”
Percy looked directly at her.
“Then we’ll handle it.”
Jay nodded.
She didn’t ask anything else.
A few minutes later…
her head slowly rested against Percy’s shoulder.
Percy looked down.
She was asleep.
He carefully adjusted the blanket around her.
Kade looked over.
“She’s exhausted.”
“I know.”
Raphel looked at Jay.
“She’s finally peaceful.”
Percy nodded.
For a moment…
none of them spoke.
Because they all knew why they were leaving.
Jay wasn’t running away.
She was protecting herself.
And protecting the five little lives growing inside her.
Percy looked toward the window.
The plane continued across the night sky.
Far behind them…
the Philippines was disappearing.
Ahead…
was America.
A new country.
A new home.
A new beginning.
And somewhere back in the Philippines…
Keifer still believed he had time.
He didn’t know Jay had already left.
He didn’t know she was thousands of feet above the ocean.
He didn’t know she was crossing an entire world away.
And most importantly…
he didn’t know that when he finally came looking for her…
Jay Mariano would no longer be where he left her.
The plane continued forward.
Into the darkness.
Toward the USA.
Toward their new life.
And toward whatever waited for them there.
TO BE CONTINUED…