Author’s POV The mansion was unusually quiet that morning.
Well…
As quiet as a mansion with nineteen people could possibly be.
Jay was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her new phone while Percy stood near the staircase.
He had been watching her for the last five minutes.
Finally, he spoke.
Percy: “Baby.” Jay didn’t look up.
Jay: “Hmm?” Percy: “Let’s go out.” Jay finally looked at him.
Jay: “Where?” Percy shrugged.
Percy: “Anywhere.” Jay stared at him.
Jay: “That’s not a place.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “Then we’ll decide when we get there.” Jay thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
Jay: “Fine.” The moment she said it— Someone heard.
Then another person.
Then another.
And within thirty seconds…
The entire living room knew.
Aris: “WAIT!” Jay closed her eyes.
She already knew what was coming.
Aris: “YOU TWO ARE GOING OUT?!” Everyone turned toward them.
Yuri: “Where?” Ci-N: “Can we come?” Eman: “I’m coming.” Kit: “Same.” Calix: “I’m already ready.” Blaster: “I haven’t even heard the destination and I’m ready.” Edrix: “Same.” Eren: “Me too.” Mayo: “Shopping?” Josh: “Please say shopping.” Denzel: “I’m coming.” Felix: “Obviously.” Rory: “Movie?” David: “I’m in.” Keifer looked at Jay.
Keifer: “I’m coming too.” Angelo crossed his arms.
Angelo: “I’m coming.” Jay slowly looked around the room.
Nineteen people.
She looked at Percy.
Then back at everyone.
Jay: “No.” Silence.
Aris: “What?” Jay: “No one is coming.” Yuri: “Why?” Jay: “Because I said no.” Eman: “But—” Jay: “No.” Kit: “Jay—” Jay: “No.” Aris: “Kuya Ari is coming.” Jay immediately pointed at him.
Jay: “Especially you.” Aris looked offended.
Aris: “Why especially me?!” Jay: “Because you will annoy me the most.” Everyone laughed.
Aris: “That’s unfair!” Jay: “Life isn’t fair.” Percy laughed.
Percy: “She’s right.” Aris looked at him.
Aris: “Don’t support her!” Percy: “I’m always supporting my baby.” Jay gave Percy a small smile.
Keifer noticed.
His expression changed slightly.
Keifer: “At least let me come.” Jay looked at him.
Jay: “No.” Keifer: “Why?” Jay: “Because I want one normal day.” Keifer: “We’re not going to ruin it.” Jay raised an eyebrow.
Jay: “You said that with nineteen people staring at me.” Everyone laughed again.
Angelo stepped forward.
Angelo: “Jay.” She looked at him.
Angelo: “At least take security.” Jay sighed.
Jay: “Fine.” Percy nodded.
Percy: “I’ll handle it.” Jay looked at Percy.
Jay: “Only you.” Percy: “Obviously.” Everyone immediately started protesting again.
Aris: “THIS IS FAVORITISM!” Yuri: “Seriously!” David: “We can behave.” Jay looked at them.
Jay: “No, you can’t.” Blaster: “That’s insulting.” Jay: “It’s accurate.” Percy grabbed his keys.
Percy: “Come on, baby.” Jay stood up.
Jay: “Let’s go.” Aris shouted behind them.
Aris: “BRING ME SOMETHING!” Jay turned around.
Jay: “No.” Aris: “I DIDN’T EVEN SAY WHAT!” Jay: “Still no.” She walked away.
Percy followed her, laughing.
Behind them, everyone continued complaining.
A few minutes later, Jay and Percy left the mansion.
For the first time in a while…
Jay wasn’t thinking about business.
She wasn’t thinking about enemies.
She wasn’t thinking about Nisha.
She wasn’t thinking about the problems waiting for her.
Today…
She just wanted to be Jay.
Percy glanced at her while driving.
Percy: “What do you want to do first?” Jay looked outside.
Jay: “Shopping.” Percy: “Obviously.” Jay: “Then food.” Percy: “Obviously.” Jay: “Then movie.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “Sounds like a perfect day.” Jay smiled back.
They reached a large shopping area.
Jay immediately started looking around.
Percy noticed something.
Percy: “Baby.” Jay: “Hmm?” Percy: “You haven’t bought anything for yourself in forever.” Jay shrugged.
Jay: “I have clothes.” Percy: “That’s not the point.” Jay: “Then what’s the point?” Percy pointed toward a clothing store.
Percy: “Today we’re fixing that.” Jay stared at him.
Jay: “Perse…” Percy: “No arguments.” She sighed.
Jay: “Fine.” They entered the store.
Jay started looking at clothes.
She picked up a simple kurti.
Percy immediately took it from her.
Percy: “This.” He picked another.
Percy: “This.” Another.
Percy: “This too.” Jay stared at the growing pile.
Jay: “Perse.” Percy: “Hmm?” Jay: “I’m not opening a clothing store.” Percy: “You need options.” Jay: “I need three.” Percy: “You’re getting thirty.” Jay laughed.
Jay: “No.” Percy: “Yes.” He continued.
He chose colorful kurtis.
Simple cotton ones.
Embroidered ones.
A few elegant ones.
Then some traditional outfits.
And eventually…
Sarees.
Jay looked at him.
Jay: “Why are you buying so many sarees?” Percy: “Because you look beautiful in them.” Jay rolled her eyes.
Jay: “Flattery won’t work.” Percy: “It already worked.” She looked at the pile.
Jay: “You’re impossible.” Percy: “Thank you.” Then he moved toward the T-shirt section.
He picked several oversized T-shirts.
Jay laughed.
Jay: “Those are mine?” Percy: “Yes.” Jay: “Why?” Percy: “Because you keep stealing mine.” Jay immediately became silent.
Percy looked at her.
Percy: “Caught you.” Jay tried not to laugh.
Jay: “Those were borrowed.” Percy: “For three weeks?” Jay: “Long-term borrowing.” Percy: “That’s called stealing.” Jay: “Whatever.” Percy shook his head.
By the time he finished shopping…
The staff had multiple bags ready.
Jay looked at all of them.
Jay: “You bought half the store.” Percy: “Not half.” He looked around.
Percy: “Maybe one-third.” Jay laughed.
After shopping, Jay suddenly stopped.
She looked at a salon.
Percy noticed.
Percy: “What?” Jay looked at the salon.
Jay: “I want to change my hair.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “What are you thinking?” Jay touched her straight hair.
Jay: “Something different.” Percy: “Go for it.” She looked at him.
Jay: “You’ll wait?” Percy: “Of course.” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Okay.” She walked into the salon.
Percy stayed outside.
Almost two hours later…
Percy was sitting outside with all the shopping bags.
He checked his watch.
Percy: “How long does hair take?” A salon employee smiled.
Employee: “She’ll be out soon.” Percy sighed.
Percy: “I hope so.” Then the salon door opened.
Percy looked up.
And froze.
Completely.
Jay stepped outside.
Her straight hair was gone.
Her hair now fell in soft, voluminous waves, framing her face beautifully.
The hairstyle gave her a completely different look.
(check comment for new hair look) She was wearing a simple casual outfit.
But somehow…
She looked completely different.
Percy just stared.
Jay noticed.
Jay: “Perse?” No response.
Jay: “Perse?” Still nothing.
She walked closer.
Jay: “Are you okay?” Percy finally blinked.
Percy: “…” Jay raised an eyebrow.
Jay: “What?” Percy stared at her again.
Percy: “Baby…” Jay: “Hmm?” Percy: “What did you do?” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Changed my hairstyle.” Percy: “I can see that.” He looked at her hair again.
Percy: “But…” Jay waited.
Percy: “You look…” He paused.
Jay: “What?” Percy shook his head.
Percy: “Too good.” Jay laughed.
Jay: “Too good?” Percy: “Way too good.” She smiled.
Jay: “You like it?” Percy looked genuinely impressed.
Percy: “Like it?” He pointed at her.
Percy: “Baby, this is dangerous.” Jay laughed harder.
Jay: “Why?” Percy: “Because now every person in that mall is going to look at you.” Jay crossed her arms.
Jay: “And?” Percy immediately picked up the shopping bags.
Percy: “And I’m regretting bringing you outside.” Jay laughed.
Jay: “Too late.” She turned slightly, letting her new waves fall over her shoulder.
Percy stared again.
Jay: “Stop staring.” Percy: “I’m appreciating.” Jay: “Same thing.” Percy: “No.” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Come on.” Percy followed her.
Then suddenly stopped.
Percy: “Wait.” Jay turned.
Jay: “What?” Percy pulled out his phone.
Percy: “I need a picture.” Jay immediately shook her head.
Jay: “No.” Percy: “One.” Jay: “No.” Percy: “Please?” Jay stared at him.
Then sighed.
Jay: “Fine.” Percy took a picture.
He looked at it.
Then smiled.
Percy: “Perfect.” Jay tried to see the screen.
Jay: “Show me.” Percy moved the phone away.
Jay: “Perse!” Percy: “Later.” Jay: “Why?” Percy: “Because I like it.” Jay rolled her eyes.
Percy thought they were finished.
He was wrong.
Jay suddenly grabbed his hand.
Jay: “Now we’re shopping for you.” Percy looked confused.
Percy: “Me?” Jay: “Yes.” Percy: “Why?” Jay: “Because you just bought half the mall for me.” Percy: “You don’t have to.” Jay: “I know.” She dragged him toward a men’s clothing store.
Jay: “But I want to.” Percy smiled.
Inside, Jay became extremely serious.
She looked through shirts.
Then jackets.
Then jeans.
Then traditional clothes.
Percy tried to escape.
Jay caught him.
Jay: “Where are you going?” Percy: “Away.” Jay: “No.” Percy: “Baby, I have enough clothes.” Jay: “I don’t care.” She picked up a black shirt.
Held it against him.
Jay: “This.” Percy looked at it.
Percy: “Okay.” Jay picked another.
Jay: “This.” Another.
Jay: “This too.” Percy stared.
Percy: “You complained when I did this.” Jay: “I have learned from you.” Percy laughed.
She eventually bought him several shirts, jackets, jeans, and traditional outfits.
When they came out, Percy looked at the bags.
Percy: “You actually bought all that?” Jay: “Yes.” Percy: “Why?” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Because you’re my Perse.” Percy’s expression softened.
Percy: “Thank you, baby.” Jay nodded.
Jay: “Always.” By evening, they were both tired.
They entered a quiet restaurant.
They sat opposite each other.
Jay looked at the menu.
Jay: “I’m hungry.” Percy: “Finally.” Jay: “What?” Percy: “Nothing.” They ordered food.
While waiting, Jay looked around.
Then she looked at her phone.
She suddenly remembered something.
Jay: “Perse.” Percy: “Hmm?” Jay: “I used to have Instagram.” Percy looked up.
Percy: “You did?” Jay nodded.
Jay: “Old account.” Percy: “Why did you stop using it?” Jay shrugged.
Jay: “Things got complicated.” She opened the app.
She entered her old username.
Then her password.
She pressed login.
For a second…
Nothing happened.
Then the account opened.
Jay stared.
Percy leaned closer.
Percy: “What?” Jay didn’t answer.
Percy: “Baby?” She slowly turned the phone toward him.
At the top of the profile: 7.5M Followers Percy’s eyes widened.
Percy: “WHAT?” Jay blinked.
Jay: “Seven point five million?” Percy took the phone.
Percy: “Baby!” He stared at the number.
Percy: “You had 7.5 million followers?!” Jay looked genuinely shocked.
Jay: “I didn’t even know.” Percy scrolled.
There were old pictures.
Old videos.
Old comments.
Thousands upon thousands of people were still following the account.
Jay: “Why are they still following me?” Percy: “Because apparently you disappeared and became a mystery.” Jay laughed.
She checked the comments.
People were still asking: Where did she go?
Is she coming back?
Please post again.
We miss you.
Jay stared at the screen.
For a moment, she became quiet.
Then smiled.
Jay: “Maybe I’ll come back.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “Do it.” Jay: “Really?” Percy: “Yes.” Jay thought for a second.
Then her eyes moved toward him.
Jay: “I’ll post.” Percy raised an eyebrow.
Percy: “What?” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Our picture.” Percy blinked.
Percy: “Our?” Jay: “Yes.” Percy: “On your first post after disappearing?” Jay: “Why not?” Percy laughed.
Percy: “Everyone is going to go crazy.” Jay smiled.
Jay: “Let them.” After dinner, they went outside the restaurant.
The lights around them made the place look beautiful.
Jay stood beside Percy.
Jay: “Take one.” Percy lifted his phone.
Percy: “Smile.” Jay: “I am smiling.” Percy: “That’s not a smile.” Jay gave him a fake smile.
Percy: “That’s worse.” Jay laughed.
Jay: “Then you take it.” Percy handed the phone to a nearby staff member.
They took several pictures.
One normal.
One funny.
One where Jay was looking at Percy while he looked at the camera.
One where they were both laughing.
And finally…
One simple picture.
Jay standing beside Percy with her new wavy hairstyle.
Percy smiling beside her.
Jay looked at the picture.
She smiled.
Jay: “This one.” Percy: “Yeah.” She opened Instagram.
she collage of 9 pictures.
She selected the picture.
Then typed a caption.
Percy looked over.
Percy: “What are you writing?” Jay showed him.
Back after a long time.
💜 Percy smiled.
Percy: “Simple.” Jay: “I like simple.” She paused.
Then added another line.
Some days are meant to be enjoyed.
Percy looked at her.
Percy: “Perfect.” Jay pressed Post.
(Check comments for the post pic) For a few seconds…
Nothing.
Then— PING.
A like.
Another.
Another.
Another.
Notifications started appearing.
PING.
PING.
PING.
PING.
Jay stared.
Jay: “Perse…” Percy looked at the phone.
Percy: “Oh.” The notifications kept coming.
Hundreds.
Then thousands.
Comments began flooding in.
Jay started laughing.
Jay: “What did I do?” Percy laughed.
Percy: “You came back.” Jay shook her head.
Jay: “This is insane.” Percy: “Seven point five million people disagree.” Jay leaned against him slightly while reading comments.
Jay: “Look at this one.” Percy: “What?” She showed him.
SHE’S BACK!!!
Another: WE WAITED YEARS!
Another: WHO IS THE GUY WITH HER?
Percy immediately frowned.
Percy: “No.” Jay burst out laughing.
Jay: “What?” Percy: “I don’t like that comment.” Jay: “Why?” Percy: “Because they’re asking about me.” Jay laughed.
Jay: “They’re curious.” Percy: “They can remain curious.” Jay shook her head.
Jay: “You’re impossible.” After the restaurant, they went to the cinema.
They bought tickets.
And, because Jay couldn’t resist…
She bought an enormous tub of popcorn.
Percy stared at it.
Percy: “We’re two people.” Jay looked at the popcorn.
Then at him.
Jay: “And?” Percy: “Why do we need this much?” Jay: “Because I want it.” Percy: “Okay.” They entered the theatre.
The movie started.
For the first twenty minutes…
Everything was peaceful.
Then Jay slowly reached into the popcorn.
Percy did the same.
Their hands collided.
They looked at each other.
Jay: “Move.” Percy: “You move.” Jay: “It’s my popcorn.” Percy: “I paid for it.” Jay: “I chose it.” Percy: “That’s not how ownership works.” Jay took a huge handful.
Jay: “Now it is.” Percy laughed quietly.
A few minutes later, something funny happened in the movie.
Jay started laughing.
Then Percy laughed because Jay was laughing.
Then Jay laughed harder because Percy was laughing.
The people sitting nearby started looking at them.
Jay whispered: Jay: “Stop laughing.” Percy: “You started.” Jay: “You continued.” Percy: “You continued my continuation.” Jay covered her mouth.
Jay: “Shhh.” They tried to become serious.
Thirty seconds later…
Both started laughing again.
A person behind them whispered: “Shhh!” Jay immediately turned around.
Jay: “Sorry.” Percy looked at her.
Percy: “You said sorry.” Jay: “Yes.” Percy: “I’m proud.” Jay elbowed him lightly.
Jay: “Watch the movie.” Later, Jay accidentally dropped popcorn.
Percy looked down.
Percy: “You dropped half of it.” Jay whispered: Jay: “Don’t judge me.” Percy: “I’m not.” He paused.
Percy: “I’m documenting.” He took a picture.
Jay stared at him.
Jay: “Delete that.” Percy: “No.” Jay: “Perse.” Percy: “It’s evidence.” Jay: “Evidence of what?” Percy: “You destroying popcorn.” Jay laughed.
By the time the movie ended…
Both were smiling.
It had been a completely normal evening.
No business.
No enemies.
No secrets.
Just the two of them enjoying a day together.
They finally reached the mansion.
Percy checked the time.
1:00 AM.
He opened the door quietly.
The mansion was completely dark.
Everyone was asleep.
Jay looked around.
Jay: “They’re actually sleeping.” Percy whispered: Percy: “Miracle.” Jay smiled.
They quietly carried their shopping bags upstairs.
Jay stopped outside her room.
She looked at Percy.
Jay: “Today was nice.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “Yeah.” Jay looked at her new hairstyle in the mirror.
She smiled.
Jay: “I like my new look.” Percy nodded.
Percy: “You should.” Jay looked at him.
Jay: “Thank you for today.” Percy smiled.
Percy: “Always, baby.” Jay nodded.
Jay: “Goodnight, Perse.” Percy: “Goodnight.” They went into their rooms.
The mansion became silent again.
Jay placed her new phone beside her bed.
Before sleeping, she opened Instagram one last time.
The follower count was still rising.
7.5M followers.
She smiled.
Then locked the phone.
Across the hallway, Percy was doing the same.
He looked at the picture they had taken.
He smiled.
Then placed his phone down.
For one night…
Everything was peaceful.
And neither of them knew how quickly that peace would disappear.
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