"I love... Me?"
Jay-jay's POV
There are many things I'm afraid of. So many, I can't even count them.
But I manage to face them. Just like now - I'm face to face with one of my fears.
Kuya Angelo.
"Yuri said he dropped you off at 5:38 PM," he said with crossed arms.
"Was it 5:38? I think it was already past 6 or something," I said, pretending to miss the point he was getting at.
He raised an eyebrow at me while staring. I quickly looked away.
No way I could hold eye contact with him.
I got home at 12 AM. We spent quite a bit of time earlier being dramatic. Cried, talked, and... you know... talked again.
I thought everyone would be asleep when I got home.
Turns out, Kuya Angelo was waiting for me. I couldn't even make excuses because he had already called Yuri.
"Where did you go?" he asked calmly.
Signal #1!
"J-just nearby..." I answered.
"Where exactly is 'nearby'?!" His voice rose.
Signal #2!
Where is "nearby"? There's really nowhere open at this hour...
Except for the Mini Mart I usually go to.
"At the Mini Mart."
Kuya sighed deeply and held his temple.
"Aries came from there... Why didn't you bump into each other?!"
Signal #3!
Crap! Aries goes to the Mini Mart? And tonight of all nights? Wow.
"I hid from him," I quickly said.
Wow. Great excuse, Jay.
Kuya immediately glared at me. I know he can tell I'm lying. But who knows, maybe I could get away with it.
"Is it that hard to say where you've been?!" he asked angrily.
Signal #4!
Here comes the disaster! I'm dead.
"Look at the time! Does a decent girl come home at this hour?!"
I just kept my head down as he scolded me. I knew he was right,
but it's really the fault of that no-good King.
If only I could tell him. But of course... I can't. That would be the end of me.
"Angelo..." someone called. We both turned. It was Tita Gema, walking toward us.
"It's late. Just talk tomorrow. She still has school," she ordered.
"Later, Ma. We just need to clear some things up," Kuya said while glaring at me again.
"I said tomorrow..." Tita insisted. She looked at me and motioned for me to come to her.
"Come on. Just let your brother be."
I immediately went to her. I didn't even dare look at Kuya, knowing his glare could melt me.
Tita walked me to my room.
"Get some sleep... We'll talk tomorrow," she said before leaving.
I carefully opened the door. I knew Ci-N was already asleep.
I was right - her snoring was loud.
Just as I entered, my phone rang.
King Ulupong Calling...
I answered as I closed the door.
"Hello..."
"Did he scold you?" he asked.
"Hmm... yeah, but we'll talk again tomorrow."
"Should we tell them now?"
I frowned at my phone before bringing it back to my ear.
"Tell them what?" I asked, confused.
"That you're pregnant and we're getting married," he said, then laughed out loud on the other end.
This guy is seriously insane!
"Get lost!" I shouted.
I immediately covered my mouth. I forgot Ci-N was sleeping.
"...you're such a weirdo. Just go to sleep."
"I can't sleep yet. I have many things to do."
"Like what?"
"Secret... have to go. Don't dream about me, okay?"
Damn it! This jerk!
"You're so full of yourself!" I shouted again.
I didn't care if I woke Ci-N. This guy was pissing me off!
He just laughed loudly in response.
Maybe it was a mistake to confess to him.
"Alright... Good night, my life. I love you to infinity and beyond."
I suddenly froze when he said that. I bit my lower lip.
Am I blushing?! Damn it!
"Good night too, and I love..."
I paused when I saw Ci-N was awake and looking at me.
"...Me."
I quickly ended the call before the King could say anything else.
I placed my phone on the bed and walked casually to the closet to get my sleepwear.
"Go ahead, ignore me," Ci-N said.
"You're awake?"
"Oh no, I'm asleep. I sleep with my eyes open," she said sarcastically.
I gave her a glare. This girl's such a clown.
"Who was that?" she asked.
I looked around the room pretending to look for something.
"What? Where? Do you see anyone?" I said while still "looking."
Of course, I knew who she was referring to.
I just hoped to dodge the question. I didn't want to tell her - and I knew that by tomorrow, the whole town would probably know.
"Keep acting like that and I'll spread the word that you've got a boyfriend," she threatened.
He's not my boyfriend!
"Go ahead, spread it," I said smugly.
"Who was that?" she pressed again.
"It's nothing... It was no one."
She suddenly stood up and tried to grab my phone from the bed.
I immediately ran and almost tripped just to beat her to it.
"Why won't you show me?!" she asked, annoyed.
"Why do you care?! Go to sleep already!" I shouted.
"Just tell me-"
"IF YOU GUYS WON'T SLEEP, I'LL PUT YOU TO SLEEP!"
someone yelled.
Probably Aries, since his room is the closest.
Ci-N and I quickly motioned to each other to keep quiet.
We glared and rolled our eyes at each other.
Good luck to us - who knows what time we'll finish this conversation.
Keifer's POV
I love me?
Is it really that hard for her to say "I love you" that she ended up saying that?
Anyway, it doesn't matter. I heard her say it once - and there's no taking it back.
She's officially mine.
But that's not what I'm worried about. There are more important things right now.
"Where's Keiren?!" I asked everyone.
All the lights in the house were on. The maids and butlers were still awake.
Something bad definitely happened.
"Kuya..." Keigan called out.
Keiren was hiding behind him. He suddenly ran towards me and hugged me tightly. He was crying.
"It's okay. Kuya is here," I said, hugging him back.
"Where did you go? You knew Dad came back to the Philippines, but you still left the house," Keigan said.
I didn't respond. I looked around at everyone.
They looked exhausted.
"Everyone can go rest now. Thank you so much for protecting my brother," I said to them.
They all bowed and left. One of the butlers stopped in front of me.
"We already added more security for your brother," he said.
I smiled and nodded.
I let everyone leave. It was just the three of us now. Keigan looked furious.
"What happened?" I asked calmly.
"Dad came! He tried to take Keiren! Good thing we had people here!" he said.
Keiren clung to me.
"I don't want to go with him," he cried.
I shook my head. "No... He won't take you. Not while Keigan and I are here."
I carried him upstairs. Keigan followed.
Damn it.
I didn't know they'd return this soon.
I would've added security earlier if I had.
We're all minors living here.
And legally, children must be under the custody of a parent or guardian.
Of course, they'd go after Keiren first since he's the youngest.
But I won't let that happen.
I went straight to Keiren's room and laid him down. He fell asleep in my arms.
When I stepped out, I immediately faced Keigan.
"Did he say anything?" I asked.
"Nothing. What are you going to do now?"
"I'm almost 18... Soon I'll have legal rights over you and Keiren," I said and walked away.
Keigan quickly followed.
"So we're just going to wait for your birthday?! Really, Kuya?! What if they get Keiren before then?!" he said angrily.
I stopped and looked him straight in the eye.
"No... That will never happen," I said seriously.
"I hope you can really keep that promise."
I understand Keigan. What big brother would allow his younger sibling to fall into the wrong hands?
I walked quickly to the office next to my room. I grabbed all the necessary documents -
including a copy of my mom's last will and testament.
I need to study everything in it - and the laws attached to it.
I need to fight back legally.
I can't let Keiren go to them.
Then what? Let them do to him what they did to Keigan?
And I still don't even know what they did to Keigan...
I grabbed my phone and called my lawyer.
"Good evening, Mr. Ryder. I'm sorry for disturbing you.
I just need to talk about something... about my legal rights."
This week is going to be busy. I'll lose time for school and a lot of things.
I just hope nothing bad happens while I'm away.
Even now, I'm already thinking of Jay-jay.
I just hope the whole Section E can watch over her properly.
Her words keep playing in my mind - and I can't help but smile.
I love me...