Jay's POV — Two Days Later
The island felt different after Section E invaded it.
Louder.
Messier.
Warmer.
I didn't even realize two full days had passed until Cin stole my phone just to complain there was no signal on her side of the beach—
and suddenly the screen lit up.
And kept lighting up.
And kept—
And kept—
324 notifications.
All from one name.
Kuya Angelo.
My stomach dropped so fast I thought I was going to faint.
"Where are you?
Jay. Pick up.
This isn't funny.
Jay if you don't come home right now—
Are you with Keifer?
ANSWER.
JASPER JEAN FERNANDEZ MARIANO!!
I'm serious, Jay. Come home. Now.
JAY.
OPEN YOUR PHONE.
This is the last time I'm texting you.
Jay please just tell me you're okay."
My blood ran ice-cold.
"Shit," I whispered, heart pounding in my throat.
Cin leaned over my shoulder.
"Ohhh yeah, you're dead."
Keifer immediately looked up from where he was talking to Yuri.
"What happened?" he asked.
I swallowed hard. "Kuya Angelo. I—I forgot to tell him. I didn't even check my phone—"
His jaw tightened, but he didn't lecture me.
He just took a slow breath.
"Let's go," he said softly. "I'll take you home."
The ride back was silent — not uncomfortable, just… heavy.
Keifer drove carefully, glancing at me every few minutes like he was checking if I was still breathing.
When the car stopped in front of my house, he put a hand on mine before I could open the door.
"Hey."
I looked at him.
"You're not in trouble. Don't panic."
I nodded even though the panic was already eating my ribs.
I stepped out.
The front door swung open before I even touched it.
Angelo stood there.
Eyes wild.
Hair messy.
Face pale.
He looked like he hadn't slept in 48 hours.
"Jay."
Just my name.
But it felt like a storm.
I swallowed.
"kuya Angelo—"
He stepped closer, voice sharp, controlled, but shaking underneath.
"Where. Were. You?"
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
"I— it's not— I was—"
His eyes flicked over my shoulder.
To Keifer's car.
To Keifer.
And something shattered in his expression.
"Tell me," he said, voice low, almost cracking,
"you weren't with him."
My breath faltered.
Angelo took a step closer.
"Jay," he whispered, hurt dripping from every letter,
"tell me you didn't disappear with Keifer for two days without saying a single word to me."
I stared at him.
My throat tightened.
And Keifer, still waiting in the car, watching in the mirror—
Was waiting for my answer too.
Jay's POV — Angelo Snaps
Angelo's jaw was tight enough to crack.
"Two days."
His voice was low. Too low.
"You were gone for two days, Jay."
"Kuya Angelo, I—"
He flinched at the name.Just a small twitch.But I saw it.
"Don't," he said quietly. "Don't say my name like that right now. Just tell me the truth."
Before I could answer—
The car door opened behind me.
Keifer stepped out.
Slow. Relaxed.Smirking.
Of course he was.
Angelo's eyes went sharp—red, furious, wounded.
Keifer leaned casually against the car, arms crossed.
"Relax," he said, almost playful.
"She wasn't kidnapped. She was with me."
Oh god.
Angelo's teeth clenched.
"Shut your mouth."
Keifer tilted his head.
"Why? You didn't seem concerned about her until she disappeared."
"KEIFER—" I hissed.
But he didn't stop.
He took a step closer, eyes glittering.
"She wasn't in danger. I fed her. Took care of her. Hell, I even made her pancakes."
Angelo's rage snapped like a cord.
"Stop talking like she's yours!"
Keifer smirked again, wicked, knowing.
"Maybe stop acting like you own her, then."
My heart stopped.
Angelo's fists balled.
"Keifer," I breathed, "please— just go."
He looked at me then.
Really looked.
And for a moment, the smirk disappeared.
His eyes softened — just for me.
He nodded once.
"Okay, Jay."
He walked toward the car… but paused at the door.
Turned back.
And with the smallest, most infuriating grin:
"Bye, Kuya Angelo." 😇
Angelo nearly lunged.
"KEIFER. GET. OUT."
Keifer winked.
Then drove off.
Leaving a storm behind him.
---
Inside the House — Angelo's POV
The moment Keifer's car disappeared, Angelo grabbed my wrist—not roughly, but firm enough that I couldn't slip away.
"Inside. Now."
"Kuya—"
"Inside, Jay."
His voice was breaking.
He pulled me straight to his room, shutting the door behind us.
And he just stood there.
Breathing hard.
Chest rising and falling like he'd run through hell.
Then—
"Jay…"
His voice cracked.
"I thought I lost you."
The anger wasn't anger anymore.
It was fear.Raw. Trembling.
My throat tightened.
He stared at me, eyes glassy.
"Two days. No message. No call. Nothing."
He ran a hand through his hair, shaking.
"I tore the whole city apart looking for you."
"Kuya Angelo… I'm sorry."
He closed his eyes like the words hurt him and healed him at the same time.
When he opened them again:
"Tell me the truth," he whispered.
"Are you… choosing him?"
My breath hitched.
And for the first time—
I didn't have an answer.
The silence in Kuya Angelo's room felt heavy enough to crush me.
He stood there… arms crossed, jaw tight, breathing uneven.
But his eyes—
His eyes were begging for an answer.
"Jay," he said quietly,
"are you choosing him?"
I didn't mean to cry.
It just happened—One tear.Then another.
Then everything fell apart.
My knees buckled and I sank onto the edge of his bed, hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Kuya…"
My voice cracked so painfully it didn't sound like mine.
"I don't know how to say this—"
He didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Just watched me, every muscle tensed like he was bracing for impact.
I sucked in a shaky breath.
"I love him, Kuya Angelo."
His face—
His entire expression—
Just froze.
For a moment he didn't breathe.
I broke harder.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry— it's stupid— I know, I know it's Keifer, and he hurt me, and it doesn't make sense— but I— I can't—"
My words tripped over sobs.
"I can't stop loving him."
My vision blurred.
My chest felt like it was splitting open.
Angelo closed his eyes.
Just for one second.
Like he'd been stabbed.
When he opened them again…
He wasn't angry.
Not anymore.
Just quiet.
Steady.
And heartbreakingly gentle.
He walked toward me slowly, sat beside me, and placed his hand on the back of my head—guiding my forehead against his shoulder like he used to when I was little.
"Jay…"
His voice wavered—barely, but it did.
"I'm not… completely on board with this."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Of course he wasn't.
"It's Keifer," he continued, staring ahead, jaw trembling ever so slightly.
"And you know why that scares me."
I nodded against him, tears soaking into his shirt.
"But," he whispered, his hand softly stroking my hair,
"I heard you."
My breath hitched.
"And if you're going to love someone…"
He swallowed hard.
"I would rather stand next to you, even if I don't like your choice, than lose you because I wasn't there."
I sobbed again, trying to hide my face, but he gently pulled me closer.
"I'm still not fully okay with him," he admitted.
"I'm not pretending I trust him. I don't."
His other hand curled into a tight fist on his knee.
"But I'll try. For you."
My heart cracked open.
He moved a strand of hair from my face, lifting my chin gently.
"I'll always protect you, Jay," he said softly.
"That won't change. Not ever."
My lips trembled.
"Kuya… I don't deserve you."
He shook his head firmly.
"You deserve someone on your side."
He looked at me—really looked at me—eyes filled with so much hurt and love at once.
"And I will always be that. Even if the man you love is someone I want to strangle 90% of the time."
A shaky laugh escaped me.
Kuya Angelo smiled faintly.
A small, pained, but genuine smile.
Who I saw today was different from who I knew.. My cousin my kuya who was known to be the silent killer was here supporting me like I was his little baby...
He pulled me back into his chest, hugging me tightly as I cried.
"I'm here," he murmured.
"I'm upset, yes. But I'm here. Always."
I clung to him like I was drowning.
Because in that moment—
Loving Keifer hurt.
But losing kuya Angelo?
Would've destroyed me.
And Kuya Angelo held me like he already knew that.
Author pov
Before Jay could wipe her tears, the door creaked open again.
Aries stepped inside.
Jay blinked. "…Horoscope?"
He froze for half a second—like he wasn't expecting her to still call him that—but then his shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit.
"Yeah," he murmured, closing the door gently behind him. "It's me."
Aries didn't rush to her. He stayed near the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets, eyes avoiding hers as if he didn't deserve to meet them.
"I heard," he said quietly. "About you… and Keifer."
Jay looked down, tears starting again.
Aries scratched the back of his neck, exhaling sharply like this conversation physically hurt him.
"Look, Jay… I'm not gonna pretend I'm thrilled."
His jaw clenched.
"It's Keifer. The guy causes me stress just by existing."
A small, watery laugh escaped her.
"But…" Aries finally lifted his gaze, softening in a way he almost never let anyone see.
"You love him. And that—" he paused, swallowing hard, "—that matters to me more than my stupid issues."
Jay's chest tightened.
Aries moved closer, sitting beside Angelo but still keeping respectful space.
"I'm not gonna claim anything," he said, voice dropping—gentle, almost shy. "I don't get to. Not after everything. Not after how I left things with you."
Jay shook her head, but he held up a hand.
"No. Let me finish."
He exhaled, eyes softening with guilt and affection.
"I can't undo the past. But I'm here now. And if Keifer ever hurts you—emotionally, physically, spiritually, cosmically—"
His eyebrow twitched.
"—he'll have to fight me first."
Jay let out an actual laugh that turned into a sob halfway through.
Aries sighed and opened his arms just slightly—not demanding a hug, just offering.
Jay didn't hesitate. She leaned into him.
Aries wrapped his arms around her tightly, resting his chin lightly on her head.
"I'm proud of you, Jay," he whispered.
"For choosing what your heart wants."
He squeezed her gently.
"And for the record… I missed you too."
Her tears soaked his shirt, and for once, Aries didn't hide the way he held her like she was someone he was terrified to lose again.....