JAY-JAY POV
I don't remember when I fell asleep, but I did.
When I opened my eyes, Aries was knocked out beside me on the bed, mouth slightly open like he owned the place.
Kuya was slumped in the chair, arms crossed, head tilted back, snoring softly.
Then a brilliant idea hit me.
I reached over and pinched Aries's nose.
Hard.
Then I immediately rolled back and pretended to sleep.
"WHAT THE—WHAT THE FUCK?!" Aries yelled, shooting upright.
I "woke up" dramatically. "HUH? WHAT THE FUCK, ARIES?!"
Kuya jerked awake. "WHAT THE FUCK, ARIES?!"
"Yeah, what is your problem?" I added, rubbing my eyes like an innocent angel.
Aries pointed at me like a betrayed toddler. "Kuya, she pinched me!"
I blinked at him. "When did I? I was sleeping."
Aries looked at me, then at Kuya, then back at me—
like he was trying to calculate how I managed to gaslight him before breakfast.
And honestly?
It was a talent.
"WHY DID YOU PINCH MY NOSE?!" Aries yelled, dramatic as always.
"Stop yelling," Kuya snapped, rubbing his temples. Then he turned to me with that disappointed‑teacher face. "Why did you pinch him?"
"Wow, you're so funny, Kuya," I said, deadpan. "I was sleeping. Maybe a bug bit him."
Aries scoffed. "Yeah, and the bug's name is Jay‑Jay."
He glared at me while still rubbing his nose like I'd committed a war crime.
I shrugged. "Then maybe don't sleep beside me."
"You were crying like a monkey last night" Aries said
Then it hit me
I froze for a second.
"What were you crying about?" Kuya asked, his voice softer now, like he already knew the answer wasn't simple.
"I already told you it was a nightmare," I said, trying to sound normal.
Aries snorted. "Sure. What was the nightmare about—your food getting stolen by a thief?"
I stared at him.
Of course he'd say that.
Kuya shot him a look. "Aries."
"What?" Aries said, shrugging. "She cries over food all the time."
"I do not," I said, offended on principle.
Aries raised an eyebrow. "Jay, you cried when Percy ate your last siopao."
"That was DIFFERENT," I snapped.
Kuya sighed, rubbing his forehead like he was dealing with two toddlers instead of two teenagers.
But even with the teasing, even with Aries being Aries… the heaviness in my chest didn't go away.
"Aries," Kuya repeated, sharper this time.
Aries rolled his eyes like fine, I'll behave.
"Was this really about a nightmare?" Kuya asked, turning back to me.
I nodded.
"Get ready, go—you have to go to school," Kuya said.
"But it's Saturday," Aries pointed out.
Kuya blinked. "Yeah… I forgot about that."
Before anyone could say anything else—
"Angelo!" Tita yelled from downstairs.
"Yes, Ma! I'm in Jay's room!" Kuya called back.
Tita appeared at the door. "What are you three up to?"
"Nothing, Ma. Jay—" Aries started.
"Jay woke up early saying she wanted something," Kuya cut in smoothly.
Aries looked at him like huh?
But he stayed quiet.
Tita nodded. "Come downstairs, breakfast is ready na," she said with a smile before leaving.
The moment she was gone, Aries turned to Kuya.
Kuya lowered his voice. "It's not good for her to be stressed right now."
Aries nodded, serious for once.
Then Kuya left my room.
Aries lingered at the door. "Sure na… it's just a nightmare?"
I nodded again.
He didn't look convinced, but he left anyway.
The second the door closed, I locked it…
and the tears came back instantly.
Today was Mama and Papa's death anniversary.
I had to go to their grave later.
Mama and Papa, Jas always wanted to live in the Philippines, but because of the business in New York, they couldn't.
So Grandpa decided to bury them here—
in the place they always dreamed of calling home.
And every year, no matter how much time passed,
The day still hurt the same.
After crying for some time, I finally got up and got ready.
When I went downstairs, Tita looked up immediately.
"Jay, come and eat," she said.
"I'm not hungry," I replied, heading straight for the door. "I'm going out."
"Hold up," Aries said.
I stopped, already annoyed. "What?"
He walked over and placed his hand on my forehead like I was a toddler.
"Are you sick?" he asked.
I pushed his hand away. "No. Why would you think that?"
"Because you just said you weren't hungry," he said, genuinely confused.
"Gago," I muttered. "I'm going out. I'll come soon."
Before they could ask anything else—
I stepped out of the house.
I walked toward the cemetery, taking the same route I always did. Halfway there, I stopped at the little flower shop on the corner.
The smell of fresh blooms hit me instantly.
I looked around and picked out a bouquet of roses, lilies, and tulips—Mama's favorites, Papa's favorites, and Jas's favorites.
I smiled a little as I held them.
I went to the cashier.
"Kuya, can I get all three of these, please?" I asked.
He nodded, ringing them up.
"Is this for your loved ones?" he asked kindly.
I nodded, still smiling.
"Boyfriend?" he teased.
I shook my head. "No, Kuya. Actually… my parents and sister."
His expression softened. "That's so nice of you. Your parents must be lucky."
He chuckled. "My daughter only comes here to buy flowers for her boyfriend."
I laughed too, the sound small but real.
But as I stepped out of the shop, bouquet in hand…
A strange feeling crept up my spine.
Like someone was following me.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Nothing.
I walked to their grave and placed the flowers down gently.
It looked like I was the first one here.
No candles.
No fresh bouquets.
Just the three headstones waiting quietly, like they always did.
I arranged the roses, lilies, and tulips carefully, making sure each one was facing the right way—Mama hated messy flowers, Papa liked symmetry, and Jas… she just liked colors.
Then I kneeled in front of their grave.
"How are you guys doing?" I asked softly.
Of course, I knew I wouldn't get an answer.
But talking to them always made the silence feel less heavy.
"I'm doing fine. Actually… amazing," I said, forcing a small smile. "You know, Jare is finally back."
The wind blew a little, brushing my hair back, almost like someone was listening.
"And I finally have a boyfriend, Jas."
I laughed under my breath. "Believe it or not, he's an asshole… but he's definitely the one."
My voice cracked a little at the end.
I reached out and touched the cold stone.
"I wish you could meet him," I whispered. "All of you."
My voice cracked a little at the end.
"Keifer takes really good care of me," I whispered, brushing my fingers over Papa's name on the stone. "He's taking care of me like you, Pa… maybe even better."
A shaky laugh slipped out, but it hurt more than it healed.
I turned to Mama's grave next, the lilies resting neatly at the base.
"Me and Jare are turning eighteen in less than a week," I said, my voice trembling. "Honestly… I don't know if I'm happy or sad."
The tears came faster now, blurring the letters on the stone.
"I wish you guys were there," I choked out. "I wish you could see us. I wish you could see me."
My knees felt weak, but I stayed kneeling, because leaving felt wrong—
like walking away from them again.
"I'm trying, Ma," I whispered. "I'm really trying."
The wind brushed past me, soft and cold, almost like a hand on my shoulder.
And for a moment, I let myself cry—not quietly, not pretending— but the way I used to when I was ten, kneeling in front of three graves, begging the world to give them back.
I started to sob.
"I miss you guys so much," I whispered, my voice breaking.
The words felt too small for the ache inside me.
I turned toward Jas's stone, the tulips resting neatly in front of her name.
"I wish you were here, Jas," I said, wiping my face with the back of my hand even though the tears kept coming. "I wanted you to grow with me."
My voice cracked again.
"I wanted you to tease me about boys… or steal my clothes… or fight with me over stupid things," I said, crying harder. "I wanted you to be here when I turned eighteen. I wanted you to see who I became."
My breath hitched, sharp and painful.
"It's not fair," I whispered. "It's not fair that you're not here."
The cemetery was silent, but the silence felt like it was listening.
The wind blew softly, brushing against my cheek like a touch I'd been waiting years for.
"I'm trying to live for all of us," I whispered. "But some days… it's so hard without you."
I didn't stop crying.
If anything, the tears came harder
Then the wind moved again.
Just a soft, gentle brush across my cheek—
warm, careful, almost like a thumb wiping away tears.
It felt like someone was telling me:
I'm here. Stop crying. I'm still with you.
My breath hitched.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and let the wind settle around me, wrapping me in a quiet that didn't feel empty anymore.
"I know," I whispered, voice trembling. "I know you're here… I just— I miss you so much."
The tulips rustled lightly, as if Jas was answering in the only way she could.
I couldn't stop crying.
My whole body was shaking, my hands gripping the edge of Jas's grave like it was the only thing keeping me upright.
Then suddenly—
arms wrapped around me from behind.
Warm.
Steady.
Familiar.
I froze.
I turned my head slowly, tears still blurring everything.
And there he was.
Keifer.