Jay POV
The hospital waiting area felt unreal—too sterile, too quiet, and yet filled with tension. The smell of disinfectant and antiseptic was heavy, pressing against my chest. Every tick of the clock sounded like a countdown, every muted beep from the machines in the emergency ward echoed in my skull.
Keifer was pacing near the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. Hex sat stiffly in a corner, his mask now pulled down, revealing the tension in his sharp eyes. Percy leaned against the wall, unusually quiet, and the Section E boys stood scattered around, some whispering, some staring blankly. Aries, Jeana, Andy… they all felt the same weight, though I could tell each of them tried to act strong.
I clutched my hands together so tightly that my knuckles ached, trying to stop my own trembling. I could still hear her voice in my head, her laughter echoing in the hallways of our house, guiding me through moments I didn't even know I'd need guidance in.
"Jay-Jay…" Keifer said quietly, breaking my spiral. But I couldn't answer. My eyes were fixed on the double doors at the end of the hall, the ones leading to the ER.
Then the doctor came.
I barely registered his presence at first—his expression was calm, but that calmness felt like a hammer striking my chest.
"Miss Mariano… I'm sorry. We did everything we could, but…" His voice trailed. My heart sank before the words even fully formed.
"W-what… what do you mean?" My voice cracked.
The doctor sighed, as if preparing for a storm she couldn't stop. " Kathrine… she didn't make it. The bullet… it struck near her heart. There was nothing we could do.She passed before we could stabilize her."
Time seemed to stop. I could feel everything shutting down inside me. My lungs ached; my chest felt hollow, like the weight of the world had just pressed itself against me. I didn't scream. I couldn't. My throat felt locked, my voice swallowed by a thousand thoughts.
Hex was the first to react. He had stood up, fists clenched, jaw trembling slightly. I could see the raw anger and hurt flicker in his eyes, but he held it back, because Hex always did. Percy's hands were balled into fists at his sides, and I saw his lips press together so tightly it looked like he might break. Keifer's head dropped, hand gripping the back of a chair for support.
I sank into a chair, my face buried in my hands. And then the memories came flooding back.
I remembered Aunty Katherine in the kitchen, singing off-key while stirring a pot of spaghetti, laughing at how terrible I was at cooking. I remembered her hugging me so tightly after my company was ready , whispering, "Jay-Jay, you shine brighter than the stars. Never let anyone dim that light." I remembered her sitting with me on the couch during my worst days, holding my hand silently, just letting me cry. I remembered her soft, patient voice, her gentle teasing, and the way she believed in everyone—even me, even Hex, even the boys.
And now… she was gone.
I wanted to scream, to cry, to run, but I couldn't. My throat felt clogged with grief, my chest heavy with a sorrow I couldn't even put into words.
Keifer knelt beside me quietly, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Jay… it's going to be okay," he said softly. But I could hear the cracks in his voice. Even he wasn't okay.
Hex sat on the floor, back against the wall, mask dangling from one ear. "She didn't deserve this," he muttered under his breath. I could hear the hurt, the fury, the helplessness all wrapped in those words.
Percy leaned against the wall nearby, hands over his face, letting out a shaky breath. His usual humor, his teasing, even his calm—everything was gone. He looked broken.
I clenched my fists, pressing them against my eyes. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why her?
The Section E boys stood together, silent, and even Aries, Jeana, and Andy couldn't mask the tears threatening to spill.
And in the middle of all this… I remembered her smile. That stupid, unstoppable, wonderful smile that could light up every corner of our world. I remembered the sound of her laughter echoing
in the hallways of our house, guiding me through moments I didn't even know I'd need guidance in.
"Jay-Jay…" Keifer said quietly, breaking my spiral. But I couldn't answer. My eyes were fixed on the double doors at the end of the hall, the ones leading to the ER.
Then the doctor came.
I barely registered his presence at first—his expression was calm, but that calmness felt like a hammer striking my chest.
"Miss Mariano… I'm sorry. We did everything we could, but…" His voice trailed. My heart sank before the words even fully formed.
"W-what… what do you mean?" My voice cracked.
The doctor sighed, as if preparing for a storm she couldn't stop. " Kathrine… she didn't make it. The bullet… it struck near her heart. There was nothing we could do.She passed before we could stabilize her."
Time seemed to stop. I could feel everything shutting down inside me. My lungs ached; my chest felt hollow, like the weight of the world had just pressed itself against me. I didn't scream. I couldn't. My throat felt locked, my voice swallowed by a thousand thoughts.
Hex was the first to react. He had stood up, fists clenched, jaw trembling slightly. I could see the raw anger and hurt flicker in his eyes, but he held it back, because Hex always did. Percy's hands were balled into fists at his sides, and I saw his lips press together so tightly it looked like he might break. Keifer's head dropped, hand gripping the back of a chair for support.
I sank into a chair, my face buried in my hands. And then the memories came flooding back.
I remembered Aunty Katherine in the kitchen, singing off-key while stirring a pot of spaghetti, laughing at how terrible I was at cooking. I remembered her hugging me so tightly after my company was ready , whispering, "Jay-Jay, you shine brighter than the stars. Never let anyone dim that light." I remembered her sitting with me on the couch during my worst days, holding my hand silently, just letting me cry. I remembered her soft, patient voice, her gentle teasing, and the way she believed in everyone—even me, even Hex, even the boys.
And now… she was gone.
I wanted to scream, to cry, to run, but I couldn't. My throat felt clogged with grief, my chest heavy with a sorrow I couldn't even put into words.
Keifer knelt beside me quietly, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Jay… it's going to be okay," he said softly. But I could hear the cracks in his voice. Even he wasn't okay.
Hex sat on the floor, back against the wall, mask dangling from one ear. "She didn't deserve this," he muttered under his breath. I could hear the hurt, the fury, the helplessness all wrapped in those words.
Percy leaned against the wall nearby, hands over his face, letting out a shaky breath. His usual humor, his teasing, even his calm—everything was gone. He looked broken.
I clenched my fists, pressing them against my eyes. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why her?
The Section E boys stood together, silent, and even Aries, Jeana, and Andy couldn't mask the tears threatening to spill.
And in the middle of all this… I remembered her smile. That stupid, unstoppable, wonderful smile that could light up every corner of our world. I remembered the sound of her laughter echoing through the house. I remembered every time she'd hug me and whisper, "You're capable of anything, Jay-Jay. Don't forget that."
I couldn't stop the tears now. They ran freely, hot and unstoppable. I felt my heart break in slow, agonizing pieces. I didn't care that everyone was watching. I didn't care that Keifer, Hex, Percy, or the boys saw me like this.
And yet… even through the grief, even through the emptiness and the raw pain, a part of me whispered: I will carry her light. I will. Always.
Why does life have to be like this? One moment you're laughing over dinner, celebrating, and the next… it's gone. Just gone. Aunty Katherine was more than a relative; she was my guide, my support, my safe space. And now… she's gone. Hex, Percy, Keifer everyone —they all feel it too. I can see it in their eyes. But how do we move forward when someone who meant everything… is gone?
Her laughter. Her voice. Her warmth. I will remember all of it. I have to. Because if I don't, it's like she never existed. And she did. She existed. And she'll live on in us.
And maybe, just maybe, the hurt will turn into something stronger. A fire. A promise. A memory that doesn't fade.
But right now… it just hurts. And it will hurt for a long time.