Chapter: "Midnight Confessions"
Jay's POV
It was past midnight when I heard the whisper.
"Jay."
I groaned and buried my face deeper into my pillow.
"Jayyy."
I sat up, annoyed. "Aries, if this is about food—"
"Come outside."
His voice sounded too excited.
That was suspicious.
I opened my door carefully. The hallway light was dim, only one small lamp near the staircase glowing softly. The house was quiet — Kuya Angelo still not home.
Aries was sitting on the floor in the hallway.
And Keifer was sitting opposite him.
Of course he was.
"Why are you both sitting on the floor like kindergarten kids?" I whispered.
"Because," Aries said dramatically, holding up a bottle, "we're bored."
I blinked.
"No."
"Yes," Aries grinned. "Truth or dare."
I stared at him. "Are you insane? It's midnight."
"Exactly," Keifer said calmly. "Best time."
I crossed my arms. "I'm not playing."
"Scared?" Aries challenged.
I narrowed my eyes.
"I am not scared."
Keifer leaned back against the wall, watching me carefully. "Then sit."
I don't know why I did.
Maybe pride.
Maybe curiosity.
Maybe stupidity.
But I sat down between them in the hallway.
The bottle was placed in the center.
Aries spun first.
It landed on me.
"HA!" Aries grinned. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Boring."
"Ask."
He leaned closer. "Have you ever been jealous of someone?"
I froze for half a second.
Keifer didn't move.
But I felt his attention sharpen.
"No," I replied calmly.
Aries squinted. "That's a lie."
"It's not."
"Swear."
"I swear."
Keifer's lips twitched slightly.
Aries groaned. "You're no fun."
"Spin," I ordered.
I spun it.
It landed on Keifer.
He didn't look surprised.
"Truth or dare?" I asked.
"Dare."
Aries' eyes lit up. "Oh this is good."
I smirked slowly.
"Fine. I dare you to text the last girl you talked to and tell her you miss her."
Aries gasped dramatically.
Keifer didn't even blink.
"Done."
He pulled out his phone calmly.
Why is he not hesitating?
My chest tightened slightly.
He typed something.
Sent it.
Placed his phone down.
"There."
Aries leaned forward. "Show proof!"
Keifer turned the phone slightly toward us.
I leaned in without meaning to.
The contact name read: Jay.
Message: I miss you.
My brain short-circuited.
Aries burst out laughing.
I shot up. "That doesn't count!"
"It does," Keifer replied calmly. "You were the last girl I talked to."
"That's cheating!"
"You didn't specify."
Aries was wheezing. "This is better than Netflix."
My face felt warm.
"Spin," Keifer said casually.
Aries spun.
It landed on him.
He groaned. "Fine. Truth."
Keifer didn't hesitate. "When was the last time Ella made you apologize?"
Aries' jaw dropped. "Bro!"
"Answer."
Aries muttered something under his breath. "Yesterday."
"For what?" I asked immediately.
"For liking someone's old picture."
I gasped. "Ella is scary."
"She's observant," Aries corrected defensively.
Keifer smirked slightly. "Controlled."
Aries pointed at him. "Don't talk like you don't want that."
The hallway went quiet.
My heart skipped.
"What?" I asked cautiously.
Aries grinned slowly. "Someone who claims you."
My breath hitched.
Keifer's gaze shifted to me.
Calm.
Steady.
Dangerous.
Aries spun the bottle again quickly to break the tension.
It landed on me.
"Dare," I said immediately, before they could say truth.
Aries' smile turned evil. "Okay."
No.
That smile means chaos.
"I dare you," he said slowly, "to admit the name of the person you think about the most before sleeping."
Silence.
My heartbeat became too loud.
"That's stupid," I said.
"It's a dare," Aries shrugged.
"I won't."
"You said dare."
I glared at him.
Keifer hadn't spoken.
He was just watching me.
Waiting.
I swallowed.
"Fine."
The word felt heavy.
Aries leaned closer. "We're listening."
I avoided Keifer's eyes.
And then I said it.
"Keifer."
The silence that followed was louder than anything.
Aries blinked.
Keifer didn't move.
But something in his expression changed.
Just slightly.
"You think about me?" he asked quietly.
I instantly regretted everything.
"It's because you're annoying," I snapped quickly. "You give me stress."
Aries snorted. "Sure."
I shoved him lightly. "Shut up."
The bottle spun again.
It landed on Keifer.
"Truth," he said this time.
I didn't hesitate.
"Have you ever been jealous?"
His eyes flickered for a second.
"Yes."
My breath caught.
"Of who?" Aries asked immediately.
Keifer didn't look at Aries.
He looked at me.
"Anyone who makes her forget I'm in the room."
My stomach flipped violently.
Aries slowly leaned back. "Okay. That's intense."
I couldn't speak.
The air felt different now.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't teasing.
He meant it.
The bottle rolled slightly on its own before stopping.
None of us moved.
Aries cleared his throat awkwardly. "Okay… maybe we should sleep."
"Coward," I muttered.
He stood up. "I value my life."
He disappeared into his room quickly, leaving me alone in the hallway with Keifer.
Great.
The silence stretched.
"You didn't have to say my name," he said quietly.
"You didn't have to text me."
He stood up slowly.
The hallway suddenly felt smaller.
"You're shaking," he observed.
"I'm not."
"You are."
He stepped closer.
Not touching.
Just close enough to make my breath uneven.
"You think about me before sleeping," he murmured.
"It's not romantic."
"I didn't say it was."
His voice dropped slightly.
"But I like it."
My pulse pounded in my ears.
"Go to sleep," I whispered.
"You first."
I rolled my eyes and walked toward my room.
Before entering, I looked back.
He was still standing there.
Watching.
And for the first time tonight, I wasn't sure if truth or dare was just a game anymore.
Because some truths?
They don't disappear at midnight.