Chapter 1: The Truth That Broke Louder Than Silence
(Jay-jay's POV)
The classroom felt smaller than usual.
Like the walls of Section E had decided to close in on me.
Everyone was staring.
No one was breathing.
And in the middle of it all stood Keifer Watson.
His expression was unreadable. Calm. Too calm.
The kind of calm that comes right before a storm destroys everything.
Then he said it.
"I used you. And the whole Section E knows."
For a moment, the world didn't end.
It didn't explode.
It didn't shatter like people said heartbreak does.
Instead, everything became painfully quiet.
The sound of the ceiling fan.
The rustle of paper.
Someone shifting in their chair.
All of it sounded louder than his words.
But those words…
Those words stabbed deeper than anything physical ever could.
I slowly looked around the room.
The boys of Section E avoided my eyes.
Some looked guilty.
Some looked uncomfortable.
Some… looked like they already knew.
My chest tightened.
"So," I said quietly.
My voice surprised even me.
"So this was all a game?"
No one answered.
Keifer crossed his arms.
"It was part of a plan."
A plan.
Of course.
Everything in his life was a plan.
Except me.
Except this.
Except the stupid way my heart decided to trust him.
I laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"You know what's funny, Keifer?"
He frowned slightly.
"You could've just hated me."
The room stayed silent.
"But instead…" I continued, my voice trembling just a little, "you pretended."
I looked straight into his eyes.
"And that hurts more."
No one moved.
Not Yuri, not ci n, not Drew, not even the loudest troublemakers of Section E.
Because everyone knew something had just broken.
"I thought," I whispered, "that maybe you weren't as heartless as everyone said."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"But I guess I was wrong."
The words hung in the air like glass.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"I trusted you," I continued. "Not because you were nice. Not because you were kind."
I swallowed.
"I trusted you because I thought somewhere inside that messed-up brain of yours… you actually cared."
Silence.
Then I smiled.
A sad one.
"But congratulations."
My voice became steadier.
"You proved everyone right."
Keifer didn't say anything.
And somehow that hurt even more.
I stepped back.
"You didn't just use me, Keifer."
I paused.
"You made me believe I mattered."
The words hit harder than any slap ever could.
Even the boys of Section E looked down.
Because emotional pain always leaves deeper scars.
"I hope your plan was worth it," I said softly.
Then I grabbed my bag.
No dramatic screaming.
No crying.
Just quiet devastation.
And I walked out.
The hallway felt colder.
Every step echoed.
My heart felt heavy but strangely empty at the same time.
I didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
If I did…
I might break.
I pushed open the school gate.
The sunlight outside felt blinding after the darkness inside that classroom.
Then I saw him.
A tall guy leaning casually against a black car.
Messy hair.
Sharp eyes.
A familiar smirk.
"Wow," he said, straightening up. "You look like someone just ruined your entire day."
I stared.
"Percy?"
He grinned.
"Missed me, little sister?"
Percy Mariano walked toward me and ruffled my hair like he used to when we were kids.
"You look taller," he added.
"You look more annoying," I replied automatically.
He laughed.
"Good. At least the attitude is still there."
But then his expression turned serious.
"We have to go."
"Go where?"
"New York."
I blinked.
"What?"
"NYC," Percy repeated. "Our father wants to meet you."
The words felt unreal.
Father.
That word hadn't existed in my life for fifteen years.
"Why now?" I asked quietly.
Percy shrugged slightly.
"No idea."
He opened the car door.
"But he asked for you specifically."
My hands tightened around my bag.
Fifteen years.
Fifteen years of silence.
And now suddenly…
He wanted to meet me?
"Jay," Percy said gently.
"We leave tonight."
I glanced back at the school.
At the building where everything just fell apart.
At the classroom where my heart was probably still lying in pieces.
Maybe leaving wasn't such a bad idea.
Maybe it was exactly what I needed.
"Fine," I whispered.
"I'll pack."
At home, my room looked strangely unfamiliar.
Like it belonged to someone else.
I packed clothes silently.
A few books.
My headphones.
The small photo of Mom I kept beside my bed.
Percy leaned against the doorframe watching me.
"You're taking this surprisingly well," he said.
I zipped my suitcase.
"I'm tired of crying over people who don't deserve it."
He didn't respond.
Instead, he pulled out his phone.
"By the way," he said casually.
"I need to talk to some people from your school."
My eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Because three guys are currently trying to track you down like detectives."
I froze.
"Who?"
Percy smirked.
"Oh, you know."
He dialed a number.
After a moment someone answered.
"Hello?"
Percy spoke calmly.
"Is this Kuya Angelo?"
A pause.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Name's Percy. Jay-jay's stepbrother."
Another pause.
"Where is she?"
Percy glanced at me.
"She's leaving."
"What do you mean leaving?"
Before Percy could answer, another voice appeared in the background.
"Is that about Jay-jay?"
Aries.
Percy chuckled softly.
"Wow. Group meeting already?"
"Where is she?" Angelo repeated, voice sharper now.
Percy leaned against the wall.
"She's going to New York."
Silence exploded on the other end.
"What?!" Aries shouted.
Percy sighed dramatically.
"Relax. She's not being kidnapped."
"Does Keifer know?" Aries asked.
Percy's eyes flickered toward me.
"No."
Angelo's voice lowered.
"Should he?"
Percy smiled slowly.
"That," he said, "depends on whether your friend realizes what he just lost."
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
"You didn't have to tell them."
Percy shrugged.
"Trust me."
He grabbed the car keys.
"Drama like yours?"
He smirked.
"People deserve front-row seats."
Outside, the night was getting darker.
Tomorrow…
I would be in New York.
Far away from Keifer Watson.
Far away from Section E.
Far away from the boy who broke my heart.
But somehow…
A small voice inside me whispered one terrifying question.
What if he comes after me?