Chapter: Play Dead, JayJay
(Jay's POV)
Home was supposed to be peaceful.
Supposed to.
But the moment I stepped inside Kuya Angelo's house, I knew I was finished.
Aries was sitting on the sofa like he had been waiting for this exact moment.
Waiting for me.
With that evil smile.
"Ohhh look who's here," Aries sang dramatically. "Mrs. Mark Keifer Watson."
I froze mid-step.
"Shut up," I hissed, dropping my bag.
Aries stood up immediately and started clapping slowly. "No no no. Don't be shy. The whole school saw it. Legendary scene. Corridor kiss. Very cinematic."
My face burned.
"You're exaggerating."
"Oh really?" he gasped dramatically. "So you didn't grab his shirt?"
"I did NOT grab—"
"You didn't look at him like he invented oxygen?"
"I—"
"You didn't say his full name like a villain in a drama?"
"ARIES!"
He burst out laughing.
From the kitchen, Tita Gemma peeked out. "What are you two fighting about now?"
"Nothing, Tita!" Aries answered sweetly.
Liar.
I threw a cushion at him.
He dodged easily. "Careful, JayJay. If Kuya Angelo hears you screaming, he'll start an investigation."
My blood ran cold.
Speak of the devil.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Kuya Angelo.
Tall. Calm. Strict. Terrifying without even trying.
He walked into the living room with that unreadable expression.
"What investigation?" he asked calmly.
Aries immediately pointed at me.
Traitor.
"Jay kissed Keif today."
Silence.
Dead silence.
I felt my soul leave my body.
Kuya Angelo slowly turned his head toward me.
His eyebrow lifted.
"Explain."
Internally:
Fuck. JayJay play dead before Angelo really kills you.
Externally:
"It was an accident."
Aries gasped loudly. "Accident? You tripped into his lips?"
I lunged at him. "SHUT UP!"
Kuya Angelo's voice cut through the chaos.
"Jay."
Instant silence.
I straightened immediately.
"Yes?"
He walked closer.
Not fast.
Not angry.
Which was worse.
"What is Keif for you?"
My brain stopped working.
Aries slowly backed away like he didn't want to be caught in the explosion.
Kuya Angelo crossed his arms.
"I asked a simple question."
My mind started screaming.
Don't say mine.
Don't say boyfriend.
Don't say anything stupid.
Inside my head:
Fuck. JayJay play dead. Just collapse. Pretend faint. This is safer.
Out loud?
"He's… Aries' friend."
Aries choked. "Wow."
Kuya Angelo didn't blink.
"Aries has many friends."
True.
Very true.
"He's… a classmate."
"He studies in a different section."
Why was he interrogating like police?
Aries was enjoying this too much.
"Kuya," Aries added sweetly, "she shouts his full name when she's jealous."
"I AM NOT JEALOUS," I yelled.
Kuya Angelo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You shout his full name?"
I wanted to disappear.
"Yes," Aries answered for me.
"ARIES I WILL TELL ELLA—"
He froze.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh I would," I threatened. "Kuya Angelo, did you know Aries sneaks out to meet—"
"JAY!" Aries panicked.
Kuya Angelo slowly looked at him now.
"Meet who?"
Aries immediately sat straight. "Nobody."
I smirked.
"Ella," I said sweetly.
Aries pointed at me. "You're dead."
Kuya Angelo rubbed his temple. "Enough."
Instant silence again.
He looked back at me.
"I'm asking once more. What is Keif for you?"
Why was this harder than exams?
Because it wasn't about marks.
It was about feelings.
And I didn't know what we were.
Inside my head:
He kissed you.
He said you're mine.
He gets jealous.
You get jealous.
Out loud, my voice came softer.
"He's important."
Aries stopped smirking.
Kuya Angelo watched me carefully.
"In what way?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know yet."
That was the truth.
The strict look on Angelo's face didn't change.
But his voice softened slightly.
"Does he respect you?"
"Yes."
"Does he protect you?"
I hesitated for half a second.
"…Yes."
"Does he make you scared?"
I shook my head quickly. "No."
Aries muttered, "Except when he looks intense."
"Aries," Angelo warned.
Silence.
Kuya Angelo sighed.
"I don't mind who you like," he said calmly. "But I mind who hurts you."
My chest tightened.
"He won't," I said quietly.
He studied my face for a long moment.
"You're sure?"
I nodded.
Aries suddenly grinned again. "Kuya, you should've seen Keif's face when Kiko was talking to her. Bro looked ready to commit a crime."
I slapped Aries' arm.
Kuya Angelo raised an eyebrow. "Kiko?"
"Nothing!" I yelled.
Aries laughed. "Jealousy fight. Very entertaining."
Kuya Angelo looked at me again.
"You kissed him?"
I wanted the floor to swallow me.
"…Yes."
"Did he force you?"
"No!"
"Did you want to?"
My brain exploded.
Inside:
PLAY DEAD. PLAY DEAD RIGHT NOW.
Out loud:
"…Yes."
Aries made dramatic background music noises.
Kuya Angelo glared at him.
Then he looked back at me.
"You're still young. Don't rush labels."
I nodded quickly.
"But," he added calmly, "if he makes you cry, I will personally talk to him."
That sounded like a threat.
A very polite threat.
Aries leaned toward me and whispered, "Talk means murder."
I elbowed him.
Kuya Angelo turned to leave, then paused.
"And Jay?"
"Yes?"
"No more shouting full names in corridors."
Aries burst out laughing again.
The moment Angelo left—
I collapsed onto the sofa.
"I almost died."
Aries flopped beside me dramatically. "You should've seen your face when he said 'explain.'"
"I hate you."
"You love me."
"I will tell Ella everything."
He gasped. "You wouldn't dare."
I smirked.
"Try me."
Aries narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. Truce."
"Truce."
A moment of silence passed.
Then he grinned again.
"So… when's the wedding, Mrs. Mark Keifer Watson?"
I threw the cushion at his face.
But this time—
I couldn't stop smiling.