JAY-JAY POV
I went to my room, flopped on the bed, and stared at my phone.
My brain was like: Call Raffy. Just call him. So I did.
"Hey Raffy," I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"I don't want to talk to you, Ate," he shot back immediately.
My heart dropped. "Why?" I asked, my voice coming out sad and small.
"Because you don't even have time to talk to me," he said, and it stung way more than I expected.
I froze, staring at the ceiling, guilt twisting in my stomach.
"That's not true," I whispered. "I do have time… I just—"
"You're always busy," Raffy cut me off. His voice cracked a little, and that hurt even worse.
"I'm so sorry," I said, almost crying, my throat tight.
"Ate," he said softly, "please don't push me away again."
My chest squeezed. "I won't," I promised, clutching the phone like it was the only thing keeping me together.
"Ate, if you don't come to London by my birthday, then I will come there," he said firmly, like he'd already decided.
"Raffy, please… I can't come there until I'm 18," I said, my voice breaking.
"Then it looks like I will come there," he said, stubborn and determined, the way only Raffy could be.
I shut my eyes, tears slipping out. "You don't understand… if you come here, you'll be in danger."
The words felt heavy, like they were dragging me down.
On the other end of the line, Raffy went quiet. Too quiet.
Finally, he whispered, "Danger? Ate, what are you even talking about?"
My throat tightened, but instead of crying, I rolled my eyes. "I can't explain everything right now… but it's not safe here."
Raffy gasped like I'd just told him I was living in a zombie apocalypse. "Safe? Ate, are you fighting ninjas or something?"
I snorted. "Yes, Raffy. Every day I battle ninjas in the backyard. That's why I don't call."
He groaned. "See? You always joke when I'm serious."
"Because you're dramatic," I teased. "You sound like you're auditioning for a telenovela."
"Ate," he said, dragging out the word like he was on stage, "please don't push me away again."
I laughed. "Relax, drama king. I won't."
Then he dropped the bomb. "Ate, if you don't come to London by my birthday, then I will come there."
I sat up. "Raffy, please. I can't come until I'm 18."
"Then it looks like I will come there," he said, all smug.
I groaned. "What are you gonna do, sneak into my school cafeteria and steal my fries?"
"Yes," he said proudly. "And I'll tell Kuya Percy everything while I'm at it."
I gasped. "Traitor!"
He laughed so hard I could hear him choking on his own joke. "You're scared now, huh?"
"Scared of you? Never," I said, grinning. "But if you touch my fries, Raffy… that's war."
"Fine, bye Ate, grandma is calling me," Raffy said, sounding all dramatic like he was in a soap opera.
"Bye, Raffy. Say hi to grandma and grandpa from me," I replied, trying to sound sweet.
"Bye. I will tell them," he said, all serious.
I rolled my eyes. "Make sure you tell them I'm their favorite grandchild, okay?"
Raffy snorted. "Ha! You wish. Grandma literally said I'm her favorite last week."
"Lies!" I gasped. "She only said that because you bribed her with pandesal."
"Smart moves, Ate. Learn from me," he teased.
I groaned. "Ugh, go before I expose you to grandma myself."
"Too late," he said, laughing. "She already knows you're the chaotic one."
And just like that, he hung up, leaving me staring at my phone, half‑annoyed, half‑smiling.
Because honestly… siblings are the worst.
And also the best.
Knock, Knock
"Jay, come out before you get nothing for dinner," Aries barked through the door like he was the boss of the whole house.
I groaned, burying my face in the pillow.
"Jay," he warned, his voice sharper now, "I'm serious. If you don't move, I'll eat your share."
I shot up instantly. "Touch my food and you're dead!"
Aries chuckled from the hallway. "See? Works every time."
I stomped toward the door, muttering under my breath, "Horoscope brothers… the worst alarm clocks, the worst threats, and the worst diet plans."
When I opened the door, Aries smirked. "Took you long enough."
I rolled my eyes. "You only got me out because you threatened my dinner. If you ever try that again, I'll hide all the rice."
His jaw dropped. "You wouldn't dare."
I grinned. "Watch me."
"Kids, come before you burn the house!" Tita Gemma called from the kitchen.
"Let's go," I said, already dragging my feet.
Aries just nodded, looking way too calm for someone who was probably starving.
As we headed downstairs, I leaned closer. "When will Yuri go?" I whispered.
Aries frowned. "I don't know. Why?"
I opened my mouth to spill, but nope—Yuri was already there, standing at the bottom of the stairs like he'd been waiting.
"Hi, Jay," he said, all casual.
"Hi," I replied, forcing a smile, even though my brain was screaming abort mission, abort mission.
Aries gave me a side‑eye, suspicious as ever.
I pretended not to notice, plastering on my best "everything is fine" face.
Inside, the smell of food hit me like heaven.
Honestly, dinner was the only thing keeping me alive at this point.
I went to the dinner table and plopped down in my chair.
Yuri started to slide into the seat next to me, but Aries swooped in like a hawk and stole it.
"I was gonna sit there," Yuri complained, eyebrows shooting up.
"Well, find another chair. I want to sit here today," Aries said, leaning back like he owned the place.
Thank God I didn't want Yuri sitting next to me anyway.
Saved.
I started eating when Kuya Angelo walked in, all serious like the principal of the house.
"Jay, your exams are near, so start studying," Kuya said.
I dropped my spoon dramatically. "Why am I the one who always gets told? Aries is literally right here."
Aries smirked, leaning back like he was on top of the world. "Well, that's because I pass my exams with excellent scores."
My jaw dropped. "Wow. Did you just flex at the dinner table?"
He grinned. "Yes."
So I did the only logical thing—I kicked his legs under the table.
"Uhh!" he yelped, nearly dropping his fork.
I smirked. "Oops. Guess my foot wanted to pass its own exam."
Kuya Angelo gave us a look. "Both of you, behave."
Aries glared at me, rubbing his leg. "You're so immature."
I grinned wider. "And yet… unforgettable."
"Jay, one more thing—stay away from Keifer," Kuya said, his voice heavy like he was announcing a death sentence.
Yuri smiled across the table like he'd just won a war.
Ugh.
"Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Because he—" Kuya started.
"Oh please, Kuya, what is your problem with Keifer? You always have a problem with him. You think it's because of him I always get in trouble?" I said, my words sharp but my voice calm, like I was holding back a storm.
Kuya's jaw tightened, but I didn't stop. "But every time, it's always him that saves me—even before you."
"Jay‑Jay, enough," Kuya snapped, his tone final.
I shoved my chair back, the legs screeching against the floor. "You know what? I'm not hungry anymore."
I stormed toward the door, my heart pounding, my stomach twisting.
"Jay‑Jay, get back here!" Kuya called after me, his voice echoing through the house.
But I didn't listen.
I pushed the door open and stepped outside, the cool air hitting my face like freedom.
Inside, I could still hear Kuya's voice, but I tuned it out.
Because right now, I didn't want lectures.
I didn't want rules.
I just wanted space.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
🌹✨ Author's Note ✨
🌹 So… how was the chapter? 💥
I swear the chaos is only getting bigger and louder 🔥.
I had so much fun writing this one—it's messy, dramatic, and full of energy, just the way we love it 💫💙.
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I want to see your reactions, your laughter, your shock, ALL of it 💭✨.
Let's keep the chaos alive together 🌹💥.