Jay Jay's POV:
I'm lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling like it's going to give me answers. When should I tell Keifer that I want us to be official?
My phone buzzes. A message from Keifer.
From: Gagongbaliw
Made it home. Percy didn't tackle me again, so I consider that a win.
I smile. Then immediately groan and bury my face in my pillow.
Why is this so hard?
I want to tell him. I really do. But every time I think about saying the words—I want us to be official—my brain short-circuits and starts playing reruns of every failed relationship I've ever witnessed. Including my own almost-things. Ugh Cyrus.
What if I ruin it?
What if he says yes and then changes his mind?
What if Percy's right?
I grab my phone again, fingers hovering over the keyboard. I could text him. Something simple. Something like:
Hey, I've been thinking...
But I don't. Not yet.
Instead, I type out a draft and save it in my notes:
Keifer, I want us to be official. Not just walking-home-and-annoying-Aries official. Real official. But I'm still figuring out how to say it without freaking out. So... this is me trying.
I read it twice. Then three times.
Then I close the app and toss my phone across the bed.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe when my heart stops doing gymnastics every time he smiles. Aweee he is just so handsome! Why Keifer!!??
It's late.
Snorlax is squished under my arm, the moon's casting weird shadows across my ceiling.
I roll over and grab my phone, hoping for a distraction. Maybe Keifer sent another message. Maybe Percy's still being dramatic. Maybe Aries posted another cryptic horoscope meme.
Instead, I see it.
From: Unknown number
You shouldn't have gone to Drew's
I freeze.
My thumb hovers over the screen. I blink twice, just to make sure I'm not hallucinating. But it's real. The message is sitting there, glowing like a threat.
From: Unknown Number
You're not safe. He's not who you think he is.
My heart starts racing. I sit up, clutching my phone like it's going to protect me. Who is this? Why now?
Another message pops up.
From: Unknown number
Don't trust Yuri. Don't trust Drew. And don't tell anyone I messaged you.
I stare at the screen, brain short-circuiting. Yuri? Drew? What do they have to do with this?
I scroll up, rereading the words. Then I see it:
From: Unknown number
You smile so people won't ask questions. But I see through it.
My breath catches.
That's what Drew said yesterday. Word for word.
I jump out of bed and tiptoe to the hallway. Aries is still awake, sprawled on the couch like a bored lizard. I shove my phone in his face.
"Look."
He squints, then sits up fast. "Jay, what the hell?"
"I don't know who it is. But they're quoting Drew. And they know I went to his house."
Aries grabs the phone, scrolling through the messages. His face goes pale.
I feel like the walls are closing in. "What do we do?"
"We screenshot everything. And tomorrow, we go to Fer Co. Kuya said he'd be there. We need answers."
I nod, but my hands are still shaking. I glance at the last message again.
You're not safe.
I don't sleep that night.
Not because of mismatched socks or burnt pancakes or Keifer's smile.
But because someone out there knows too much.
And I don't know who to trust anymore.
We're both staring at my phone like it's about to explode.
Aries is pacing the living room, muttering things like "encrypted number" and "Kuya's going to freak," while I sit frozen on the couch, clutching Snorlax like it's a security blanket.
Another buzz.
From: Unknown number
You're not listening. He's already lied to you once. Don't let him do it again.
I feel sick.
Aries grabs the phone again, thumbs flying across the screen. "I'm tracing the number. Or at least trying to. Whoever this is—they're good."
I nod, but my brain's spiraling. Yuri lied. Drew said things that this stranger is now repeating. And Kuya's warning suddenly feels way too real.
The danger on Jay is not over yet.
I glance at the clock. 1:07 AM.
I should be asleep. I should be dreaming about pancakes and Keifer's dumb smirk. Instead, I'm in a dim living room with my brother, trying to figure out if someone's stalking me.
Aries stops pacing. "We need to check Kuya's study."
"What? Why?"
"He left in a rush. If he knew something, he might've left a clue."
We tiptoe down the hallway like we're in a spy movie. Aries pushes open Kuya's study door. It creaks like it's auditioning for a horror film.
Stacks of papers. A locked drawer. A half-finished mug of coffee.
Aries heads straight for the drawer. "Help me find the key."
I start rummaging through the desk. Pens, receipts, a photo of us from Year 6 where I look like a gremlin. Then—taped under the drawer—I find it.
"Got it."
Aries unlocks the drawer. Inside: a folder labeled "Jay – Priority".
My stomach drops.
He opens it slowly. Inside are printed screenshots of messages. Photos of me at school. Me walking home. Me with Keifer.
"What the hell—"
Aries flips through the pages. "Kuya's been tracking this for weeks. Someone's been watching you. And not just online."
I feel like I'm going to faint.
Then Aries pulls out one last page. A note. Handwritten.
Jay, if you're reading this, it means I didn't get to tell you everything. Stay close to Aries. Don't trust Yuri. And whatever you do—don't go back to Drew's house.
This isn't right... nothing is right.
But something catches my eye, under all the folders and coffee spills i find a note, most likely a list. Circled around the logo was kuya's red pen ink. THE LOGO! The Hanamitchi logo!
Ang tanga yuri na yun!
Yuri was a part of all this? And he still doesn't decide to tell me? He hasn't been coming to school lately! Im just worried.
I stare at the Hanamitchi logo like it's going to jump off the page and explain itself.
Kuya circled it. Red ink. Bold. Angry.
Yuri was part of this?
I feel my stomach twist. That idiot. That quiet, mumbling, note-hiding idiot. He's been lying to me. Again.
And now he's vanished. No texts. No calls. No school.
I grab the note and shove it into my bag. I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I need it close. Just in case.
I tiptoe back to my room, heart pounding like I just ran a marathon. I lock the door, crawl under the blanket, and stare at my phone.
Still no reply from Yuri.
I scroll through our old messages. Most of them are short. Awkward. Him asking if I've eaten. Me sending memes. Nothing that screams secret agent working for a shady organization.
But now? Now everything feels suspicious.
I open my notes app again. The draft to Keifer is still there.
Keifer, I want us to be official...
I stare at it. Then at the Hanamitchi logo. Then at the message from the unknown number.
Don't trust Yuri.
I sigh. I want to tell Keifer everything, he has enough things to worry about . About the logo. The note. The messages. But I don't know how. Not yet.
Because if Yuri's involved in something dangerous, and Kuya's warning was real... then telling Keifer might drag him into it too.
And I don't want him hurt.
I close my eyes, clutching Snorlax tight.
Tomorrow, I'll find Yuri.
Tomorrow, I'll get answers.
But tonight, I'll stay awake wondering how everything got so messed up-