Jay jay's POV:
"There is nothing to worry about."
That's what Aries said. That's what he always says. Like it's that simple.
And for a second, I believed him. I actually believed him.
But now it's 11 p.m. The house is quiet. Too quiet. Aries has probably fallen asleep in front of his laptop again. The only sound is my ceiling fan clicking every third rotation, and—of course—my brain screaming what if they come back?
I toss. I turn. I bury myself under the blanket. Nothing works.
Finally, I grab my phone, more for comfort than anything. Just to scroll. Just to distract.
And that's when I see it.
One new message.
From: Gagongbaliw
"Saw the car. Don't ignore me this time, Jay."
My stomach drops.
How—how does he even know?!
How this this person know everything!? "I have my own ways" my foot.
I stare at the screen, chewing my lip so hard I might draw blood. If I reply, I'm giving him what he wants. If I don't… he'll probably show up at my window like a freaking vampire again.
Ugh. Why is this my life?!
The typing bubbles pop up before I can even decide.
"Answer me, or I'm coming over."
Not like he will! He has 2 brothers to take care off and its like 11pm! I don't think anyone can be that crazy... right?
…Right?!
I toss my phone onto the pillow and bury my face in my blanket. There. Problem solved. If I can't see his messages, they can't hurt me. Classic Jay Jay logic.
Five minutes later, I'm still wide awake. My phone is staring at me. My brain is screaming. My heart is racing like I just ran laps around the field.
"Relax," I whisper to myself. "He's not coming. No one in their right mind would sneak out at this hour."
TAP.
My soul leaves my body.
No. Nope. That was the fan. Just the fan.
TAP TAP.
WHAT IF IT'S THE BLACK CAR GUY!!??
I freeze, clutching my blanket like it's a weapon. My brain flashes through every horror movie I've ever seen. This is it. This is how I die. Section E's mutya taken out by a window jump-scare.
Slowly… verrry slowly… I creep toward the curtains. My knees are jelly. My heart is pounding so hard I swear Aries can hear it from his room.
I grab the fabric, take a deep breath, and—YANK.
And nearly scream.
Because staring right back at me, smirk plastered on his stupid face, is Keifer freaking Watson.
How the hell did he climb up the window!?
He taps the glass again with one finger, grinning like the devil himself.
"Told you," he mouths.
OH. MY. GOD.
I yank the window open just a sliver, hissing so fast my words tangle: "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! Do you have a death wish?! What if Aries sees you?!"
Keifer just tilts his head, eyes glittering in the dark. "Then maybe he'll understand the rule works both ways."
EXCUSE ME?!
"This is NOT funny!" I whisper-yell, flailing my arms so wildly I almost smack the window shut on his face. "Do you even realise what time it is? Normal people are asleep! Normal people don't climb trees at eleven p.m.!"
Keifer just shrugs, like scaling walls in the middle of the night is a casual Tuesday activity. "Good thing I'm not normal."
I want to scream. I want to throw my pillow at him. I want to—ugh—stop noticing how his smile looks even sharper in the moonlight.
"Go home before Aries sees you!" I hiss.
His smirk fades just a little. "Not until I know you're okay."
That shuts me up.
For a second, the noise in my head stops. No fries. No teasing. No rules. Just those words.
I blink at him. "I… I'm fine."
He raises an eyebrow. The infamous eyebrow. "Jay. A black car was outside your house tonight. Don't lie."
My throat goes dry. "How do you even know??"
"I have my own ways" he says simply. My foot! 'I have my own ways' Pffttt
Thud-thud-thud.
Aries!!!?? I'm fried rice tomorrow cause of this Keifer with no brain!
I whirl around, nearly tripping over my blanket, as footsteps echo down the hall. Aries is awake. He's coming this way.
"Go!" I whisper-scream, shoving my hands at the window like I can push Keifer's whole body out with sheer willpower.
He doesn't budge. Of course he doesn't. He just leans closer, eyes dancing with amusement. "Why? Scared of getting caught?"
"YES, YOU IDIOT!" I shove harder, but he grabs my wrist before I can shut the window.
"Then don't scream," he murmurs, voice so low it makes my stomach flip.
OH. MY. GOD.
The doorknob rattles.
"Jay?" Aries' voice, calm but sharp. "Why are you awake?"
I freeze. Keifer doesn't. He smirks, still holding my wrist, and whispers, "Your move, Jay."
What the flip!!!
The doorknob rattles again.
"Jay?" Aries' voice is closer now, firmer. "Open the door."
Panic. Full-on panic. My brain is static. My hands are sweaty. My window currently contains one (1) very smug idiot who does not understand the definition of leave.
"GO!" I mouth at Keifer, jabbing my finger toward the tree like it's an emergency exit sign.
He just smirks, tightening his hold on my wrist. "Say please."
ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME.
"Jay," Aries warns, "if you don't answer, I'm coming in."
Oh no. Oh no no no no—
I rip my wrist free and whisper-shove Keifer with all the force in my body. "PLEASE, you lunatic!"
Finally, finally, he lets go, slipping out onto the branch like it's nothing. He moves so silently, I almost don't believe he's gone.
Almost.
I slam the window shut just as my door creaks open.
Aries steps in, eyes sweeping the room instantly like a scanner. "Why were you talking?"
I freeze. My voice cracks. "Uh—prayer!"
One eyebrow goes up. "At midnight?"
"Yes! Holy vibes only!" I clap my hands together like some kind of monk. "Amen!"
Aries stares at me for a long, long moment. My heart is beating loud enough to be illegal.
Finally, he just exhales. "You're impossible." He turns, pulling the door closed behind him.
The second he's gone, I collapse against the wall, gasping.
The door finally clicks shut. Aries' footsteps fade down the hall.
I collapse onto my bed, clutching my pillow like it just saved my life.
Close call. Too close. If Aries had walked in a second earlier, I'd be a ghost haunting Section E by now.
I peek at the window, heart still hammering.
Empty. The branch is swaying, but Keifer's gone.
For a second, I almost let out a sigh of relief.
Then my phone buzzes.
One new message.
From: Keifer
"You owe me for almost getting me caught, Mrs. Watson."
Excuse me!? It was not my fault that idiot thought it was a good idea to climb up a window!
WHY IS MY LIFE LIKE THISS!!??