We both came out of the room together and headed downstairs, but the moment my feet hit the main floor, the very first person my eyes searched for was Keifer.
But... he wasn't there.
I looked all around the spacious living room, but he was nowhere in sight.
My chest instantly felt heavy again, that familiar ache returning to tighten my heart.
I gulped down the lump in my throat, opening my mouth to ask someone where he went, but I think Aries read my expression right away.
He placed a steady, reassuring hand on my shoulder, stepping forward as he asked,
"Kuya! Where is Keifer?"
Devil turned toward us, raising an eyebrow.
Of course, he looked mildly amused to see Aries talking completely normally again after that whole hurricane of drama upstairs.
He let out a tired sigh, looking like he was deeply regretting every single decision that led to letting us stay in his house.
"He's your best friend too," Devil said, his tone dripping with his usual sarcasm.
"He also ran away."
My heart sank all over again.
God, please don't do this much injustice to my poor heart today... at least let it rest for a few hours before dropping another bad news on me!
I stood there feeling completely deflated.
But before any of us could say another word, I felt a solid arm sling around my left shoulder, followed immediately by another arm wrapping around my right side.
I blinked and looked up. It was Felix and Kit.
In a matter of seconds, the rest of the Section E boys swarmed in, completely surrounding me like a human shield of noise and chaotic energy.
I looked around at their familiar, crazy faces.
"Let's go to the mall!" Felix
announced, puffing out his chest with a hilariously fake serious face.
"YESSSSSSSSSS! Let's go, I'm hungyyyyyyy!"
CN shouted excitedly from behind us.
And before I could even process what was happening, Felix and Kit had already scooped me up and were carrying me on their shoulders like a trophy.
**
I finally got home after what felt like the longest day ever.
The whole afternoon at the mall was surprisingly fun;
the boys were being their usual loud, chaotic selves, doing everything in their power to make me laugh.
They didn't let me feel, even for a single second, like I had just confessed the scariest, most horrific part of my life just hours prior.
Right now, I was lying on my bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
The doctor from the asylum had recommended that I start taking regular therapy sessions.
Looking back at how much Section E supported me today, I made up my mind—
I'm actually going to take those sessions.
I want to heal myself.
I can't keep staying like this forever... broken, afraid, and hiding in the dark.
Suddenly, I noticed my phone resting on the edge of my blanket.
I picked it up and opened my call logs, my fingers automatically finding Keifer's number without me even having to think about it.
I had tried to call him so many times throughout the day, but he hadn't picked up even once.
When I asked Section E where he went after leaving Devil's house,
they just told me he got an urgent call from his company and was needed there immediately... but... what about me?
A familiar, painful tightness squeezed my chest, and I could feel the hot pricks of fresh tears forming in the corners of my eyes.
Does he hate me now?
Did I hurt him by telling everyone about my past?
D... does he just not want someone like me in his life anymore... someone who is just broken and... nothing else?
I didn't even realize when the tears officially broke free, silently falling down the sides of my face and soaking into my pillow.
Why didn't he pick up my calls?
And why did he have to leave me behind so easily when I needed him the most?
These thoughts were eating me alive, pulling me deeper into a dark hole of anxiety.
Ping!
A sudden notification popped up on my phone screen.
Keiferrr....
It was a message from Keifer.
My fingers worked instantly, though clumsily, as I practically scrambled to open his chat.
Keifer: Let's talk tomorrow, good night.
I exhaled a long breath, pulling the phone tight against my chest. At least he replied.
But...
It sounded so cold. So rough and distant.
Oh god! I really didn't know what tomorrow was going to bring for me... and I wasn't having any good feelings about it at all.
I was constantly wiping my tears away, but they just kept coming again and again, refusing to stop.
Eventually, slowly, I fell asleep from sheer mental exhaustion, with dried tear tracks still lingering on my cheeks.
**
Morning came faster than expected. I groaned softly as I opened my eyes, my head feeling heavy.
But the very second I woke up, a flood of thoughts immediately invaded my mind.
...Keifer...
I instantly started searching for my phone on the bed, and to my luck, I found it buried under my blanket near my feet.
I unlocked the phone screen.
And as soon as I did, a notification was already waiting for me.
It was from Keifer.
Keifer: Be ready till 10, I'll pick u.
I read the text, but... I didn't feel a single spark of excitement.
It felt so rough, so detached.
Normally, he would have teased me, sent a stupidly playful text, or made me blush even through a simple message... but today, there was nothing.
Just cold instructions.
I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over my face.
Then I happened to glance at the time in the corner of the screen.
Wtf.
It was already 9:00 AM!
I need to hurry up and get ready fast!
I ran straight to the bathroom, freshened up as fast as my hands would let me, threw on a simple crop top, and frantically tried to tame the messy nest of hair on top of my head.
Without wasting another second, I hurried downstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
But the moment my foot hit the final step on the ground floor, my heart completely skipped a beat.
"MUMMA! PAPAA?!"
I sprinted toward them, and Dad immediately expanded his arms wide to catch me.
I buried myself in their embrace, hugging them both tightly.
Seriously... it was the absolute best feeling in the world after everything I had just gone through.
Tita Gema was back too, standing right beside them.
"Tita..."
She smiled warmly and pulled me into a gentle hug, using her fingers to smooth down my unruly hair.
"How are you, Jay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching my face with deep affection.
"I'm good, Tita," I smiled back at her, feeling a strange mix of relief and total shock.
"Did you all come back without telling me?"
"We told Angelo and Aries," Tita asked, looking genuinely confused.
"Didn't they tell you?"
"No!" I blurted out, feeling completely offended.
"No one told me anything!"
I whipped around to glare at Aries, but he was just standing there silently laughing at my dramatic reaction, while Kuya Angelo simply shook his head at the two of us.
Typical people.
"Are you going somewhere, Jay?" Mumma asked, noticing my rushed outfit and the phone clutched in my hand.
"Um..." I stammered, suddenly feeling a bit hesitant to say it out loud. "Actually..."
"She's going to meet Keifer, Mom.
He's coming to pick her up,"
Aries chimed in casually, leaning against the wall.
"Oh, okay," Mumma said normally, not even batting an eye.
What? They didn't even react to that?
And how the hell does Aries already know?!
But before I could demand a proper explanation from any of them, my phone started ringing loudly in my grip.
I looked down at the screen—it was Keifer.
I glanced back up at the phone, and then at my family, who had finally come back home after such a long time away.
A heavy pull of guilt tugged at my chest.
"Jay, pick up the call," Dad said gently.
"It's... it's Keifer. He must be outside waiting," I muttered softly.
"Then go ahead."
"I... I want to spend time with you guys," I said, looking between Mom and Dad, feeling completely torn.
"It's okay, Jay, just go now.
Besides, you're going to be with us later anyway," Mumma said, offering me a soft smile.
But I don't know... something felt off about the way she said it.
I didn't feel like she meant those words the exact way I was taking them.
She was smiling, but... there was a subtle, unexplained weight lingering behind her eyes.
Before I could process her tone or ask what she meant—
Ring! Ring!
The phone started ringing again, buzzing aggressively against my palm.
"I'll be right back!" I said quickly, giving them all a rushed goodbye wave before turning on my heel and running out the front door.
_________________
Hey buddies how are u?
I hope u guys like the chapter
I'll try to update asap
Till then...
Bye bye
Love u ❤️