JAY-JAY POV
"Stop being dramatic and let's go inside," Aries said, rolling his eyes.
I rolled mine right back at him.
Then—perfect timing—he dropped his phone on the ground.
He sighed and bent down to pick it up.
Perfect. Exactly what I need.
The moment he leaned forward, I sprinted toward him.
Piggy‑back ride
Before he could react, I jumped onto his back, arms around his shoulders, legs locking around his waist.
Aries froze.
Absolutely froze.
"Jay," he said slowly, like he was trying very hard not to lose his mind.
I tightened my grip. "Forward, my noble steed."
"Jay, get off my back," Aries said, trying to wiggle free like a cat trapped in a blanket.
"Piggy," I said, tightening my legs around him.
"You little monkey— you're too heavy! Get off me now!" he complained, stumbling forward under my weight.
I gasped dramatically. "Are you calling me fat?"
"Yes," he said instantly.
I smacked the back of his shoulder. "Aries!"
He groaned. "Jay, I swear, if you don't get off—"
But even as he complained, his hands automatically held my legs so I wouldn't fall.
"Go, my peasant," I commanded, pointing dramatically toward the door like some unhinged queen.
Aries stopped walking.
Completely.
Then he slowly turned his head, giving me the deadliest side‑eye known to mankind.
"Jay," he said, voice flat. "I am not your peasant."
"You are now," I said, tightening my grip like I was riding into battle.
"Jay, get off of me," Aries said, trying to pry my legs off like I was a stubborn koala.
"N. O." I spelled out, leaning forward so my chin rested on his shoulder.
He groaned. "Why are you like this."
"Because God gave me personality," I said proudly.
"God gave you problems," he muttered, trying to wiggle free again.
I tightened my grip even more. "Forward, donkey."
He froze.
"Jay," he said slowly, "if you call me a donkey one more time—"
"Donkey," I whispered in his ear.
He stood up straight, took a deep breath like he was praying for patience.
He inhaled.
He exhaled.
Then he inhaled again, even deeper this time, like he was trying to summon the strength of all twelve zodiac signs to deal with me.
"Aries?" I said sweetly, still clinging to his back.
He didn't answer.
He just kept breathing like a yoga instructor who regretted every life choice that led him here.
Finally, he muttered, "I'm going to throw you."
"You won't," I said confidently.
"I will."
"You won't," I repeated, tightening my grip.
He groaned. "Jay, get off before I actually lose my mind."
I rested my chin on his shoulder. "No."
He inhaled again.
Longer this time.
Like he was preparing for battle.
He actually started walking — but with the most exaggerated, annoyed stomps, like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
"Why are you walking like that?" I asked, laughing into his shoulder.
"Because I'm carrying a whole monkey on my back," he said.
I gasped dramatically. "EXCUSE ME?"
"You heard me," he muttered, stomping even harder just to prove a point.
"You're so rude," I said, tightening my arms around his neck. "I'm delicate. I'm light. I'm a feather."
"You're a bowling ball," he shot back.
I smacked his shoulder. "Aries!"
He didn't even flinch. "What. It's true."
"It is NOT true," I said, offended but still clinging to him like a koala refusing eviction.
He sighed, adjusting his grip on my legs again — gentle, secure, automatic.
"You're impossible," he said.
"And you're dramatic," I replied.
He snorted. "Says the monkey riding me like a horse."
I grinned. "Giddy‑up."
He groaned so loudly it echoed.
When we finally got into the house, he stopped right in the middle of the living room.
"Now get off," Aries said, voice flat, patience gone.
"NO," I said proudly. "I like this donkey. How much will it cost?"
He froze.
Absolutely froze.
Then he slowly turned his head, giving me the deadliest side‑eye known to mankind.
"Jay," he said, voice dangerously calm, "I am not for sale."
"I'll pay in installments," I said, tightening my grip like a koala refusing eviction.
He groaned again. "You're unbelievable."
"I'm a customer," I corrected. "Respect me."
"You're a problem," he muttered.
I gasped. "Wow. Customer service here is terrible."
He actually laughed under his breath — just a tiny, annoyed exhale — before saying, "Get. Off."
"No," I said, leaning my chin on his shoulder. "I'm comfortable."
He groaned so loudly it echoed.
He inhaled like he was about to file a complaint with HR.
Then—
He switched tactics.
"Jay," he said slowly, "if you get off… I'll buy you food."
I froze.
Food.
My weakness.
"What kind of food?" I asked suspiciously, still clinging to him like a koala.
"Whatever you want," he said, already sounding like he regretted it.
I narrowed my eyes. "Even milk tea?"
He sighed. "Yes."
"Even fries?"
"Yes."
"Even—"
"Jay," he cut in, "I will buy you the entire menu if you just get off."
I gasped. "You're bribing me."
"Yes," he said immediately. "Because you're heavy."
I smacked his shoulder. "RUDE."
"Get off and I'll apologize," he said.
I tightened my grip. "Apologize first."
He groaned. "Jay…"
"Say it."
He muttered something under his breath.
"Louder."
He exhaled sharply. "I'm sorry I called you heavy."
I grinned. "Good boy."
He stiffened. "Jay—"
"Okay, fine," I said, finally loosening my legs. "I accept your bribe."
He bent forward so I could slide off, muttering, "Never again."
But the moment my feet hit the floor, he straightened up and said:
"You're still not getting the whole menu."
I gasped. "ARIES!"
He smirked. "Should've stayed on my back."
Before I could argue, a voice cut through the room.
"What is this nonsense here?" Kuya asked, stepping into the living room with that I‑am‑the-law energy he always carried.
Aries immediately straightened up like a soldier caught slacking.
"She broke my back, Kuya," Aries said, stretching dramatically like he'd just survived a war.
I scoffed. "I did NOT break your back."
Kuya raised an eyebrow. "Why were you on his back in the first place?"
Aries pointed at me like a five‑year‑old tattling. "She jumped on me. Like a monkey. Out of nowhere."
I crossed my arms. "He dropped his phone. I saw an opportunity."
Kuya stared at me.
Then at Aries.
Then back at me.
"You two are grown adults," he said, rubbing his temples.
Aries nodded seriously. "Exactly. And she's too heavy for grown adults."
I gasped. "KUYA, HE CALLED ME FAT."
Kuya didn't even blink. "He's not wrong with the amount of food you eat."
I froze.
Aries froze.
The audacity.
"EXCUSE ME?" I said, pointing at both of them like I was about to file a lawsuit.
Kuya shrugged. "Jay, you ate three plates yesterday."
"That was emotional support food," I argued.
Aries snorted. "Emotional support for what?"
"For dealing with YOU," I snapped.
Kuya crossed his arms. "Jay, you also finished the leftover spaghetti at midnight."
"That was survival," I said.
Aries raised an eyebrow. "From what? Hunger?"
"Yes," I said proudly. "I was starving."
Kuya sighed. "Jay, you ate dinner."
I glared at him. "Dinner was at seven. Midnight is a new day."
Aries looked at Kuya. "She has a point."
Kuya shook his head. "No, she doesn't."
"Then leave," I said sweetly.
Kuya gave me a look. "If I leave, you two will burn the house down."
Aries nodded. "She already broke my back."
I gasped. "STOP TELLING PEOPLE THAT."
Kuya crossed his arms. "Jay, why were you on his back?"
"Exercise," I said confidently.
Aries snorted. "Exercise for who? Me?"
Kuya sighed. "Jay, you're too old to be climbing people."
"You're too old to be judging me," I shot back.
The moment those words came out of my mouth—
I regretted it.
Aries slowly turned his head toward me like it was my last day on earth.
Kuya stared at me like he was mentally preparing the razor to shave my eyebrows clean off.
I swallowed. "I… I didn't mean that."
Aries whispered, "Jay. Why would you say that. Why would you say THAT to HIM."
Kuya raised an eyebrow. "Too old, huh?"
I shook my head violently. "No. No no no. I meant—uh—wise. You're too wise to be judging me."
Aries covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. "She's dead."
Kuya stepped closer, arms crossed. "Jay."
"Yes, Kuya?" I squeaked.
"Repeat what you said."
"I said you're… very… bold?" I tried.
Aries choked. "BOLD?!"
Kuya stared at me like he was deciding between grounding me or throwing me out the window.
I panicked. "I LOVE YOU, KUYA."
Aries burst out laughing.
Kuya sighed. "Jay, one more word and I'm shaving your eyebrows while you sleep."
I gasped. "I TAKE IT BACK. I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK."
Aries leaned in. "Too late. You're already on the list."
I slapped his arm. "YOU'RE NOT HELPING."
Kuya shook his head. "Both of you. Sit down before I lose my sanity."
I sat immediately.
Aries sat too.
Because when Kuya uses that tone?
We both know better.
Kuya let out the longest, most disappointed sigh I've ever heard.
"Alright. Sit."
Aries sat immediately.
I sat too, because when Kuya uses that tone?
Even the devil would sit down.
Kuya stood in front of us like a strict teacher about to hand out failing grades.
"First of all," he began, pointing at Aries, "why are you letting her climb you like a jungle gym?"
Aries pointed at me. "She attacked me."
"I did NOT attack you," I said. "I simply… climbed."
Kuya ignored me. "Aries, you're older. You should know better."
Aries blinked. "She jumped on me from behind. What do you want me to do, teleport?"
Kuya turned to me. "And YOU—"
I straightened up.
"—stop acting like a monkey."
I gasped. "WOW. Everyone is body‑shaming and animal‑shaming me today."
Kuya continued like he didn't hear me. "You're too old to be climbing people. What if you fell? What if he dropped you?"
Aries muttered, "I almost did."
I glared at him. "TRAITOR."
Kuya raised a hand. "Jay, you could've gotten hurt. And Aries, you could've gotten injured too."
Aries nodded. "Exactly. My back—"
Kuya cut him off. "Don't exaggerate."
Aries slumped. "Yes, Kuya."
Kuya paced like he was giving a TED Talk on "How to Handle Two Idiots."
"You two are adults. Act like it. No more climbing. No more carrying. No more wrestling in the living room."
I raised my hand. "What about piggy‑back rides?"
"No."
"What about—"
"No."
Aries snickered.
Kuya shot him a look. "And YOU. Stop encouraging her."
Aries pointed at himself. "ME?! I was the victim!"
Kuya nodded. "And you handled it poorly."
Aries looked personally offended. "How do you want me to handle a monkey jumping on me?!"
Kuya sighed. "Not like that."
I crossed my arms. "This is favoritism."
Kuya glared at both of us. "If I hear one more complaint, I'm shaving eyebrows."
Aries and I froze.
At the same time, we said:
"Sorry, Kuya."
He nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now behave."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
💙🔥 AUTHOR'S NOTE 🔥💙
HELLO EVERYONE 😭💙✨
Please comment, guys 😭💬🔥
Only TWO of you commented and now my brain is over here thinking you all are hating my story 😭💔💀
I'm literally spiraling like:
"Did they leave?" 😭
"Did they forget me?" 😭
SO PLEASE COMMENTTTT
Even a "hi"
A "post faster"
A "I'm alive"
ANYTHING 😭💙✨
Your comments keep me motivated and stop me from overthinking like a clown 🤡🔥