Jayjay POV
After dinner, we were all sprawled out in front of the TV, half-watching, half-dozing. The house was loud in that comfortable way—random comments, laughter, someone fighting for the remote.
Then the doorbell rang.
Everything stopped.
Hex stood up first. "I'll check."
I barely noticed how stiff his shoulders were until he reached the front door. He opened it—
and slammed it shut immediately.
Hard.
"What's wrong?" I asked, already standing.
Hex turned around. His face had gone pale.
"They're here."
My heart dropped. "Who's they?"
He swallowed. "Marco. And… Mama."
The room exploded.
"What?!"
"Here?!"
"Now?!"
"No—wait," I said quickly, my mind racing. "Why didn't you open the door ?"
Hex shook his head, panic flashing in his eyes. "What if she sees you? What if she recognizes you?"
I frowned. "Why would that be a problem?"
He looked at me like I should already know. "Jay… don't you remember what Grandma told you?"
And suddenly, I did.
My stomach tightened.
"…Okay," I said slowly. "Then we have to act. Now."
I looked around the room. "Everyone upstairs. Now. Except Keifer and Aunt Katherine."
They all froze, listening.
"David," I continued, "you're Hex's older brother. His name is Charles, not Hex. Aunt Katherine—you're their aunt. Their parents are out of town and will be back on Monday. Got it?"
Everyone nodded quickly.
People scattered. Some rushed upstairs. ci-n and keifer slipped quietly into the kitchen and hid near the counters. The house went unnaturally silent.
David took a deep breath and opened the door.
Marco and her stepped inside.
I stayed hidden, watching from the corner.
Hex stood behind David the whole time—close, but not too close. His head was slightly lowered. He never once looked at her face.
"Good evening," David said calmly. "How may we help you?"
The woman's eyes scanned the house. "I'm sorry to come unannounced,I'm Miss Trisha Reyes " she said. "We just wanted to address something involving my son."
Hex didn't move.
Trisha spoke next. "It's about what Marco did. We wanted to apologize."
Marco stepped forward, suddenly awkward. He walked toward Hex—toward Charles—and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Charles," he said quietly.
Hex flinched.
I saw it.
Trisha noticed too. Her brows furrowed, just for a second, like something didn't add up. Her eyes lingered on Hex's face—his hair, his posture, the way he refused to look up.
But Hex stayed still. Silent. Hidden in plain sight.
Then she reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope.
"This is an invitation," she said. "Marco's birthday party. 10am."
David hesitated. "10am?"
She paused. "Oh—sorry. I meant next Saturday 10 am." She forced a smile. "I hope he can come."
David turned slightly. "Charles, take it."
Hex hesitated.
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't move.
Then he reached out slowly, took the invitation, and whispered, "Thank you."
Marco leaned closer, hopeful. "I hope you come, friend."
Hex said nothing.
Aunt Katherine walked them to the door. Polite. Calm. Controlled.
The door closed.
The lock clicked.
And the house breathed again.
Everyone came out of hiding at once—stairs creaking, whispers turning into noise. Hex stood frozen in the living room, staring at the invitation in his hand.
Then he dropped it.
It landed face-up on the floor.
"I'm not going to that party," he said quietly.
No one argued.
Because the way his voice cracked—
We all knew he meant it.