Inner Pain
Jayjay's POV
You're just like Ella.
Those words kept repeating in my head like a broken record. It hurt so much!
False hopes.
Keifer was hugging me tightly. He didn't say anything, just let me cry it all out. I was like a child, sobbing uncontrollably. His arm and shoulder were soaked with my tears and snot.
"You can't blame Yuri…" he said, still holding me. "He was hurt, again."
"I-I know… b-but it just hurts so much."
That wasn't my intention. I never meant to lead him on. I didn't mean to. I understand why he's so angry at me, but I still couldn't stop crying. It felt like millions of needles were stabbing my heart.
"Keifer… he doesn't want to call off the wedding."
He let go of me and held my face in both hands. Even though my face was messy with tears and snot… he still kissed me.
For a moment, I forgot why I was crying. I even forgot how awful I must've looked.
Damn it! His lips tasted like cigarettes and mentos. He pulled away and looked at me with disgust.
"Yuck! Your snot!"
I smacked him hard but he just laughed.
"You bastard!" I said, annoyed.
He held my cheeks again, but this time, he looked at me seriously.
"Don't worry about the wedding. We still have time to come up with a plan to stop it."
Sniffling, I nodded. He kissed me on the forehead. Somehow, I felt a little lighter.
He pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to me.
"Wipe your snot. You're disgusting," he said, laughing.
I grabbed the hanky and blew my nose aggressively. I probably blew out everything I had up there—maybe even my brain. After I was done, I handed the hanky back to him.
"Thanks."
"Keep it… I'd be embarrassed to take it back. You might've held something back too."
I just held onto it. Keifer started the car. It was time to head home.
"I want to go home," I whispered.
He nodded silently. The ride was quiet. Even if I wanted to speak, what was I supposed to say? Keifer kept glancing at me, but I couldn't return the look.
Even though the pain in my chest eased a little, it still hurt. Those things he said to me…
Honestly, I deserved it. What I did to him was painful. I gave him false hope. If I had only known it would end like this, I never would've said yes in the first place.
What did he mean by, "Keifer isn't the only one who has ways"?
I suddenly remembered what Ci-N told me about him.
My head's a mess! So many questions, but no answers.
"Jay," Keifer called, grabbing my attention.
"Hm?"
"I spoke with Percy."
My heart dropped. I slowly turned to him, but he kept his eyes on the road. This was another thing bothering me.
"H-how?"
"Remember my promise? About your father's information?"
I nodded.
"I got his contact number and tried calling. His secretary answered."
He suddenly pulled the car over. That's when I realized we were already near my house—but he didn't stop directly in front like yesterday.
He took out his phone and started pressing something. Then he handed it to me, and a recording started to play.
"Good morning… You've reached Mr. Mariano's number. May I know who's on the line?" said a man's voice.
From the accent, he sounded foreign. His English was heavy with slang. But why was Keifer letting me hear this?
"This is Keifer Watson. Can I speak to Mr. Mariano? This is urgent," Keifer's voice sounded very authoritative.
There was silence on the other end. I thought the call ended. But the recording continued.
There was some rustling, and then a voice spoke.
"Keifer…" It was Percy's voice.
I looked up at Keifer, but he kept his eyes on the phone.
"…How are you, b'ro."
There was no joy in Percy's voice—only seriousness, with a hint of annoyance. Even the way he said 'b'ro' had some bite to it.
"Who's this?" Keifer snapped.
"Oh, crap! You're making me cry. Did you really forget me that fast? Has it really been that long—four years—that you've forgotten your dead best friend? Oh, my heart! I'm in pain!"
I wanted to be annoyed by what he said. I couldn't tell if he was joking or just being annoying.
"Percy?"
"Finally! I thought you'd never recognize my very handsome voice."
"What the hell?! I have no time for your crap! I need to speak to Mr. Mariano. Now!" Keifer's voice was clearly irritated.
Percy just laughed. Even I was starting to get irritated. It felt like he was playing with Keifer… or with us.
"Mark Keifer Watson… You haven't changed. Still bossy. Still acting like a king?"
"Percy—"
"Keifer…" he mimicked Keifer's tone. "You are already talking to Mr. Mariano." He chuckled.
What the hell?!
"I meant Jay-jay's father, not you."
Percy stopped laughing. Even though it was just a recording, I felt the tension.
"Why do you need to talk to him? I'm here. I'm also a Mariano."
"Shit! Percy! What the hell is your problem?! I need to talk to him! Jay-jay needs her father!" Keifer yelled. Even I would've lost my temper by now.
"Don't shout, b'ro! You can't talk to him no matter how loud you yell."
There was a clanging sound and some voice I couldn't understand.
"I have to go. Don't worry, we'll be back there soon—and when we do, we'll take Jay-jay back. From you, and from Angelo."
The recording ended. And only one thought crossed my mind.
I didn't understand any of it.
What the hell was that?! I'm so confused!
"W-what does he mean by take me back?! I don't get it!" I asked angrily.
Keifer put away his phone. "I'm confused too. I'm starting to get really annoyed with him."
I held my head in frustration. Who even are you?! What do you really want from me?!
Percy Mariano?!
"Looks like we can't do anything but wait."
I looked at him. "I'm tired of waiting."
He held my hand. I was close to crying again, this time out of sheer frustration. Damn Percy!
He cupped my cheek with his other hand. "Hang in there a little more, Jay."
I nodded and tried to smile. That's all I could do now. I even begged David once to tell him to leave me alone. I thought he'd be scared off and try to talk to me, but he didn't. Now I wasn't even sure if David delivered the message.
Keifer kissed my forehead. I looked into his eyes—and then I saw the house gate.
It opened, and someone stepped out—
Shit!
"It's Kuya Angelo," I said and quickly ducked.
I almost hit my head on the gearshift. I looked up at Keifer, who was panicking with the buttons.
"He's still there?!" I asked.
"Y-yeah… Shit! You surprised me. I pressed the wrong things," he said, laughing.
I laughed too. Damn it! He just pops out of the house like that? What's his problem?!
I peeked and saw he was just standing there, looking around.
So what now?!
Here's the problem: if he doesn't leave or go back inside, I won't be able to get out of Keifer's car without him seeing me.
"I can't get out… he'll see me," I pleaded.
Keifer suddenly started the car again. I wanted to face him but I couldn't lift my head.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"I'll drop you at the corner. You can get out there."
I sighed in relief. After a short drive, he stopped.
I looked up—we were at the corner. I quickly reached for the door handle, but he suddenly grabbed my arm.
I looked at him and noticed he was staring straight ahead. I followed his gaze—and my heart stopped.
Aries.
Damn it!
He was staring at us, fists clenched.
"A-Aries… I'm getting out."
I thought he'd let go, but he held on tighter. Then he turned to me and smiled.
"Why—" I didn't finish my sentence because he suddenly kissed me on the cheek.
Wait… just the cheek?
"Take care. I love you, Jay… until scientists find the end of the universe."
I froze. I just nodded. Because—damn it!
"…What's your answer?" he asked.
"M-me too… love—ah, crap!"
Aries suddenly knocked on the car window. He looked furious. I quickly pulled away from Keifer and got out of the car.
"You two really had to flirt right here, huh," he said, glaring at me.
He walked away. I glanced at Keifer and said goodbye. I followed Aries back into the house. I was half-expecting a fight to break out.
Luckily, Kuya Angelo was busy. I went straight to my room—
And there was Ci-N.
That idiot was all smiles.
His eyebrow was going up and down while staring at me. He looked creepy as hell.
"So, how was the conversation?" he asked.
I thought he had already forgotten about that—or maybe he'd been bringing it up earlier, but I was just too out of it. There was real emphasis on the word conversation.
"It—it was okay," I replied while grabbing some clothes.
"Jay… I know I'm good-looking and girls easily fall for me," he said, making my eyebrow shoot up. "...but you didn't have to tell Keifer that you like me."
WHAT did he just say?!
If my eyebrow could leave my face and float away, it would've reached heaven by now.
"'I love Ci-N' daw… ahihihi…"
I could only wince. That punchable brat! It was so obvious the 'I love you' from last night wasn't meant for him.
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him with all my strength—but that little gremlin just caught it and laughed like an idiot.
"You're so annoying!" I yelled and jumped at him, smacking him with the pillow. He just kept laughing like a maniac. When the pillow slipped from my hands, I grabbed his hair and yanked it.
"Ow! Ow!" he shouted.
Little demon.
"Help! Jay-jay's trying to kill me! HELP!"
That just pissed me off more. I kept hitting him, so he shielded himself with his arms. Then I found an opening—I pinched his belly fat, and he screamed out loud.
"Shiiiiitttttt! Ugh!"
"That's what you get, jerk!" I said, already laughing at his reaction.
Somehow, I got myself an instant sibling in Ci-N. Even though he constantly bosses me around and teases me to death, it's fun being with him.
I let go of him and watched him writhe in pain. He looked at me seriously—for a second I thought he was going to get mad—but then he suddenly smirked in that mischievous way of his.
"You're jealous of my belly rolls, huh?"
"You wish! I have some too."
"Then why are you pinching the belly fat of someone who already has belly fat?" he clapped back.
"You're such an idiot!"
"Jay-jay's just jealous!"
I hit him hard again, and he quickly raised his arms to protect himself.
"If I lose this belly fat," he warned.
"Oh yeah? You won't lose it anyway—you eat too much!"
"Let's see then... I'll pinch yours too, and we'll—OW!"
I punched his arm hard. Now he's coming for my belly fat too?!
"You little gremlin! Stop getting too close to Keifer."
"Ayyyyieeehhh… he misses—"
We both froze when the bedroom door opened and Kuya Angelo walked in, eyebrows raised.
D-did he hear that?!
"Ci-N…" he said, and my heart started racing. "Your mother is on the line," he added, pointing outside the room.
The panic in me disappeared—but it was replaced with worry for Ci-N. He looked at me with sad eyes before standing up.
He walked out of the room, still holding the phone cord like he wanted to rip it out of the wall.
He hung up after a few minutes of talking.
"W-what did she say?" I asked.
He lowered his head. "S-she said my condo unit is ready."