Truth and heartbreak
Jay jay's POV
I feel like punching someone. If it wasn't really… Ugh!
"Ouch…" Ci-N whispered while rubbing his ear.
It's his fault! He was listening in on my call. I got so annoyed I pulled his ear. And even though we had already fallen asleep and everything, he was still feeling the pain.
Damn it!
"The other one now… So it's fair," I said, and he immediately covered his other ear.
"No," he said.
I just rolled my eyes at him and walked out of the room. We were about to eat breakfast and go to school. Honestly, I had no appetite after what happened yesterday. Every time I remembered Dylan's face when he pointed a gun at me, my knees started shaking again.
My courage completely disappeared.
Damn it!
Ci-N suddenly walked ahead of me, still covering his ear. He looked like he was starving. I stopped walking when I saw Aries. He was glaring at me—which wasn't new.
I kept walking and was about to pass by him when he suddenly spoke, making me stop and face him fully.
"Yuri."
What the…?
"…You're marrying him."
His words slapped me in the face. A harsh reminder of the deception I was doing to Yuri. My chest tightened. It felt like I was being strangled as I looked at him.
Aries gave a bitter laugh.
"You're so beautiful… Jealous, maybe?"
Of course! Are you?
His tone was insulting. My eyebrows furrowed immediately.
"You're marrying Yuri and yet you still have Keifer? Amazing."
He shook his head while walking away from me.
Besides being annoyed with this walking horoscope, only one thing was running through my mind: I'm going to tell Yuri the truth.
I don't want to lie to him anymore. That was never my intention, and I don't want to add more sins to what I've already done to him.
I had breakfast in a daze. Even while showering and getting dressed, I was out of it. I didn't know how—but if possible, I wanted to tell him today.
"Jay-jay," Ci-N called while we were walking. "You're not listening."
"S-sorry. Were you saying something?"
"Oh nothing," he said sarcastically, which annoyed me a bit.
"I said a lot already. Used up all my handsomeness here."
I scratched the back of my head. What the hell?
"You think you're handsome?"
His eyes suddenly sparkled.
"Don't shout it out too much. That's my secret."
The kind of moment where you just want to curse because of how shameless he is.
I didn't reply anymore and just kept walking.
When we got to school, the students were in a frenzy—not because of my beauty. Joke!
It was because the school retreat thing was coming up. Way too early! It was even ahead of Valentine's Day.
When I got to the room, I looked around for Yuri. he wasn't there. This might've been the first time I got to school before him. Usually, he's always early.
When I sat down, I immediately checked my phone—something I should've done earlier.
he had texted me.
From: Yuri
Can't go to school. I have a fever. Please take care of yourself.
Damn it!
Why now?! Just great! What is this?! Damn it!
Today was supposed to be the day. It shouldn't be delayed anymore. Looks like I'll have to visit her.
In a daze…
Is it wrong to ask heaven for one—huh?!
Son of a—!
I just suddenly started singing.
Sir Alvin and Keifer had already arrived without me noticing. My mind had traveled far. Probably all the way to Pluto.
Someone suddenly flicked my ear. It hurt so bad I screamed.
"Damn it! That hurts!"
Everyone looked at me immediately. Sir Alvin was glaring at me too. I looked at Keifer, who was trying to hide his smile. Jerk!
What did I even do to him?! Flicking my ear out of nowhere like that!
I just bowed my head. This Keifer is such a pain!
I wanted to get back at him but that wasn't what I was thinking about. I was thinking of what I needed to tell Yuri. How I'd even start.
Throughout the next classes, I still wasn't myself. Ci-N kept asking questions, but I couldn't answer. Even Keifer was starting to get suspicious.
Dismissal time came. I packed up my stuff and was about to stand when the "king" grabbed my hand.
"Stay," he ordered.
I was about to refuse. I needed to go to Yuri, but he suddenly looked serious. I had no choice but to sit back down.
"Jay! Let's go?" Ci-N asked.
Keifer answered for me.
"You go ahead. We just need to talk."
Though confused, he followed anyway.
There was no one else in the room. I looked at the guy and waited for him to speak.
"W-what? What do we need to talk about?" I asked.
"What your problem is. We noticed you're not yourself."
Tsk!
I didn't really want to say it but maybe he should know too.
"It's because… I'm thinking of how to tell Yuri the truth," I answered.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm feeling really guilty. I don't want to lie to Yuri anymore."
He bowed his head.
"I understand. Even I feel ashamed of her now."
He took a deep breath.
"…Why did we both fall for the same girl again?"
I bit my lower lip. I could see the image of Yuri's face when he got hurt because of Ella—playing again in my head.
It's going to happen again.
"I was planning to visit her now," I said, and he looked at me meaningfully.
"…I'm going to tell her."
He suddenly stood and walked out of the room. I quickly followed.
"I'll take you," he said while still walking.
We got to the parking lot and I saw Aries with Ella holding onto his arm. It looked like they purposely stood next to Keifer's car. I looked at them and also glanced at the king, but he didn't seem affected by their presence.
He got in the car so I followed. I looked at Aries briefly and our eyes met. I also saw Ella's look toward Keifer. Should I poke her eyes out?
The car drove off. We were both quiet the entire ride. I wanted to ask if he was still affected by those two, but I didn't want to start a conversation we might end up fighting about.
What Aries said still lingered in my mind. I was convinced that he wasn't playing me, but still… it was so frustrating!
I could see Yuri's building from a distance. The closer we got, the faster my heartbeat became. When we got to the parking lot, I didn't get out right away. I had to gather my courage first.
"I'll stay here. If I go up, we'll probably just end up fighting," he said.
I nodded. "Thanks."
I got out of the car and walked toward the elevator. I looked at Keifer as I waited for it to open. He forced a smile at me.
I immediately got in when the door opened. I pressed Yuri's floor number.
My palms were sweating. I didn't know if it was from the heat in the elevator or from how nervous I was.
As I opened the door, four women in kimonos welcomed me. Not as many as those who used to greet us before. They bowed and greeted me in their language.
I just bowed and greeted them back... in Tagalog. I asked them where their young master was. They pointed me toward his room.
Good thing I was already somewhat familiar with the layout here. I didn't have trouble finding him. I knocked, but no one answered.
I wanted to back away. He was sick after all—this might not be a good time to talk to him.
No, it has to be now!
Damn it! I really have no choice. I opened the door. I expected him to be lying in bed, asleep—since he was sick. But he wasn't there. I glanced at the balcony. The sliding door was open, and the curtain swayed from the breeze.
Everybody loves the things that you do
From the way you talk to the way you move
Everybody here is watching you
'Cause you feel like home
You're like a dream come true
I walked closer. I saw Yuri sitting on a long bamboo bench, his back turned to me, holding a guitar and singing.
"But if by chance you're here alone
Can I have a moment before I go?
'Cause I've been by myself all night long
Hoping you're someone I used to know..."
Just like before, his voice was so soothing.
Honestly, he and Keifer were almost the same. Well, they were friends, after all.
"You look like a movie
You sound like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young..."
They were both smart, a little bossy, quiet, and talented in singing.
They were both handsome, rough around the edges, but they never took advantage of anyone. Most of all, they weren't hard to love.
"Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized..."
My tears just started falling.
If only I could teach my heart.
I didn't want to hurt him.
I didn't want him to go through pain again.
"We were sad of getting old
It made us restless
It was just like a music
It was just like a song..."
It was so unfair!
I wanted him to be happy too, but he'd only end up hurt because of me.
I thought I could do it.
Suddenly, he stopped playing the guitar and turned to me.
"Jay? You're here," he said and put the guitar down.
He stood up and faced me with a smile.
My heart broke when his smile disappeared after noticing I was crying.
"Why? Did something happen?"
He was about to touch my cheek, but I quickly stepped back.
"...Is there a problem?"
"I-I'm sorry, Yuri." I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Please believe me, I really tried."
He looked so confused. "W-what are you talking about?"
"I'm really sorry. So sorry." My tears couldn't be held back anymore. The heaviness was unbearable—I could barely breathe.
"I really tried."
"Jay..."
"But... it's really Keifer."
My sobbing grew heavier. I waited for him to say something, but he remained silent.
I couldn't look at him out of shame.
I probably waited several minutes. Until eventually, I stopped crying—and it seemed like that's what he had been waiting for.
"I know." Those were the first words he said, and they confused me.
"...I know it's really Keifer. From the very start."
My chest tightened at his words.
So many questions filled my head, but my mouth refused to move.
"...Just like with Ella, I took a chance again.
But again, I'm wrong.
I'm defeated by the same guy."
He forced a smile.
"I'm not stupid, Jay. I knew it already from the day you said yes to me."
W-What… I'm so confused.
"Haoya wasn't lying when she said she saw you and Keifer.
She just saved us from the embarrassment."
Damn it… was all I could say to myself.
"...And I also know that you made out with him in the restroom."
He laughed bitterly.
"...I was there that night when you confessed to them."
Shit.
All the curses I know aren't enough to describe how I feel.
How did he know all that?
"If you're asking how I knew, the answer is simple..."
He stepped closer and bent slightly.
He leaned toward my ear.
I shivered as I felt his breath on my shoulder.
It was burning hot.
"Keifer is not the only one who has ways," he whispered—and my heart stopped.
He stood up straight and looked me directly in the eyes.
"...I want you to leave now. I don't want to see you."
"Y-Yuri..." Of all the things I wanted to say, that was the only thing that left my lips.
He turned his back on me.
"I will let you continue your relationship with Keifer, but when our wedding day comes, you'll say 'I do' no matter what—
or it will be the end of Fer Corp," he said with authority.
He's still going to go through with it?!
"Y-Yuri... Y-you're only going to hurt yourself."
"What's the point?! You're already hurting me."
I heard his voice breaking.
Even though his back was turned,
I knew he was crying.
Even though his back was turned,
I knew he was crying.
My tears fell again, mirroring the pain I felt inside.
"Trust me, at the end of the day, you'll still be mine," he added.
I tried to step closer to him, but my knees wouldn't move.
"Y-Yuri... Please."
"Jay... leave," he ordered, weighing even heavier on my heart.
"Leave. Now!"
I had no choice but to slowly walk toward his room's door.
He chose not to look at me—not even at the end.
But just before I could step out, he said something that completely shattered me.
"You're exactly like Ella. Full of false hope."