Keifer's POV
1:57 AM
Man, I miss Jay.
Like, painfully miss her. It's ridiculous. How am I supposed to survive a few more hours just to see her at school? Time was crawling like a snail on sedatives.
I flipped over on my bed, again. The ring idea? Fail. Girl rejected it in the sweetest, most "I'm not ready but I still love you" way possible. Respectfully declined. But I understand. Thankfully, I'm a man of backup plans. Always have a Plan B. Or in this case, a Plan Necklace.
Ugh. This bed is too soft, my brain is too loud, and my heart's too annoying. I feel like a teenage girl journaling about her crush.
Alright. It's almost 2 a.m. If I don't sleep now, I'm gonna show up at school looking like a zombie or not.
Goodnight, my Jay. Please don't wear mismatched socks again. Hopefully…
⸻
Jay's POV
Birthday morning
I don't usually make a big deal out of my birthday. Like, it's just a day. I wake up, get ready, exist, and that's it.
But this morning… felt different.
Maybe it was the weird energy in the air or the fact that my mirror self actually didn't look half bad after brushing her teeth.
I pulled on my uniform, not really paying attention ended up wearing mismatched socks, of course. One had smiley faces, the other had some design. Classic me. Couldn't be bothered to change. Socks were socks. Nobody cared.
Just as I was about to head downstairs, something on the floor caught my eye.
A box.
A cute little gift box with a ribbon dead giveaway that someone was trying to make me cry.
I picked it up, curiosity already punching butterflies into my stomach. Opened the lid…
Nike Air Force 1s.
Blue and white.
I gasped. No. Freaking. Way.
Heels? Nah. Torture devices in disguise. But sneakers? Sneakers are love. Sneakers are life. These were perfect.
Tucked inside the box was a folded note. I unfolded it, already choking up.
"I know you don't like heels so I got these shoes instead.
They say, 'For women, shoes are the most important. Good shoes take you good places.'
Happy birthday, Jay-Jay.
—From your brother, Aries."
I nearly burst.
My eyes instantly welled up. Before I could even finish blinking the tears away, I bolted downstairs.
Aries was sitting on the couch, pretending to scroll on his phone like he wasn't the reason I was about to sob.
I tackled him in a hug.
"Ugh, no—Jay gross stop," he said, trying to wiggle out like a cat being bathed.
"Shut up and take the hug," I whispered, sniffling. "Thank you. I love them."
His small smile was worth more than the shoes. That smile said, I care. I know you. I'm proud of you.
Then Kuya Angelo walked in, casual as ever.
"Happy birthday," he said, handing me another box. "Here."
"What is this?" I asked, opening it.
"A phone. Yours was ancient, like damaged.
My jaw dropped. A brand new phone?
"You've behaved better recently," he added with a smirk. "And you deserve something good. Call me if things ever go wrong."
I nodded, stunned. "Th-thank you so much, Kuya."
He ruffled my hair. "I also have one more thing to give you, but I need to finalize it first."
Mysterious much?
Aunt Gemma popped her head out from the kitchen, apron already stained.
"Happy birthday, child" she called. "I prepared a feast!"
My mom followed, holding up a hanger. "And I got you something wearable."
I gave her a look. "Please don't say it's a dress."
"It's not," she said, smiling. "It's a black jumpsuit—body-suit style. I know what you like."
"Oh my God, thank you!"
Then Aunt Gemma listed the birthday breakfast lineup like she was reading from a five-star menu.
"Muffins, pancakes, waffles, eggs, French toast, hashbrowns, sausages, and a milkshake."
I could've cried again.
I annihilated the buffet. Like truly destroyed it.
"Thank you!" I said with a mouthful of sausage.
Angelo shook his head. "We've raised a food-devouring gremlin."
Aries smirked. "She's gonna get fat. Honestly, she already is."
I gasped. "Hey! I'm not fat. I'm just… healthy."
I chased after him while still chewing, then jumped into the car before anyone could fat-shame me again.
At School
Once we reached school, I spotted Mica and Rakki first.
"Happy birthday, Jay!!" they cheered.
Mica also hugged me and handed me a tiny box of handmade pins one said "Socks are a vibe," and I nearly choked from laughter.
Surprised but Freya also wished me.
When I entered Section E, it was like a surprise party had exploded.
All of the ulupongs (a.k.a. my chaotic section e) surrounded me, shouting, hugging, handing me random shaped presents.
There was even a cake—with frosting so thick I almost passed out from joy.
Cin looked the most hyped, bouncing in place like he'd had three Red Bulls and a gummy worm.
Then… silence.
Like something shifted.
I turned to see Keifer walking toward me. Eyes only on me. That half-smile he does? Yeah, it hit me like a bus.
And before I could say anything, he leaned in and kissed me.
Dead.
Gone.
Buried six feet under my own blush.
When he pulled back, he held up a small box.
"Here," he said. "Your real gift."
I opened it slowly.
It was a necklace.
A delicate chain with a shooting star pendant subtle, pretty, glowing in the light. He reached out and fastened it around my neck himself.
My fingers brushed the tiny metal star, heart racing.
I turned it over and squinted.
Engraved in the back, in the tiniest, most careful font:
"I love you 4ever."
I was speechless.
This boy. This Watson boy. Just casually out here melting my soul.
The ring. Now this? Bro was on a mission.
The class exploded into chaos.
Everyone screamed, whistled, hooted. Calix and Denzel started banging a desk. Felix shouted, "Y'ALL GETTING MARRIED NEXT OR WHAT?"
Even Cin was screaming like he'd just won the lottery.
But not everyone was smiling.
I noticed Yuri from the corner of my eye. His expression was… off. He didn't clap. Didn't cheer. Just stood there, watching.
Then he left.
Was Yuri… jealous?
No time to process, because right then, Sir Alvin walked in, looking like he regretted being a teacher.
"Before I start, happy birthday, Jay," he said.
"Thank you, sir!"
"And now the bad news," he continued. "Your final exams begin in six days. I suggest you start reviewing now."
The entire class groaned like we were being handed death sentences.
Finals?
Oh crap.
I had totally forgotten. My heart dropped. Kuya Angelo was going to kill me. Or worse burn me. Legitimately.
"Let's begin," Sir Alvin said, picking up his marker and turning to the board.
I tried to focus. I really did.
But a certain idiot sitting three seats away kept looking at me. Not the board. Not the teacher.
Me.
Keifer Watson, the love-sick golden retriever.
And I? I was equally doomed. Because I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss… or the necklace… or the fact that my birthday might've just become the best day of my life.
My life is actual chaos.
Maybe I should've worn matching socks today.