[Jow Ylliard Hayle]
I got home with my chest still pounding.
Jovenyl’s sad face lingered in my mind.
I knocked my head against the wall. Of all things, why was I thinking about Jovenyl?
> Why was she the first one I thought of?<
My phone buzzed again—another message.
I sighed and opened Facebook Messenger, already expecting the flood.
Clayrin’s Message Bombardment:
"Jow, I'm home 💪🍀 Lucky no one touched me. No digging of graves today. 😌"
"Seener! Lookin’ handsome now, huh? 🙂😑😐"
"I saw a cat earlier after I got off the bus. So cute. You came to mind the moment I saw it. Had this snobby vibe, scratched me when I tried to pet it. Hahahahahaha."*
"inanentohsywtsgaha please reply🤬🤬🤬🤬!"
"Jow, seriously, get some sleep. Your eyes look sunken. Do you cry every night? Still thinking of Jovenyl? Hahahahaha unlucky you, she’s not even thinking about you anymore. Move on, you loser. Tsk. Hahaha. Huhuhu. 🥹🥺"
> You're going schizophrenic in this chat... Wait, didn’t she leave ahead of me? That means she lives farther. So Jovenyl really did live far, just like she told me bef—argh! Stop thinking about her!<
The pounding in my chest eased.
A chuckle escaped my lips.
She hadn’t seen the post yet. Reporting that page felt... satisfying.
I glanced at the clock—almost 1 PM. Time really flew.
I left my room and went down to the kitchen. The villa was empty; Lolo, the staff, and the helpers were all out, probably attending to something important. I let myself in with the spare key.
Grabbing a mug and spoon, I pulled out a jar of coffee and sugar, mixed them, and poured hot water from the thermos.
“Nothing beats afternoon coffee,” I said with a soft laugh.
I walked to the back door that led to the pool area.
The blue water shimmered under the moonlight.
I sat on a bench shaded by a canopy at the poolside, sipping my coffee. Just two sips in, heat surged through me. Sweat beaded on my skin.
> I need a swim.<
I didn’t even bother changing. Fully clothed, I dove in. I sank to the bottom of the pool and then slowly floated back up.
> I love this refreshing feeling.<
And just like that, I forgot—at least for a while—everything I’d been stressing over.
---
[Clayrin Aisfine Ezz]
Ugh, it’s so hot!
I felt like I was melting in my own sweat, especially my palms—sticky and gross.
I was slouched on the living room sofa, watching anime with my phone screen-cast to the TV. My old shirt, which I had just taken off after that trip with Jow, served as my makeshift fan.
> I want more of that sweet dried anchovy snack.<
The air felt hotter by the second. Even my breathing felt like it was on fire.
My hand—it still ached where Jow had squeezed it tightly earlier. A weird twitch kept running through my fingers.
> Should I just strip down to my underwear? I mean, I’m alone here anyway.<
Still no reply.
I was expecting Jow to at least react to my texts. But nope. The guy was colder than ice.
The anime hit a dramatic peak—Estrossa was stabbing Meliodas right through the heart, the animation intense and the music swelling.
Then—pop!—an incoming call notification ruined the mood. Jovenyl’s number.
> Seriously? Now?<
I stared at the ringing screen for a full minute before answering.
“Hello, ate you're disturbi—”
“Clayrin! Did you see the post on that gossip page?” she yelled.
A post?
I scratched my head.
“Wait, hang up first,” I told her. She ended the call quickly.
I opened Facebook and scrolled to the infamous campus gossip page.
Wow.
I read the caption with zero enthusiasm and checked out the two attached photos.
“Damn, I look good from the back.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the image of me and Jow, both turned away from the camera.
His shoulders slouched, like the weight of the world was pressing down on him.
> This is what made Jovenyl panic?<
I raised my eyebrows.
Now that I thought about it—after I left the restroom at the market, I felt someone trailing me. But it wasn’t hard to lose them. I got back to where Jow waited, already looking fed up.
He was twitching his fingers and shooting glares at random passersby. His leg bounced like he was trying to drill a hole into the ground with his heel.
My phone rang again. Jovenyl.
“Hello,” she greeted, calm this time.
I waited five seconds before replying, “Hello.”
“Did you see it?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t bother me. You know me. I’m aromantic…”
I heard her exhale heavily.
“Who was with you?”
“Your ex-husband. I bought sweet anchovies, made him tag along so he could pay. Jealous? Yie… joke.” I laughed at my own teasing.
“I don’t have anything to do with him anymore, okay? I was just... curious who you were with. I worried about the kind of guy you were hanging out with. You know I just don’t want you getting hurt again. After those two traumas... I mean—never mind. If it was Eyeden, I’d be relieved. He’s a gentle soul.”
I growled when she said that.
“Gentle soul?!” I yelled, pulling the phone away from my ear. I looked at my hand—the same one Jow had gripped so tightly earlier.
“Can we go out next Saturday?” she asked.
“Sure. Where to?”
“Anywhere.”
I clenched my fist and punched the air.
---
The next day – Monday. The bane of every student’s existence.
As I walked through campus toward the senior high building, I noticed students whispering and staring at me. Some turned away when I met their eyes—especially the boys. A few even touched their chests and gave them a little squeeze.
“Wow. Gossip hits hard,” I muttered.
I reached the senior high school building.
I wasn’t expecting to see Jow at the lockers. He was switching out notebooks for his next class.
I almost called out to him—but then I noticed his face.
He was sweating and blinking rapidly, glancing nervously left and right like he was being hunted.
> See you in the club later,< I thought.
I skipped the lockers—I had planned to grab my backup shoes. My current heels were starting to sound off, like they’d give up any second.
I popped in my earbuds and connected them to my phone, blasting music as I climbed to the HUMSS floor.
I arrived quickly. The halls were still pretty empty—too early for most.
As I passed by Jow’s classroom, a girl suddenly stepped out and we nearly collided.
One of my earbuds fell out, but I caught it just in time.
“Sorry,” she said with a calm smile.
“No, it’s okay.” I gave a little wave.
“Thanks,” she replied before walking off.
I kept walking, but a nagging feeling tickled my forehead.
She looked familiar.
> Who was that again? I know her face… ahhh—<
“She’s Lean May Ronica Adolfo!”
I turned to glance back.
“She’s back? Didn’t Nova say she’d return in the third quarter of the school year?” I rubbed my chin.
To be continued.