After dinner, Jessica and Percy teamed up to wash the dishes. Once they were done, Percy headed out to the balcony, settling into his nightly ritual of watching the skies and the city lights twinkling below.
"Not going to sleep yet?" Jessica asked, peeking out.
"Nah, just taking a breather," Percy replied as he sat down.
"Alright then, I'm gonna take a shower. And don't peek," she added playfully before disappearing inside.
A little while later, Jessica stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a loose tank top and shorts, her damp hair falling over her shoulders.
Percy, still on the balcony, glanced over and blurted without thinking, "Man, you've really kept that figure since the first time I stalked your social media. Still can't get over it."
Jessica raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Why didn't you say that when I showed you Caitlyn's cover photo?"
He laughed nervously. "Her? Nah. She's gotten a little too… liberated. She's not the same girl I used to know." His face flushed red, though his eyes were still clearly caught on Jessica's curves.
"Hey, stop staring," she said, giving him a light slap on the arm before sitting beside him.
Jessica handed him a cold can of beer. "Here. One for you, one for me."
"Thanks," Percy said, cracking it open. After a sip, he asked, "You've got pretty strong thighs—do you play sports or something?"
Jessica chuckled. "Now you're starting to sound like a perv. But to answer your question, yeah—I played volleyball and basketball back in senior high."
Without warning, she leaned into him, her body brushing close.
"Hey, don't get so close," Percy muttered, flustered.
"Oh, come on," Jessica teased. "You're acting like a shy teenager. Don't tell me you've never been close to a woman before."
"…Yeah," Percy mumbled, caught off guard.
With a bold grin and under the influence of a little alcohol, Jessica suddenly climbed onto his lap.
"Whoa, hey! Jessica, what are you doing?" Percy stammered, his body stiff with surprise.
She kissed him—slow, deliberate, and undeniably French. Then pulled back, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. "There. Hehehe."
"You're definitely not yourself right now," Percy said, gently picking her up. "Come on, let's get you to your room."
Jessica pouted as she walked off, grinning. "You're no fun."
After they each went to their rooms, Percy couldn't sleep all night. His mind kept replaying what Jessica had done—the surprise kiss, the way she looked at him, the way his heart wouldn't stop racing.
By morning, Jessica was already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Noticing Percy hadn't come out yet, she peeked into his room and saw him wide awake, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Hey, idiot! What gives? Why couldn't you sleep?" Jessica stormed in, hands on her hips.
Percy sat up, still looking shaken. "You… you took my first kiss…"
Jessica couldn't help but grin as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of bed. "Oh please, stop whining and eat. You're acting like a kid. Admit it—you liked it, didn't you?"
Percy hesitated, but his stomach growled at the smell of food. He gave in and started eating.
After a few bites, Jessica casually said, "Clean yourself up. We're going out today. Your sister told me you always just lock yourself in your room, sulking."
Percy raised an eyebrow but obeyed. He went into the shower, letting the warm water hit his face as he tried to calm his racing thoughts. As he scrubbed his shoulders, he suddenly felt a hand on his back.
"Hey—!" he flinched.
"Shh, relax. I'm just helping you wash your back," Jessica said, her voice low and playful. "With all these muscles, I doubt you can even reach."
Percy stayed still for a moment, letting her scrub. Then, quietly, he said, "Hey, Jessica… thanks. You've really made my life less miserable."
Jessica smiled softly. "If I'd known how miserable you were back when you were courting me… maybe I would've just married you right then and there."
"Heh, there you go being petty again," Percy chuckled.
"Well, for a 'miserable guy,' you're definitely well-endowed down there," she teased.
Then she dropped her towel and kissed him.
"Jess?" Percy whispered in disbelief.
"We're already here… so why not go for it?" she said, her lips brushing against his.
"But—"
"No buts," Jessica whispered, pulling him closer.
And in the warmth of the shower, they made love for the first time.
Afterward, a quiet tension lingered in the room—a mix of surprise, emotion, and something deeper.
"So… you took my first," Percy said, side-eyeing her.
Jessica smirked. "Same to you."
Then she stood up and stretched. "Get dressed. We're going on a date."
Percy paused. "Before the date… can we visit my dad's grave?"
Jessica nodded.
Later, dressed and ready, they drove in silence to the cemetery. Percy knelt by his father's grave, pulling Jessica gently to his side.
"Yo, Boss… it's been a while since our last father-son talk," he said softly. "I brought someone with me today. She makes me happy…" He looked at Jessica, then took her hand. "We don't have labels yet, but right now… she's one of the most important people in my life."
His voice cracked. "I just wish you were here to meet her."
Jessica stayed quiet, letting Percy speak from the heart. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
After a moment, he wiped his face and stood up. "Let's go," he said quietly.
Jessica held his hand tighter as they walked back to the car.
They drove to the mall, ready to enjoy a simple date together. As they walked through the entrance, they spotted someone familiar—Percy's sister Venice, standing with her husband Spencer and their adorable son, Ramoncito.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Venice called out with a teasing grin.
"Hello, Ma'am Venice! And hello there, my cute Ramoncito!" Jessica greeted warmly.
"Tito Percy!!" Ramoncito squealed, running into Percy's arms. "Come give me uppies!"
Percy chuckled, lifting him up with ease and giving him a big hug.
Venice crossed her arms and gave them a mischievous look. "Wow, first time seeing you two out on a date. How about you watch over Ramoncito for a while? Spencer and I could use some alone time. Handling this little rascal can be exhausting."
Before they could respond, she handed Ramoncito over and walked away, dragging Spencer with her. "Be good, baby! Don't stress your Tito and Tita!"
As their date continued, Jessica noticed just how genuinely happy Percy was while spending time with Ramoncito. They visited the play pen, strolled through the toy stores, and she couldn't help but smile seeing Percy light up over action figures and model kits—buying a few for Ramoncito and, sheepishly, one for himself.
After their little tour around the mall, Ramoncito tugged at Percy's shirt. "Tito Percy, can we eat at Jollibee? Pleaseee!"
"Of course, little man," Percy said, ruffling his hair.
Jessica quietly observed how sweet and nurturing Percy was, how natural he looked with a kid beside him. He's going to be a good father someday, she thought.
Later, Venice and Spencer returned to pick up Ramoncito.
"Hey, idiot!" Venice laughed. "Stop buying my kid so many toys! And wait—you bought one for yourself too?" she teased, eyeing the toy bag Percy held.
Jessica chuckled, shaking her head. "He couldn't resist."
As they said their goodbyes, a sudden commotion at the other side of the mall caught their attention. Curious, Jessica and Percy moved closer and saw a media crowd forming around someone familiar.
It was Caitlyn—dressed glamorously and doing a press interview for her upcoming project.
In the middle of the flashing cameras and microphones, Caitlyn spotted Percy and Jessica. Her smile froze, and her eyes locked on Percy, her gaze unreadable.
Percy stared back with cold disinterest, then turned away.
Jessica, sensing something heavy behind the look, asked, "What happened between you and Caitlyn?"
Percy's jaw tensed. "I'll tell you when we get back to the apartment."
Back at the apartment, Jessica brewed two cups of coffee and handed one to Percy. They sat down on the couch, and Percy began his story.
"I was in my second year of med school. Caitlyn was studying business administration at the same university. She had this morena glow, a slender figure—you could just tell she was going to be a model. We met through music. I used to sub for someone in a local band, and she was instantly drawn to my singing. We started hanging out, and sometimes I'd bring her over to our place near the city square."
He sipped the coffee and leaned back, eyes staring at a distant memory.
"I fell in love with her. I used to be fat—really out of shape—but I worked hard, got lean, hoping maybe she'd notice me in a different way. Eventually, I started courting her... but then she started pulling away. I didn't know why."
Jessica listened in silence, letting him speak.
"Turns out, she had a secret boyfriend. Thomas Langos. Son of the most vile businessman my dad warned me about. It was finals week—I was ready for my exams—when suddenly a group of guys jumped me outside the school gate. Beat me to a pulp. I missed my exams. Had to drop out."
He clenched his fists, knuckles white.
"My brother Victor told me the truth: Caitlyn was with Thomas. She was using the Langoses to climb the social ladder. All this time, I was just some side story. And that was the moment everything in me shattered."
Jessica reached out, gently holding his hand.