Chapter 5 - Test of Heart

PUBLIC LIBRARY – STUDY TABLE

RENESME and ICHIRO are studying for the upcoming exam. He spreads out notebooks and pens like a pro.

JIRO

You're having friends and that's progress.

MAE

You're not answering my question.

JIRO

I don't know. Maybe the memories hurt more than the actual breakup. Or maybe the betrayal was so deep it turned the name into a scar. (leaned back, looking at her intently)

JIRO (looking in her eyes)

But who knows. I’ve never been in a relationship.

JIRO

Now let's focus on the exam. Which part do you not understand?

MAE

All of it.

JIRO (pauses, blinks once, then sighs — amused.)

At least you’re honest. That’s another progress.

He starts explaining, slow and patient. For a moment, she listens attentively — then her hand supports her chin.

MAE(pouting)

My brain’s on strike. I can't focus.

JIRO (laughs softly, eyes lingering on her)

Really? (hold out his hand)

Come. (she rest her chin in his palm, and close her eyes. Then he pull out a silly sticker to put on her face.)

JIRO (V.O) (leaned closer)

She really has long lashes. And still smell like a flower.(look on the lips) Even her lips look so soft and kissable.

MAE (close eyes)

Are you done yet?

Renesme opened her eyes, and for a heartbeat, they were breathing the same air, eyes locked in a silent, terrifyingly intimate contact.

JIRO (Panicking, slammed a sticker on her face)

Good Job.I... I was just praising your effort. Awkwardly!

MAE (overreacting, clutching her head)

Ow! That hurts!

A tap-tap-tap on the window breaks the moment. Outside — Jiro’s university friends press against the glass, grinning.

AJ (muffled)

Oooh, Jiro! Is that your study partner? She’s cute!

DAICHI (teasing)

Is that yoooooouuuur girlfriend?

AXEL (wink)

Whatcha doing in the love-rary? Having date?

RENESME freezes. Her face turns red. Jiro groans, rubbing his forehead.

JIRO (deadpan)

Ignore them. Please.

The boys make heart shapes with their hands. Jiro mouths, Go away. They laugh and run off. RENESME hides behind her notebook, embarrassed.

MAE

Your friends seem… lively.

JIRO (pretending to be annoyed)

Lively isn’t the word I’d use. More like annoying.

She giggles softly. Jiro glances at her again.

JIRO (V.O.)

I should have told them you are...... Mine.

JADE ENTERPRISE – PRIVATE STUDIO – DAY

JILLIAN JADE flips through sketches while JENNIEL adjusts jewelry for a photoshoot. Their new campaign banner reads: “Lumé by Jade.”

JILLIAN

Hard to believe Mom’s letting us model for this. Guess she finally trusts us not to break anything expensive.

JENNIEL (smirking)

Speak for yourself. You once wore diamond earrings to gym class.

JILLIAN (laughing)

I remember! Mother nearly fainted.

They share a laugh.

JILLIAN

I’m inviting Ralph James Nikko to join the shoot.

JENNIEL (surprised)

James? As in Lewis Academy’s president?

JILLIAN

Yup. The company wants that “intellectual elegance” vibe. He’s perfect for it.

JENNIEL (teasing)

He does make a tie look like royalty.

JILLIAN (smirking)

And I call dibs on posing beside him.

JENNIEL (groaning)

Jill, please. You’re hopeless.

BEHIND THE SCENES — LATER

JENNIEL steps outside the studio for air and spots the photographer chatting with staff — confident, easygoing, familiar.

JENNIEL (recognizing)

Wait—Franz Crizaldo?

FRANZ (grinning)

The one and only. You must be Jenniel.

JENNIEL

Felix’s brother, right?

FRANZ

Oldest of four. Is he still pretending he’s not a softie?

JENNIEL (laughs)

Still trying to convince everyone he's a gangster.

FRANZ (glancing at the set)

Your sister’s got presence. The camera loves her. I can't wait to work with her.

JENNIEL (fondly)

Yeah. That’s Jillian — she makes people see what she wants them to see.

FRANZ (laughing)

And Felix? Does he even study these days, or is he still better at brawling than books?

JENNIEL (smiling)

A bit of both. His coming to my place to study today.

FRANZ

Is he turning into a new leaf.

They both laugh — two older brothers quietly proud of the chaos their siblings bring into the world.

JADE RESIDENCE – JENNIEL’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Books and snack wrappers scatter across the room. FELIX CRIZALDO slumps at Jenniel’s desk, hair sticking up, muttering formulas.

FELIX

Why do letters even exist in math?! X and Y should stay in the alphabet!

JENNIEL (without looking up)

Maybe if you attended class, you’d know.

FELIX (grumbling)

Skipping was part of my mental health plan. I’m doomed.

JENNIEL (dryly)

You said it, not me.

Across the room, JILLIAN JADE lies on her bed, texting furiously.

to James : Are you awake? Studying? Did you eat dinner? Don’t skip meals! Let’s do our best tomorrow! 💪

Notice me, President 😭💘

She grins, waiting. The phone buzzes. She reads the message.

JILLIAN (reading flatly)

“OK.”

JILLIAN (jaw drops)

That’s it?! Just OK?!

(toss a pillow across the room)

JILLIAN (typing rapidly)

to James :That’s all you’re gonna say?!

NIKKO RESIDENCE – JAMES’ ROOM – SAME TIME

Steam curls from the bathroom. JAMES NIKKO steps out, towel around his neck. He scrolls through his phone — Jillian’s flood of messages lighting up the screen.

JAMES (V.O.) smirks faintly

She really doesn’t know when to stop, does she?

Text to JILLIAN: “OK.”

Set the phone down. Open a textbook. Focuses. On the background there is a box full of letters with the word JILL on it.

JADE RESIDENCE – JENNIEL’S ROOM – NEXT DAY

The night before exams. Felix is now fast asleep on the floor, hugging a pillow. Jenniel drapes a blanket over him with a sigh.

JENNIEL (murmuring)

Good luck tomorrow, genius.

He stretches, glancing up as Jillian appears at the door.

JILLIAN

Good night, brother! I’ll dream of someone who doesn’t text back!

JENNIEL (smirking)

That narrows it down.

JILLIAN (pouting)

You wouldn’t understand love!

RENESME’S APARTMENT – NIGHT BEFORE EXAM

RENESME and JIRO sit at her small table, surrounded by notes. He points to a problem in her notebook.

JIRO

You missed the variable again. Third time.

MAE(defensive)

Okay, okay — I’ll prioritize that!

JIRO (teasing)

Prioritize mistakes?

She glares, and he smirks — pulling a sheet of cute animal stickers from his bag.

MAE(narrowing eyes)

You wouldn’t dare.

CUT TO: Remay’s forehead and cheeks now covered with colorful stickers. Jiro hides a laugh behind his hand.

MAE(pouting)

You’re enjoying this.

JIRO (grinning)

Only because you look… kind of adorable.

She freezes — cheeks pink. He clears his throat, turning away quickly.

JIRO (V.O.)

What am I saying? Get it together, Jiro.

The door opens — MRS. SAUNDER enters with a tray of snacks.

MRS. SAUNDER

I brought something to keep you two awake!

RENESME jumps up, relieved.

MAE

Perfect timing, Mom! Let’s eat!

Jiro chuckles as she abandons her pen without hesitation. The three share snacks together, easy and warm.

INT. RENESME'S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – LATER

RENESME washes dishes as her mother tidies the table.

MRS. SAUNDER

Sweetie… why do you have a bunny sticker on your forehead?

MAE (freeze)

JIRO!

MRS. SAUNDER (laughs softly)

He’s a nice boy. You work well together.

MAE(flustered)

Mom! It’s called teamwork!

MRS. SAUNDER (teasing)

Which makes the dream work.

RENESME groans, peeling the stickers off one by one.

JADE RESIDENCE – MORNING – EXAM DAY

Bright sunlight spills into the twins’ room as JILLIAN JADE bursts in, waving her phone like a siren.

JILLIAN

Wake up! It’s exam day! You two are going to be late!

She yanks open the curtains—then freezes.

On the bed: JENNIEL JADE and FELIX CRIZALDO, fast asleep, tangled in a blanket. Felix, shirtless, is hugging Jenniel like a giant teddy bear.

JILLIAN (internal scream)

W–what… what is this?!

Her imagination spirals into a dramatic fantasy: Felix under a shower of cherry blossoms, confessing tearfully to Jenniel.

FELIX (fantasy)

“Brother… I can’t hide it anymore!”

Back to reality—Jillian slaps her cheeks to snap out of it.

JILLIAN (whispering to herself)

No. They’re just… friends. Normal, manly friends.

JENNIEL (stirs awake, rubbing his eyes)

Morning. Why are you yelling?

FELIX (half-asleep, hugging tighter)

Five more minutes, mom…

JENNIEL (freezes)

Felix. Let. Go.

.

FELIX (panicking, blinks open—then bolts upright, falling off the bed)

I swear it’s not what it looks like!

JILLIAN (deadpan)

It’s exactly what it looks like.

Felix hides under the blanket as Jenniel hurls a pillow his way.

LEWIS ACADEMY – EXAM HALL – LATER

RENESME murmurs formulas under her breath, recalling Jiro’s tutoring.

 Across the room, FELIX is on the verge of a breakdown.

FELIX (muttering)

Please, gods of math… have mercy…

Teachers patrol the aisles like hawks.

SCHOOL CORRIDOR – AFTER EXAM

Students spill into the hallway, buzzing with chatter. JILLIAN spots JAMES, marching toward him with energy to spare.

JILLIAN

President! We survived! Cafeteria—my treat!

JAMES (adjusting papers)

I still have work to review—

JILLIAN (gasping)

In your office? That’s unhygienic! You’ll ruin your stomach!

JAMES (deadpan)

You’re dramatic.

JILLIAN (grinning)

And you’re coming.

JILLIAN

RENESME! You’re coming too! The President gets cranky if we eat alone!

MAE (freeze)

Eh—m–me?

James gives her a look that says just come along. RENESME sighs, defeated, as Jillian loops arms with both.

LEWIS ACADEMY CAFETERIA – AFTERNOON

The cafeteria hums with laughter and relief. At one end of the long table, JENNIEL and FELIX eat side by side.

FELIX

I totally bombed question three. That thing wasn’t even in our lesson!

JENNIEL (calmly)

You mixed up the formulas again. And you didn’t pay attention.

FELIX

Who does that?! Geniuses?!

Across from them, JILLIAN proudly unveils a tray of desserts.

JILLIAN

See? Better than your boring office. Sunshine and sugar!

JAMES

Sugar kills focus.

JILLIAN

So does boredom. But you seem immune.

James just stares flatly. Jillian beams in victory.

Meanwhile, RENESME sits quietly between Jenniel and Jillian, awkwardly nibbling her food. Jenniel offers a polite smile. Her heart nearly stops.

MAE(V.O.)

He’s so close… too close… I can’t breathe.

JILLIAN (grinning)

Hey Felix, let’s make this fun.

FELIX (suspicious)

Define “fun.”

JILLIAN

If you move up five ranks this exam, I’ll treat you to dinner. But if you don’t—

JILLIAN (leans forward, mischievous glint in her eye)

—you’ll do whatever I say for one whole day.

FELIX (choking)

W–whatever?! Like—whatever whatever?!

JILLIAN (sweetly)

You’ll find out~

The table’s full of energy—except for JAMES and JENNIEL, quietly eating opposite each other, locked in a silent, stoic rivalry.

MAE(V.O.)

Why does it feel like one wrong move will start World War III?

FELIX

What do you call a Fish without an eye?

JILLIAN

What?

FELIX

A Fffffffssssssssshhhhhhhh!

Jillian laughs loudly—startling Renesme, who accidentally knocks over her water bottle. It spills—straight into Jenniel’s lap.

MAE(panicking)

Oh no! I’m so, so sorry!

JENNIEL (stands, water dripping from his uniform)

It’s fine—

Before he can reach for a napkin, Felix leaps up.

FELIX

Don’t worry, bro! I got you—!

He crouches to help—wiping Jenniel’s pants.

STUDENT (whispering)

Wait… is Felix…?

ANOTHER STUDENT

Oh my god, they’re that close?!

Jenniel freezes. Looks down at Felix.

JENNIEL (flatly)

Felix. Stop. Now.

FELIX (realizing)

Oh crap—no—!

He drops the tissue like it’s radioactive. Jillian bursts into uncontrollable laughter, nearly falling off her chair.

JILLIAN (gasping between laughs)

I–I can’t—Felix—your face!

JAMES (pinching his nose)

Unbelievable. These are my council members.

RENESME hides behind her hands, face crimson.

MAE(V.O.)

Please. Just let me vanish.

JENNIEL (sighs, pats Felix’s shoulder)

Next time, just hand me the tissue.

FELIX (groaning)

I’m losing my reputation here…

JILLIAN (smirking)

Oh no, don’t worry. Everyone will remember it.

Felix slumps in despair as laughter echoes across the cafeteria.

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