Chapter 103 - Chapter 100: I'd Do It Again

Jay POV

Time felt weird.

One second.

Ten seconds.

A minute.

Five minutes.

I didn't know.

I couldn't tell anymore.

All I could do was stare at the burning doorway.

Waiting.

Praying.

Hoping.

The people around me were panicking.

Children were crying.

Staff members were running around.

Smoke filled the air.

And still...

No Matteo.

My hands clenched.

He was an idiot.

A complete idiot.

The biggest idiot I knew.

Who runs into a burning building?

😭

Then suddenly...

Someone shouted.

"THERE!"

Every head turned.

Including mine.

A figure appeared through the smoke.

My heart nearly stopped.

Matteo.

And in his arms...

A little boy.

Joel.

The crowd immediately rushed forward.

The moment Matteo stepped outside, several workers took Joel from him.

The boy immediately wrapped his arms around one of the women and burst into tears.

People were crying.

Laughing.

Praying.

The relief was almost overwhelming.

But Joel suddenly looked around.

Searching.

Then his eyes landed on Matteo.

"Kuya!"

😭

The little boy immediately ran back and hugged him.

Matteo stumbled slightly.

But still smiled.

That same annoying smile.

The one he always wore.

"Hey, troublemaker."

Joel started crying even harder.

"I knew you'd come."

😭💔

Something tightened painfully in my chest.

Matteo laughed softly.

Then ruffled the boy's hair.

"Of course I came."

As if there had never been another option.

As if it had been the easiest decision in the world.

Eventually one of the staff members led Joel away.

The little boy kept looking back.

Making sure Matteo was still there.

And that's when I noticed something.

Matteo looked pale.

Very pale.

He swayed slightly.

Then took a step.

And almost lost his balance.

My eyes narrowed.

Immediately.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Then Matteo turned.

And I saw it.

Part of his shirt at the back was damaged.

Burned.

The wet blanket had protected him.

But not completely.

My stomach dropped.

"Matteo."

"Hm?"

"Turn around."

"No."

"Matteo."

"No."

"MATTEO."

😭

He sighed.

Then slowly turned.

I immediately wanted to strangle him.

"You're hurt!"

"Barely."

"Barely?!"

"Okay, slightly."

"YOU RAN INTO A FIRE!"

"Technically."

"THERE IS NO TECHNICALLY!"

😭🔥

Several staff members nearby started trying not to laugh.

Traitors.

Every single one of them.

One woman quickly brought over a first-aid kit.

Before Matteo could escape...

I pointed at a chair.

"Sit."

"I'm fine."

"Sit."

"Jay."

"Sit."

"You're not my mother."

"SIT."

Matteo sat immediately.

😭

Smart choice.

Very smart choice.

I grabbed the first-aid kit.

Then carefully inspected the injury.

The burn wasn't severe.

But it definitely wasn't nothing.

And that annoyed me even more.

"You're unbelievable."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I know."

😭

I started cleaning the area.

Matteo hissed slightly.

Only slightly.

But I noticed.

"Does it hurt?"

"No."

"Liar."

"Maybe a little."

"You're an idiot."

"I've heard that before."

"From who?"

"You."

😭

I couldn't even argue.

Because he was right.

Unfortunately.

For a while neither of them spoke.

The orphanage was slowly calming down.

The fire had been controlled.

The children were safe.

Everything was finally settling.

Then I asked quietly:

"Who's Joel?"

For the first time since the fire...

Matteo became completely still.

His eyes drifted toward the building.

Toward the children.

Toward Joel.

A small smile appeared on his face.

A different smile.

Not his teasing smile.

Not his sarcastic smile.

Something softer.

"I've been coming here for years."

I listened.

"Joel was one of the first kids I met."

His voice was calm.

"Back then he barely spoke."

"Really?"

Matteo nodded.

"Now he talks too much."

I laughed.

"Sounds familiar."

"Exactly."

😭

He looked toward the playground.

Where Joel was now sitting with the other children.

Safe.

Happy.

Alive.

Then Matteo quietly said:

"He follows me everywhere when I visit."

"Calls me Kuya Matteo."

"Steals my food."

"Sounds like Ci-n."

"Much cuter."

😭

I laughed again.

Then my expression softened.

"You could've gotten seriously hurt."

Matteo looked at Joel.

Just Joel.

And for a moment...

"Maybe."

The answer was quiet.

Simple.

Honest.

Then he smiled.

And said the words that made my chest tighten.

"I'd do it again."

😭💔

No hesitation.

No doubt.

No regret.

He meant it.

Every word.

The sky glowing orange above them.

The chaos of the day finally fading away.

Matteo leaned back in the chair.

Looking exhausted.

I sat beside him.

Then shook my head.

"You're insane."

Matteo smiled.

"I've been told."

"A lot?"

"Mostly by you."

😭

I couldn't help it.

I laughed.

Everything felt okay.

Not perfect.

But okay.

Because Joel was safe.

And somehow...

So was Matteo.

End of Chapter 100 🔥📖✨😭