Jay-jay's POV
Aaaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!
My head hurts so much!
I didn't even get drunk last night, but this feels worse than a hangover. I hit my head against the bed, hoping that would somehow cover up the pain. But it didn't work.
I was already writhing in bed. Fuck! If this is the price of drinking that stuff, I swear I'm never drinking it again. It really hurts!
I heard a knock on my bedroom door.
"Jay..." It was Tita Gema's voice. "...Get up now. You'll be late for school."
"O-okay!" I replied.
I forced myself to get up even though my head felt glued to the pillow. I walked to the bathroom, and that's when I felt how heavy my body was. I felt exhausted, like I was coming down with something. I sat on the bed, massaging my temples.
Shit. Then, I suddenly remembered something.
Last night, while I was dancing... I think I saw him.
I think I saw the King of the Demonic Serpents.
Standing in the middle of the crowd, staring right at me.
Impossible! It must have been the drink messing with me. What would he even be doing at Kingsground? He's not a party animal.
I forced myself to move. I went straight to the bathroom and took a long shower, hoping it would clear my head and ease the pain I was feeling. I took my time because I was moving sluggishly.
After showering and getting dressed, I walked out of my room. The first person I saw was Tita Gema in the living room.
"You're heading to school now?" she asked.
No, I'm heading home. Going home!
"I might be late," I lied.
She nodded with a smile. "Take care."
I didn't answer and just walked out of the house. I could see the concern in Tita's eyes. I couldn't blame her. I had distanced myself from them ever since everything happened.
Lola had already left the house. She didn't even say goodbye to me because I wasn't home when Kuya took her to the airport. It was sad that she left without us talking about the time she slapped me. She always had an explanation for me whenever she hurt me.
And no matter what happened, I still wanted to hear it. I didn't want to hold a grudge against her.
I stopped by the pharmacy first to buy some medicine. My head was still aching.
"Painkiller, please," I told the cashier. "...For headaches."
She nodded with a smile and quickly got what I asked for.
While waiting, I glanced at a couple chatting as they paid for their items.
Tsk! You won't last long either. He's just fooling you, girl!
The cashier returned with my medicine. "Seventeen fifty, please."
"Oh, so you do have some..." I muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you have medicine for a broken heart?" I asked seriously.
She looked at me, clearly confused and a bit uncomfortable. "W-we don't have that."
"What about something for the brokenhearted?"
"We don't have that either."
"How about medicine for someone who's about to lose their mind from pain? Do you have that?"
She let out a small laugh and shook her head. She laughed at me. What the hell?!
I pulled out my money and handed it over. This pharmacy is useless! It's supposed to be a place for medicine, yet they don't have what I really need! Just shut down already!
After getting my change and purchase, I headed straight to the Mini Mart. I bought some water and food since I hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
As I was eating, someone sat on the bench across from me. Smiling way too much, this idiot looked right at me.
"You look so grumpy!" Percy greeted me. "...Good thing I'm handsome!"
What's the connection?!
His shamelessness is getting worse over time. I think I should have him checked by a doctor before his insanity gets even worse—oh wait! He's already certified crazy.
"Are you ready?" he asked me.
"For what?"
"I knew you weren't listening last night! I told you we were going out today!" he said, sounding annoyed.
I don't remember him saying that at all!
"W-where are we going?"
He scratched his head in frustration. "Amusement park!"
I didn't feel like going. That place only reminded me of something I'd rather forget. I'd rather go somewhere else.
"I-I have school today," I lied.
"Oh, stop pretending. You're not even studying." He said it so bluntly that it pissed me off.
This jerk! First thing in the morning, and he's already testing my patience!
"How did you know?!" I asked irritably.
"Of course, I know. It's me we're talking about!" he answered with a wink.
Must be because of David. That lunatic! Why the hell did he have to report that to Percy? So annoying! Now it feels like every move I make is being monitored.
I just rolled my eyes at him and continued eating.
After taking my medicine, I rested for a bit. Otherwise, my headache might get worse because of this crazy person.
I might end up losing my mind just like him!
I propped my chin on my hand and stared outside. These kinds of days were so boring. I wasn't going to school anyway. I just had to make sure I didn't run into Kuya Angelo, or else I'd be done for.
I knew he had been hearing about all the things I was doing at school—especially my absences. I was just lucky I hadn't come face-to-face with him yet.
"He's here," Percy suddenly said, making me look at him.
The who?! The who?!
"Who?"
Before he could answer, the bell at the Mini Mart's entrance rang—signaling that someone had entered or left.
My eyes automatically shifted to the door. Slowly, someone walked in—one of the people I blamed for my problems.
David.
With his high-class instincts.
"What are you doing here?!" I asked angrily as he approached.
He lowered his head and immediately avoided my gaze. But I won't lie—I let out a small breath of relief. I thought it was Kuya Angelo for a second. Damn it, Percy! He's always in sync with my thoughts.
"Relax... You're way too hot-tempered," Percy said, standing up. He patted David on the arm and nodded at him.
David sat in front of me, but my glare remained fixed on him.
Feel it, David. Feel it!
If only I could install laser beams in my eyes, I would've done it a long time ago. The word angry wasn't enough to describe what I felt.
"Jay-jay." He called my name. "...I want to apologize—"
I didn't let him finish. I immediately stood up to leave, but his hand was quick to grab me, stopping me in place.
"Please, Jay... Listen to me first." He pleaded.
I didn't want to listen. It would just be another lie. I wasn't going to believe him anymore!
"And then what?! You'll just use this chance to fool me again?!" I snapped.
"I have no reason to do that," he said calmly.
I froze. He had a point—he really had no reason anymore. Unless he wanted to earn my forgiveness.
I tried to pull my arm away, but he only tightened his grip.
"Let go. I'll scream," I threatened.
I glanced around. Technically, we were the only ones here, aside from the two Mini Mart employees, so even if I screamed—it wouldn't really matter.
"Look... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I kissed you."
What the hell?!
It felt like I had been slapped by his words. Why did he have to bring that up? That was one of the reasons—one of the reasons for the pain I was feeling.
I sat back down across from David. His eyes were filled with sadness as he looked at me.
"I'm sorry for everything. For lying to you and for kissing you," he began. "...I know you won't accept it, but I'm willing to take a chance."
Questions had been building up in my mind since that night. Now that I had the chance to ask them, I wasn't going to waste it.
Like he said, he was willing to take a chance—so I knew he was also willing to answer my questions. I took a deep breath to clear my mind. Then I looked straight into his eyes and asked:
"Why did you kiss me?"
David's POV
Why, David?!
Why did I kiss her that night?
Maybe because of her eyes, which kept crying. Maybe because of her lips, which she kept biting. Maybe because I took advantage of the situation. Maybe because I want her.
Her eyes were filled with blame as she stared at me now. It was as if she was accusing me of everything that had happened that night.
But honestly, she wasn't wrong. If anyone was to blame, it was me. I couldn't answer. I didn't know how to explain it to her.
"Do you have feelings for me?" she asked next.
Yes, I do!
I wanted to shout it out, but I wouldn't. Because I couldn't. I looked away for a moment before facing her again.
"I don't," I answered while meeting her eyes. "...I don't like you."
"Then why did you kiss me?!" she asked angrily.
Because I fucking like you, and I'm starting to fall for you.
"I needed to push Keifer to his limit so the truth would come out. Kissing you was what I—"
"I don't understand," she cut me off. "...Keifer only tricked me. He never loved me. So how could he have reached his limit out of anger because of what you did?!"
If you only knew.
I shrugged at what he said. "But it makes him angry."
He fell silent for a moment, as if deep in thought. Keifer was furious that night—he was one step away from killing me because of what I did. He was just as angry at Kit when he found out the truth. He almost ended up in a coma because it took so long for him to wake up.
"I'm sorry, Jay. We really weren't part of that plan because we didn't know you back then. But we kept everything a secret and hid it from you," I explained.
I still remember the day I came back. After the chaos between Jay-jay and Freya, I returned to my regular class.
Flashback...
"Who?" I asked.
"Jay-jay," Drew answered. "...We made a bet. Want to join?"
That girl.
I didn't think this was a good idea. Especially since Jay-jay had helped me. I did save her from that bucket of mud and worms, but I still owed her a lot.
"I'm not interested," I replied and laid my head down, about to sleep, when someone poked me. "...What?"
"W-well, u-uhm..." Ci-N stuttered, pressing his index fingers together. "...I-I want to ask you something."
I sat up straight, crossed my arms, and looked at him. He's doing that childish mannerism again.
"Are you okay with their plan to hurt Jay-jay?" he asked in almost a whisper.
I knew he didn't want the others to hear what he was saying. I stood up and grabbed him by the collar. I was taller than him, so it was easy to carry him like a puppy.
I took him to the side of the room under a tree. We wouldn't be able to talk properly inside, so I brought him here.
"Ouch! That hurts!" he complained. "...What are we doing here?"
"Talking," I answered bluntly. "...I'm not okay with their plan. But I can't do anything about it."
"Because... I feel sorry for Jay-jay," he said with a pout.
"We don't have a choice. Keifer has been possessed by a demon again, so there's no stopping him."
"What are we going to do?"
I looked at him in confusion. "We?"
"Yeah. You're against the plan too, right?" he said, his eyes wide. "...So we should come up with our own plan! We could be like Jay-jay's bodyguards! Or detectives... blah blah blah."
Your imagination is the only limit.
I couldn't even respond to everything he said. He even started talking about spies and all the spy gadgets he had. I just shook my head at how he was acting.
"Look, Ci-N... There's nothing we can do. We can refuse to be part of the plan, but we can't speak up either. Keifer will come after us if we interfere," I explained.
His shoulders slumped. "Keifer wants me to earn Jay-jay's trust and find out her story," he said sadly.
"Are you going to do it?"
"I don't know."
Ci-N couldn't disobey Keifer. He couldn't even fight back.
If it were me, I could go up against him again, but this guy? He was so small that if Keifer kicked him, the fight would be over in an instant.
I patted him on the head and headed back inside. He followed me. When we entered, the room was in chaos.
"She'll give in eventually... it's Keifer, after all!" Felix boasted.
"What if she doesn't? She looks tough!" Denzel countered.
"I'm betting 1,000 that she'll give in—in bed!" Rory shouted.
"2,000 for me!" Edrix added.
"1,500—she won't give in!" Drew chimed in.
"Same bet as before!" Eman said.
I could only shake my head. They didn't just plan it—they even made bets on it. Even now, I already felt sorry for Jay-jay.
What would happen to her?
End of Flashback...
If only I had known this would happen. If only I had known how painful this would be for her. If only I had known...
I should have fought Keifer. I should have told the truth from the start. I should have defended her in front of the entire Section E.
"I-I don't know," she began, taking a deep breath. "...I don't know if I can forgive you."
I lowered my head. I knew it!
"...But..." I looked up at her. "...I don't want to make final statements. Maybe I can't forgive you now, but maybe..." She forced a smile. "...in the coming days, weeks, or months, I might be able to."
Those words were enough. She's still the soft-hearted girl we knew. She's still our Jay-jay.
I took something from my pocket and handed it to her. It was an invitation from Ci-N. She looked at me briefly before opening it.
"Birthday party?" She looked at me again. "...What is this? A children's party?"
I chuckled a little. Ci-N's invitation design did look childish. "No. It's Ci-N's birthday party. February 14, and he wants you to be there."
I had told him I was meeting her. He wanted to come, but I stopped him. I was worried we wouldn't be able to talk properly if he was around.
I saw the sadness in Jay's eyes. I was sure she missed Ci-N, too.
"I-I don't know if I can go," she said, attempting to hand the invitation back, but I stopped her.
"You still have one week to think about it. I know you're upset with Ci, but he didn't want that plan either." I smiled and stood up. "...I have to go. I still have class."
She lifted her gaze when she heard the word class. I knew she still wasn't going back. And who could blame her? After everything that happened, I might not even go back to school either.
"I know Percy will take good care of you," I added before leaving.
As I stepped out of the Mini Mart, I saw Percy waiting for me. He patted my arm when I stopped in front of him.
"You did the right thing," he said. "...Jay-jay's situation is already a mess. I don't want you getting involved any further."
I nodded. "I know. I don't want to be part of the mess either."
"Maybe in the future, when everything settles down, I might even help you court her," he added with a smile.
I smiled back. "Maybe."
He just nodded and went back inside the Mini Mart. I immediately walked toward my car and got in.
I understood Percy. That's why he didn't want me to fall for Jay-jay. Her situation was chaotic, especially now that she knew the truth about herself.
I pity and admire her at the same time. She remains standing despite everything she's been through. And that is the Jay-jay we know.
The Jay-jay that I like.
It's just a shame that I met her in such a messed-up situation. If only she wasn't Aries' sister. If only she hadn't been used by Keifer. If only she hadn't been manipulated by Yuri. If only she hadn't been deceived by our classmates.
If only...
If only I could fight for you—but I can't.