Jay-jay's POV
Three hours! Yes... I counted it. I counted how long I've been staring at the little red box.
It's not that I have nothing to do with my life so I'm just staring at it. But I can't help it. I haven't done an assignment yet on the box.
Is there an assignment?!
I'll think about it next time. It's the weekend, I have plenty of time to do it. Honestly, I'm already bored of staring at this.
I need answers to many questions. Of course, the first one is the question 'Why?'. Why did he give me the ring? Is it my birthday? No way.
My next question is, 'What's it for?'. What's this ring for? A sign of friendship?
And my last question is, 'What?'. What's really going on with Yuri and what's playing on his mind? Can't do anything about money? He's rich.
I just scratched my scalp in annoyance. As much as I wanted to text or message Yuri, he didn't want to be with me. And I didn't know what to say.
"Is that a ring?" Someone's question caused me to wake up from deep thought.
I immediately looked at who it was.
"T-tita..." I said and hid the box in the pile of pillows.
"You hid it, I already saw it." She said and sat down next to me.
"W-that's nothing... W-don't pay any attention to it."
Tita smiled at me. It was as if she was teasing me and clearly didn't believe what I said. She suddenly picked up the box. Even though it was in the pile of pillows, she still managed to get it.
"Let me see." Tita said after she got it.
I couldn't speak anymore. It's already in my hand, what else can I do. She opened the box and I could see her eyes widening in amazement. She removed the ring from the box and looked at it.
"Diamond ring... Has anyone asked you to marry me?" Tita asked.
I quickly shook my head. "W-nothing... Why?"
"I saw this ring in a magazine. It's an engagement ring."
An engagement ring?
Why did Yuri give me an engagement ring? My head ached. I was even more confused by what was happening. Tita Gema suddenly took my hand. She slowly put the ring on my finger.
"It's the perfect size..." She said and smiled broadly at me.
I immediately took the ring off and put it back in the box. I needed to talk to Yuri. He needed to explain to me what it was for.
"Who gave it to you?" Tita asked angrily.
I bit my lower lip hard. It would be awkward if I said my friend.
"A person who I'm not-sure-if-he-likes-me."
Suddenly, Auntie laughed out loud. I didn't know if my answer was funny or what.
"He gave you a ring and you're not sure if he likes you?" She asked me.
I just nodded in response. Auntie held one of my hands.
"Jay-jay... Learn to feel. Don't be numb."
"I-I feel. I-I just don't want to be assuming."
Auntie laughed a little. She pulled my hair back and looked at me.
"Our Jay-jay is really a girl now." She said and kissed my forehead.
Honestly, when she does that, I feel like she's my mother. Even when I was at Grandma's, she never failed to make me feel that I could approach her at any time.
"...Come on, let's eat. I've been calling you for a while but you didn't hear me. You're too busy with that ring."
I rubbed my neck. "Oh, sorry."
Auntie stood up so I followed. I put the box on the study table. We headed straight to the dining room where Kuya and Tito Julz were. Aries was also there, looking like he had been hit by the sky again.
"Sit down, Jay... Eat." Tito Julz ordered me.
I sat down and spooned some food. While eating, Tito and Kuya Angelo would talk. Sometimes Tita Gema would join in but Aries and I would just exchange glances.
Are we going to do this again?!
He was about to glance at me earlier but his eyebrows met. I felt like he was possessed again.
He and Keifer were really good friends. Both had Sapi. The right ones are strong in the brain. That's probably why they are compared to the King of Snakes.
I was just sitting quietly at my place when the phone suddenly rang. One of Tita's maids answered.
"Miss Jay-jay... It's for you." The maid told me.
"Who's calling?" Kuya asked.
"Jay-jay's mom said."
We were both stunned and they all immediately looked at me. I didn't want to answer the call but I knew Kuya Angelo would be angry. I stood up and went to the living room where Tita's landline was. I was hesitant to speak at first.
"H-hello..."
["Jay-jay?"] The person on the other line asked.
I almost flinched when I heard his voice. Has it been that long? How long has it been since I heard his voice calling my name?
"I-it's me."
["Finally, I finally talked to you! Why weren't you there when I went there?
Do you know how much I want to see you. I miss you already!"]
"Why?" I asked almost in a whisper.
["What's the reason? Of course you're my daughter! I want to see you with you! I have so much to tell you! I'm getting married-----"]
"Why didn't you tell me that Papa was just here?" I cut off from what he was saying.
The other line went silent but I could hear his breathing. I knew he wouldn't be able to answer.
["Jay-jay son. It's like this, mama can't tell you...."]
I didn't listen to what he was going to say. I slowly hung up the phone without hanging up the call. He was going to keep on chattering away.
It was rude as hell but I didn't want to hear his explanation.
It would just be a waste of time if I did that, it was obvious that he would just make excuses.
I went back to the dining room and continued eating. I didn't tell him that Mama was still on the other line.
"What did your Mama say?" Uncle Julz asked.
"Just asking how you were." I quickly replied.
"That's all? "Why do you seem like you've only been talking to her for a moment?" Aunt Gema commented. "Because I only listened to her for a moment." "I-I told you I was still eating." "I'll come back later."
My reason.
I noticed Aries raising one eyebrow. I don't know if he noticed me or what.
I hurriedly finished eating. They might find out what I did and get angry right away.
"I'm done." I said and quickly walked back to my room.
Upon reaching my room, I immediately looked for the ring box on my study table. But it wasn't there.
I also looked under the table in case it fell. But it wasn't there.
Where could it have gone? I just left it here, unless someone came in and----
"Who gave you this?"
I looked at the door where Aries was standing holding the red box.
"I-just my friend." I replied.
"I'm not stupid Jay."
I couldn't answer. His brain was too narrow to explain. I immediately went up to him and tried to grab the box but he pushed it away.
"Who gave you this?" He asked me again with authority.
Tsk! I'm angry!
"S-Yuri..." I almost whispered.
He didn't say anything. He looked at the box in his hand. He looked back at me and suddenly threw the box. I caught it before it fell to the floor.
"Return it." He ordered.
I looked at him in surprise. "H-ha?"
"Give it back to him!" He was annoyed again. "...And I want you to stay away from them."
My eyebrows furrowed at what he was saying. He was getting annoyed again.
"Why would I do that?! Are you getting tired of it?!"
"Do it. I'll talk to Kuya and ask him to move you to a different Section." He said.
I felt annoyed by what he was saying. Really now?
I've been in Section E for a few months now. I've already passed two exams.
"Just leave me alone! I don't want to! I won't move!" I told him angrily.
He immediately looked at me with a frown. "Why are you so stubborn?!"
"What are you talking about!"
Suddenly he grabbed my clothes and leaned me against the wall. I felt scared but I tried to hide it.
"Follow my order or you'll never see your father!"
I stopped. What did he mean by that?
He let go of me and was about to leave my room but I immediately grabbed his arm and made him face me.
"What do you mean by that?!"
He pushed my hand away. "Before he left, he came here. He was begging us if he could still see you. My brother didn't agree so he left his contact number and address."
I immediately grabbed his hand so he couldn't leave.
"A-aries... I'm talking----"
"Do what I said and I will help you get his information." He cut me off.
He pushed my hand away again and left the room. I just sat on the floor due to my knee's weakness.
I could talk to him but...