Jay-jay's POV
Late! Late! Late! Late!
Damn it! Ci-N didn't wake me up. He let me sleep and left without even trying to wake me.
I feel so embarrassed. After letting him stay in my room, he didn't even bother to put in the effort to wake me up. He even turned off my alarm!
So embarrassing!
I checked the time on my phone. It's over! There's no way I'll make it.
And to make things worse? There's no available transportation. Everything's full, and no one even bothers to stop for me.
This is the worst!
It's still morning, but I already feel like it's late afternoon—I look like a mess! Hagardo Versoza levels!
I've been alternating between walking and running. I didn't even get to eat a proper breakfast. Since I woke up late, I just grabbed some bread and ran out.
I stopped at a corner, completely out of breath. There's no way I'll make it on time, so what's the point of exhausting myself by running?
"Jay-jay!" Someone called out to me.
I looked across the street. A guy was waving at me—Rory!
I waved back, and he quickly crossed the road to come over.
"You're late too." He teased.
"I overslept. What about you?"
"I woke up late too," he replied.
We started walking together, not even bothering to rush anymore. We were already late—what's the point of hurrying?
"Do you live around here? I thought Edrix's house was near yours?" I asked.
He had come from the subdivision across the road, but I knew Edrix didn't live there. In fact, their house was pretty far.
"No... I slept at my girlfriend's place," he answered, suddenly grinning.
Oh, I see where this is going!
"There you go again..."
He just scratched the back of his head and smiled at me. This guy! He looks like he's even proud of what he did.
"Is that how you guys are? Is it, like, required for men to... you know, do 'it'?" I asked.
This was so awkward, but I couldn't stop myself from being curious.
"Not really... It just happens, especially if you give in to temptation," he answered.
Oh, temptation.
Good thing I didn't give in during New Year's. If I had, oh boy! My life would've been over in Kuya Angelo's hands.
"Ahh..." I nodded.
Suddenly, he gave me a mischievous grin. I immediately shot him a sharp glare in return.
"You don't have any experience yet, do you?" he teased.
Almost—wait, nope!
"W-what?! D-don't ask me stuff like that!"
"Why are you blushing?"
I quickly covered my cheeks so he wouldn't see. Ugh! Why did our conversation end up here?!
"...Never mind. Once you and Keifer become a thing, you can ask him to teach you." He smirked before bursting into laughter.
This asshole! What a jerk!
I shot him a sharp glare and gave him a strong punch on the arm to make him stop.
"Ow... That hurt." He complained, rubbing his arm.
Like I needed lessons on those kinds of things? And from Keifer, of all people?!
Arrgghhh!! Don't think about it!
Why does my heart ache at the thought that Keifer might have already done those things? I shouldn't care about stuff like that or whatever he does with his life—except when he's messing with mine.
What if Yuri too...?
I don't know why, but it's weird to think that they might all be like that. I mean, they're guys, it's their lives. But deep inside, there's a part of me that still feels concerned.
Not that I'm saying they shouldn't explore.
I stayed quiet as we continued walking. We were just a block away from school when suddenly, Rory grabbed my arm and pulled me in another direction.
"Hey! Where are we—"
"Ssssshhhhh... Don't look back. Someone's following us." He whispered.
I felt a chill of fear. I wanted to turn around to see who it was, but Rory told me not to.
We picked up our pace, turning into a narrow alley.
"Call Keifer." Rory instructed.
I quickly grabbed my phone. I was about to call Keifer when Rory suddenly shoved me, making me stumble against the wall.
I was shocked to see him fighting off the people who had been following us—all by himself.
"Rory!" I shouted.
One of the guys tried to approach me, but Rory immediately stopped him. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything to help him.
"There's the girl!" yelled one of the men who had just arrived.
"Jay-jay! Get out of here!" Rory ordered.
But I couldn't move. I couldn't leave him behind.
"Jay-jay!"
I didn't think twice. I ran toward Rory and started helping him. I just kicked and punched wherever I could.
"I told you to leave! Why are you still here?!"
"I can't leave you!" I yelled back.
"Ha! Do you really think you can beat us?! There's only two of you! We're more than ten!" one of them sneered.
"What do you want?!" Rory demanded.
"That girl! We know she's Keifer's girlfriend!" one of them answered.
Huh?!
What did he just say? Keifer's girlfriend?! Son of a—where the hell did that rumor come from?!
"No way! That jerk isn't my boyfriend!" I denied.
"Like we'd believe that?!"
Of course, they wouldn't! I already knew their brains were too small to believe what I said. Where the hell did this nonsense about me being that jerk's girlfriend start?!
"We need to get out of here." Rory whispered.
"How?"
"Like this..." He looked around as if searching for something. Then he turned to me suddenly and shouted, "...RUN!"
He took off running. I was a little confused, but I quickly followed.
"Hey! Get back here!"
Yeah, right!
Why do they always yell that when we run away? Do they really think we'd just stop and go back because they said so?
"Jay-jay! Turn back!" Rory shouted.
I was about to ask why, but then I saw the reason—more guys were blocking our way ahead.
But when we turned back, the ones we had fought earlier were already closing in on us.
We stopped in the middle of the alley. This is bad! We're trapped!
"You're not getting away now!"
Shit!
Four of them suddenly pulled out switchblades. Rory instinctively tried to shield me, but it was useless—we were surrounded.
"Just give us Keifer's girlfriend, and there won't be any trouble!" one of them said.
I AM NOT KEIFER'S GIRLFRIEND! Damn it! This is exactly what I was talking about. This is that jerk's fault!
"There will be more trouble if I do that." Rory answered.
The guys holding the switchblades exchanged glances before suddenly charging at us.
I turned my head and saw one of them rushing straight at me. I couldn't move—it was too late to dodge.
I shut my eyes and braced myself for the impact of the blade.
"JAY-JAY!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Keifer's POV
Why isn't she here yet? Even if she woke up late, she should have at least caught half of Sir Alvin's lecture.
But now, two subjects have already passed, and she's still not here.
Something is wrong.
I was about to take my phone out of my pocket but stopped myself. She might get suspicious if I use it to track her again.
But I can't stop thinking about her. I'm both worried and irritated. There are days when she's late, but she always makes it before the second subject starts.
If she were absent, she would've called or texted one of us. This is really weird.
"Why isn't Jay-jay here yet?" Ci-N asked, looking at her empty seat.
That's the same question I've been asking myself for two hours now. I glanced at Yuri—he was looking at his notes, but I knew exactly what was running through his mind.
"Did she text or call you?" I asked him.
He shook his head without looking at me.
Damn it!
Why are you making me this worried? I have no choice. I immediately grabbed my phone and used it.
For about a minute, I just stared at the screen, waiting for the result. This is the only way I can find her.
Then, the result popped up. The moment I saw and read her current location, I shot up from my seat.
Hospital?
"Ci-N!" I shouted. He looked at me, confused. "...Call your parents! Confirm if they have a patient wearing an HVIS uniform!"
Everyone else was just as confused. Ci-N took out his phone and started dialing.
"Keifer..." Yuri called out to me. "...Why?"
"It's Jay-jay..."
He immediately stood up and looked me straight in the eye.
"Keifer! I called the nurse in the emergency room." Ci-N said while waiting for someone to answer.
I can't wait anymore. What if something really happened to her?Fvck! If something bad did happen, I don't know what I might do. Not again!
"There is a patient... A guy, last name Abejar." Ci-N suddenly said.
So, it's not her!
I should feel relieved, but I don't. I need to see her with my own eyes and confirm it myself.
"Abejar? Isn't that Rory?" Edrix asked, and everyone turned to look at Rory's empty seat.
What the… I just realized it. Rory isn't here either.
Wait! What if they were together?!
I didn't hesitate. I immediately ran out of the classroom.
I heard them calling after me, but I didn't stop.
What if something happened?!
I jumped into my car, started the engine, and drove like a madman. No one could stop me now.
When I got to the hospital, I rushed straight to the emergency room. There were so many patients. I was about to go to the information desk, but there were too many people blocking the way.
I had no choice.
I ran to every bed I saw, pulling back every curtain that was closed. The nurses were almost screaming at me for what I was doing.
"Keifer!" Someone called me.
I turned around to see who it was—it was Yuri and the others.
They got here this fast? Was I so preoccupied that I didn't even notice the time or how quickly they followed me?
"What the hell is going on? Where's Rory?" Edrix asked.
But I couldn't answer him.
Because I wasn't looking for Rory.
Where the hell are you?