Jay-jay's POV
"Pay me now!" C-in shouted at Drew.
Drew scratched his head roughly before reaching into his pocket. He fished out a peso and handed it to the bratty kid.
"Here! I'll give you the other seven next time," he said before turning away.
Goodness! He only owed eight pesos, and he still had to pay it in installments.
This guy must really be struggling in life. Good thing he managed to hand me his payment for today—five pesos.
"Jay," Yuri called to me. "Are we going later?"
"I thought you had plans?"
"I can postpone that for you."
"Wow, must be nice to be able to postpone things," I said, and he laughed.
"Where are you going?" C-in suddenly popped up in front of us.
Yuri and I were both startled. His eyes were wide, his nostrils flaring as he looked back and forth between us.
"You're like a mushroom," I commented, but he ignored me.
"Where are you going? I'm coming too."
I quickly grimaced. He couldn't come.
I glanced at Yuri, silently asking for help, but he clearly couldn't think of anything either. I subtly signaled him to talk to the brat. Fortunately, he caught on quickly.
He straightened up and spoke seriously. "Sorry, but you can't come."
For a moment, it felt like I was seeing the old Yuri—the one who used to be snippy with me.
C-in looked like a child who had just been embarrassed. I thought he would get mad at us, but he didn't react at all.
Instead, he walked over to David, who was currently asleep, and nudged him lightly.
"Huh?" David grumbled irritably.
"Yuri's picking on me. Get back at him for me," C-in ordered like a kid.
I wanted to laugh at how they looked. It was obvious David didn't care because he just went back to sleeping.
"Hey, David! Defend me! I thought you defeated Goliath?" C-in nagged.
Yuri discreetly took my hand. I looked at him, and he motioned for us to step outside.
I quietly followed him while the two continued their bickering.
"Why?" I asked him.
"Let's go buy something. You're treating me." He said, swinging our joined hands.
I laughed dryly at him. He smiled sweetly, which made me laugh even more.
Now, that's more like it!
I preferred seeing him smile. Even if he didn't want to admit he had problems, I could clearly see it. But I'd rather he tell me what was on his mind.
We walked toward the cafeteria, still holding hands. We looked like best friends taking a stroll in the park.
Swinging our hands and everything.
Because of that, we couldn't avoid the judgmental stares from other people. Some sneered at us, while others looked disgusted. And, of course, there were those who took pictures of us.
Go ahead! Take all the photos you want!
"I'm so beautiful," I whispered. Yuri looked at me in confusion. "They're just jealous of my beauty."
He chuckled. "Of course. You're beautiful," he said, making me grin widely. "But I'm even more beautiful." He added, flipping his imaginary long hair.
I grimaced and immediately punched him in the stomach. He stopped and bent over, clutching his stomach in pain.
"So, you're Kit's sister now?" I said.
Despite wincing, he still managed to laugh.
"Since when?"
He straightened up, still holding his stomach, then stretched a little.
"Well? Answer me."
"Since you rejected me. I decided to be a sister instead." He grinned mischievously.
My eyes widened in disbelief.
Oh, crap.
"But there's still a way for me to become handsome Yuri again." He pouted.
"Oh, what are you? Are you crazy?" I responded, half-annoyed, half-laughing.
"Just one thing. It'll be quick," he said with a playful smile, exaggerating his pout even more.
I was about to hit him again, but because of how silly he looked, I just burst out laughing instead. Even he started laughing.
This kind of teasing and joking around helped me forget our real situation. That there was another threat looming over us. That we had another enemy waiting to strike.
That no matter how much Yuri smiled and laughed, I knew he had problems.
I wish we could just enjoy life at school like this. But some people just couldn't stand seeing others happy and felt the need to ruin even the simplest joys.
"I thought she was with Watson?"
"Oh girl, he's really flirtatious."
"She's gonna get pregnant soon."
"Maybe she's into rich guys."
Our laughter was cut short by the gossip that was clearly meant for us to hear.
I sighed.
See? They're just jealous of my beauty.
"Just ignore them," Yuri said.
"Ignore who?! The chimpanzees talking about us right now?! The monkeys with flaring nostrils gossiping away?! The orangutans desperate for attention?! Them? Them?!" I deliberately raised my voice to make sure those damned lipstick-wearing apes heard me. Their baseless judgment only made them uglier.
Yuri scratched the back of his head. "They left already."
I flashed a sweet smile. "Good," I said before continuing to walk to the cafeteria.
Yuri followed behind me. I just shook my head at the weird looks we were getting from people we passed by. Must be nice to have so much free time to waste thinking about us.
I envy them!
As much as I wanted to yell at them all, I knew it would just be a waste of energy. They were the type of people who always had something to say about whatever others did. They'd probably even find a way to criticize someone for breathing oxygen.
When we entered the cafeteria, we were greeted by the usual noisy and chaotic students. But my attention wasn't on them.
What's on the menu, friend?
I almost cut in line just to peek at the menu, but Yuri grabbed me and pulled me to the proper queue.
"Stop being so hyper," he scolded, holding both my arms.
"Wait. I can't see the menu," I said, trying to get a better look. "They should have a menu right here. It's hard to keep looking up." I complained.
To make things worse, the long curly hair of the girl in front of me was blocking my view. I could smell her expensive-looking conditioner.
"You just can't see because you're short."
I pouted at his remark. I turned to him and tried to hit him, but he dodged.
I was about to try again, but he caught both my hands.
I struggled to get free, and because of our little play fight, I accidentally bumped into the girl in front of me.
"What the hell?!" the girl shrieked, making us both freeze.
Of all people, why did it have to be her?
The girl, who looked like a walking coloring book because of her thick makeup, turned to face us.
I grimaced when our eyes met. She removed her wireless earphones and crossed her arms.
"Seriously? You guys can't even pick a proper place to flirt?" Freya said irritably.
I quickly averted my gaze, staying silent as I stepped away.
I nudged Yuri and whispered, "Let's just buy later."
He looked at the queue. "That's not a good idea. The line's already long."
Freya snapped her fingers in front of us. "Am I a ghost? How dare you ignore me?"
I scratched the back of my head as I faced her, still avoiding eye contact. I couldn't help it—I might just get even more irritated with her. I still couldn't shake off the conversations she had with Aries on chat. Her asking Kei—kwanan for money. The things she did and the things she said.
It hurt every time I thought about how the King of Serpents was involved in what was happening with her. Wasn't it enough that they used to be together? Wasn't it enough that they had a past? Did Kei—kwanan still have to be involved? I could let go of the fact that they had a history, but meddling in each other's present? Now, that was a different story.
"We didn't mean to. It won't happen again," I said lifelessly.
She didn't say anything, so I thought it was over. But when I looked up, she was glaring sharply at Yuri. I glanced at the person beside me and felt him squeeze my hand.
Freya's eyes dropped to our intertwined hands, and she let out a bitter laugh.
"You already have Keifer, and now you still have Yuri. Wow. Just wow," she said sarcastically before walking away.
Wow, magic sing.
Yuri and I exchanged looks, both clueless about what her problem was. We just went back to the line, sensing that people were starting to get annoyed by the scene we were causing. We remained silent until we finally bought our food.
I lost my appetite because of what happened, so I only bought three burgers and a canned Coke.
"Yuri..." I called out to him as we walked.
I wasn't sure if I was asking the right person, but he was the one who had been with the King of Serpents the longest—of course, they were best friends. I trusted him enough to be comfortable asking questions and sharing my concerns.
"Did you know that Keifer gives Freya money?" I asked, and judging by his reaction, he knew.
"Jay... It's because—"
"You don't need to explain. I just need an answer," I cut him off and continued walking.
But there was something else bothering me. I stopped again before taking a bite of my burger. I turned to Yuri, who was sipping his Coke.
"W-what?" he asked, confused.
I chewed my food thoroughly before swallowing and speaking.
"Do you know the guy Freya is crazy about?" I asked.
I saw his reaction soften slightly before shifting to curiosity.
"Crazy about?" he repeated.
"You already know what that means! There's a guy in her life that she still has feelings for!" I said in frustration before taking another bite of my burger.
He shook his head as if he had no idea what I was talking about. I almost threw my burger in irritation, but I quickly reminded myself that food was more important than anger.
I thought he knew something because, besides being Freya's ex, he was also the one who took her...—I stopped myself as a thought crossed my mind.
People said that Freya from before was different from the Freya now. Completely different. She became this way because she had been passed around among friends. But what if the old Freya still valued herself? She wouldn't have given herself away so easily to someone she didn't...
"Love so much," I murmured unconsciously while staring at Yuri.
The conversations in Aries' messenger flashed through my mind. How he suspected she might be pregnant, the timeline of that event, and what was happening in our lives at the time. I was still engaged to Yuri, but Keifer was already hovering around—though it was fake.
Were they still seeing each other?
"Love so much? You mean me?" he joked, laughing.
I forced a laugh, though it was obviously fake. "I meant rice is so expensive—it's hard to cook."
He ruffled my hair before draping an arm over my shoulders. We walked back to the classroom together. I wanted to clarify my thoughts, but I didn't want to offend him.
I chose to stay silent, even though the thoughts in my head were eating me up. By the time we got back to the classroom, I had almost finished all the food I bought. It was for the best since someone would probably try to steal my food anyway.
We found Ci-N still bothering David, who was continuing to ignore him. Their antics lasted almost the entire lunch break.
The afternoon classes went smoothly, but my mind was elsewhere. The possibility that Yuri was really the guy Freya was crazy about kept running through my head.
I barely noticed when our last class ended until Yuri approached me and tapped my shoulder. He flashed me a sweet smile.
I smiled back, but not as warmly as he did. I packed up my things and walked with him.
"Take care, guys!" Edrix called out before leaving the room.
"Take care, too—" I didn't get to finish because Ci-N suddenly clung to my thigh.
"I'M COMING WITH YOU!" he shouted.
David and Yuri quickly rushed to pull him away from me.
"What the hell?! Let go!" I yelled as I tried to pry him off.
His grip was so tight that I almost fell over. I had to grab onto the doorframe to keep my balance.
"Oh, look! A tarsier!" Josh laughed, pointing at Ci-N as he passed by.
Maybe you'd like to help?
David started smacking the brat's arm and hands to make him let go. Ci-N must have gotten hurt because he fought back, hitting him in return.
"It hurts! It hurts!" he cried while striking back.
Yuri took the chance to grab his arm, while David held onto his legs.
"Nooo! I'M COMING WITH JAY-JAY!" he screamed as he was slowly pried away from my leg.
I almost swore out loud when I saw the scratches on my legs and thighs from his grip.
"I'm coming. Jay-jay. I'm coming." Ci kept repeating, his voice trembling as he started crying.
David held him back from behind so he couldn't chase after me.
"Sorry, but you really can't," I said, forcing a smile before quickly running off.
Yuri followed me, running even faster thanks to his long legs. We only stopped once we reached the parking lot.
We were both out of breath from running, and the hot weather only made it worse. I wasn't even eighteen yet, but my body felt like it was seventy. I held my waist as I tried to catch my breath.
"That was exhausting," he said, pulling out his car keys. "Did you ask Angelo for permission?"
"Yeah. He just told me to be careful," I replied.
He opened the car door for me. As soon as I got in, he shut the door and walked to the driver's side.
"Did you ask Aries for permission?" he asked again before closing his door and starting the engine.
I nodded, but I couldn't hide the fact that I had trouble asking Aries for permission. After what happened to me yesterday and in the hospital, he couldn't stop worrying about me.
He was afraid I'd hyperventilate again.
If only that were my only problem. But it might be more than that.
I could still clearly remember what Kuya Angelo, Dr. Claudia Peralta, and another doctor who checked my vitals were discussing.
It wasn't just hyper-whatever that happened to me—within minutes, my blood pressure and heart rate suddenly dropped. Even my temperature spiked, which scared them. That's why when I woke up, I had an oxygen mask and some medical devices attached to me.
Dr. Claudia explained to the other doctor what had happened in her clinic. I couldn't hear the doctor's response clearly, but I distinctly heard what she said:
"Her body might be going through some sort of transition. If it's true that the patient has a rare case of PTSD, her body could also be affected. I would suggest not forcing her brain to remember—her body might not be able to handle it."
I was terrified that if my memories continued returning, something bad might happen to me—or to my body. And what if, when all my memories came back, I started reacting to blood again the way I used to? I couldn't help but be afraid.
"Are you okay?" Yuri asked, snapping me back to reality.
"O-oh. I just have something on my mind."
"Do you want to do this another time?"
I quickly shook my head. "It's nothing. What I'm thinking about isn't important."
He didn't say anything more, but I knew he was worried. The ride was quiet, though he occasionally asked questions, which I answered.
It took us nearly an hour to get there—thanks to traffic. Yuri and I stepped out of the car together. I looked at the newly built house. Unlike the last time we visited, the surroundings were now clean and well-kept.
"Your mom lives here?" Yuri asked.
"Yeah, with her soon-to-be husband," I answered lifelessly before pressing the doorbell.
I rang it twice before the door opened, and Mama appeared wearing an apron.
"Jay?" she asked as she approached.
She quickly opened the small gate and hugged me. The excitement on her face was evident. It took me a while to return her embrace.
"What brings you here?" She looked at me and Yuri with a smile. "Oh, come in. Let's talk inside."
We followed her inside. Yuri closed the gate behind us. As we entered the house, I immediately noticed the new furniture. Unlike before, when there was only a sofa and a table, the place was now fully furnished.
"Have a seat. You came at the right time—I'm cooking," she said, heading toward the kitchen.
I set my bag down while Yuri sat on the couch. We exchanged glances, and he smiled at me as if encouraging me to talk to Mama.
Even though I was hesitant, I still did it. My steps felt heavy as I walked toward her.
The truth is, I don't want to remember anything from my past. So even though the image of Mama from yesterday kept haunting me, I had no intention of asking her about it.
I was here for a different reason.
"Ma," I called out, standing behind her.
She glanced at me briefly before returning to her cooking. "Wait a second, let me just finish this."
"I have something I want to ask."
"Go ahead," she replied without looking at me.
"Did you really not know that Dad was married when you met him?"
She froze, quickly putting down the ladle and potholder she was holding. Slowly, she turned to face me, shock and anger evident on her face.
"Who told you that? Was it Reycee's son?"
She was referring to Percy.
"he didn't say anything to me. Just answer me. Please."
She let out a deep sigh. "Would it make a difference if I didn't know he was married? I was still the other woman."
She turned her back to me and continued cooking.
"It does," I replied, but she ignored me. "Because of what I told you," I whispered.
I didn't even realize my tears had started falling. I felt ashamed of myself and of her when I found out she didn't know Dad was already married.
It's true that it doesn't change the fact that she became a mistress—but she didn't choose to be one.
I was angry at Mama. I resented her deeply, not just for her shortcomings. But more than that, I was angry at myself because no matter how much I hated her, I still longed for her in my mind and heart.
That even after all the slaps she gave me, I secretly wished she would hug me afterward.
And now I realized that there were still things about her that I didn't know. Some things remained unclear because they lacked explanation. And even though I should have buried them in the past, I still couldn't—because I needed answers.
And because of the memories returning to me, I was starting to fear that when everything came back, I wouldn't be able to handle it. And that she wouldn't be there because I had pushed her away.
I kept staring at Mama's back. I knew she heard what I said, and it hurt that she wouldn't face me.
"S-sorry," I said softly, but my tears wouldn't stop.
My quiet sobs gradually grew louder. My weak whimpers turned into cries. And my whispered apologies turned into pleas.
"I'm sorry, Ma. I'm sorry," I said between sobs. "I shouldn't have called you a ho—."
She roughly wiped my face.
"Don't cry. Don't apologize. You have every right to be angry," she said, her voice breaking. Even without looking at her, I knew her tears were falling too. "Stop crying."
"Mama..."
She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled me into a tight embrace—letting me know that she was hurting too.
I was willing to give her a chance.
If she was willing to answer my questions.