Jay-jay's POV
I thought another monkey was going to go wild again. That idiot who said, "Only gays cry, bro." But he quickly hid when they looked for who said it. What a fool!
Days passed, and Aries no longer gave me a ride in his car. He said he didn't care if Kuya Angelo got mad at him anymore. Fine! He's the one who'll get scolded, not me.
When I entered the room, everyone was talking. I approached Ci-N.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Ci-N smiled at me. "Monthly Assembly."
"What's that?"
"It's when each class president of every section reports to the head teacher and principal of the school."
"Ohh… A report about what?"
"About each student in their section—whether anyone got suspended or whatever. It's also where they voice out concerns and the needs of each section regarding their classrooms."
Needs? Then Keifer better report that our room looks like a warehouse and a dumpster. We need a large-scale clean-up. And while they're at it, they should take Keifer away too.
"Let's go!" I heard Yuri call out. "…If we're late again, they'll talk about us for sure."
I turned back to Ci-N. "Where are we going?"
Ci-N avoided my gaze and scratched his neck. "Well, Jay… Umm… You're not—"
"You're not coming," Keifer interrupted.
Huh? Why?
"You don't have anything to do there, so just stay here," Yuri added.
What the hell! And now they were all heading out of the room. What's going on?
"Why them?" I asked.
"They wanted to come," Keifer answered, sounding bored.
"I do too—"
"No need. You're not one of us, so just stay here," Yuri said as he walked out.
Not one of them? But I'm in Section E!
Ci-N gave me an apologetic look before finally leaving. I was left alone in the room. Why was it like this? I've been in this section for quite some time now, but they still don't accept me. I slumped onto my seat and buried my head in my arms on the desk.
But back when all that chaos happened, they said, "No one gets left behind." And yet, they left me. Am I that hard to accept? This feeling… it's so heavy.
I lifted my head when I sensed someone entering the room. Three guys—but they weren't my classmates.
One of them approached me with a grin. "Jasper Jean Mariano?"
I only gave a small nod, mixed with confusion. Who are these guys?
The other two came closer, and before I could react, one of them slapped me hard.
The impact was so strong that I fell to the floor. My cheek went numb from the pain. Damn it!
Getting slapped by a guy hurts way more!
I looked up at them, and they were laughing.
"You sons of b*tches! What the hell did I do to you?!" I shouted angrily, struggling to get up.
The two guys quickly moved behind me and grabbed my arms. I fought back, but they were too strong.
"This is a message from Freya," the one in front of me said.
I was about to open my mouth to speak, but I was cut off by a powerful punch to my stomach.
"Ugh!" I gasped.
My whole body trembled. It felt like my guts and eyeballs were about to pop out from the pain. It was unbearable!
Arrgghhh… Damn it!
I couldn't stop coughing. I thought that was it, but then another punch came. Then another. My knees buckled, and I collapsed.
"Ugghh! You bastards!" I forced out a yell.
Enough!
The pain was excruciating. It felt like my strength was draining away. My throat tightened.
"Bro! SHe can still talk!" one of them laughed. Another punch to my gut—stronger than the previous ones. Or maybe my stomach was just too battered now. It felt like I was going to puke everything I ate.
Aaarrrggghhhh!! I can't take it anymore! They didn't stop. I lost count of how many times they hit me. The pain was unbearable—I could barely breathe.
Why me—uuuggghhhh!
I didn't know how much more I could take, but my body was giving out. I was gasping for air.
Damn it,Jay! Fight back!
I couldn't even scream anymore. I had no strength left. The only thing keeping me upright were the two guys holding me.
They suddenly paused, and I weakly looked at the guy who had been hitting me. That's when I realized—he was from Section D.
"What did Freya tell us?" he asked the two guys holding me.
"Don't stop until she begs," one of them answered.
Beg? Me?
F*ck that! I don't beg!
"She didn't say we couldn't cop a feel, did she?" the guy in front of me asked again.
I heard the soft laughter of the two holding me. What did they mean by "cop a feel"?
The two forced me to stand up again. The one in front of me removed my necktie.
Oh, f*ck no! I immediately struggled to break free from them.
"You can fight all you want," one of them said.
Suddenly, the guy in front of me yanked my blouse, ripping off the buttons and exposing what shouldn't be seen.
"Go for it, bro!" one of them cheered, and they all laughed.
One of them was about to grab my chest when I kicked him in the face.
I used every ounce of strength I had left. But that was it… my body gave out.
"YOU B*TCH!" the guy in front of me shouted.
He immediately stepped toward me and kicked me in the stomach.
I almost threw up from the impact. I felt like my organs had shifted out of place.
Enough! Just beg already, Jay!
The two holding me let go, and I collapsed onto the floor. But the other one kept kicking me.
I give up. My body was beyond exhausted. My vision blurred, and I could no longer feel anything.
Eventually, he stopped, and they walked away, leaving me alone again. As dramatic as it sounds, I was used to being alone. Maybe this was my fate—to fight all my battles alone. No one was ever going to come and help me.
Prince Charmings who risk their lives to save people like me don't exist. If anything, they'd be the ones to push me off the edge.
Tears fell on their own. I wasn't crying because of the pain.
I was mad at myself—because I could've fought harder, but I let them do this to me. I hate being a victim. That's not me anymore.
I curled up like a child crying from a stomachache.
I couldn't stand up. It felt like I was glued to the floor.
Then I heard my classmates' voices. They were coming back.
I wiped my tears and rolled onto my stomach, clutching my stomach with one hand. I had no strength to stand up, and my soul felt like it had left my body.
Damn it! I should've worn an undershirt. They can't see me like this.
"Jay—JAY!" Ci-N shouted, rushing toward me. "Are you okay?" he asked as he tried to turn me over.
"Don't!" I stopped him. "...I-I'm okay. I just f-feel like planking," I said, forcing a smile.
"For real? Are you hurt anywhere?" Ci-N asked, worried.
I just shook my head.
"What's with the drama? Dreaming of becoming a doormat?" Keifer mocked.
The other classmates gathered around.
No escape now—I can't stay like this forever.
"Step on her!" I heard Yuri say.
This idiot!
I suddenly felt someone step on my back, and the pressure increased.
I gasped in pain as tears escaped my eyes.
"Jay… What happened?!" Ci-N's voice was laced with anger.
Keifer moved Ci-N aside and examined me. I glared at him. I was about to shove him away when I felt someone grab me, trying to lift me up.
"Aarrgghhh…" I groaned in pain.
I saw the shock and concern on Ci-N's face, as well as the others'.
The person holding me gently helped me sit up—it was David. I leaned against the leg of a desk.
"Jay! Who r*ped you?!" Ci-N asked furiously.
I suddenly burst out laughing. "Hahahaha—argh!" I winced at the pain.
That escalated quickly—r*pe, just like that?!
Ci-N took off his polo and wrapped it around me. "What the hell? I'm serious!"
"N-no one raped me. M-my stomach just hurts," I answered.
"And you just felt like stripping?" Yuri added. "...You really think we'll believe that?!"
"Tss. I-it's nothing," I muttered.
I forced myself to stand, using the desk for support.
Ci-N and David moved to help me, but I gestured for them not to.
"I-I'll just go to the clinic," I said, forcing myself to take a step.
"I'll go with you, Jay," Ci-N offered.
"N-no need. I-I can do it alone…" I insisted, taking another step. "...I-I can handle it," I whispered.
I was about to take another step when my vision suddenly blurred, and my body gave out completely.
I didn't even feel myself hit the floor—everything just faded into nothingness.
"JAY!"