Jay-jay's POV
"Let me go! I'm really going to punch her!" I shouted while struggling against Keifer's grip.
"Would you please stop!" Keifer shouted back at me.
"I won't stop!"
"You think throwing a fit will fix this?!"
"No! But my anger will go away once I punch that girl!"
Keifer forcibly dragged me back and shoved me into his car.
"Stay here! I'll handle this!" he yelled before quickly leaving.
I heard the car lock, but I ignored it. When he was far enough away, I tried opening the door, but it wouldn't budge.
Is this locked?
There's no unlock button like in Aries' car. What now?
This is all because of that nasty girl—Imelda, apparently. She's the one who accused Ci-N of stealing, and she did it so shamelessly!
Keifer and I went to her house—I don't even know how he found out where she lived. He just called Rory, our classmate, and asked.
Keifer planned to pay her off to make her confess. But Imelda was just plain nasty. Instead of cooperating, she got mad at us and started spouting nonsense.
That's when my temper flared, and I was about to slap her, but Keifer immediately held me back and dragged me away.
Her name suits her—Imelda the Maldita.
"So annoying!"
I sat in Keifer's car for a few minutes before he finally returned.
He got in and started the engine. Even though he wasn't saying anything, I could tell he was fuming.
"Damn it," he muttered.
Oh, he failed!
If even he got mad, then that Imelda girl really is a pain. That witch! Just one slap and I'd be satisfied!
"So? What do we do now?" I asked irritably.
"Let's go back to school," he replied.
We had already missed several subjects. Damn it! If they find out at home, I'll definitely get scolded.
Why? Why did they have to mess with Ci-N? That poor kid...
We sat in silence during the drive, until I suddenly remembered something.
"Keifer…" I called. He didn't answer, but I knew he heard me.
"...I just wanted to ask if you noticed anything about my test paper when you submitted it to Sir?"
He remained silent. Maybe he didn't hear me? I kept looking at him, but he stayed focused on the road.
"I did that," he answered briefly.
I waited to see if he'd say more, but he went quiet again.
"Did what?" I asked.
"I answered your test. That's why you got a grade."
What the hell?!
I gasped in frustration. This idiot! Has he lost his mind?!
"Are you crazy? What you did could get me in trouble!"
"You won't get in trouble if they don't find out."
"Ugh! Are you even thinking?!"
"Tsk! What kind of question is that?" His voice rose slightly.
Oh, right. That was a stupid question.
Of course, the answer is NO—HE'S NOT THINKING!
This guy is totally insane. The king of all idiots. Crazy!
"What the hell were you thinking?! Why did you—oh… wait. Are you trying to make up for what you did to me before?!"
I suddenly remembered what Keifer did to me back then. Instead of apologizing, the bastard just gave me ice cream.
And his motto—"Apologizing is not my thing, and neither is explaining."
So, of course, I immediately assumed this was the same.
"Don't call it 'what I did to you'! B-but yeah, sort of…"
I chuckled bitterly. "Is saying sorry really that hard for you?! Don't you even know those words?! A simple sorry would have been enough—you didn't have to do this!"
"Tss. No. I don't like apologizing… It makes me feel small."
I smacked my forehead. This guy's ego is bigger than Burj Khalifa. I can't deal with this.
His pride is light-years high!
When we got back to school, Keifer's car stood out too much. Thankfully, there weren't too many students outside. I quickly ran back to the classroom.
I also wanted to check on Ci-N. But when I got inside, the atmosphere was still dead. Ci-N was still staring blankly into space.
"Where did you guys go?" David asked me.
"We had something to take care of," I answered, then approached Ci-N.
"Ci! Do you want some chocolate?!" I asked cheerfully.
Ci-N forced a small smile and shook his head before returning to staring into nothingness.
"I want some!" Eren chimed in. I just glared at him. This was for Ci-N.
"Yuri… I need to talk to you," Keifer said from the doorway.
Yuri walked over to him, and the two of them left the room again.
I returned to my seat but kept my eyes on Ci-N.
What should I do for this kid?
When lunch break came, we didn't go to our usual spot. Ci-N didn't want to leave, so we just ate in the classroom—though most of our food was devoured by those freeloaders constantly asking for bites.
Ci-N still had no appetite, so Eren and Kit ended up eating her share.
Come on, Ci-N!
Even in our next subjects, he was still the same. I even got scolded by our teacher because I kept looking at him. I was just really worried!
The day ended, and Ci-N was still looking gloomy. We all walked out together, trying to shield him from the whispers of other students. But he still wasn't able to escape them.
"Look at their bags, guys!"
"He has no shame."
"It's scary to even go near him now."
My blood was boiling again because of these people. Is there anyone here I can slap? Just one would be enough!
"We'll take Ci-N home. You should go home too," Yuri instructed me.
I just nodded and let them leave. I walked home alone, thinking about what I could do to bring Ci-N back to his usual self. I really wasn't used to seeing him like that.
When I arrived home, I saw a van parked outside. Do we have visitors?
I went inside right away to check. It was Uncle Julz, Aunt Gema's husband. He's here!
"Jay! Greet your uncle!" Aunt ordered when she saw me.
I smiled at him when he turned to face me.
"Is that you, Jay? You've grown so much!" Uncle Julz said.
I scratched the back of my head. "How are you?" I asked shyly.
"I'm good..." He looked behind me. "...Aren't you with Aries?"
I forced a smile and shook my head.
"He's probably on his way," my older brother, Angelo, chimed in.
Oh, he's here too.
"Jay... Go change and have some snacks," Aunt said.
I immediately went to my room to change. Just as I was about to leave, the door opened, and Kuya Angelo walked in.
"I need to talk to you," he said seriously and closed the door. I instantly got nervous. Does he already know I skipped class?
"W-what about?"
"You skipped class this morning. Is that true?" I knew it. I avoided his gaze and bit my lower lip. I'm doomed. "...And you were with Keifer?" he added.
I scratched my head, not knowing what to say. Then, suddenly, he grabbed my sideburns and pulled.
"Owww!"
"You're getting hard-headed again," he said while pulling harder.
"O-ow... K-Kuya..."
"One more time—just one more time you pull a stunt like this, and you're dead," he warned before finally letting go.
I was on the verge of tears as I rubbed my aching sideburns. That hurt!
I'd honestly prefer it if he just scolded me.
I left the room and went straight to the kitchen. Aries was already there, talking to Uncle Julz. Kuya Angelo sat beside them. They just listened to Uncle Julz as he talked, and it was kind of nice to see. It was also kind of envy-inducing.
Even though Uncle Julz wasn't their biological father, Kuya Angelo and Aries were really close to him. I knew Kuya's dad died when he was just a baby, which was probably why he took the Fernandez surname.
As for Aries' father, it wasn't a clear story. I didn't know what happened to him. I just knew that he tried to take Aries a few times. But Aries also took the Fernandez surname because, according to him, his dad was never really a father to him.
And me? I have the surname Mariano, but I don't even know my father.
All I know is his name from my birth certificate—Boy Mariano.
Seriously, is that even a real name?
If he were the only Boy Mariano in the Philippines, that'd be great. But of course, he's not. I wonder where he is now. I've only seen him in one picture before, a photo that Grandma kept hidden. Mom didn't want to see that man ever again.
In the picture, I was just a baby, and he was carrying me. We were standing in front of a church, but I didn't know where it was.
"When is Grandma coming here?" Uncle Julz's question snapped me back to reality.
Grandma is coming?
"This weekend," Aunt answered.
So she really is coming. Is she mad at me? Does she even want to see me?
Honestly, I miss Grandma too. I'm just scared of what she's going to say.