Jay-Jay's POV
I just want to know. Why do car horns have to be so loud? Why so loud that you can't hear what people are saying? And why is this damned car honking?
We're already inside the school. There's no need to honk.
Damn horn.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you."
Exactly.
"We're..." I winced. "We're going to the classroom. We might be late," I said, removing my seatbelt and opening the car door.
He immediately followed me. I was frowning as I looked at the parked cars.
If I find out who honked that horn, I'm smashing their car's windshield. They want us to go deaf. They were pressing that horn non-stop, and we weren't even blocking the way.
He didn't hear me because of that.
I lost the urge to tell him. Maybe it's not the right time for us to be together yet.
"Have you had breakfast?" the King asked, and I stopped frowning.
"Just a little. I lost my appetite because of Kuya and Honey," I answered, and he pointed toward the cafeteria.
I followed him willingly. I told him what I witnessed at Kuya's unit's door and my reaction. I think I poured out all my frustrations to him.
"Honey is pretty, but I really can't see them as a couple," I said, shuddering a bit.
He chuckled. "No, they're not dating."
I looked at him briefly before we entered the cafeteria. "How do you know?"
"Your cousin doesn't take relationships seriously. He loves someone else," he explained.
Kuya? In love?
Kuya doesn't seem like someone who's head over heels for anyone. I can't even recall a time when he said someone was pretty or showed interest in anyone. That's why I was so shocked seeing him with Honey.
"Who is it then?"
He just shrugged and pointed at the menu in front of us.
Since it was still early, the vendors had just finished setting up. I only ordered tapsilog because we might be late for class if I ordered more. He also chose his breakfast and our drinks.
I looked for a seat while he carried the tray of food.
"Here. Let's sit here," I said, pointing to a table near the exit.
He followed me and arranged the food on the table. I found myself staring at him for a moment. He's always so attentive. He paid for the food, carried the tray, and even set up the table.
Don't spoil me like this.
"You know, you're teaching me to be lazy," I said, watching him sit beside me.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You always take care of me. I might get so used to this that I won't be able to do things for myself."
He laughed softly. "Why not? I will always serve my Queen."
I looked away, trying to stop myself from cursing. Damn it! He's so good at making my heart flutter!
"Do I even look like a Queen? I'm more suited to being a knight," I replied, taking a bite of my food.
"I'd still serve you," he smiled. "And fight by your side," he added with a wink.
I couldn't help but smile at his words. Damn it! I've fallen so hard. There's no way I'm climbing back up.
We continued eating, and he kept trying to feed me. I kept dodging him, and he'd laugh every time he almost got me to take a bite.
We would've finished eating faster if he weren't teasing me. The cafeteria was slowly filling up with students, all having breakfast like us. I glanced at the big wall clock. It was still early, but it would be better if we waited in the classroom.
"Finish up so we can head to the room," I said.
He had already finished his meal and was just working on his drink. I stood up to clear the table, but he beat me to it. He also returned the tray to the counter. The other students stared at him as he walked ahead.
I noticed their reactions. Some were thrilled and smiled at him, others were amazed, and of course, some guys looked irritated. But he ignored all of them.
"Let's go."
I nodded and followed him out of the cafeteria. Just as the door closed behind us, we ran into Ella and Aries.
Aries looked at me — or us — with a cold stare. I didn't wait for his reaction. I immediately grabbed the King's arm and pulled him away.
I didn't look back and kept walking until I knew we were far enough.
"Slow down. We're far from them now," Keifer said, making me stop.
I was breathing heavily from walking so fast.
"How long do you plan to avoid him?" the King asked, taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping my forehead.
"Forever?" I answered uncertainly.
He shook his head. I knew it was impossible. These days, only debts last forever. So I wasn't sure of my answer either.
"Give him time. I believe he will forgive you."
We started climbing the stairs to our classroom.
"It's okay if he doesn't. I can accept that," I replied.
"So you're just going to keep avoiding him?"
I nodded. "It's better than facing him and hurting him more."
"Are you planning to stay with Angelo from now on?"
"Until I graduate, then I'll move into a dorm when I go to college. I'll find a part-time job to support myself," I explained.
I've been thinking about that since last night. I realized I might never go back home. I can't stay at Kuya's unit either. It would be embarrassing to impose on him. That's why I decided I'd move into a dorm for college.
As if I'm sure I'll make it to college.
I really need to get into college. I haven't decided on my course yet, but it's better to have a plan. If my class schedule works out, I'll find a part-time job to cover my expenses. I can't keep relying on them for support.
I should start collecting from those who owe me so I can secure my savings. It's been hard for me to recover my savings because of those damned debts.
"Or you can move into my house and live with me. We can also get married as soon as you want to," the King of the Snakes said casually.
I stopped walking and grimaced at him. It's like getting married was so easy for him — the way he invited me sounded like he was just asking me out for a meal.
A snack, maybe?
"Get serious! This is a serious conversation," I replied irritably.
He chuckled slightly. "What? I'm just giving you more options."
"I said I'm going to study, not get married!" I glared at him and continued walking toward the room.
I passed by him, but I knew he'd follow me.
As I entered, I was greeted by the chaos and playfulness of the Snakes. Leading them was the Bratty Kid. He was arguing with Eren — and of course, Loverboy wouldn't back down.
He's just so…loving.
"I'm going to report you to all your girlfriendssssss!" Ci yelled at him, dragging out the letter "s" in "girlfriends."
"As if you even know them all," Eren replied smugly.
"That's easy. Just shout Eren's name outside, and they'll all come running," Calix teased, earning a sharp glare from Eren.
The others watching and listening couldn't help but laugh.
Felix noticed us and quickly greeted me.
"Good morning, Jay," he called out, grabbing the Snakes' attention.
I quickly returned his greeting. The rest of the Snakes also greeted me one by one — except for David, who looked half-asleep. The day had just started, but he already seemed drained.
What did he get up to this time?
I went to my seat and fixed my things before sitting down. The King did the same, immediately surrounded by his fellow Snakes like employees reporting to their boss.
"Jay…" Ci called out to me, almost tearfully. "Please punch Eren or curse him."
"Don't drag me into your nonsense this early in the morning," I replied, and Eren quickly teased her again.
They disappeared from my sight, but Yuri quickly took their place.
I smiled at him — but that smile faded when I noticed the wound on his lip and a scratch near his cheek.
"What happened to your face and lip?"
He immediately touched his lip. "Someone hit me last night. I didn't see who it was."
Worry washed over me, and his words played in my mind. What if this was connected to everything happening in his life? What if the person who attacked him before had come back?
"Why? Where were you last night?" I asked, rummaging through my bag for some tissue he could use.
"I went with Ma'am Cindy to the grocery store. I was waiting for her in the parking lot when it happened. I managed to dodge, but I still got hit a little," he explained.
I found some tissue and quickly handed it to him. He took it and wiped his lip, even giving me a reassuring smile.
A smile won't fool me.
I still couldn't forget the list I found among his things. As much as I wanted to deny it, I was starting to lose trust in him because of all the secrets he was keeping. I really didn't want him to hide things from me.
"I have a question about your amnesia," he said, and I nodded for him to continue. "I was just wondering if you had an accident when you were a child — like one where you hit your head or experienced head trauma."
I thought about it. Grandma never mentioned any accident where I hit my head. The only accident I remembered was when I got a burn scar on my back — but I couldn't recall who did it.
"As far as I know, there wasn't any. Why?"
"I did some research last night about your condition. I found a case almost the same as yours — except their selective amnesia only lasted two years. They also frequently had trigger episodes. I noticed yours has been going on for too long, so it might not just be trauma," he explained, even taking out his phone to show me what he found.
I glanced at it briefly but didn't read through it — there was too much text and even a few pictures.
I smiled at him. "Thanks for this, but you don't have to do this. I'll figure out what's wrong with me."
"I'm willing to help, Jay. I want to make up for what I did to you before," he said sincerely.
I smiled back. "Thank you."
"Let me know if you remember anything that could help my research."
"Sure, I'll tell you," I replied and watched him walk away.
I met Keifer's gaze, who then rolled his eyes at Yuri. I wanted to smack him for his reaction — but my irritation quickly turned to worry.
Keifer had no idea about the list Yuri had. And I had no idea what was happening to Yuri.
I just really hoped I was wrong — or that Ma'am Cindy's suspicions were.
I adjusted my seat and watched Ci-N and Eren pull at each other's hair. I shook my head as their fellow Snakes laughed at their antics. Eren was furious at the Bratty Kid, and the feeling was clearly mutual.
They only stopped when Sir Alvin arrived to start the class.
Our morning class went on normally. The teachers reminded us about our final test. I managed to write down some notes — but my mind kept drifting back to what happened at home and what Mom and Aries had said. There were moments I even teared up, but I quickly wiped them away.
When lunchtime came, I asked the King of the Snakes to buy me food. And as expected, it seemed like he went all the way to the mountains because it took him forever.
I even had time to go to the restroom while waiting for him.
When I got there, I saw Ella's fair skin right away. She was washing her hands and froze slightly when she saw me.
I went straight into a cubicle, hoping she'd leave by the time I was done.
But when I opened the door, she was still there — and it was clear she was waiting.
For me, apparently.
I pretended not to notice and went to the sink to wash my hands.
She just watched me, waiting until I finished before speaking.
"You're both not in good shape," she said — and I knew she was referring to me and Aries.
"I'm just not feeling well," I replied.
"That's exactly what he told me," she said.
She took something out of her pocket — it looked like a lip balm — and applied it on her lips. She even fixed her hair and adjusted her uniform.
"Whatever happened between you and Aries, it's better if you two talk," she said, walking toward the door. But before leaving, she added one more thing: "You guys look better when you talk. You've made up before — why not now?"
She smiled and finally left.
I looked down. As much as I wanted to talk to him, I felt like it was better not to. He'd only get hurt again. Everything that happened the night we were kidnapped would just come back — along with me bringing his father to their house.
It was better if we didn't talk.
I finished up and returned to the room — just in time because the King of the Snakes had finally arrived.
As I suspected, he probably did come from the mountains — he was drenched in sweat and looked like he'd been chasing monkeys.
I approached him and immediately searched for the remaining tissue in my bag. I handed it to him and pointed to the sweat on his face.
"Wipe your face with this," I said.
He smiled and handed the tissue back. "You do it for me."
I grimaced but did it anyway. I wiped his face, and right away,
I heard a soft jeer from the Brat Kid. "So sweet," he teased, raising his phone to take a picture of us.
"Sweet. I hope you get bitten by a big ant," Yuri remarked as he reached for the food in the paper bag Keifer brought.
"A fire ant, hopefully," David added, doing the same thing.
"Whatever," the King replied, annoyed. He handed me the food I asked him to buy, and I quickly accepted it.
"Where's mine?" Ci asked while looking through the other paper bags.
"Mine too," Felix added, who also asked Keifer to buy food. I wanted to laugh because they were taking advantage of the King again. He didn't even complain, so I guess it was fine with him. But unlike me, they never paid him back.
Our lunch went smoothly, except for Ci causing trouble and grabbing food. Good thing I finished eating before their fellow Snakes returned. As usual, they started asking for food again as if they hadn't just come from the cafeteria. They sure have big appetites.
"Hey…" David called out to me while we waited for the next teacher. "Did you leave last night?"
I nodded. "Yeah, why do you ask?"
"I saw you last night," he answered quickly, making me curious.
How did he see me last night? There's no way he went to our house—it was too late. "You saw me?"
"I mean, I thought I saw you," he clarified.
I just nodded. I thought he really saw us face-to-face. Maybe he passed by me and my brother without me noticing. But why was he still awake at that hour? "Did you go out too? It was already midnight."
"I-I was watching over someone," he answered, quickly avoiding my gaze.
"Who?"
He shook his head and immediately rested his head on his desk to sleep. I wanted to keep asking, but he looked really sleepy. I let him be so he could catch up on rest, like he always did.
Our teacher finally arrived, and the class began. Our afternoon classes went smoothly, though they kept reminding us about the upcoming exam. I think I need to train my brain to study. It wouldn't be good if I got low scores. My life's already been a mess lately—my grades can't be, too.
And please, not my looks either.
When it was time to go home, I decided to ride with the King of the Snakes. We were heading to the same place anyway. We deliberately waited for the others to leave because I felt like I'd run into my brother.
"Ready?" Keifer asked while I kept scanning the parking lot.
"Do you think his car's gone? Has he left already?"
"He's probably off driving his girlfriend home by now."
I nodded. True, my brother doesn't usually stay long at school—unless he has a lot to do.
We started walking down the stairs. I briefly thought about what Keifer said. He didn't call Ella by her name. He just said "his girlfriend." What did that mean?
Something's up.
"Say Ella's name," I told him.
Even though he was confused, he still did it. "Ella."
I gave him a fake smile. "How does it feel saying your ex's name?"
He suddenly looked confused. "What?"
"Why are you suddenly deaf?"
He chuckled. "What's going on inside your head?"
"Just answer the question."
"Nothing. Am I supposed to feel something when I say her name?"
"Then why can't you say her name earlier? Is there something there?"
He laughed loudly, shaking his head.
"Are we a thing now?" he asked, making me stop in my tracks.
"W-What?"
"Because you're acting like my official girlfriend," he replied with a grin, looking so proud of what he just said.
Still an idiot.
"I don't know what's wrong with you," I said, quickly walking ahead of him toward his car. He was right—my brother's car was gone, probably because he left quickly to drive his girlfriend home.
It was better this way. If we'd run into each other at school, it would've just ruined his day. Just a little more patience—school year's almost over. Once I enroll in college, I'll find a dorm to move into.
Keifer opened his car door and let me in. I knew he still had to pick up his siblings, so I texted my brother to let him know who I was riding home with and what time I'd get there. Good thing he didn't chase after me this morning, though I had a feeling he knew exactly who I left with.
Of course! And sitting next to Honey, no less.
The image of them earlier flashed in my mind again. My God! It made my stomach turn. I know my brother's handsome and attracts girls easily, but I never imagined someone would actually sit on his lap.
I can just imagine him throwing her off.
Our first stop was Keiren's school. We saw him waiting beside the school's security guard, holding a small box decorated with chocolates, candies, and hearts. Looks like the kid already has a love life. As soon as he got in the passenger seat, I turned to him.
"What's that? Where'd it come from?"
"None of your business," he snapped, and I glared at him.
"Keiren, be nice to your sister-in-law," Keifer teased, and both his brother and I protested at the same time.
"WHAT?!"
"No. Not this girl. Eww!"
Keifer just laughed loudly and started the car.
Our next stop was Keigan's school, but when we got there, the school guard told us he had gone home early. Apparently, he got picked up by one of their bodyguards. Keifer quickly confirmed it, calling Honey to check if that's really what happened.
Keifer got back in the car after ending the call.
"What did she say?"
"He's already at the unit," he answered, and I could hear the relief in his voice.
He must've been worried about his brother leaving school unexpectedly. I would've felt the same way. With the threats against them, the danger's bigger for them than anyone else.
Our drive home was quick. In the elevator, I couldn't help but glance at our reflection in the metal door. We looked like a family—if you ignored the school uniforms.
Jeez! Why did I even think that?
My thoughts stopped when the elevator doors opened. I said goodbye and thanked them. Keifer waited until I got inside my unit before heading to his.
Good thing I remembered my brother's door password. His lock had a keypad and fingerprint recognition, but I only had access to the password so far. Rich people, huh? Even their doors flex their wealth.
"Kuya! I'm home! Are you here?" I called out as I entered.
My question was answered when I saw him standing beside his expensive sofa. But he wasn't alone. He was with Tiger, who was holding a glass of liquor, and the doctor they once brought me to.
"Jay, do you remember Dr. Claudia Peralta?"