Jay-jay's POV
"What are you doing?" I asked Ci-N, who was busy texting.
"I'm talking to Daddy. I'm asking him about your possible illness," he replied without even looking at me.
"I thought you weren't close to your dad?"
He stopped texting for a moment, turned to face me, and smiled—his gums showing and a bit of food stuck in his teeth. I couldn't help but laugh a little at his appearance, but he just went back to what he was doing without answering me.
I knew what he meant.
He was willing to talk to his dad just to help me figure out my problem. I smiled for a moment, touched by what he was doing. But…
"You really don't have to do that. I'll figure out what's wrong with me," I said, but he just ignored me.
I was about to nudge him to get his attention when the loud volume from a phone distracted me. I quickly turned to the Ulupong to find the source.
It was coming from Kit's phone—he and Mayo were watching something. I had no intention of paying attention to them, but I could clearly hear the narrator.
"...trauma can also cause short-term memory loss, but in some cases, it can also be longer..."
They were watching a video about trauma. I winced. I knew they were watching it because of me. It seemed like, just like Ci, they were also looking for ways to help me.
Even them…
But it seemed they weren't the only ones searching for information about my situation.
"Bro… Read this," Rory told Edrix, handing him a phone.
"What is it?" Edrix asked before taking it.
"I can't read anymore—you do it."
Edrix grimaced and scratched his head. I'd probably react the same way. The way Rory ordered him to read, you'd think he found something important or useful—when in reality, his brain probably just got overloaded with too much information.
Classic.
"Selective amnesia," Denzel read out loud, then nudged Drew. "You've got this—for sure when it's time to pay debts."
"Are you an idiot?" Drew snapped, irritated.
"Hey, that's true!" Blaster chimed in.
"Pay me back already," Josh added.
And just like that, those guys ended up arguing about debts. It almost turned into a fistfight, and Felix and Eman had to step in to calm them down.
"Go eat already! You're only acting like this because you're hungry!" Felix shouted, smacking Drew and Blaster on the head as they started grabbing at each other's clothes.
Eman quickly smacked their hands away before pushing them toward the exit. The other Ulupong followed, probably hoping someone would treat them to lunch—that's the only reason they'd bother heading out now.
You guys are so obvious.
"Come on, Jay! Let's eat!" they called out, but I just smiled and waved them off.
I had someone buying my food for me. Hehe.
I quietly waited for Keifer, who had gone off to get my food. I had no idea where he went, though, because it had been a while and he still wasn't back.
It was just burger, fries, and milk tea—I didn't ask for anything complicated. There were vendors right outside the school, but it seemed like he went on an adventure to find the perfect place.
"Still not back?" Yuri asked as he sat beside me. "I'm starving," he sighed, leaning back in his seat.
"Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!" Ci whined, clutching his stomach.
"Maybe he's taking his time on purpose," David said, still focused on his phone game.
I didn't know what their deal was, but they had also asked the King of Ulupong to buy food for them. Ci-N probably just wanted food from outside, but these two? They were clearly just messing with Keifer.
Well, if he was taking his sweet time to get back at them—serves them right.
I pouted, resting my chin on the table, but Yuri's light tap on my arm got my attention. I turned to face him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face.
"Kind of okay. I just don't know if I want to go home yet."
He looked at me for a moment, like he was thinking about something. Then he smiled softly, fixing my hair again.
"Now I understand," he said, confusing me.
"You asked for him that day."
I felt the way David and Ci-N grew quiet, their eyes on us. They were clearly waiting for what Yuri was about to say.
"That day you hurt yourself while we were cooking at my house. You explained to me why you asked for him, but I'm still confused," he admitted with a hint of frustration. "Because he understood your situation from the start and knew exactly what to do."
I remembered that day.
The day we went on a date as an engaged couple. We decided to cook at his place, but he ended up doing most of the work. I cleaned up after—but I accidentally cut myself. In my fear of seeing blood and losing control, I told him to call Keifer. I didn't mean to, but it just happened.
"Are you still upset about that?" I asked quietly.
"Maybe, but not at you. I'm upset with myself. There's still so much I don't know about you. Yet I demanded so much from you before," he said with a sad smile. "I can't imagine how much you would suffer if we were still engaged."
I stared at him, unsure of what to say—because it was only sinking in for me now, too. If we had gone through with the wedding and I stayed like this, we wouldn't understand each other. We wouldn't know what to do or how to help me. And that fear… it could've been the reason for our fights.
He probably wouldn't even believe me about my condition.
"Ending our engagement was really the right thing to do," he added, and I nodded.
"Now you know why you don't deserve her," David muttered without even looking up from his phone.
Yuri turned to glare at him, but before they could start another fight, Keifer finally arrived—carrying all the food we'd asked for. Ci-N ran to him, clapping excitedly, and immediately grabbed the paper bag with his order.
"Yay! So good!" the little troublemaker cheered, pulling out his food one by one.
Keifer set the rest of the bags on the table in front of us. Yuri and David took theirs, and I was about to do the same—but Keifer had already taken my food out of the container and placed it neatly in front of me.
Was he seriously waiting on me like this? Hehe.
"How are you feeling?" he asked while arranging the food.
"Hungry," I answered quickly.
He chuckled before taking his own food and pulling up a chair next to me. I glanced at my right, where Yuri was sitting—and then at my left, where Keifer was. We were all squished together at my tiny little table.
"Eat" Keifer ordered softly.
I pouted again before grabbing the plastic spoon and fork. But of course, he was the one who opened the container for me.
Yuri and David ate quietly while Ci-N couldn't stop gushing over his food. I couldn't help feeling a little jealous—I wanted that same energy. I felt like I was about to lose my appetite.
Kidding.
I started eating, sneaking glances at Keifer while chewing. He kept adding more food to my container.
"Eat well," he said with a teasing smile.
I was about to complain when—yep—someone else added more food to my container. When I turned to look, Yuri smiled at me sweetly.
What is happening?!
They probably haven't noticed that I don't really feel like eating. I pouted before continuing my meal. No one was really talking much until the other Ulupong arrived.
"So that's why you didn't buy from the cafeteria — you bought food from outside," Felix complained.
He even peeked at what we were eating before pouting. The others followed, also taking a look as if they were checking out dishes in a small eatery. But it was only Ci-N and David that they bothered, trying to ask for food.
"No way! This is mine!" Ci-N said irritably.
"Fvck off," David replied calmly.
They wouldn't have stopped if Denzel hadn't come in carrying a lunch bag that looked like it was sent by Grace.
"Give us some!"
"Share!"
"You just had a kid and now you're being stingy!"
They immediately received a string of curses from Denzel. We just shook our heads because the persistent Ulupong still wouldn't stop.
But they wouldn't be Ulupong if they weren't this mischievous. They're ready to break faces and get their faces broken just for food.
"Jay, someone's looking for your brother. But the security guard at the gate won't let him in," Denzel said, making me stop in my tracks.
Aries?
Weird. Why would someone come looking for him here at school? This is the first time I've heard of anyone asking for Aries from outside.
"T-they'll probably tell him too."
"But I've been seeing him outside since this morning. It doesn't seem like they're telling him anything."
Who could that be?
"Would you like me to inform Aries?" Keifer asked me, making me look at him.
"Maybe there's no need. We don't even know who's looking for him — it could be dangerous for him again," I replied, and he agreed.
"But it might be important. I don't think he'd wait that long if he just meant Aries harm," Yuri chimed in.
"Could be. Maybe we should just tell Angelo so he can inform Aries," the King suggested.
"Or maybe we should just leave it and not worry about it. They're looking for Aries, not us," I said, and they looked at each other before nodding.
I just finished my meal, and so did the two I was eating with. They also cleaned up our table. I decided to go to the restroom to freshen up.
While I was at the sink washing my hands, two girls came in, deep in conversation. I couldn't help but overhear their topic.
"That guy's been outside the school for a while now. He's looking for Aries from Section A," one of them said before entering a cubicle.
"Why don't they just go to Aries and tell him?" the other one asked from inside the cubicle.
"They probably already told him. It's just that Aries doesn't want to face him."
"Why though?"
"Sis, my boyfriend from Section A said that guy might be Aries' father because they look alike."
I literally froze at what I heard from them. My hands trembled, and I tried my best to control it. I quickly grabbed some tissue and wiped my hands. I hurried out of the restroom to go back to the room.
My breathing was deep and painful in my chest. I hoped they were wrong — that it wasn't Aries' father. It would cause a huge problem if they met.
And if I saw him.
Is that why he called Aries earlier? But why would he choose to show up only now? What's his reason? Just like that — after everything he did to us, he shows up as if nothing happened.
I was already at the door when I remembered something from back then. Before I stabbed Aries, I hit someone in the face with handcuffs. There was a lot of blood, and now I clearly remember — it was him.
"Jay!" Ci called, smiling.
I didn't look at him even when he got closer.
"Oh, zoned out," he said, about to flick my forehead, but someone stopped him.
"Jay, what's wrong?" It was David's voice.
I still didn't respond, just staring into space. The details of my memories kept replaying in my mind.
What if he came back for revenge for what I did? What if he kidnaps Aries again and repeats what he did before? That's the only thing he could possibly do.
I looked up when someone kept snapping their fingers in front of my face. Confused, I looked at who it was.
"Are you okay? You zoned out," Keifer asked with concern.
"I-I just have something on my mind," I replied and went inside the room.
I went straight to my seat and stayed silent, even though Keifer's worry was obvious.
Our teacher arrived for the next class, but I stayed distracted. The whole day passed without me writing down or learning anything.
As usual. Nothing new.
While everyone else was busy getting ready to leave, I stayed in my seat. I just held my bag on the table, while Keifer kept watching me without moving either.
"We'll head home first," Felix said goodbye.
The King nodded at him, but I still didn't say a word.
"Did Jay-Jay get bewitched? Why isn't she talking since she came back from the restroom?" Ci asked fearfully.
"There's no ghost in the toilet. Stop it," David answered her.
"I'll take care of her. You guys go ahead," Keifer instructed.
David nodded and glanced at me briefly before walking away. Ci-N waved at me before following his grandfather. Yuri patted Keifer's shoulder before finally leaving.
"Bye, Jay," Yuri said.
All the Ulupong had left. Keifer moved his chair closer to me. I knew he was just waiting for me to make a move. I was grateful that he wasn't pushing me to talk.
"Can you call my brother? Please tell him I won't be going home yet," I asked softly.
"You can't keep thinking like this."
He pulled a chair and sat in front of me, holding both my hands.
"It's all in the past now. Aries' anger toward you is over. He's already forgiven you, right?"
My trembling hands held his. I took a deep breath as tears began to fall again.
Crying again.
"B-but… when I remember it, I feel sorry for him," the memories of what Aries went through flooded back. "He endured living with me at home. He endured being with the person who tried to take his life."
"Please don't be too hard on yourself. We still don't know why you did that."
Even if I find out the reason, it wouldn't erase my guilt — and there's no good reason for hurting him.
I shook my head. "Even so."
"I know you… You wouldn't do such a thing."
I paused for a moment. I wiped my face and took a deep breath.
"How can you say that?"
"I have a theory that you stabbed him because you weren't in your right mind," he started, making me think.
That could be true. Because if I were thinking clearly, no matter how angry I was, I wouldn't hurt him like that. I may say harsh words sometimes, but I never really meant them.
He continued explaining. "I think you were in a state of zoning out — like when you see blood."
Blood.
I thought deeply about what he said. If I go back to that memory, I remember there was a lot of blood around. But I didn't know whose it was.
I needed to think hard about what happened before I stabbed him. I let go of his hands and covered my face with both of mine.
"What are you doing?" the King asked.
"Using the remaining brain cells in my head to think."
He laughed a bit, but it was cut short. He stood up, and I heard his footsteps walking away. I didn't know what he was doing, but I heard a familiar voice from the door.
It was Aries.
"What are you two doing? We need to go home now," he said.
"We're discussing something important. I'll take her home," Keifer answered.
"Can't that wait until tomorrow?"
"Nope."
"Kuya Angelo will not like this."
"I'm ready to explain for us."
I didn't hear Aries reply anymore, but I could feel his eyes on me. I peeked through my fingers, and I was right. I saw the worry in his expression, but I couldn't face him. Where was I supposed to get the nerve to face him?
Any tips on how to grow a thicker skin?
He turned back to Keifer and just nodded in acceptance. He left, and the King immediately walked back toward me.
"He's gone," he said.
"I'm still thinking," I answered, covering my face again while keeping my eyes shut.
I forced myself to recall what happened before Aries was stabbed. But no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't remember. I slumped down on the desk.
"I can't remember anything," I whispered before starting to sob.
"Hey, don't pressure yourself."
But I ignored him. I cried softly, drowning myself in guilt. I felt like the worst person for what I had done.
Jay-Jay bad.
We had probably been in the room for an hour when I finally decided to ask if we could go home. I was grateful the King just waited for me without any complaints or signs of impatience.
"Do you want to eat before heading home?" he asked.
I thought for a moment before answering his offer. About 0.1 seconds.
"Just ice cream."
I heard his soft laugh. There were no more students at school. It looked like everyone had gone home a while ago.
While we were in the parking lot, a man suddenly approached us. I stared at him for a moment before fully recognizing him.
The scar on his jaw reminded me of what happened in the basement where we were locked up.
Where he locked Aries and me up.
I automatically clung to Keifer and stepped back. It seemed like he understood what was happening right away. He immediately shielded me behind him.
"You're Jay-Jay, right?" the man asked.
His voice was different from what I remembered. It sounded calm and gentle. He had a resemblance to Aries. Even his face would have looked pleasant if not for the scar on his jaw.
A scar I gave him.
"Can we talk?" he asked again.
I couldn't answer. I was still clinging to Keifer. He could feel me trembling.
"And who the hell are you?" the King asked irritably.
They stared at each other before the man finally answered. He managed to glance at me briefly.
"I'm Aranes, or Ares. I'm Aries' father."