Jay-Jay's POV
Why am I this scared? He's still Yuri. He's still my friend.
"Sshh..." he said as he wiped my cheek with his thumb.
I didn't even realize I was crying. I was still leaning against the wall, and his arms were on either side of my head, trapping me. I couldn't run.
"Sshh... I won't hurt you."
"Y-You're scaring me," I replied, and he chuckled slightly.
He really had the nerve to laugh.
"You wouldn't be scared if you weren't thinking badly of me."
Well, he had a point. If I weren't thinking badly of him, I wouldn't be this scared. But what can I do? I can't help it. There's so much I don't know about him, and on top of that, he might have bad intentions toward Keifer.
What if he's mad at me for meddling in his plans? Or what if I'm getting in the way of whatever he's plotting? Like in TV dramas, those who interfere with the villain's plans end up dead.
Damn it, Jay, stop thinking like that!
"If you weren't acting this way, I wouldn't be scared," I said, trying to sound brave.
I won't go down without a fight. Even if I'm starving, I'll fight.
He bit his lip before smiling. "You always have an answer for everything."
Well, duh!
He grabbed my chin, trying to make me face him. I kept avoiding his gaze, so he ended up holding my jaw instead. My hand instinctively went up to grab his wrist.
"Calm down, Jay. I just want to talk properly," he said, bringing his face closer to mine. "I have no intention of hurting you. You still trust me, don't you?"
Do I still trust him?
I took a deep breath to calm myself. When he noticed my breathing had steadied, he finally let go. I remained against the wall, watching as he picked up the paper with Keifer's name on it.
He unfolded the paper and showed it to me. "Besides you, who else has seen this?"
I wasn't sure if I should tell the truth. If I lied and he found out, things might get even more complicated. But I couldn't throw Ma'am Cindy under the bus.
"N-No one. Just me."
He stared into my eyes. I met his gaze, trying to convince him I wasn't lying. I silently thanked the heavens when he accepted my answer.
"Do you know what this is?"
I wanted to say no, but who was I kidding? He wasn't stupid. I was sure he already had an idea that I knew what that paper was.
Especially since I ran away the moment he showed it to me. Like, would I really be scared of Keifer's picture? That'd be ridiculous.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and he sighed. "Of course, you do. Was it Freya who told you?"
I slowly shook my head, confused as to why he thought Freya might have been the one to tell me. Was it because we'd been talking? Or because she had started hanging out with us? Did he know I eavesdropped on them at the hospital?
"Tell the truth, Jay. If they find out she told someone else about this, Freya will be in danger."
Who are "they"? And why would Freya be in danger?
"S-She didn't tell me anything. Freya and I aren't even close," I explained.
That was true. We weren't friends yet—at least not to the point where we'd gossip without fighting.
He seemed relieved, but he still wasn't done questioning me.
"Then who told you about this?"
I shook my head. "I-I just had a hunch because I recognized some of the names on that list."
"And what was your hunch?"
I took a deep breath before answering. "Y-You have bad intentions toward Keifer. You might bring him down, just like the others whose names are on that list."
He stared at me. He didn't even deny it.
It looked like I was right. Like Ma'am Cindy was right.
He stepped closer and took both my hands.
"Listen to me. Right now, I can't explain everything to you yet. But I need you to trust me. Freya, myself, and the others involved in this… we need to break free from the people who sent this list."
I was confused. Why was Freya involved? And break free from whom?
I was getting more and more lost in this conversation. I needed answers, but all I was getting were more questions.
Seriously, just give me a straight answer!
"You can't tell anyone about this, Jay."
I pulled my hands away from him. I could see the hurt in his expression.
"How can I be sure you won't hurt Keifer?"
Great, now I have trust issues.
He stared at me. "I won't. I know I won't hurt him."
It was hard to trust him right now, but I still would—because he was my friend. Because he was still the Yuri I knew.
So even though I was reluctant, I nodded.
"I won't tell anyone, as long as you don't do anything to harm him," I said, as if we had just made a deal.
He smiled at me. This time, I could tell it was a genuine smile.
I could get mad at him. I could lash out because of everything I had just found out. But now I was starting to think… maybe he was carrying a heavy burden.
I didn't want to add to it.
But if I noticed anything suspicious, I wouldn't hesitate to tell Keifer the truth—even if it meant ruining their friendship again.
"Thank you for trusting me. When the right time comes, I will tell you everything," he said before turning around and leaving the room.
I sank to the floor. My mind was racing.
I couldn't help but be afraid for Keifer. I thought I'd have fewer worries now that Ram was gone, but now I had even more to think about. If only overthinking made me smarter. But nope—my brain just kept craving food instead.
I sat on the floor for hours. I heard my older brother arrive, but I didn't even step out of my room. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep in that position.
I woke up to a sharp pain in my back. I tried stretching, but I heard my bones crack.
Damn it, did I just break something?
I crawled toward my bed, needing some kind of support to stand up. I felt like an old person with arthritis, clutching my hip as I got up.
I grabbed my phone to check the time. It was 5 AM.
Then I remembered—today was the day Mom and Aunt Gema were leaving. I quickly freshened up in the bathroom before stepping out of my room. I reached for my cellphone to check the time. It was already 5 AM.
I found them still in the living room, talking. Mama was wrapped in a shawl again, looking cold. She spotted me right away even before I got close.
"You're up early," she noted.
"Nothing much, are you leaving now?" I asked, pointing at the bags they had with them.
"Yes, we're just waiting for your Uncle Julz."
I nodded and glanced at Aunt Gema, who was busy giving instructions to the house helpers. Then I turned back to Mama.
"You're coming back here, right?" I couldn't shake off the thought that the police might take her in over there.
She chuckled slightly. "Of course. I'll be looking for work here."
I don't know why, but my body moved on its own—I wrapped my arms around her. She was obviously surprised, but she hugged me back.
I had done so much wrong to her. I wanted to make it up to her properly and sincerely apologize. Come back here, I'm telling you—if you don't, I'll follow you to jail.
"What's with you?" she asked, but I didn't answer.
I pulled away and said goodbye. "I'm going back to sleep."
I heard Aunt Gema chuckle softly. I bid her farewell as well. Not long after, Uncle Julz arrived, followed by Kuya Angelo. They talked briefly before finally saying their goodbyes to us.
One by one, they got into the car. Kuya stood by the door, watching them leave, while I remained standing where they had left me.
I was worried about Mama. I hoped no one would take her in over there.
"Why are you up so early?" Kuya asked as he turned around and saw me.
"My back hurt. I slept on the floor," I replied.
"What nonsense did you do now that you ended up on the floor?"
Nonsense? Can't I have just fallen asleep there or maybe rolled off the bed?
"Nothing, I just happened to sleep there. Where are Ma'am and Sir?" I changed the topic.
"They're in the last guest room, and Yuri is in Aries' room."
"Aries agreed?" I asked in disbelief.
I knew they were getting along better, but still, that horoscope-minded guy was different. He was still uncomfortable being around his former friends for long periods. If my brother really agreed, then that was good progress.
But I couldn't help but feel uneasy—I just didn't know for whom.
"As if he had a choice to say no," my cousin replied before turning his back on me.
Oh, of course, he didn't. You make the rules.
I went back to my room, intending to sleep again. But I lost my drowsiness, so I tried reading my notes instead. I even fixed the chair that had toppled over last night after I attempted to run away from Yuri.
At least a bit of the lecture might stick in my mind. Otherwise, I might completely blank out when I see the test paper. It would be nice if some magic happened and someone answered it for me again.
What if I got sick again? How could I make that happen?
I lost track of time, so I was startled when someone called me for breakfast. I followed right away since I was hungry. It was a miracle my stomach held out.
But I froze when I saw Yuri setting the table.
He smiled sweetly at me. "Good morning," he greeted.
I just nodded and looked at Ma'am Cindy, who was bringing in food. She smiled at me and greeted me as well. Sir Alvin, who followed her, did the same.
"I hope you don't mind us barging in," he said.
I shook my head, about to answer, but Kuya Angelo, who had just arrived, beat me to it.
"You're not barging in. I invited you to be here."
"Your cousins might still feel awkward. Imagine having their teachers under the same roof," Sir Alvin reasoned.
He had a point. It was a bit awkward having them here.
But I understood their situation. They needed to hide from their godchildren. They needed a safe place to stay, at least temporarily, before they could find something permanent.
It was just embarrassing that they would see how we acted at home. Maybe I should just stay in my room all the time. I'll move the fridge inside my room.
"Good morning," Aries greeted, suddenly appearing behind me.
Wow, he's like a mushroom now.
"We're all here. Shall we eat?" Ma'am asked, and we all took our seats.
I didn't want to sit next to Yuri, so I switched places with Aries. It was a sacrifice, though, since it meant sitting beside Kuya Angelo instead. Good thing no one noticed what I did. I ate quietly while they continued talking. Sometimes, I answered when they asked me questions, but I didn't start any conversations myself.
After breakfast, I was the first to go back to my room to get ready. I still hadn't unpacked my things, and my notes were scattered everywhere.
I moved quickly, taking a shower and getting dressed.
It was exam day—terrifying. Of all times, now that I had actually reviewed, I was more nervous than ever. Unlike before, when I only had stock knowledge—except it wasn't even knowledge, just stock.
At least I got through it.
After preparing, I stepped out of my room. Perfect timing, since my brother was apparently about to come and get me. He froze when he saw me.
Maybe he was shocked that I beat him to it. Amazing. Be amazed!
"You're sick, aren't you?" was the first thing he said.
"What now? Just because I got ahead of you?" I replied, annoyed.
Did he think he was going to land a good insult on me?
"No, your lips look pale," he said, turning his back on me.
I immediately touched my lips. They were dry, but I wasn't sure if they were pale. I thought he was just trying to mess with me again. He should've just predicted my exam results instead.
I followed him without saying anything. I really felt like he was just teasing me.
Could my lips have turned pale because of nerves? I was anxious about the exam. What if all the lessons I repeatedly studied suddenly disappeared from my mind? Please, stay in my brain, I'm begging you.
Aries and I rode in the same car, though I hesitated when he let Yuri ride with us. I didn't talk much during the whole trip to school.
Sir and Ma'am Cindy arrived separately. I still didn't understand why they had that setup, but I let it be. Adults were confusing.
Kuya was the most confusing because he was already an old man. If my cousin could hear the things I was thinking about him, he'd probably hit me on the head. I just laughed at my own insults toward him. I couldn't even say them all to his face, so I just kept them in my little brain.
We arrived at school safely.
As soon as we got to the parking lot, I immediately spotted the King of the Vipers. I quickly approached him, planning to surprise him, but he had already seen me.
"Ugh, I was going to startle you."
He chuckled softly. "Just do it again, I'll pretend I didn't know."
"Huh? Where's the surprise in that?"
"Just add the word 'surprise,'" he said, making me frown.
It was still early, but he was already messing with me. I punched him in the arm.
"Annoying—!" My words were cut off by Yuri's sudden appearance in front of us.
Before I even realized it, one of my hands had instinctively grabbed Keifer's arm. He noticed it, glanced at me with a small smile, and then turned to face the King.
Why was I feeling nervous?
"How's Keigan?" Yuri asked.
"Good, I think. He locked himself in his room again, and they had a hard time getting him out, so things got a little chaotic," Keifer explained.
They started walking, so I followed. I let go of Keifer because they were squeezing me between them. I ended up behind him and quickly grabbed the edge of his polo so I wouldn't lose track of them.
They continued their conversation while I just listened. Yuri would glance at me from time to time, but I avoided his gaze. He even tried to ask me questions, but I only gave brief answers.
I felt awkward around him.
I felt bad because I didn't want to feel this way about him.
When we got to the classroom, I immediately noticed the tense atmosphere. I looked at the Vipers, and most of them were glaring at Drew, Rory, and Edrix, who were sitting in the corner of the room. Some greeted me, but most of them seemed uninterested.
I tried to smile at Drew, but he only gave me a forced smile before looking away. Rory and Edrix did the same. It was obvious they were avoiding me.
"Jay," Keifer called and gently pulled me toward my table. "Please ignore them."
"Why should I?"
"For your safety," he answered.
I was about to argue, but Keifer looked so serious. If anything, he should be the one avoiding them since he was the next target.
I pouted and just sat at my table. David was awake today, probably because of the exam, so he needed to stay alert. Ci-N was playing on her phone. Since our teacher wasn't here yet, I grabbed my notes to review.
I was reading seriously, but I wasn't understanding anything.
Now I could confirm that students really do become religious when exams are near because they start praying for a miracle just to pass. It was tragic.
Before long, our teacher arrived. He greeted us and discreetly glanced at the corner where the three were sitting. It seemed like he had a grudge against Drew. He kept stealing glances at him. If I were the teacher, I'd take it personally and fail him.
Just kidding—Drew was pitiful too. His grades were on the edge, and he might not even graduate. I just hoped he could make up for it now so he wouldn't struggle later. I knew paying off debts was his priority, but a diploma would help him a lot. I put away my things, leaving only what I needed for the exam.
The moment I received my test paper, I immediately said, "Thank you, Lord." Yes! I won't get a zero. I already have one point.
We started the exam. There were times when I couldn't remember the answers, but I was proud to say I recalled most of them.
Ci-N was the first to finish and submit her paper, followed by Yuri, the King of the Vipers, and David. Almost half of the class had turned in their exams before I finally finished and submitted mine.
I grinned widely as I handed my paper to Sir. He even laughed at my expression.
"That was fast. Did you get everything right?" he asked.
I shook my head while smiling. He gave me a mischievous grin before accepting the papers from the other Vipers. I returned to my seat and proudly smiled at David.
"You're in a good mood," he said.
"Of course! I remembered a lot from my review."
"Really? Did you also notice the trick questions?" he asked, wiping the smile off my face.
Trick questions? What trick questions?
I shook my head. "Huh? Were there any?"
"Yeah, the ones that seem right but are actually wrong," he said seriously.
I suddenly felt a chill. I hadn't noticed those. Did that mean I picked the wrong answers without realizing it?
"There weren't any," Ci-N chimed in, and a sly grin slowly appeared on David's face.
Oh, damn it! He was just messing with me.
"I'm just kidding," he said, and I immediately reached out to smack him.
"You jerk! I thought my review was wasted!"
He chuckled softly. I hit him a few more times before stopping when Sir got our attention. He arranged the papers in front of him and waited for us to quiet down.
"I've explained this before, but I'll repeat it. This will be your final exam, but we also have a post-final exam," Sir started, and we all focused on him. "You can make up for a failing grade there, and you can also use that score as your entrance exam result for the university or college you choose."
I nodded, but honestly, I didn't really get it.
"Sadly, not all universities accept the post-final exam score as an entrance exam score. Unfortunately, we're not accredited by those universities. So if you're applying to one of those and you've passed all your exams, you don't need to take the post-final exam."
The Vipers suddenly cheered, making me turn to look at them. Some of them even high-fived, and Mayo tried to hug Kit, but Kit just pushed his face away, almost knocking him over.
"Ouch!" Mayo complained.
"You're too clingy," Kit replied.
I just shook my head. Sir regained our attention.
"Anyway, scores will be posted on Monday, so enjoy the long weekend," he said, and I clapped my hands.
No classes tomorrow! It's Friday! So exciting!
As soon as Sir left, we all stood up. I thought everyone was ready to go home, but I was surprised when most of them gathered in the back where the three were.
"What now? You guys have some nerve!" Denzel said.
Eman tried to calm him down. I couldn't blame him for being mad—his wife almost got accused of being a traitor.
"We needed to take the exam too," Rory answered, but Eren shoved him.
Rory immediately retaliated, starting a fight, but Yuri and David quickly stepped in, pulling them apart.
"F*cking hell!" Eren yelled at David.
"Calm down!" David shot back.
"How can we calm down when they're treating us like criminals? You guys never even considered our reasons!" Rory shouted angrily.
"F*ck your reasons!" Blaster snapped. "Did you ever think about us? You could've talked to us, but no! You didn't trust us, so you acted on your own."
I wanted to step in and stop them, but Keifer held me back. He kept pulling me away until we were out of the classroom.
"Wait, aren't we going to stop them?" I asked the King of the Vipers.
"David and Yuri are there. Let's just leave them for now." He held my hand and pulled me away.
I didn't argue, even though I was really annoyed. If safety was still his concern, I didn't see a problem anymore. Ram was gone, and as far as I knew, no one else wanted to harm me—except for his monstrous father.
That was it. I was pissed off.
I thought we were heading straight to the parking lot, but I was surprised when he took me in front of Section A's room.
"Sorry, I can't take you home. I need to take care of something urgent," he said, kissing my forehead. "I'll talk to you later."
"O-Okay. Take care."
Before leaving, he kissed me twice on the lips and grinned.
"That's for the two profanities yesterday."
I rolled my eyes, making him laugh.
He left, waving and winking at me. I had no choice but to wait for my brother to finish so we could go home together.
I wandered around for a few minutes until I saw the Vipers running off in a hurry.
Lastly, I spotted Rory, Edrix, and Drew. They were talking while walking slowly.
"I'm heading straight home. I need to take care of my sibling and my mom," Drew said.
I pouted. An idea suddenly popped into my head.
I hope I don't get scolded for what I'm about to do.