JAY-JAY'S POV
Finally, it's Friday. I can finally rest for the weekend. At least for two days, I won't have to deal with Keifer-kwanan's animal face.
"Jay," he called, making me wince.
"What?" I replied, annoyed.
He pointed his index finger at me and crossed his fingers. I think it's called a finger heart. He even winked at me. 🫰🏻
I saw Felix, Edrix, Eman, Eren, and Calix laughing. They looked like they were being tickled in the ass by what he was doing.
I blinked, unfazed by his ridiculous antics. This crazy, shameless scumbag had somehow become the King of his fellow Vultures.
"You're so far away that I could hit you with my shoe if I threw a stone at you," I said before turning away from them.
Loud laughter erupted from his companions. One by one, Keifer insulted them in return.
"There should be food in the middle of your fingers," Eman joked. "Look at that—then you'll really feel something."
They laughed again, clearly enjoying themselves at my expense while feeling sorry for their so-called King.
I turned toward the door when Ci-N walked in, looking like a depressed man.
"Have you seen Drew?" he asked.
I shook my head. "He's not here yet. Why?"
"He owes me money. I'm broke." Ci-N frowned and sat at his desk.
Poor guy...
"How much did he take from you?"
"Eight pesos," he answered, sounding as if he was about to cry.
He acted like he was going through the most severe hardship just by mentioning that amount, as if he had lost a finger and his life was about to end.
That's just eight pesos—what if he had lent him 5,000?
"I still haven't been paid back either," I mumbled, but he ignored me.
"Jay-jay, I don't have any more money. I spent it all on a new game," he said tearfully, staring at his empty palm as if looking at imaginary money. "I'm so poor."
He had no control over his spending. He never budgeted, yet he still complained when his money ran out. He couldn't be independent at this rate—handling money seemed like a curse to him.
"I feel like I've hit rock bottom," he added before banging on his desk and muttering to himself.
All this drama over eight pesos. It seemed like he was experiencing the hardships of every struggling person.
"It's just eight pesos. I'll give it to you," I said, reaching for my wallet, but Ci-N suddenly lifted his head.
"David is coming," he said, like a human radar detecting David's presence. "Let's go."
I grinned and nodded. We immediately stood up and left the room to meet Gulayat's opponent. By the time we reached the ground floor, we spotted our target.
We waved him over.
"David!" we called in unison.
He scratched his head. "Are you guys free?"
We nodded. He sighed before agreeing to head to the cafeteria with us. We hadn't even gone far when someone called my name. We turned to see Rory approaching me.
"Where are you going?" he asked, grabbing my arm. "Let me borrow Jay-jay for a moment."
Before I could answer, he pulled me away. He kept glancing around as if searching for something. His behavior shocked me—he was acting like a madman.
"What?" I said, annoyed, as I grabbed my arm.
"Did you see if Freya was there?"
I shook my head. "It doesn't look like she is yet. She often hangs out in front of the main building with her henchman."
He nodded. "Alright. Let's wait for her and then give it to her."
He opened the bag and took out a small teddy bear hugging a piece of pink rose. He also pulled out the killer love letter.
Seeing the cute teddy bear made me smile. It's good that he has something to give because I know someone who arrived in London without even a teddy bear.
There is an island.
I fixed Rory's handouts. He peeked around the parking lot, and when he saw the witch's car, he pushed me.
"Oh well..." I complained, but he just urged me to walk.
I snorted before approaching Freya's parked car. I waited for her to step out, and when she saw me, she quickly looked exhausted, as if her day had just been ruined.
"What now?" She asked, annoyed.
"They say it's for you," I said, holding out the teddy bear and the letter.
She took them and looked at the teddy bear. I saw a smile appear on her lips, but she quickly suppressed it.
"This is so corny," she commented, then turned and walked past me.
Corny, but she smiled.
I waited for her to disappear before I approached Rory. I gave him a thumbs-up.
"I thought she wouldn't take it. The stubble on her face," Rory said.
"She's always like that," I replied and walked away.
He followed me. Fortunately, two Ulupongs were waiting for me.
"Where are you coming from?" Ci-N asked.
"Nowhere, just delivering something," Rory replied. "Where are you going?"
"The cafeteria," David answered.
I saw Rory's smile. "You're treating us? Wow, how generous!"
Shameless.
David hadn't answered yet, but he had already started walking toward the cafeteria. I saw Ci-N frown.
"Don't treat him, David," the young man said.
Rory turned to him and just glared. I thought they would fight again, but thankfully, we reached our destination. Since it was still early, there were too many students coming inside.
Rory quickly let go and ran to the front, but Ci got ahead of him. They almost pushed each other.
"I want a shake!" Ci told the shopkeeper.
"Manang, 1.5 liters of Coke," Rory said while pulling Ci away.
I snorted. Too early for 1.5 liters of Coke. What is this stomach? It looks like it belongs to a monster.
"It's the morning of Section E," I heard a student say to their companion.
"Don't pay attention to them; they might pick a fight with you," their companion replied.
"As if," the first student muttered.
I moved away from them a little, irritated. I wasn't scared because if someone spoke, I might not be able to stop myself—I might just hit them suddenly.
"How can she handle it?" I overheard another student.
"Is she really just a girl?" his companion asked.
I think they're talking about me.
"Yeah. Tough, isn't she? Maybe she's a lesbian."
"Maybe. Or just flirty," his companion replied, and they laughed softly.
I turned and stared at them for a long time. My eyes met theirs. They looked away at first, but I didn't blink or look away.
"W-why?" one of them stammered.
Suddenly, I raised both hands, bent my knees, and lifted one leg, striking a kung fu pose. They flinched and backed away.
"Jay! Who are you fighting? Why are you in a battle stance?" Ci asked as he approached me.
Those in front of me immediately walked away. The other students who were about to buy food also left at the same time, but they seemed scared of me. The cafeteria was empty except for us and the vendors.
They're afraid.
I lowered my hands and feet. "Nothing. I thought it was an enemy." I looked at what they were holding.
Besides Coke, they had also bought food like hotdogs, hamburgers, and sausages on sticks.
"I'll buy some too," I said and approached David, who was paying at the cashier. "David! David! Me too!"
He turned to me, and I noticed the soft drink and hamburger he was holding. He handed them to me and took the new ones that the shopkeeper passed over.
"Wait a minute, I'll order for you," he said, and I smiled.
Nice. Nice. David.
"Thank you," I said happily.
I started waving my hand as I walked closer to Ci. He laughed when he saw the ketchup smeared on my mouth.
"Hungry?" he asked teasingly.
"Not really. Just a little," I answered before taking another bite.
"Let's go back to the room," Rory agreed and started walking out of the cafeteria.
We followed, constantly chewing as we walked. Almost no one could speak properly except for David, since our mouths were full.
We hadn't gone far when we encountered Section D. They looked at us angrily before stopping and suddenly staring at me.
Because I was too focused on my food, I didn't notice what they did. I tripped and fell directly onto the concrete road. I felt my teeth hit the ground, and my nose stung.
"Jay-Jay!" Ci-N shouted, rushing to me.
"You guys are such jerks!" Rory said angrily at the group who had tripped me.
"Rory!" David warned, stopping him from picking a fight.
I heard the laughter and teasing from the Section D students, along with the curious murmurs of other students who had seen what happened.
Slowly, with David and Ci-N's help, I got up. My heart sank when I saw my food scattered on the ground, now a feast for the ants.
I started crying.
"Idiots," Rory muttered in frustration, glaring at the departing Section D students.
My nose and knees ached, but the pain in my heart hurt even more as I stared at my lost meal. I had barely eaten half of it. I also started feeling the pain in my body from the fall. Tears slipped from my eyes as I looked at David.
David couldn't stop laughing.
"Daaaviiid! My food!" I wailed between sobs.
"Come on, Jay-Jay, don't cry. You look ugly," Ci teased, making Rory laugh.
I pouted. "It's only natural."
"I'll buy you a new one," David said and patted my knee, but I quickly flinched in pain.
"It-it hurts," I whimpered, looking at my knee.
I didn't see any scratches or scars, but the pain felt like it came from the bone.
"Try moving your knee," he instructed, and I did as he said.
I grimaced immediately. It hurt too much. My knee must have taken a hard hit. I touched my elbow and finally noticed the growing pain there too.
I cried even harder from the physical pain. It was all because of those Section D pests. We hadn't had any trouble in a while, but it seemed like they wanted to pick another fight with our section.
"I can't walk like this! Daaaviiid!" I wailed again, and he scratched his head, looking unsure of what to do.
Instead of comforting me, Rory and Ci just laughed and teased.
Wow, thanks! Such great friends.
Just then, the school bell rang, signaling the start of class. But we were still outside. I saw other students running toward the building.
We were late.
"We have to go back," said Rory.
I tried to stand up, but pain quickly engulfed my knee. I cried out again.
My food.
"There's no time. I'll carry you," David said and was about to pick me up.
Before he could even position himself properly, I clung to him. He was shocked and almost fell, but he quickly regained his balance.
I heard the loud laughter of Ci-N and Rory.
"Amputated! Looks like a tarsier."
I was like a monkey clinging to David. I didn't know why, but it felt better than putting weight on my knee.
"Wrong position, Jay," he said and tried to put me down, but I held on tighter.
"I can't move, it hurts!" I cried.
He sighed and did nothing but adjust my position and support my legs. I couldn't blame him—he carried me forward like a baby.
As he walked, he peeked at me from time to time. I was still sniffling, my eyes fixed on my food lying on the floor. We hadn't even been together for long, and now I had to say goodbye.
Section D was in chaos. I had wasted my food.
When David stepped onto the stairs, I was shocked. Instinctively, I moved my knee, wrapping my leg around his waist.
"This is really not a good position," he muttered.
I looked at him. His face was red.
"Why are you blushing?" I asked. He seemed out of breath.
"T-too close," he stammered, turning his face slightly away.
Every now and then, he stopped to adjust his grip. I just hugged him tighter, feeling his heartbeat racing.
Maybe I'm too heavy, and it's hard for him. Maybe this is a sign to eat less... though sometimes, signs can be misleading.
"How about Grandpa David?" Ci teased.
"I'll kill you, Ci," David shot back, making the little boy burst into laughter.
We were almost at the room when he suddenly stopped. "I'll put you down now."
Instead of agreeing, I tightened my grip.
"I can't walk, can I? Don't put me down until we're at my table," I ordered.
I heard Rory whistle. "That's some serious flirting."
He and Ci-N entered the room first. David sighed before walking again, but his pace had slowed. As we stepped inside, I heard a chorus of whispers and comments.
"Braselton," Sir Alvin muttered.
"You're dead, kid."
"Jay's down. Keifer is no longer a good match," someone remarked.
"Why are you treating Jay-Jay like that?"
David lowered me slowly, but I was still far from my table. The moment my feet touched the floor, he suddenly collapsed.
The Snakes cursed and rushed forward, practically stumbling over each other to drag David away.
Keifer loomed over him. Everything happened too fast—I couldn't even blink before the scene became clear. The so-called King was already trampling David.
"Grandpa David! Grandpa David!"
"That's right, Keifer!"
"Listen to David's explanation first!"
"Tangina! That's enough!"
"What were you thinking, Jay-Jay?"
"Whose side are you on?"
Keifer wouldn't have stopped if Sir Alvin hadn't intervened. Rory, Eren, and Kit immediately stepped away from David, while Edrix, Yuri, Eman, Drew, Felix, and Calix held Keifer back.
"How dare you hold my girl like that?" Keifer spat angrily at David.
"Is it wrong to help Jay?" David shot back.
The King attempted to rush forward, but another Serpent intervened, pulling him away.
"Calm down, Keifer," Sir Alvin ordered.
I remained where I stood, unmoving. They were a mess, but one thing was clear to me. It was just like before. He was exactly like this when he mercilessly beat Kit.
Why does nothing ever change?
I looked at Keifer, who was still struggling.
"Why are you like this?" I asked, grabbing his attention. "You claim you've changed, but you're still the same." I saw the shift in his expression. "It's still the same—you're still hurting your friend out of jealousy," I said, my tears threatening to fall.
I felt like he had failed. He failed in everything he said and promised.
"Don't give me that look," he replied.
Those restraining him gradually let go.
"I have changed, Jay. But don't do things like that," he said, as if it were my fault.
"Why are you blaming me? If you had been patient, you wouldn't have stabbed him—!"
"You're hurting me!" he shouted, silencing me. "This isn't just jealousy. Seeing you with David, as if he owns you, hurts me."
"David is my friend! Why are you thinking like that?" I said, annoyed.
"It's not about having a dirty mind. Any man who loves a woman would feel the same way."
I glanced at the other Serpents behind him. Some of them nodded in agreement, clearly supporting his words.
So now it's my fault.
"David helped me because I couldn't walk—I was stung. Even if my reason is valid, is it still wrong?"
"Why did he have to carry you in that position? If he had carried you properly, it would have been fine, but like that? It was as if he was yelling to everyone that you belonged to him," Keifer said angrily, clearly frustrated.
So, it turns out that I'm to blame for this—that's why he hit David. It was my fault because I allowed myself to be in that position.
"What now? What now with you — ?"
"Don't," Ci whispered.
"Do we have any?"
The Serpents reacted one after another. Some turned away and hit the wall, while others smacked their foreheads in frustration.
"Magic word," one of them muttered.
"No more."
"The fight is over."
I wasn't sure, but I felt like I had said something wrong. It was a harsh realization, not just for him but for me too.
"What now?" he repeated, mimicking me. "What now if we don't have one?"
We all waited for what he would say next.
"Is it necessary?" he asked, and I winced. "If only I loved you."
Suddenly, the Serpents erupted. Some jumped, others rolled on the floor, and a few even bumped into me.
I looked at David, who simply shook his head with a smile. Sir Alvin chuckled softly, shaking his head. Yuri held his breath, but it was obvious he wanted to strangle Keifer for being so dramatic.
I wanted to hit him too—him and his fellow Ulupongs.
They were more excited than I was.