Chapter 168 - Exam

Jay-Jay's POV

WHY?!

Why didn't anyone tell me that the exam was this Saturday? Did they even listen to the things I didn't talk about? Even on the day of the exam, no one said anything.

I cried!

Not only did they not tell me, but I also didn't have anything to review. Is this the end of me?!

"Kuyaaa... I don't have anything to review. Let's go!" I pleaded with Kuya Angelo while following him.

Since I had nothing to study, I planned to sneak out and pretend to be sick. But it didn't work!

I asked him to call the school and say that I was sick.

And now we're arguing.

"kuuuuuyaaaaaaaaaa…"

He stopped walking and looked at me with an evil glare. "Stop it! I won't tolerate your nonsense!"

I hugged him, crying while looking into his eyes. He didn't move and still looked at me like that.

"Alright, please... Tell them I'll take the exam on Monday." I begged him.

"Retake it on Monday." Suddenly, Aries muttered as he passed behind me.

I let go of Kuya and looked at him. Is it really on Monday? Isn't it today?

"That's why you really need to go in and take the exam now," Kuya said before completely walking away.

T_T… I'm really crying.

"Blessed is the sluggard who enters." Aries smirked before stepping out the door.

Is it my fault? Those snakes made me angry. I was too lazy to go in for a few days, and now I blame them for this.

R.I.P. my grades.

I walked to school, frowning. I was going to take my bike, but since I wasn't fully present in my mind, I might get into an accident.

When I arrived at school, the first person I saw was Calix. It looked like he had just dropped Mica off. I smiled at him, but I couldn't ignore the bruise near his lip.

He immediately noticed me staring, so he quickly avoided my gaze and started walking toward the classroom. I almost didn't want to step forward, but I had to, so I forced myself to.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Felix and Rory. They both smiled at me, but Felix looked hurt because of the wound on his lip. I also noticed a scratch on Rory's cheek.

I couldn't return their smiles. Worry filled my chest. I was used to seeing them with wounds and bruises when they came in, but thinking about how they did that to each other made me sad.

It shouldn't be like this.

My shoulders slumped as I entered the room. The usual rowdiness was gone. It was quiet—someone was talking, but their voice was barely audible.

Ci-N smiled at me, making me feel embarrassed. I tried to smile back, but I just ended up grimacing. As I approached my seat, I noticed King with his face down on the table while Yuri was focused on his notes.

I wanted to review, but I couldn't think of anything. I let out a deep breath. I still had to try.

I opened my bag after sitting down. I was about to take out my notes when I froze.

Why are there so many chocolates?

I looked around first, making sure no one saw them. Otherwise, they'd take them from me.

For a moment, I wondered if my Jansport bag had magically given birth to chocolates. I didn't remember buying or picking any up—

Ahh! Okay…

Aunt Gema must have put them in. I saw her earlier holding a bag of chocolates. She also mentioned that eating sweets while reviewing was a good idea.

That explains why my bag was so heavy earlier.

I looked at Ci-N. He was folding a piece of paper into an airplane.

Light bulb moment…

I smiled widely while taking a chocolate bar from my bag.

"Ci-N!" I called out.

He turned to face me, still holding the paper airplane.

I showed him the chocolate in my hand. His eyes lit up like a drooling dog.

He wasn't the only one who reacted that way—the others also glanced at me and the chocolate.

"Is that mine?" he asked innocently.

"It's yours... if you answer my question." I smirked, but he suddenly turned his back.

"No! I know what you're going to ask! I won't answer!" he shouted without looking at me.

Pfffftt… Bad trip!

But I won't give up. I know your weaknesses, Tsongs!

I glanced at the others. They immediately looked away, even though they were tempted.

Tss… When will you all give up on me? Never, huh?

I opened a chocolate bar. I took a slow bite, savoring it with my eyes closed as if I were in a TV commercial.

"Shit... it's delicious," I whispered dramatically. "…It melts on your tongue instantly."

I peeked at them, but they pretended not to care, even though some were biting their lips.

"…The sweetness is just right, not overwhelming," I added. "It's the perfect snack while reviewing."

I looked at Yuri, who was now staring at me.

I could see the rise and fall of his Adam's apple. He forced himself to look at his notes again.

I looked over at Keifer. I wiped the chocolate off my lips with my thumb and took another bite, staring straight at him as if I were flirting.

"Delicious… I promise," I said in a low voice.

I saw a mix of annoyance and envy in his expression. He looked away, but one of his hands fidgeted with his phone.

Just avoiding me...

I glanced at the others. Some even wiped their mouths from excessive drooling.

My phone vibrated, and I picked it up immediately. A text message had arrived.

📩

From: King Ulupong

Message: "Stop it! It's not funny!"

He looked as if he had collapsed. Our eyes met, and he glared at me, as if he was about to attack at any moment.

Okay... I'm sorry.

I was about to reply when Ci-N suddenly appeared in front of me, practically in tears.

"I'm about to speak… Just give it to me," he pleaded.

I answered with a wide smile. I finished eating what I was holding before opening my bag, making sure everyone could see its contents.

"Do you see this?" I asked him.

He nodded, practically drooling.

Yackness!

"…Just answer my question, and it's all yours."

He nodded again, but at the same time, the others started yelling at him.

"Watch out, Ci-N!"

"Don't be stupid!"

"It's just chocolate! We can buy some ourselves!"

But Ci-N seemed deaf to their words, completely hypnotized by the pile of chocolates in front of him.

My ears almost clapped with joy.

"Tell me, Ci… why were you guys fighting before?" I asked.

He looked at Keifer and Yuri first, then motioned for me to come closer. I leaned in, and he whispered.

"Because Keifer and Yuri got into a fight. Of course, we all took sides, so things got messy."

IT'S HAPPENING!

That's it. Section E is divided. It shouldn't be like this.

Worry filled me as I looked at everyone. They all avoided my gaze.

"W-What were they fighting about?"

Ci-N bit his lip and glanced at Keifer. When he turned back to me, he just shook his head.

I opened my bag even wider and leaned in closer. His eyes stayed forward as he hesitated to take the chocolates.

"B-Because… It's… uh—"

"Shut your mouth, Ci-N!" Keifer snapped, stopping him mid-sentence.

I shot Keifer a glare. "Shut up over there!"

I looked at Ci-N and saw fear in his eyes. He bit his lip again—something he only did when he was truly terrified.

I knew it. He was scared of the King of the Serpents.

"Tangina! Just say it already!" Mayo shouted, making everyone turn toward her.

"Stop! Stay out of this!" Eren shouted back.

"You're just pressuring Ci-N!" Denzel growled.

"Don't interfere!" Kit yelled.

I just stood there, watching them. I didn't understand. Was it really that hard to say what the fight was about?

I signaled Ci-N to take the chocolates from my bag. He hesitated at first, but I smiled at him.

After taking them, he quickly returned to his seat.

I glanced at Keifer, who was now staring at Mayo.

Why doesn't he want the others to know?

Sir Alvin arrived with our test papers. He didn't speak at first, as if sensing the tension in the room.

"Go back to your seats! Sir is here," David said, prompting everyone to take their places.

During the exam, I wasn't even worried about my answers.

I kept thinking about their fight. Why wouldn't they tell me?

What was the reason?

One by one, the Serpents finished their papers. Instead of staying, they grabbed their bags and left the room.

I felt like I was being left behind. Even though my heart wasn't in it, I forced myself to write down some answers and submit my paper to Sir.

"Ms. Mariano," Sir called just before I stepped out of the room.

I turned to him. "Yes?"

"The documents you need to sign—don't forget on Monday."

I just nodded and forced a smile.

Ugh. Annoying!

My head hurt from all of this.

When I finally stepped out of the room, they were already gone. It felt like they had all gone home just to avoid me.

With no one left to confront, I had no choice but to head home as well.

I tried texting Yuri and Keifer, but neither of them replied.

I messaged the others, but still, nothing.

When I arrived home, Aries and Ella's faces immediately popped up in front of me.

I wasn't in the mood to deal with them, so I went straight to my room. I changed into comfortable clothes and lay down on my bed, checking my inbox over and over, hoping for a reply.

Bad trip!

I heard a knock on the door, and it slowly opened.

I turned my back to avoid seeing who it was.

The first people that came to mind were Kuya Angelo or Aunt Gema.

"My exam went fine. I'd like to rest first," I said without looking back.

A voice responded.

"Your room is very simple."

I fell backward. It wasn't Kuya Angelo or Tita Gema. It was someone I never expected to enter my room. I looked at her in shock.

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked Ella.

She glanced around my room first. Good thing I had cleaned up earlier. Her eyes finally landed on me.

"I'd like to talk to you," she said directly. "…Can I look around?"

I just nodded, letting her do as she pleased. There was nothing special about my room. No decorations, nothing pleasant to look at.

"It's you and Keifer," she said while staring at my study table.

I didn't respond, but I kept my eyes on her.

What do you need?!

"…Where's Yuri?"

I let out a small laugh. Here we go again. It was always about Yuri and Keifer—the two men who had been a part of her past in Section E.

"What about Yuri?" I asked, bored.

"You don't even like him. Why are you still going to marry him?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Tell that to him, not me."

"I know Yuri," she said, touching the ring box on my table. "…He still has hope."

She put it down and stepped in front of me.

"…And he wouldn't be hoping if there wasn't a reason to."

Nice…

This guy was really getting on my nerves. What exactly was he trying to say?

"Oh?"

"Stop leading Yuri on. You're just hurting him," she ordered.

I stood up from the bed, glaring at her.

"Look who's talking. Maybe you forgot—you hurt him too!"

Ella met my gaze. Just by the way she looked at me, I knew she wasn't going to back down.

"You don't even know what really happened. So you have no right to talk to me like that!"

"And you don't know my side either. So don't talk to me."

I walked to the door and opened it—not for myself, but for her.

"You can leave now."

She looked at me before stepping out. I was about to close the door, but her next words made me stop.

"You'll regret being with Keifer. Trust me… I've been there."

What the…

"Ella!" Aries' voice called out.

Ella walked away. I closed my door and sat at the edge of my bed.

What did she mean?

And more importantly, why was she interfering? If anything, she should be worrying about Aries, the one she was actually with now.

Her words only made my thoughts spiral further. I hadn't even realized that the afternoon had passed and it was already getting dark outside.

I left my room to get some water and ran into Kuya, who was dressed up.

"Why aren't you ready yet?" he asked.

I blinked at him. "W-why?"

"We have a dinner date with the Peraltas."

Wait… that's today?!

I immediately rushed back to my room to freshen up and put on something nice. Something presentable.

When I finally came out, Kuya Angelo and Aunt Gema were already waiting. Tito Julz wasn't coming since he was still busy with work, and Aries, as expected, didn't want to go.

Aunt Gema quickly fixed my hair before we left. They said we were late—because of me, of course. We were going to eat at a Chinese restaurant.

Hold on to your seat, Ci-N!

"How was your exam, Jay?" Kuya asked while driving.

I looked out the window. How do I tell him I barely answered anything properly?

"O-okay…" I replied hesitantly.

Kuya and even Tita didn't ask any further. They just seemed to accept my answer as it was.

Kuya parked outside the Chinese restaurant. As soon as I got out, I spotted Ci-N standing at the entrance, greeting us with a wide smile.

"Good evening, Mr. Fernandez," Ci-N's older brother greeted Kuya Angelo.

They shook hands, and he did the same with Aunt Gema. But when it was my turn, I just shot him a glare.

I should poke your EYES out!

"Let's go inside," he said, walking ahead.

I walked beside Ci-N, grabbing his arm on purpose, making sure he stayed behind.

He owes me a lot of answers.

Keifer was gone, so he had nothing to fear now.

Bwahahaha…

"Hey… you owe me a lot," I whispered to him.

His expression suddenly turned serious. He stopped walking and looked at me.

"Jay… I don't want to talk about it. It shouldn't come from me," he said, holding my hand. "…But I hope you can forgive me."

Forgive?

"What the… are you talking about?"

"We owe you a lot. It's too much."

He fell silent after that.

Even though I wanted to ask more, I couldn't.

Guilt?