Chapter 174 : Operation: Undo 2.0

Jay-Jay's POV

"Go ahead!" Felix shouted as he walked toward us.

They were already carrying the large bucket of rice. They had recovered it.

Nice! Rice!

Now, our only problem was Section A—the cooler they had filled with alcohol. I hoped Ci-N's plan would work for that, too.

David took a moment to rest. He looked exhausted from running back and forth with us.

"We're heading to Section A," Ci-N announced, looking energized again.

"Hold on a second!" Calix complained.

"Take a break, Ci-N! You're way too excited about your plan!" Eman scolded him.

Ci-N pouted and sat down beside me, making everyone laugh. He was clearly eager to see his plan succeed.

"Did you see my Snorlax?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Who the hell wants to hug a stuffed toy in a place like this?" he asked sarcastically.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Excuse me?! I brought Snorlax so I'd have something to hug! How rude!

David stood up and adjusted the fishing rod. The others followed his lead, so I slowly got up to join them.

"I'll go with you," I said, making them all look at me.

"No. Stay here and rest," Keifer ordered.

"I already rested earlier."

"Jay, what happened to you wasn't just bad luck. You need to take it easy," Yuri insisted.

"But—"

"Jay," Keifer called my name firmly. "...Don't argue."

"But that's my Snorlax. I have to get it back," I said, looking straight at him. "...Please."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine."

YES!!

"...But I'm coming with you," he added, glancing at the Serpents. "The rest of you, stay here. We'll handle this."

They all nodded in agreement.

Ci-N, David, Felix, Yuri, Keifer, and I headed toward Section A's campsite.

We moved through the forested area. Even though my body ached, I pushed through the pain for my Snorlax.

We hid in the garden. Ci-N climbed a tree, settling on the sturdiest branch. David handed him the fishing rod, with Bestie still dangling from it.

"There's Keifer..." David pointed toward a spot nearby. "...We'll back you up if anything goes wrong."

"Shh," Ci-N replied, sounding bored.

Wow, someone's grumpy.

He moved forward, just like David had instructed. He was now close to where the cooler was.

"Stay here," Felix told Yuri. "Keep an eye on Jay-Jay."

Yuri nodded, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Here we go," David whispered to Felix.

They inched closer to the cooler, with Felix using a cut plant as camouflage.

I scanned the area for Snorlax. My eyes widened when I spotted Ella hugging it.

Hey! That's my Snorlax!

"There's Snorlax!" I whispered, pointing at Ella.

"I'll get it," Yuri said before sneaking toward her.

Meanwhile, David and Felix were waiting for Ci-N's signal.

Ci-N cast the fishing rod as if he were fishing. The snake landed right in the middle of the group of women.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!!" They screamed, led by—wait, was that Freya?!

The entire place turned chaotic. Even the men looked unsure of what to do.

Ci-N moved the fishing rod, making the snake's head rise like a striking spear.

While everyone panicked and focused on the snake, David and Felix seized the moment. They swiftly pulled the cooler away, with Keifer rushing in to help them.

They hurried back to our hiding spot, all three of them panting. The cooler must have been heavy.

I turned my attention to Yuri. He was crouched near the grass, slowly reaching for Snorlax. Ella must have thrown it in shock.

As soon as he grabbed it, Yuri was about to run back when—he got caught!

Ella grabbed his arm! They exchanged a few words, and then Yuri nodded before sprinting back to us.

What did they talk about?

"I got it," Yuri said, handing Snorlax to me.

"Snorlax!" I squealed, hugging it tightly.

Ci-N suddenly rushed back to us, looking pale and slightly sweaty.

"Let's go!" he urged.

We glanced at the fishing rod—the snake was gone. Only Bestie's head remained.

My best friend!

"We'll talk later! Move!" David commanded.

We quickly made our escape, weaving through the forest again. It was pretty dark, but thanks to the moonlight, we could at least see a little.

We couldn't risk using a flashlight—we might get caught.

"What happened? Why is my best friend's head the only thing left?" I asked.

Ci-N chuckled. "Your cousin has one hell of a strong swing! The knife came down so fast, it chopped the snake's head clean off! Of course, I freaked out, so I yanked it back!"

We all froze. What if they saw?

Shit, we might get caught!

"Don't worry!" Ci-N reassured us, raising both hands. "...They all thought the head flew off somewhere!"

"Are you sure?" Felix asked skeptically.

"Of course!" Ci-N replied arrogantly.

"Then throw that thing away!" Keifer ordered, clearly annoyed as he pointed at the snake's head.

"Are you sure? Jay-Jay will lose the only memory he has of his best friend," Ci-N said dramatically, feigning sadness.

Yuri and I burst out laughing. I made sure to exaggerate my reaction, just to make them laugh even more.

When we returned to our campsite, Ci-N didn't actually throw the snake's head away. Instead, he hung it near the bonfire.

"Nice! I've been thirsty for a while!"

"Painom-painom!"

"Wait, why is there San Mig in here?"

The others were already rummaging through the cooler. I sat near my tent, clutching Snorlax tightly.

"Later! Let's eat first!" Eman declared.

I saw them setting up the food. Our dinner was finally ready—HAM!

Way better than eggplant and anchovies!

I felt guilty watching Eman prepare everything. I hadn't been able to help at all.

At least Josh was helping him.

Weird.

Josh used to be unbearable, but now he was just... annoying. Ever since our fight, he kept glaring at me. Every time he looked my way, it was like he was silently screaming, "This is all your fault!"

I couldn't even talk to him anymore. If I did, we might end up arguing again.

Out of nowhere, someone handed me a plate of food. I looked up to see who it was.

Keifer.

"Eat," he ordered.

I didn't really feel like eating, but I took the plate anyway. If I refused, I knew he'd just argue with me until I gave in.

He sat next to me with his own plate.

"What are you doing here?" I asked instinctively.

He looked irritated and shot me a glare.

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

I nodded slowly, realizing I might have said something wrong.

"Am I not allowed to eat beside you?" he asked sarcastically.

Ooooh… That's what this is about.

"N-not at all..." I stammered, instinctively glancing at Yuri.

He was lying in the hammock they had set up—that he had set up—watching us.

Then, as if sensing my gaze, he deliberately looked away and closed his eyes, resting his arm on his forehead.

"If you don't want me here, just say so," Keifer muttered.

Something about his words stung. That's not what I meant at all.

As he was about to stand up, I instinctively grabbed his arm.

"N-no… W-why are you being so dramatic?" I said, forcing a smile. "...Let's just eat, okay? You're being extra."

He didn't react, but he stayed. I ate alongside him, though I could feel the weight of people staring.

It was like I had just committed a crime by eating with the King of Snakes.

Every bite, every swallow felt like some kind of punishment. The corners of my lips twitched. My throat tightened.

Still, at least I was able to eat. Back when Section D had turned against me, I couldn't even stomach my own saliva.

"Oi! Ugly!" Felix suddenly yelled.

No one reacted except me.

Wait... Am I ugly?!

"Ugly!" he called out again.

"You're the only ugly one here!" Ci-N shot back.

"Handsome!" Felix shouted this time.

Now, that got a reaction.

"WHY?!" everyone yelled in unison.

Damn, synchronized!

"Your faces are all getting tougher!" Felix said, annoyed. "...Anyway, one of the tents broke, so we have to share!"

"Oh yeah!"

"Let's share!"

"I can only share with you."

"Let's share, and I'll cuddle you!"

"Ulol! Gay!"

Laughter erupted from the group. I wanted to laugh too, but I couldn't.

My eyes automatically found Kit.

He looked sad as he silently ate his food.

The thing that others joked about—he was actually hurting over it.

I could relate. That weight… that heaviness… I knew exactly how that felt.

"Jay!" Ci-N called. "...I'll share a tent with you."

"Okay..." I answered, sounding bored.

"No." Keifer's voice cut through the noise, firm and final.

We all froze. Even those who had been laughing went quiet. Yuri, who had his eyes closed just moments ago, suddenly opened them and looked at us.

"I-I'm fine. Ci-N and I have shared a room before," I explained.

"Jay... Your room is huge, but your tent isn't," Keifer said seriously. "...You're a girl, and Ci-N is still a boy."

His mind is dirty! Please clean it!

"What? Ci-N is no different from me," I replied, a hint of annoyance in my voice.

The truth was, I missed hanging out with Ci-N every night. I also wanted to hear more of his stories about where he lived.

"No. No one will share a tent with you—except me, of course," Keifer declared.

How boring!

This guy was really testing my patience. No one can share a tent with me? But he can? How strong of you, brad!

"Excuse me," Yuri suddenly said, adjusting his position on the hammock. "...Just because you and Jay are in a relationship doesn't mean you can stay in the same tent." He stood up and walked toward us slowly. "...No one is allowed to share a tent with her. I think it's inappropriate for a man and a woman to share a tent together."

Again?!

Keifer stood up, looking as if he was challenging Yuri. Come on! When will these two ever get along? Why is there always tension between them?

"Fine. Jay-Jay will sleep alone in her tent," Keifer finally said seriously.

"Why don't we just let Jay-Jay decide?" David suggested, and suddenly, everyone turned to look at me.

Why me?!

If I said the wrong thing, they might start another argument right here. I glanced at Keifer and Yuri, then at the others.

"Maybe... Ci-N," I answered hesitantly. "...I-if that's okay."

Keifer took a deep breath. "Fine. If that's what you want."

"It's okay," Yuri agreed.

I didn't really want to, but Ci-N looked pitiful. He had no one else to share a tent with since his was destroyed.

After dinner, we cleaned up. Calix and Eren did the dishes. Since the bathroom was far away, some people just brushed their teeth and went straight to bed.

I decided to go to the bathroom. I also wanted to check my reflection in the mirror. Ci-N came along, busy playing with rocks.

"Get ready," I told him after I kicked a rock that almost hit him.

"For what?"

"For being there!"

I ignored his confused expression and kept walking. There were people from another section with us, each lost in their own conversations.

"Whoa! There's a snake over here too!"

"Yeah! One showed up at our site!"

"Same here!"

"We didn't get any."

Ci-N and I exchanged glances, struggling to hold in our laughter.

If only they knew!

"Rakki!" Ci-N suddenly called out, waving. "...Mi'loves!"

Rakki raised an eyebrow as he approached us, then playfully wrapped her hand around Ci-N's neck in a mock threat. People around us turned to look.

"You're so loud," Rakki muttered, clearly annoyed, but Ci-N just laughed at him.

Then Rakki turned to me. I quickly smiled. "Hi."

She studied my face for a moment. "Is that... passable?"

I instinctively shifted so she couldn't get a better look. The lighting was bad anyway, so I knew she wouldn't see much.

Rakki shot a sharp look at Ci-N. "Are you hurting Jay-Jay?"

"No way! If anything, she's the one hurting us!" Ci-N defended himself immediately.

"If I find out you hurt Jay, you're dead," Rakki warned before facing me with a smile. "...Let's go to the restroom."

I nodded slowly. After all, I couldn't have a guy accompany me inside. Ci-N smiled at me and gestured that he'd wait outside.

The sound of running water echoed through the restroom, mixed with the laughter and chatter of girls from other sections.

Their topic? My best friend.

"Did you guys have a snake in your campsite too? We didn't get one," Rakki asked, taking a spot in front of the sink.

"T-there was," I replied almost in a whisper.

My best friend actually showed up in our camp. And we... kinda used him.

Oh, crap.

I faced the mirror, and from where I stood, I could see the bruise at the corner of my lip. The mark on my neck from when Cyrus strangled me was also visible.

"I knew it. I was right," Rakki muttered as he looked at my face. "...Did someone hurt you?"

I quickly shook my head. "N-no... It's nothing. This happened when we were struggling with the snake."

She clearly didn't buy my excuse, but she didn't push further. Instead, she just nodded, put toothpaste on her toothbrush, and started brushing.

I glanced at the girls showering. They were being so loud, constantly chatting. Even though I wanted to yell at them to shut up, I didn't. I just focused on brushing my teeth.

Afterward, Rakki and I waited for an open shower stall. It took a while since the ones inside were still taking their sweet time.

Once I finally got inside, I showered as quickly as possible. I knew Ci-N was waiting outside, and he might start getting impatient.

"...The snake was terrifying earlier," I overheard someone say outside the shower stall. "...Good thing Aries handled it well."

The voice sounded familiar. I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling—

"Your towel, Mica! It got ruined," another voice said.

Ella's voice!

Why is it that I recognized Ella's voice instantly, but not Mica's?

Oh, right. Because I hate her.

They kept talking while I continued showering. I was just about to finish when their conversation took a turn.

For some reason, I suddenly felt uneasy.

"...Are you sure about that? Won't Aries get mad?" Mica asked.

"I don't know. But I'm sure he will understand."

"But it's over now. You don't have to dig it up anymore."

I glanced at Ella's reflection in the mirror. "Yuri deserves to know the truth."

Yuri? Truth?

"When are you going to meet?" Mica asked again.

"I'm not sure yet, but I told him to wait."

Are they talking about Yuri? What truth? Why do they need to meet? I was confused.

After that, I didn't hear them speak again. I peeked slightly through the cubicle door, but they were no longer in front of the mirror.

I immediately stepped out and gathered my things. Just then, Rakki also came out of his cubicle. When she looked at me, her eyebrows suddenly furrowed.

"Wait—why is your neck red?" She asked worriedly.

A few people turned to look at us. I quickly wrapped my towel around my neck.

"I-it's nothing," I replied, then walked out of the restroom.

Rakki followed me, and once we were far enough from the others, she suddenly grabbed my arm and turned me to face her.

Her eyes were filled with anger. "Keifer did that, didn't he?!"

"No," I answered quickly.

"Jay… You don't have to hide it from me. I know you and Keifer are in a relationship." She glanced around to check if anyone else was nearby.

"...So if he hurt you, just tell me."

"Keifer didn't do this. Yes, someone hurt me, but it wasn't him," I said, scratching my head. "...Why do you think Keifer did it?"

She took a deep breath. "Because he's done it before. That lunatic gets jealous easily!"

Suddenly, my heart started racing. I couldn't tell if it was from nervousness or something else.

"H-he has? To who?"

Rakki looked away, hesitant. I could tell she didn't want to say it, but just like Ci-N, she wouldn't be able to keep it in for long.

"F-Freya," she finally admitted.

Freya?

Shit! So it was Freya?

But it was hard to believe that Keifer would do something like that.

I fell silent for a moment, thinking.

That time… when he grabbed my jaw after I kissed Yuri by the side of our room… I was afraid of him. I thought he might hurt me.

Maybe Keifer was capable of it too.

But still, it was hard to believe.

"...Freya was already scolding him. Maybe that's why Keifer did the same," Rakki added.

But even so, that wasn't a good enough reason. No matter how much Freya looked like a human coloring book, she was still a woman.

"Hey! You guys are here!" Ci-N suddenly called out, running toward us.

And just like that, he completely disappeared from my thoughts.

"I've been waiting for you!" he huffed, catching his breath.

"You shouldn't do that," Rakki scolded him, annoyed.

"You're just too blinded by your love for me. That's why you didn't see me!"

"You're just too small to notice," Rakki shot back.

Ci glared at him. "I'm going to grow taller one day! And when I do, we're getting married!"

For a moment, I forgot everything else because of their bickering. The night was dark, and I could hear the event organizers calling in the distance.

"Come on, Ci. Keep dreaming about that marriage," I teased.

"It's not just a dream! Watch—I'll even do the wedding kiss!" he announced before suddenly leaning in and kissing Rakki on the lips.

What the—?!

If it weren't so dark, I was sure I would've seen Rakki's face turn bright red. He was completely stunned, and before he could react, Ci had already taken off running.

"You little brat! You're dead!" Rakki shouted, furious.

I just laughed, shaking my head. "We're heading back. Good night."

"Alright. Good night. And please, deal with Ci-N for me!" She pleaded.

We walked in opposite directions. As I neared our campsite, I spotted Ci hiding behind a tree, clearly enjoying himself.

"Crazy"