Chapter 209 - Section E

Jay-Jay's POV

Percy was quiet. He had been motionless ever since he brought me my lunch. We were on the second floor again.

I had already finished eating and was now staring at his back as he stood there, leaning his elbows on the steel railing. I sighed and stood up to join him, resting my elbows on the iron bar while looking down at the garbage below.

It would have been nice to hang out here on the second floor, but the trash spoiled the view.

"Percy..." I called his name.

"Mmm?" He responded.

"You're so quiet. What's wrong?" I teased, though I wasn't sure why.

He just looked at me and shook his head. It felt strange—refreshing, even—but something about his silence seemed off. It was as if he was dealing with something serious.

"Hey… Percy." I called him again, giving him a slight shake.

He smiled faintly. "Nothing... Just tell me a story."

Though confused by his behavior, I did as he asked and started talking about what had happened earlier that morning—about my encounter with Ci-N.

I had run away from him after he turned around to get more food. I hid in the restroom, and when I sensed that Sir had arrived, I returned as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, that's harsh..." he commented.

"I couldn't control my anger," I admitted in a whisper.

We both closed our eyes as the cold breeze brushed against us. It really was refreshing up here, thanks to the trees surrounding the area.

"I have something to ask you," he said, and I waited for him to continue. "How long have you been in that section?"

How long...?

"The truth is..."

I hesitated. They made me feel like one of them. They appreciated and protected me. They accepted my quirks and went along with my ways.

"I don't know." I replied.

Percy exhaled deeply. I let him be; he seemed lost in thought. We sat in silence for several minutes.

I still couldn't shake off the image of Ci-N wiping away his tears. Am I that stubborn? Am I different? Am I a bad person? Am I going back to who I used to be?

"Percy..." I whispered, though I wasn't sure if he heard me. "...Can I forgive them?"

He didn't respond, which made me suspect that he hadn't heard what I said. A part of me wondered if my patience was in vain.

What's the point of patience?

"It's difficult."

I looked up, startled by his response. It was barely more than a whisper, so I wasn't sure I had heard it correctly.

"Difficult," he repeated. "...Especially when what they did was so painful."

Was it just me, or did he seem to be speaking from personal experience? His serious expression made it clear—his words carried weight.

"Do you have a problem?" I asked. "...It's obvious."

He lowered his gaze slightly before smirking. For some reason, that small action made me feel a little lighter.

"It's funny because..." he said, turning around to lean his back against the railing where his elbows had rested earlier. "...I told you before, didn't I? I feel bad for my mom."

I nodded, and he continued.

"She left us when I was little—just like your dad did to you. Then, when we met again in the hospital, it hurt even more to learn that she let everyone believe I was dead..." He sighed, looking up at the sky. "...She took me away from here and started a new life, but she never even consulted me about it."

She made a decision without telling him.

I knew that feeling all too well—the feeling of having no say in your own life. People had done that to me too, and it was incredibly difficult to accept.

"H-how did you forgive her?" I asked.

"On purpose," he answered with a small smile. "One day, I just woke up, and my anger toward her had slowly started to fade."

"Was it on purpose?"

"He saw her taking care of me. There wasn't a day that she didn't take care of me, even though I often scolded her."

I lowered my head. They're doing the same to me now, but whenever the word forgiveness comes to mind, everything they did to me comes rushing back.

Bet, united, and believed.

"...And now she's starting again," he said.

I looked at him. Is that why he's like this? Is that what he really thinks?

"W-why?"

"Because she already knows that I've shown it to everyone. She's angry. She said I shouldn't come back." He shook his head, biting his lower lip. "...Annoying!"

I just stared at him. He was clearly irritated by what his mother had said. But there was something on my mind that I really wanted to ask him.

"W-when will Papa come back here?" My voice wavered in the middle of the conversation.

The annoyance on Percy's face disappeared, and he slowly became serious. He turned to me, swallowing hard.

I was afraid of what he would say.

He took a deep breath. "Not anymore..." He coughed lightly. "...He's not coming back."

I straightened up, my gaze fixed on him. Not coming back? What does that mean? Come on! He told me several times that we would meet again. We're done now, and he won't return?

"...Because you're the one going to him," he added, making me frown. "...You're going to see him in New York."

My breathing grew heavier. I don't understand. I'm confused, even though what Percy said was clear.

"Wh-what..."

"I was just waiting for your birthday... Once you're of legal age, Angelo won't have control over you anymore, so you can come with me."

I swallowed and slowly shook my head. I still couldn't stop looking at him, even as I blinked a few times.

"I-I think... That won't happen." His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "...I'm getting married on my birthday."

So I can't go to Papa anymore.

"...To Yuri," he said.

At first, I wasn't sure if he knew about the engagement, but of course, the entire Section E already knew, so it wasn't impossible that he had found out.

His fist clenched when I didn't answer. He seemed to be growing impatient again. I knew he had a problem with Yuri, but he never explained what it was.

Freya was the first person who came to mind, but I felt like there was something else.

"That Palito is really something. It'd be nice to knock some sense into his head," he muttered, looking away. "...He's such a coward, acting in secret. You were tricked into agreeing to that marriage."

He's always weird when it comes to Yuri. It feels like all his frustration and resentment spill out whenever he talks about him.

"How is Yuri a coward?"

"Because he's a bastard!" he suddenly shouted, pacing around. "...Such a coward."

My eyebrows knitted together. It's not that I was taking Yuri's side, but Percy was being unfair. He never explained the real reason behind his anger.

"He's not a coward," I said, and he immediately shot me a sharp glare.

"Do you really know Yuri?" he asked irritably.

I wanted to say yes, but I couldn't. I remembered everything Ci-N had told me and everything Yuri had done. It would be more accurate to say...

"N-no."

"Then don't say he's not a coward."

"But—"

I couldn't finish my sentence because Percy suddenly kicked a broken chair lying nearby.

"I fucking hate him," I heard him whisper.

I let him pace around, venting his frustration. He took deep breaths several times. They were really close once; it must be difficult for him to let go of his anger.

After a while, he returned to my side. His expression was still serious, and the irritation in his eyes hadn't faded.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

I was about to respond with, You already are, but I stopped myself when I saw the look on his face—like he'd hit me if I didn't answer properly.

"A—what's that?"

"Did Felix say anything about the gang war?"

Gang war?

A war between gangs who have nothing better to do, so they decide to fight each other? Felix and I don't talk much, so I haven't heard anything from him about it.

"Wa...la..." I muttered, slowly shaking my head.

"There's something else that's making me angry! I heard him talking to someone over the phone last night. I tried to talk to him, but he refused to tell me anything. We argued about it, and I almost punched him," he explained, clenching his fists.

So that's the issue...

"W-what was he talking about?"

"I don't know exactly. I just heard that they're going to join the gang war."

I don't remember Section E being a gang, so I don't understand why they'd get involved in that mess. They're just a group that likes to fight, but they're not an actual gang.

"W-when is this gang war happening?"

I looked at him seriously.

"Later."

Immediately?!

'...I will try to stop Felix. Annoying! I just lost, and now my brother has become a bastard!' he added.

I watched him for a while until my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—a text message had arrived.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw (Stupid Crazy)

Message: My life...

Here he is again—the unknown number that keeps texting me. I didn't bother replying. It's a waste of time. I even saved the number under a name so I could recognize it right away.

I checked the time on my phone. Only 15 minutes left. I turned to Percy, who was frowning.

"I have to go back. It's time," I said, excusing myself. He nodded.

We cleaned up our food and threw the trash away before leaving. The front of the room looked like a garbage dump.

As I walked back to class, I stopped when I saw Percy following me.

"What are you doing? That's your way," I said, pointing in the opposite direction.

"I'll go to your room first. I'm too lazy to go home," he said and continued walking toward my classroom.

I sighed and let him do what he wanted. When he entered the room, everyone's eyes were on him, filled with shock and surprise—except for the king.

"Where do you sit?" he asked, glancing around.

"Here," I answered, pointing to my desk near the door.

He looked at my desk, then at Ci-N, who sat next to me. The only available seat near me was the bench behind me.

"Hey, kid..." Percy called out to Ci-N. "...move. I'll sit there for a bit."

Ci-N just stared at him. I looked at Ci, then back at Percy.

"I don't want to," Ci-N replied.

"Come on... Just for now. You can have it back tomorrow," Percy insisted.

"I don't want to."

"Just let me sit. I won't take your spot permanently."

"I don't want to."

"Just this once."

"I don't want to."

That's it! Two childish minds clashing.

Percy was obviously getting annoyed. He could just sit behind me—why did he have to take Ci's seat? Good luck trying to move him.

"What's so special about your seat that you won't move?" Percy asked, irritated.

"I want to sit next to Jay-Jay," Ci-N replied.

"I also want to sit next to her."

"Do you really want to be next to her that badly?" Ci-N asked, frowning.

Percy turned to me, his eyebrows furrowed. His anger hadn't subsided—he looked like he was about to snap.

"I swear, I'm going to kill this kid," he muttered under his breath.

Ci-N must have heard him because his expression darkened, eyebrows meeting in a deep frown.

"You're just there," I said, pointing to the seat behind me.

"I don't want to. I like it here," he replied.

I held my breath and shook my head. His childish mind was at work again. He turned to Ci again, who was glaring at him. They were trying not to argue in front of me.

"But I want to sit here, he can sit here tomorrow," Percy said.

"I don't want to," Ci retorted.

Percy squinted, his frustration evident.

"I'm going to spank you! You've been sitting here for too long!" he shouted at Ci.

"I'm going to kick you! Why are you arguing !" Ci shot back, mimicking Percy's tone.

"How dare you?"

"Are you ugly?"

Percy turned to me, pointing at Ci-N.

"He's picking a fight with me!" he said as if reporting to a parent.

I sighed and leaned slightly toward Ci.

"Move for now. He'll sit here for just today you can sit tomorrow."

Ci snorted and blinked. "But I want to sit next to you."

I turned to Percy, unimpressed. "He doesn't want to move. There's nothing I can do."

"This naughty boy! He's so tiny," Percy muttered.

Ci glared at him. "And you're so ugly! You're like a bag!"

Laughter erupted from the Snakes, who had been eavesdropping on their argument. I glanced at Percy, whose eyes welled up with tears as he pointed at himself.

"He called me ugly and a bag! I'm going to kill this kid!" Percy fumed.

I winced. These two just couldn't get along. They were both too childish, and every time they were together, one of them ended up crying.

"I don't care anymore," I said, bored, and sat in my seat.

Percy had no choice but to sit behind me. I was sure he and Ci would keep teasing each other. I wanted to scold them, but I knew it would be a waste of breath.

Just then, my phone buzzed. Another text message from Gagong Baliw (Stupid Crazy)—an unknown number. The message was blank, so I ignored it. But after a moment, another text came through.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: I love you, my everything...

Excuse me?! Who is this weirdo?!

To: GagongBaliw

Message: Idiot!

I smirked as I sent the reply. This person was clearly messing around. The moment I found out who it was, I was going to make him regret it.

📩

From: GagongBaliw

Message: I'm not an gagong (idiot) but maybe a Ulupong (snake).

I immediately glanced at the Dimunung Serpents. None of them had their phones out or looked suspicious enough to be playing pranks on me.

Annoying! Who is this?!

To: GagongBaliw

Message: What do you want? Stop it. It's not funny.

I waited for a reply, but nothing came. Looks like he actually listened to me.

Our teacher entered the classroom, so I quickly put my phone away. I faced the board and pretended to be interested in the lesson, but in reality, I couldn't focus at all.

Every now and then, I glanced at the two sitting next to me. They still wouldn't stop. If they threw one more piece of paper—

"Tiny."

"Bag."

They whispered insults at each other.

I couldn't take it anymore. Maybe I shouldn't let Percy sit here anymore. Or maybe I should send Ci-N somewhere else.

What a mess!

While waiting for the next class, I took out my phone, planning to play a game. But I stopped when I saw another message.

📩

From: GagongBaliw

Message: I'm your savior. I saved you from your kidnapper, so claimed my prize from you on the same day.

I frowned. What nonsense was this gagong talking about? He must be crazy! His messages didn't even make sense!

To: GagangBaliw

Message: Ulol, men!

He replied to me quickly.

📩

From: GagangBaliw

Message: I miss your lips. Can I claim them again?

My heart started to race because of what he said. He's crazy! Could it be Kei—NO! It's not the King of Snakes. He wouldn't waste his time doing something like this.

To: GagangBaliw

Message: The fuck! What's wrong with you?!

📩

From: GagangBaliw

Message: I told you, I'm your savior. I saved you when you were blindfolded.

Blindfolded? I can only remember one time when I was blindfolded—the time I was kidnapped and the Dimunyung King was stabbed.

To: GagangBaliw

Message: You were the one who kissed me?

My hands trembled as I typed. Keifer wasn't the one who kissed me. If that's the case, then who did?

📩

From: GagangBaliw

Message: You got it right.

Shit!

Who the hell is this guy? I feel uneasy even though I shouldn't. My hands are still shaking. I didn't reply and just shoved my phone into my bag.

Whoever he is, he better not take my life!