Chapter 211 - Birthday Gift

Jay-Jay's POV

I stared at the world map in front of me. The Philippines is just a tiny dot, while New York looks like a rash. The distance between them…

A whole different part of the world!

Where is Papa? If I go, how long will we stay in New York? What about my studies? What about Grandma? What about the people I'd be leaving behind? What if we never come back? What if… What if… What if…?

So many questions!

Frustrated, I crumpled the map in my hands. I don't understand what I'm feeling. It's a mix of excitement and fear—like butterflies in my stomach, but more chaotic.

I can't move from where I'm sitting. A big part of me wants to go, of course! I'll finally see Papa! But another part of me hesitates, whispering that I shouldn't.

Tsk! This is so frustrating!

And then there's Kuya Angelo. I know he won't agree. Aunt Gema and Mama won't either. But Percy's words keep echoing in my head.

"I'll help you run away if they don't let you. As long as you come with me." — Percy

Run away? Jusme! What if we get caught? We might end up somewhere far worse. It's almost like… we're eloping. I can't do that.

My phone suddenly rang. A text message? From who? Of course. It's him again—Gagong Baliw.

Ugh, here we go again!

📩

From: GagongBaliw

Message: My life, my wife...

I frowned. There's something weird about this person's messages. I need to borrow David's detective instincts because I really want to know who this Judas is. If I ever meet him, he's getting a slap to the face.

Annoyed, I started typing furiously, my fingers almost breaking my phone screen. My reply? Short and sweet.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: Look!

Oh, right? Such a sweet response!

Let's see if he doesn't lose his temper after that. Anyone would get annoyed receiving a blunt insult for no reason.

Not long after, my phone buzzed again. Smirking, I checked the message.

📩

From: GagongBaliw

Message: I love you too!

My jaw dropped. My eyes widened. What. The. Heck.

I wanted to slam my phone against the wall out of frustration—but then again, that wouldn't solve anything. I really want to meet this lunatic. Just once. Just enough to let him taste my fist. An idea popped into my head. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth a shot.

To: GagongBaliw

Message: Let's meet. See you later.

Please take the bait, Damn!

My phone rang again. His response came almost immediately.

📩

From: GagongBaliw

Message: Are you ready to make love, Skin?

OH MY GOD! This guy is beyond crazy!

I swear, if I ever find out who this jerk is… crunch, crunch, deep pull, and BOOM—your butt will regret being attached to your body!

I clenched my fists. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I already knew this idiot.

Could it be Keifer?

No way. That doesn't seem like him. And why would he even text me like this? Unless… he's just messing with me for fun?

Ugh. This guy's life choices are seriously questionable.

"I'm just playing around." His words echoed.

Damn! It feels like something throbbed in my heart when I remembered what he said. He was actually looking at me while saying that. So, everything he showed was just a game to him.

Annoying!

I slammed my cellphone down on the study table, causing some of my things to shake—like layers of paper shifting slightly. An invitation slipped out from beneath them.

Slowly, I picked it up, and my heart almost shattered when I saw what it was. Ci-N's invitation! I sat down on the bed.

Happy Birthday, Ci-N…

I recalled the time he cried in front of me, his words trembling as he tried to wipe away his tears. Even though he is a Serpent, he would steal a kiss from Rakki—but in the end, it was all meaningless… Because, despite everything, he is still a child. A sad child.

I felt like a horrible person watching him cry. Ci-N is rich, yet he is poor in parental love. Always begging for time with them, always pretending it's okay even without them—because I was there by his side. He once said that I was the one who pointed out his family's shortcomings.

I clenched the invitation tightly, disgusted. Disgusted with myself. Furious that I had been so foolish. Angry that their lies had hurt me so deeply. Enraged that they had betrayed me. And yet… despite everything, a part of me still longed for them. A part of me wanted to reach out and accept them.

But I can't… We're not the same anymore!

"S-sorry, Ci-N… The old me won't come back," I whispered.

I let go of the invitation and rushed to the bathroom to take a shower.

For the last time.

For the last time, I want to see Ci-N smile again—as if nothing is wrong. As if he is the happiest person in the world. As if his smile alone could make anyone else smile, too.

For the last time.

After showering, I got dressed, grabbed my wallet and cellphone, and left my room. The moment I stepped out, I saw Kuya Angelo. I was about to inform him, but he turned away from me. He still looks at me with resentment.

Instead, I chose to say goodbye to Aunt Gema. Mama wasn't around—I hadn't seen her since this morning.

Before stepping out of the gate, I looked around carefully. What if someone was following me? Trying to take my life? I still haven't gotten over that terrifying "we want her dead" message. Do I even know who they are? Maybe they're pretending to be beggars just to get close to me.

"Sister, alms, please."

"Shit!" I screamed, gripping a karate stick in my hand.

The beggar boy flinched, startled by my reaction. I was startled, too! What if my suspicion was right?

"Who are you?! Who sent you here?! Tell me! Tell me!" I shouted, twirling the stick in the air like an action star.

His hands trembled as he raised them defensively. "I-I'm Shan. N-no one sent me."

I narrowed my eyes, scanning him from head to toe. His legs were covered in dirt and wounds. His clothes were filthy, and he smelled like he hadn't bathed in ten years.

"No one sent you? No one paid you to approach me?" I questioned suspiciously.

He shook his head, looking like he was about to cry. Tears welled up in his eyes. I lowered my stick but kept my gaze on him.

"C-can I leave now?" he asked hesitantly, stepping back.

"Wait a minute!" I shouted, making him freeze in place like he was about to have a heart attack.

So dramatic!

I pulled out my wallet and took out a coin, handing it to him. He looked at me, surprised.

"I thought you were begging? Here, take it."

Slowly, he reached out and took the coin, but the moment he saw its value, he raised an eyebrow.

"Just this?" he asked, sounding a little annoyed.

Wow… He's upset over 10 pesos.

"What?! You don't want it? Fine, I'll take it back," I said, reaching for the coin. But he quickly pulled his hand away. "…I guess you do want it, huh?"

"Well… Maybe you could add a little more?" he asked hesitantly.

Wow! A beggar with demands…

"Oh yeah? How about I whack you with this stick instead?" I threatened, raising it again.

"Okay, okay, Sister! You win!" he said, backing away in surrender.

I couldn't stand the beggar boy.

I frowned and took my wallet out of my pocket again. Pulling out 100 pesos, I handed it to him.

"Oh, here! A stab in your lungs!" I said, annoyed, but I just laughed at him. "Go on! Go! Go home and take a bath. Even my perfume is ashamed of your smell."

He sniffed himself for a moment. "I don't smell anything."

"What's wrong? There! Now I smell like you. Even flies don't want to land on you."

"It's just for you, Sister... Remember, the nose is close to the mouth."

Wow. Wow, really...

"What if I make your nose and mouth one? You wanna bet? Huh?!" I threatened.

He stepped back a little, laughing. I was still playfully hitting the kid—just a few taps on the head. That should be enough.

"Go home! Don't get addicted to this!"

He picked up the money I handed him while walking backward and smiled at me.

"I'll buy some rice! Thank you for this, Sister!"

I just motioned for him to leave. He quickly ran off. I don't know why, but he suddenly reminded me of Ci-N. I hope I can make him smile like that again.

I continued walking toward the corner, stopped a jeepney, and quickly got on.

I headed to the nearest mall. I still had no idea what to get him as a gift. I thought about a toy, but I knew he already had plenty. Clothes were out of the question because he probably had too many. As for shoes, I didn't even know his size. While browsing the department store, I spotted a familiar face—Rakki.

I was about to change direction, but it seemed she had already seen me. She walked over, smiling, holding a paper bag.

"Hi, Jay!" She greeted cheerfully.

"Hello..." I replied hesitantly.

She seemed to notice my lack of enthusiasm. The smile on her lips faded slightly. I wasn't mad at her or anything; I just wasn't in the mood to see anyone.

"Are you also looking for a gift for Ci-N?" She asked, concerned.

I nodded. "You too?"

"Yeah."

We fell into silence after that. I looked around a little, and so did she. I didn't want to tell her to leave, but I also didn't want to walk away—it felt rude. So, even though I wasn't keen on the idea...

"Would you w-want to look together?" I asked hesitantly.

Her face lit up immediately, and she nodded.

There went my plan to shop alone. How was I supposed to focus on finding the perfect gift when I had someone to chat with?

We wandered into the men's section of the department store, but nothing caught my eye.

For myself, though… I did find a few things I liked. Wait—why was I looking at men's clothing for myself?

"Jay… do you want to eat first?" Rakki asked, and that's when I realized how hungry I was.

I placed a hand over my stomach and looked at her. "Alright."

"I'll choose the place. My treat," she said, taking my hand and leading the way.

Oh, great. Another free meal…

Rakki took me to a restaurant. The waiter smiled at us and guided us to a table. I watched in confusion as Rakki spoke to the waiter.

That's when it hit me—Rakki was rich. I had always thought she looked like an angel, but I assumed she was just as poor as I was—or at least, just getting by.

"I already ordered. Is there anything else you want to add?" She asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I slowly shook my head. "N-no, that's fine. Thanks."

She turned back to the waiter and continued talking. I watched her again, my eyes drifting to the diamond ring on her finger.

She's really wealthy.

"Nice, huh?" She asked, noticing my stare. "My brother gave it to me as a gift."

I had something like that too… Yuri had given it to me.

I just smiled and nodded. She is lucky to have such a generous brother. As for me… well, I had my two brothers—one who was always jumping around, and another who acted like a walking, talking romance novel.

"How are you and Ci-N?" She asked suddenly, making me pause.

From the tone of her speech, it seems like she knows what happened to us in Section E. That's probably why she asked me.

"Hmmm... I don't know." I have no real answer.

She bent down and looked at her hand. "I apologize for Ci-N."

I was right... She knows.

"Y-you don't have to apologize for him."

She took a deep breath and looked at me. Then, she held one of my hands, which was resting on the table.

"You are important to Ci-N." Her words squeezed my heart. "...He always brags about you to me."

Shit.

I bit my lower lip. "You don't have to say that."

She let go of my hand. Our eyes shifted toward the waiter, who was approaching with a tray. Our order had arrived.

We ate in silence. I still didn't understand why she was doing this. Why was she the one apologizing for Ci-N?

As we continued eating, a family sitting nearby was laughing. They clapped as a little boy danced in front of them, his smile beaming with joy. His parents cheered him on with pure support.

"Ci-N has never experienced anything like that," Rakki said. "...Having his family support him in what he wants."

I knew that. He had told me before.

"His older brother and sister are mad at him. I don't know if it's jealousy or if they're just really annoyed with him," she added.

I knew they had known each other for a long time. Ci-N once told me that Rakki used to visit them, but they rarely spoke. That changed when they became classmates in their second year—until Ci-N ended up in Section E because of Freya's actions.

"Are you and Ci-N really related?" I asked absentmindedly.

Rakki turned to face me and smiled. "Something special."

Hey... What's so special about that? My forehead creased slightly. She didn't want to say it outright. With all the stolen kisses Ci-N had given her, I would have thought they were dating.

"But do you like him?" I asked. Her cheeks turned red instantly.

"0-00..."

"Exactly! That kid is head over heels for you. What are you waiting for?"

She flinched at my words. "It's just... Jay-jay, you've seen Ci-N, haven't you? A fourteen-year-old's body with a four-year-old's mind."

She had a point.

"...And besides, I don't want a fourteen-year-old boyfriend. It's too complicated. Maybe if Ci-N were eighteen and we still liked each other, then I'd consider giving him a chance."

I felt embarrassed. At fourteen, I had already accepted a lover. I used to wait on the corner just to enter school with him. I had been thrilled—it was my first time experiencing love.

How childish!

That's when I realized relationships shouldn't be taken too seriously. That's why when Cyrus courted me, I felt nothing. I didn't want to invest too much emotion again.

"But I feel sorry for him," Rakki said, surprising me. "...His parents are proud of him because he's smart, but they don't show it. Sometimes, they even force him to do things he doesn't want, so he acts like a child." He sighed. "...Then things got complicated when he ended up in Section E. Now, he doesn't always listen to his parents—he listens to Keifer more."

WHY DID SHE HAVE TO MENTION THAT SNAKE?!

I nearly threw my cutlery at Rakki. Good thing I remembered what we were talking about. Calm down! Just relax!

"That's why I'm so mad at those barbarians! They turned Ci into one of them. His older brother is furious now. And he doesn't even care about his studies anymore, even though school is so easy for him."

Honestly, Ci-N never seemed that smart to me. He was always full of nonsense. That's why I had the confidence to bet against him once. But I learned the hard way—never judge a book by its cover. I was seventeen, and a fourteen-year-old with an IQ as high as Albert Einstein's defeated me.

"But do you know what changed him when he met you?" Rakki asked.

I immediately shook my head.

"...He became more energetic. His childishness came out, but in a funny way. He no longer feels like his family has no time for him." Rakki smiled. "...Because he said you're there. He said you're like his sister. That you made him understand what family feels like." 🥺

I felt tears fall. I couldn't stop them. Something about her words made my heart swell with warmth. I never knew I had that kind of effect on him.

If only you knew, Ci-N... You changed something in my life, too.

I smiled at Rakki. "Help me."

"W-where?"

"I know what I want to give Ci-N."

Her face lit up with excitement. We hurriedly finished our food, eager to get started.

After paying the bill, we headed straight to the gift shop to buy supplies. Then, we stopped by the toy store.

"Let's do it at home," Rakki said. I nodded.

While waiting for a taxi outside the mall, I noticed something. Across the street, a motorcycle had stopped. The driver seemed to be staring at us.

I immediately recalled the motorcyclists who had followed and chased me before. Could they be the same people?

"Do you know him?" Rakki asked, noticing my gaze. "...You've been staring at him."

I shook my head and smiled. "It just felt like he was looking at me, so I looked back."

Rakki didn't press further because our taxi arrived. We got in, and he quickly gave the driver his address.

During the ride, I couldn't help but glance back. Weird... But I had a feeling he was going to follow us.

Next time, I'll make sure to borrow David's social instincts. For now, I'll focus on my present for Ci-N.

I just hope he likes it.