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Jay-jay's POV
Have you ever experienced waking up feeling like you don't want to? You don't want to get up not because you're lazy but because you're so tired. I'm not tired of sleeping. I'm tired of living... I didn't know this day would come. I feel like my life has lost its purpose and there's no point in continuing like this. This feeling is so familiar. It feels like it's always been like this... I forced myself to get up when I heard Mama's voice outside my room. "Wake up... You might be late." She said while knocking. "Okay." I said lifelessly. I went straight to the bathroom and did my morning routine. I also pinned my hair. I changed into a t-shirt and walked to the Dining where they were. Mama's voice was loud while she was telling stories. Kuya Angelo and Tito Julz were just listening . While Tita Gema was taking care of the food. As usual, Aries was irritable again. "Jay- jay..." Mama called to me while smiling. "...What course are you planning to take?" I didn't know if I could continue until college. "Nothing." "What nothing? You're graduating from high school. Your grandma told me you wanted to go to college." I didn't say anything. I ate as if I didn't hear anything. I don't know why but what I was eating seemed to have no taste. "Your mama is talking to you." Kuya Angelo said. "I don't want to talk to her." I almost whispered it but it didn't escape their ears. "Jay-jay!" Kuya's voice was deafening . It was like I suddenly got tired of hearing what they were saying. I didn't want to hear my name on their lips. "Aren't you getting tired?" I asked Kuya while still looking at my plate and food. "...Because I'm getting tired of your sermons." "Jay-jay!" Mama and Tita Gema called me at the same time. Even though I didn't look at Kuya, I knew he was looking at me badly. I could feel Aries's gaze on me too. "What do you want me to do then? Forget everything that you've done?" His authoritative question. I didn't answer even though it was true, it was ery favorable to me. I forced myself to chew the food in my mouth. Even if it was slowly and like bubble gum. "Answer me!" He ordered. That's it... "What's wrong with you, Jay?" Mama asked. You're not there... "Jay? Is there a problem?" Tita asked worriedly. Just don't ask me... "Crazy." Aries whispered but it was obvious. You're even crazier! "Are you starting again?!" Kuya asked angrily. "...You like seeing me get angry, don't you?!" "I don't want to." I said almost in a whisper. "What?" "I don't want it anymore! I don't want to hear your sermon! Stop it! Stop acting like you're my Papa!" I shouted while hitting the table. I took a deep breath while looking at Kuya angrily. It was like I was ï¬ghting against a wall because of what I did. I was scared but my anger was getting the better of me. "Jay-jay!" Aries shouted at me. "...Stop it!" "Aries!" Auntie shouted at him . My gaze was ï¬xed on Kuya who I was currently killing in his mind. I knew, there was no need to ask. Just the way he was looking at me. "I'm not acting like your Papa." He said calmly. "...Because I'm your Kuya and it's my job to discipline you. If you don't want to hear my sermon.... Come to your senses!" He stood up and walked away. The others' gazes followed him while I just kept my head down. "What's that Jay-jay?! You're not ashamed of your Kuya anymore!" Mama shouted at me. I immediately walked away. I don't want to hear another sermon. My brain and heart are too tired. I might not be able to take it anymore. I'll just have to go! I took a shower and got ready to go to the daily punishment of my life. The school where the influential traitors who ruin my life are. When I came out of the room, the Horoscope was waiting for me. Her eyebrows met and her arms crossed. Maybe, she would tell me my fate for today. "What's your problem again?" She asked without looking at me. Even if I wanted to answer her question, I couldn't. Even I didn't know the exact answer. It was like I woke up from a bad dream and was slapped by reality. I just shook my head and tried to walk when I suddenly remembered something. "Aries." I called her and she looked at me annoyed. "S- thank you." One of her eyebrows rose and she obviously didn't understand what that was for. While it was clear to me what it was for. Of course I said it! "I-I wish it was for... you r-saved me... Kiko." I explained and her expression gradually changed. Suddenly she turned her back on me and hurriedly walked away. She muttered something else but I didn't understand. I was left standing there just looking at her. Weird. I was walking to the living room when I heard the familiar voice. Here was my pick-up to hell. I looked lifelessly at Yuri while she smiled at me. It was a good thing she could smile despite what had happened. While I couldn't even try. I went straight outside without waiting for her. I was about to open the door to the backseat but Yuri stopped me who was just following me. "Here you go... Keifer won't be coming with us." YES!! Something good is going to happen in my life today . I thought it was just bad luck. I moved to the passenger seat next to the driver. Yuri closed the door before he completely turned around to face the driver's side. He started the car and I was just as quiet on the ride as before. "Jay?" He called out to me. "...Are you okay? It seems like there's something different about you right now." I just shook my head and turned outside. It was like something new to me now. I was still the same. I was still angry with them and his best friend, the King of the Demonic Snakes. We got to school, like before, I got off ï¬rst and left him while he parked the car. I was really kind. Awesome! Super kind... I was almost to our room when I was stopped. Here I am again. Here I am again! I'm going to enter the room where it all started. This is my punishment, if only I could stop studying, which I've been doing for a long time. Just be patient, it'll only be a ew months and I'll graduate . I don't have to put up with their stares anymore. So even though it was against my will to step on my feet, I did it anyway. "Good morning." Ci-N greeted me. I ignored her and just sat in my place, near the door. Yuri came in after me. I knew the other one was still gone----why am I still worrying about that?! Please let me know if she's late. It's better if she doesn't come in so I don't have to endure her frown. I just nodded while pressing my face into my arm. If only I could press it into the desk to be solid. I was still pounding for a few minutes and was about to fall asleep when I felt someone touch me. It was Ci-N again... I didn't want to pay attention to her because of course.... It's Ci-N Peralta so where's the----. "Jay-jay." She called me. "Don't sleep, I have something to tell you." I turned my head to face her. I looked at her bored. She was smiling again as she brought her face closer to mine. "My birthday is coming." She said happily. "...you're coming to my party, huh?" Yes, by the way... He did give me an invitation. It was the kid's birthday. It turned out to be Valentine's Day, the day of his birthday. The day of the Punyetang Hearts. I didn't answer. I just turned my head in the other direction to avoid him but I wish I hadn't done that. Just as I turned my head, Hari entered the room door. His gaze fell on me so our eyes met. Okay! When did you avoid it, oh, I guess the good ones were planning to. Good! Good! Good! Good! It's a good thing he left immediately. Not long after, Sir Alvin arrived and the class started. It would have been nice to listen to him but like before, my mind was not on the lesson. "Do you want to attend Career Orientation?" Sir Alvin asked all of us. "What's up, Sir?" I heard Denzel ask. "Is there free food?" Ci-N asked. Sir laughed at them ï¬rst before answering. "I'll teach you the right way to choose the careers that suit you." "We're not going anymore, Sir. We'll just choose our careers." Calix replied and suddenly smiled mischievously. "... Denzel, house husband, Drew in gambling, Edrix in the computer shop and Eman in the kitchen----." "You're so funny Calix!" Denzel shouted at him and the other Ulopongs laughed . You're good at that! Even Sir laughed at them while shaking his head. It's a good thing he was able to laugh at the antics of the Dimunyung Ulopongs. "It's easy to choose a career that suits us, Sir." Mayo said . "...We probably won't go anymore." "It's up to you..." Sir said and smiled. "...What courses do you plan to take?" "PILOT!" Ci-N shouted loudly while raising both hands. "I want to be a pilot!" "But right, your parents and your brother Ci are doctors?" David asked. He nodded in response. I know Ci-N's family is a Doctor . She once mentioned to me that her parents also wanted her to become a doctor. "Don't they want you to become a Doctor too?" David asked again. Ci looked at the ceiling and seemed to be thinking. "I want to! But I don't want to!" "You seem like you can do anything your parents want, huh?" Felix said challengingly. Ci-N smiled broadly at them. "Did I say I wouldn't do something they said?" Tsk! Really, it's a shame... The others shook their heads as they scratched their necks. Even I would probably react the same way because of what this little guy said. "Is that you, Jay-jay. What course are you planning to take?" Sir turned to me. Even though I didn't look at the little guys, I knew they were also looking at me. I was used to their behavior like that. I looked away from Sir. "Nothing, Sir." "Why nothing?" He actually asked... "I'm getting married after I graduate." I answered boredly. No one spoke. I felt and knew that they were doing something strange behind me. Even Sir could see me looking at them. I had a strange feeling about what was happening so I slightly turned around and was just as surprised when I saw Keifer holding the collar of Yuri's uniform.The Foolish King's eyebrows met while Yuri just stared at him. "What are you doing?" I asked in surprise. Keifer let go of Yuri and adjusted my seat. I looked at Sir Alvin as if asking a question but he just shrugged his shoulders at me. He went back to teaching and there was a time when I looked back. Maybe they were killing each other. After all, I shouldn't care about them. It's okay if they kill each other. At least my problems will be reduced. If the King dies, Happy Together will be the only peg. If Yuri dies, I'll still be a Filipina girl when I turn 20. So it's okay! Let's kill each other! Our class with Sir and the other teachers is over. It's lunch time and I forgot about going to school. It looks like I have to endure hunger again. "Jay-jay!" Ci-N called me happily. "...Let's eat!" Instead of going with him to Eman, I immediately walked out of the room. I was about to go to the second floor to relieve my hunger, but before I could get close to the stairs, someone grabbed my arm. Felix... I pulled my arm back and looked at him annoyed. "Do you need it?" "Y-because... Y-you can come with me." He said a few words while rubbing the back of my head. Tsk! He really wanted me to come with him... "I don't want to." I quickly replied. "Jay... You won't have anything to eat here. Come with us." He insisted. "What's wrong with you! What if I die of hunger!" I said annoyed. I could see how embarrassed he was. That wasn't my intention but if they always tease me like this I really can't help but embarrass them. "You're different." He said almost in a whisper and walked back to the room. No... I've been like this before. I was left alone. Which was a good thing for me. I continued with my plan to hang out on the second floor. As I expected, the wind was strong and a bit cold. I remembered, David and Ci-N used to hang out here when we ate. Wanting to hide from those Snakes, we decided to eat here. Until Mica and Calix also hung out here to eat. It didn't take long because Eman came back to cook or us. We were already inside the classroom eating, except for Calix because they were still here on the second floor more often. I didn't think I would say this. I miss those times too . I miss having someone to eat with even though I was the one who was cooking for them. "You're just like in a music video here, right?" Someone suddenly said. I looked at him with a frown and was about to curse at him but I was stunned when I saw who the blasphemer was. "What are you doing here?!" I asked Percy a little annoyed. He raised his hand holding a pizza box and a plastic one with a drink inside. Ooohhhh.... Pizzza! "Felix texted me. He said he wouldn't eat again." He said and took a place in a corner where he put down his things. I approached him and sat next to him. A box of pizza and a drink were between us . Without a word, I opened the box and started to eat the food. "Who said you should take it? It's not for you." He said while trying to take the slice of pizza I was holding. I slapped his hand hard. Take it all, just not the pizza in my hand. There will be a civil war! He'll just leave me alone. He also took it and ate. No one talked to us at ï¬rst because of course.... I knew! We were both starving, my brother! While we continued eating, Percy suddenly handed me a white box . I was about to ask what it was but based on the size of the box, it looked like I already knew. "What's that for?" I asked before taking a bite. "What do you do with your cellphone?" The truth is, I still prefer my old cellphone. Even though I know there's something in it, I still prefer it. All of our pictures are there----me! My pictures and videos! I regret not understanding. We already have something in that cellphone! "Don't you want it?" His question brought me back to reality. I hesitated at ï¬rst but I took it anyway. I also needed a cellphone. Who wouldn't?! After eating, I was about to get the drink he brought when I looked at the bottle. It wasn't just drinking what was in the plastic. "You have no shame! This is alcohol, huh?" I said while handing him a bottle. He just smiled at me before taking one and opening it. "I know you need it more." He said angrily. "You're a loser! If we get caught, you can't come back here! Plus I'm suspended!" I said annoyed. It's like when in Holy Shi----Saints. I was suspended even though Cyrus was the one who brought the alcohol. Wow! That's great! Amazing ! "If he gets caught! What if he doesn't?" He asked deï¬antly. That's right... No one comes to our building so I'm sure no one will know that my abnormal Stepbrother brought alcohol. I also looked at the big building opposite our building. I don't see anyone else. They can't see us either because their building is far from ours. It's like the school intentionally didn't want anyone to see us. They keep Section E away from everyone. I feel like I need this too! I let him open one. My throat felt dry when I tasted the alcohol. It hadn't been that long since I last drank but I felt like it had taken me years. "It's delicious, right?" Percy asked with a smile. "It's delicious.... Brother Angelo's kutos for me are also delicious when this reaches him." He just laughed at me before drinking again. I put down the bottle I was holding and opened the cellphone box. It was just like my previous cellphone. "Put my number in. So you can call me." He said and took out his cellphone. I opened the phone and pressed. When it was okay, I went to the phonebook and added a contact. "Ready." I said. "0922..." He started and I pressed it. "...22nog-tunog pagpinidot sasabog." Oh pvta! I looked at him evilly. I wanted to throw the cellphone in his face. Add to that his laugh so silly. It's really hard to talk to him sometimes. I really want to request another sibling. I don't want this guy anymore. I'll take him back to wherever he came from.