Chapter-222

Island

Jay-jay's POV

I'm alone again. The feeling I had before is here again. The
eeling that I'm not accepted. This time not from my classmates but from the family who takes care of me.
"The patient's vitals are stable. You don't have to worry about the damaged tissue in his lungs anymore, he's
responding well to the medicine we gave him." The Doctor said to Tita Gema. Tito Julz and Kuya Angelo
immediately breathed a sigh of relief. I should have felt the same way but guilt overcame me . Because no
matter where you look. It all started with me. "...I suggest longer body rest for the patient. It's also good for
him to have some exercise." The Doctor continued. Tita Gema asked them some more things that I didn't
understand. I looked at Ella who was holding Aries' hand tightly. She wasn't looking away from him. "I'm sorry."
I whispered while watching them. Everyone was busy talking to the doctor. I took the opportunity to leave the
room. I also wiped the tears that were waiting in my eyes. "Jay-jay." Percy called me who was leaning against
the wall next to the door. I knew he had been here for a while. He didn't leave even when Tita and I arrived. "W-
why aren't you coming home yet?" I said while my voice was hoarse. I had been fighting back my tears for a
while. I felt like I was getting weaker. It was as if I had no one to fight what was happening to me. "What did
Angelo tell you?" he asked. I shook my head. He hadn't said anything since we came home from school. I
wanted to go straight home but Kuya took me to the hospital. Percy smiled and held my head. "You're so
stressed. Let's eat first." I didn't say anything else and immediately followed him. I felt hungry from what
happened earlier. I was already scared to go back to school because of what Kuya said to our Guidance
Counselor. Percy and I went to a fast food place near the hospital. He was the one who ordered for me. While
eating, I was still deep in thought. I really didn't know what to do. I wanted to talk to Yuri's family. But I guess
my face was too thick. After I answered their Head Master. Add to that the conversation with Yuri's Mom that I
ignored. What other face should I present to them. Can I present Author's face? (A/N: just look at this! Yuri
might fall in love with me.) I was starting to regret why I chose not to continue with the wedding. But if I
continued, I knew I wouldn't be happy and Yuri might be the same. "Your marriage with Yuri is no longer going
ahead." Percy suddenly said so I looked at him. "Oh-oh... Yuri and I have an agreement. He'll stop the
engagement in exchange for us starting." I had no life to explain. "Hmm... No wonder why Angelo suddenly
acted like that." My forehead furrowed slightly. "Act like... What?" "Like he was the most miserable guy on the
planet. His eyes ... The same as the first time I saw him." I bowed my head. I felt guilty again. If only I could do
something. If only I could help without the need for marriage. "Where's the necklace I gave you?" I looked at
him in surprise. He looked at me seriously while waiting for my answer. I took my bag and opened it. I took the
necklace from the secret pocket inside. I didn't even get to hand it to him, he immediately grabbed it from my
hand. I was shocked but I was even more shocked when he took off the ring Yuri had given me. He handed the
necklace back to me. "Wear it." The truth is, I didn't wear the necklace anymore because I felt bad for her. The
day I called David to send a message to Percy, I had already taken the necklace off my neck. He waited for me
to put it back on before speaking. "I'll give it back to him." "B-why?" "I just want it and if possible, stay away
rom him." My eyebrows furrowed. I couldn't understand his attitude. I immediately 
took the ring from his
hand. "What's your problem? Why are you acting like that?" I asked irritably. He looked at me seriously.
"Because I don't want Yuri for you." "Why?" He looked away. "That's just mine." I was about to get angry at what
he was doing. Did he think I didn't realize he was hiding something from me. He clearly had things he didn't
want to tell. Here I was, looking stupid, waiting for him to speak. I quickly stood up and walked out of the
restaurant. He quickly followed me. "Jay-jay." Call me. I didn't stop walking. "Go home, Percy. Felix might be
looking for you." "What's the problem?" he asked irritably. I quickly turned to face him and glared at him. I didn't
care if the people walking by looked at us. "You're the problem! I'm annoyed with you because you don't want
to tell me the truth!" "Because you don't need to know everything right away." I was stunned by what he said.
Yes, that's right. Who am I to tell him those things. "Not everything about you, Jay. And those things, we still
need to fix before telling anyone else." He explained and walked past me. I bit my lower lip because of
annoyance. I didn't look where he went. I went back to the hospital and went to Aries' room. It was annoying! I
was right in front of Aries' room door when it suddenly opened. Ella and Kuya Angelo appeared, looking like
they were leaving the room. "Come with us. We're going home." Kuya said lifelessly. I bowed. "I'm just going to
let Auntie know." She let me in. Auntie Gema was sitting next to Aries' bed. Tito Julz was talking on the phone.
I approached Aries, whose face was covered in bandages. Some parts of his face were also dark. He looked
depressed. "Jay-jay..." Tita called to me while forcing a smile. "...Go with your brother Angelo. They're going
home." "T-tita..." I couldn't stop my voice from cracking. "...s-sorry. It's my fault why his classmates hurt Aries."
Tita held my hand. "Don't blame yourself. Don't ever do that again." "Your Auntie is right." Tito Julz whispered.
"...They're the ones who wanted to do this to Aries. It's not you." "B-but because...." If the wedding wasn't
stopped, you wouldn't be suffering, you still think highly of Aries. I couldn't continue what I wanted to say
because Aunt Gema's grip on my hand tightened. She smiled at me as if to say 'everything is okay'. I tried to
return her smile. We talked for a few more moments before letting me leave. Ella was waiting for me outside
the room. We were both silent as we walked to the parking lot. I thought Brother Angelo was in the car but he
wasn't there when we arrived. I looked around and saw him in a corner smoking a cigarette. This was the first
time I'd seen him smoking a cigarette. "I'm just going to see Brother." I told Ella and didn't wait for her answer.
Brother looked at me when he saw me approaching. He quickly threw away the cigarette he was holding.
"Don't tell anyone else you saw me like this." He said. "Why are you smoking?" "It's just to relieve stress." He
said lifelessly. "...Let's go. We'll drop Ella off." We went back to the car one after the other. He opened it and
sat in the Driver's seat. I was in the passenger seat and Ella was in the backseat. No one was talking, it was so
quiet. The silence was deafening and something was playing in my mind. I was uncomfortable. We stopped in
ront of a bungalow house. It was simple and not that fancy. Ella got out and thanked Kuya. Now I realized
that what they said was true that Ella wasn't rich. Their life was so simple----that she was making it
complicated. We arrived at the house. Kuya sat down on the sofa and closed his eyes. No one greeted us so
the maids were probably asleep. "Get some rest." He said without looking at me. But I didn't move. I looked at
him while I was forming in my mind what to say to him. "K-kuya----." "Don't continue." He cut me off. "...I want to
rest." I felt ashamed of myself. I went to the room without saying anything. As soon as the door closed, all the
tears I had been holding back poured out. I sat on the floor and hugged my knee. I was so weak! I've never
done anything right to the people around me. I guess I'm really unlucky. First it was Grandma, now it's Tita
Gema and Kuya Angelo. And who will be unlucky next because of me? I heard my cellphone ring. I took it out
of my bag and a text message came. To: GagongBaliw Message: Missing you now. 😚 I wiped my tears and
quickly called GagongBaliw's number. It took four rings before he answered. "Don't talk." I said when he
answered my call. "...just listen please. Just listen to what I have to say. That's all I need." I didn't hear any
answer from him so I continued speaking. "My brother was ruined because of me..." I took a deep breath to
hold back my tears. "...Y-because, I chose not to go through with the wedding they arranged for me. But the
price was so high..." I wiped away a few stray tears from my eyes. "... The family that helped me is already
suffering. They look down on my cousin and even my sister." I couldn't hold it back anymore. I started crying
like a child again. Even my cold was mixing with my tears as I fell. I didn't want to let him hear my suffering so
I hung up the call but he only counted the seconds when he texted. To: GagongBaliw Message: Please
continue. Tell me everything. I wasn't going to ignore it but he suddenly called. I didn't answer but he called
again.He called a few times before I decided to answer. "I-I'm sorry if I bothered you... I can't talk to you about
this." I said while still crying. "...I feel so weak. I'm unlucky and I'm always doing the wrong thing. Everything
important to me is being ruined because of what I'm doing. Even if they don't say it, I know they're blaming
me." For some reason I don't understand. My crying gradually subsides. It's as if it's stopping on its own even
though I can't stop it. "I feel like I'm alone. I have no one to lean on. I've only had this hard time now even
though I've always felt like I'm alone. Maybe it's because..." He's not here by my side. It's stupid. It's stupid but
a big part of me is looking for him and wants to see him. "...Keifer." I whispered and the line suddenly went
dead. I didn't understand why. I almost crawled closer to the bed and
I lay down. I didn't even manage to change my clothes and because I was so
tired I fell asleep on
my own. When I woke up, I felt bad. I had a fever
and felt like there was something heavy in my throat.
I forced myself to get up and went straight to the bathroom. I had to go to
school. This was the only thing I could do for Aunt Gema.
I took a shower and got ready even though it felt like something heavy had hit
my head.
When I went to the Dining, there was no one. There was food ready for me.
I tried to fill my stomach and I also asked one of
Aunt Gema's maids for medicine.
Oh my.... I just got sick.
I was walking out of the house when I saw someone at the gate.
I took a few steps before I could see him properly. It was Yuri.
"W-what are you doing here?" I asked her.
"We should have gone in together." She looked at me. "...
are you okay? You're turning pale."
I didn't want to argue. My head was heavy and nothing
was coming to my mind. I had no intention of insulting him. I approached
his car and opened the door to the passenger seat. I got in
without a word coming out of my mouth.
He quickly got in the passenger seat and started the car.
He kept glancing at me even though I couldn't see him properly. As
he looked, he didn't notice that the cars in front of him had stopped.
The brakes almost broke when he stepped on them. I almost fell over
and my bag fell out. My stuff fell out because
the zipper wasn't closed.
Bad trip! The bag was stupid, its zipper didn't break.
I picked up the contents of my bag. There was a lot of trash from the
chutchirya food.
"Sorry." Yuri said and tried to help me but I stopped him.
"Just drive." I said and continued to clean up the mess.
I even searched under my seat. I accidentally touched
something that looked like it was made of plastic and paper. I thought it was from my bag
so I picked it up and raised an eyebrow when I saw that it was a pack
of cigarettes.
Yuri looked at me. "K-that's Keifer's." He said quickly but
it was as if he wanted to take back the name he had just mentioned.
I stared at the pack. The cigarettes had been reduced by a few pieces. Suddenly,
it occurred to me how many cigarettes he smoked in a day.
What flavor did these cigarettes taste like and what brand did he like?
I took a stick and took a puff but I had no intention of lighting it.
Yuri was slightly surprised by what I did but calmed down when I saw that
it was just a puff of mine.
I just wanted to know how he felt when he took a puff
of a cigarette.
"Think about it..." I said out of nowhere. "...W-when will Keifer come back?"
Because maybe what Blaster said was true and he never came back.
"I don't know." His answer was lifeless.
Maybe he didn't tell anyone when he left. Even his best friend
didn't tell him or even talk to him. Maybe he really wouldn't leave.
Maybe he really wouldn't come back to me. It felt like something was gnawing
at my heart. I put a stick back in the box and put it in my bag.
"Didn't you talk to him before he left?" I asked again while
looking outside.
"No. We never had the chance."
"Can you contact him?"
"He's not responding."
I closed my eyes. Aside from the pain I felt in my chest,
my headache also hurt. I cried with every movement I made and the pain.
This pain was so annoying! Do I really need time?
I held my breath. At the same time, a few tears fell
rom my eyes while I closed my eyes.
This pain was so bad! It was physical pain, it was also emotional pain. What do
you want? A fight? I'm not crying because of Keifer, I'm crying because
I feel bad.
"Jay... Is something hurting you?!" Yuri asked frantically.
A lot! I'm in a lot of pain!
I felt the car stop. Suddenly he grabbed my
neck, causing me to open my eyes and at the same time my vision blurred,
almost blinding me.
"Shit! You're hot!" He said in shock and quickly started the car.
I wondered what he was going to do but he suddenly stopped
the car in front of the hospital. Before I could protest, he had already gotten out and
was opening the passenger door.
"W-what----." I couldn't finish what I was going to say because he suddenly
picked me up bridal style.
I could see the worry on his face. He kept calling the
nurse who would take care of me until I was downstairs on a bed in the emergency
room.
"We'll take care of this." A nurse said.
Yuri moved away slightly while watching the nurses. While
I couldn't take my eyes off him.
Why are you like that, Yuri? I'm annoyed with you.
I'm annoyed with you because you're kind. I'm annoyed with you because you still
loved me. I'm annoyed with you because you know you have no hope
but here you are. I'm annoyed with you because it's like I'm looking in a mirror
and you're my reflection.
It shows how stupid I am in love. Why is it like this?
Why does it have to be complicated? Can't we just flirt
and then be friends and then start dating? Why do
we both have to suffer like this?
We're friends in stupidity. After this, I'll build a club for
the two of us.
SLC.... Shunga Lovers Club.