Gift
Jay-jay's POV
Boy bawang's breath smells bad. Or is my breath just bad? Ewwness... Didn't I brush my teeth? Stupid! You're a conscience but you don't know that I brushed my teeth . I brushed my teeth! Yes, teeth. Just one. I came in with an empty stomach. I didn't have breakfast at home, I was planning to buy some at the Mini mart but fate was just being cruel to me. My allowance was running out and I still had to make ends meet . I was orced to go to Tom Jones. But heaven was still kind to me . Because when I came in, there was a chutchirya on my table. I didn't plan to pay attention to it but my stomach was calling me. It was a good breakfast! I was orced to eat it. Whoever left food on my table, I'll thank him right now. "Hey! It's a shame." Ci-N said while taking the chutchirya. I couldn't put it down. He was already holding it and opening it. He was so happy while eating. "Don't you know who leaves this here?" I asked him while opening a Pillows. He shook his head. "No." I narrowed my eyes at him. Why do I seem to have no conï¬dence in his answer? This Kumag kid once told me a secret, and it's not unlikely that he'll repeat it. "Is that true?" He took a sip before speaking. "Not really... But----." He swallowed his food ï¬rst. "...But I heard them. They said they'd coax you like Yuri and I did. So this is probably one of their ways of coaxing." Coaxing?! Just like that! What did they think I'd just give in? I gave Ci and Yu a chance because apart from their coaxing, they admitted they made a mistake. What about those Pesteng Dimunyung Ulopong?! They even raise their heads sometimes when they face me. Then they just coax?! No way! You're tough, man! The whole Philippines doesn't have enough chutchirya before these idiots will agree. Ci-N stood up and went straight to the back to get water from the water dispenser. I also went to get some because my pain started again. I have pain.... Tamaritis! Only lazy people feel this! Hehehe Sir Alvin arrived so I was forced to clean up the mess on my table. The class started and it was like we were back to the old days with Ci-N and David. The way Sir would turn away while teaching, we would play with David sleeping and pretend nothing happened when he woke up. Even though it was funny, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing. I looked back and saw Hari's chair. What if he really didn't come back? My gaze shifted to Yuri who was currently writing. His head was focused and he couldn't take his eyes off the board. He looked so arrogant because of his red hair and he was a nerd. I looked back at the front and pretended to listen to Sir----even though he didn't really. The class ended and Sir ordered a review because the fourth exam was next month. After that, the Post-Final exam. That's when you'll know if the student can graduate or not. Why is there still something like that? What if he passes all the exams but fails? So he won't gr aduate? I guess it hurts emotionally, right? While waiting for the next teacher, we heard a noise just outside our room. Denzel and I, who were by the window, peeked in. "Section D." He said. The Ulopongs were about to stand up to go to the Section Ds outside when suddenly someone threw a ï¬recracker inside our room. The ones called Sintoron ni Judas. We were both shocked and scared when we saw that the fuse was lit. We quickly covered our ears as one after another went off. Smoke accumulated inside the room. We went to the back of the room to get away from the ï¬recrackers. Ci-N kept shouting but I couldn't hear what she was shouting. "We're being attacked! It's the end! We're about to die!" Her shouts were the last thing I understood. They were just ï¬recrackers! Not Armalites! The ï¬recrackers were still going off and what was worse, the rest of us could barely breathe because of the smoke. I wanted to go out but I couldn't because the ï¬recracker was near the door. I looked at David when I noticed that he was still slumped over his table and fast asleep. I don't know if his head was numb and he couldn't even feel or hear the ï¬recrackers. "HEY! DA VID!" I shouted but the ï¬recrackers were even louder. "DAVID! HE'S DEAD!" Ci-N shouted right in my ear. I dodged, his saliva still splashed. My face almost got wet . This is still a joke! Because David wasn't moving from where he was sitting. I threw the notebook I picked up at him. Hit him in the head. He moved and coughed. He must have had difficulty breathing because of the smoke. He stood up and took the headset out of his ears. That's why he didn't wake up because of the noise. He turned around and seemed to be looking for us. He quickly came over to us when he saw us all gathered behind him. "What happened?! Where did that come from?!" He asked. Suddenly Ci-N got on his back while shouting repeatedly. "WE'RE BEING ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS! WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" David couldn't speak anymore. Ci-N was choking him while shaking him from behind. I rubbed my eyes. It was already hurting because of the smoke. I felt like my lungs were being squeezed and I was starting to have a hard time breathing. I think I'm going to die from suffocation here. We looked behind us when we heard something fall. The water dispenser fell while Blaster was picking up the gallon. It was still ull, which was why he had a hard time at ï¬rst. He lifted it with all his strength and threw it at the ï¬recracker in ront. It only took a second for the explosion to stop. The floor was just a valley . "He's dead! Let's get out!" Eman shouted and that's what we did. Yuri helped me stand up and supported me until we got out. He was gasping for breath. The rest of us were almost choking. "What?! Get off?!" David said angrily as he made Ci-N leave behind him. "No! I'll live behind you!" He's really crazy! What's behind David? Home? We just shook our heads. Despite what happened to us, he still had the energy to argue. While we both couldn't breathe. Luckily, Blaster immediately thought of a way. "Did you like our gift?" We both looked at the speaker. Mykel with some of Section A and of course their Section D minions. "What's this again, Mykel?!" Yuri asked angrily. "That's just revenge!" He replied and they laughed loudly. My ï¬st clenched. Is this guy really not going to stop? Brother Angelo was already making him cry. There was nothing to carry. Suddenly, someone threw a piccolo and we almost fell over trying to avoid it. They laughed as if our looks were so funny . "David! Those are terrorists!" Ci shouted as he shook David again. "Stop! I can see it!" David replied annoyed. Where does Ci-N's mischief come from? And why doesn't she want to get off David's back? It would be good if she just took it easy. Boy Bawang's effect or maybe the smoke! "Can you go, go away!" Rory shouted angrily. "Courage! Don't be arrogant! Keifer is not here!" Mykel replied boastfully . "Even if Keifer is not here, we will ï¬ght you!" Kit replied. "What are you waiting for?! Fight!" One of Mykel's companions shouted. The Ulopong were about to charge but Sir Alvin suddenly arrived. With some Teachers. "Section E! Are you okay?" He asked us. "...Someone said there was smoke coming from inside your room! Is there a ï¬re?" Sections D and A gradually left. The teachers ignored them and just focused on us. Luckily, the smoke from inside the room had cleared. "It wasn't a ï¬re. Someone just threw ï¬recrackers inside the room." Yuri answered. "Firecrackers?!" One of Sir's companions asked in surprise. "...You brought ï¬recrackers to school?" "We didn't... Mykel's group did it." Edrix answered . "And why would they do that?" Another male teacher replied. Josh answered. "Why wouldn't they do that?" The teachers exchanged glances except for Sir Alvin. The feeling was like they were on someone's side. Just the tone of their speech and the way they looked at each other, they knew this. They knew this very well! "Did anyone get hurt?" Sir asked again. All the Ulopong looked at each other. Waiting for someone to speak. When they realized that there was none, Rory answered. "There was none----." What he was about to say was cut off by Ci-N's sudden intervention. "There is!" He shouted and of course was still riding on David's back. "...my heart hurts! I'm broken hearted! Rakki ignored me earlier!" Sir just scratched his head. He was used to Ci- N's mischief so we didn't need to explain to him anymore. "I-if anyone got hurt, go straight to the clinic to get checked." Sir said and walked towards our room. He glanced around the room and winced when he saw the mess on the floor. "We'll take care of it sir. We're okay. Thanks for your concern ." Yuri said. Sir smiled at us and nodded. He gave another order before leaving with his fellow teachers. "Sir! Pay attention to me! My eelings are hurting!" Ci-N shouted. I looked at David when I noticed that he was turning pale. Ci was choking him again while shouting. I hit the Batang Kumag hard on the arm. He looked at me annoyed. "My feelings hurt!" He shouted when I opened my mouth. "You're choking David!" He panicked and let go and quickly got off from riding on David's back. The other one was gasping for breath. "You have a day with me too." He said almost in a whisper to Ci. Batang Kumag just grinned and gave a peace sign. The other Ulopong entered the room so we followed. Eman took the gallon with a little more content and put it back in the water dispenser that Kit and Eren had arranged. "Those Section Ds are going to explode! They really are tripping us !" Felix said annoyed. The ï¬recracker was too long. There was still about half of it left. Eren took it and left the room but before he could get far, Ci-N stopped him . "Don't throw it away. I'm thinking of something to do with it." He said and flashed a silly smile. "Hey! What nonsense are you thinking!" I said to him. He just giggled and turned his back on me. I didn't notice where Eren went. I just hoped he would just throw that ï¬recracker away. He picked up a map and read it to Drew and Mayo. They were the ones who cleaned up the mess on the floor. I also helped them. It seemed like because of what happened, our teacher didn't come to us anymore. Maybe he just let us rest. "Let's give Mykel an ultimatum to stop." I heard Eren say. "It seems that easy!" Mayo replied a little annoyed. "It's easy. You're just being a coward." Eren heard Mayo drop the book she was holding. "What did you say?!" She said angrily and was about to rush in but Denzel and Edrix quickly intervened. "Enough! Stop!" "You're still ï¬ghting!" "Stop, stop!" "Stay away!" Calix shouted at them. They did as he said but they exchanged sharp looks as if they were threatening each other. They really showed their anger. After cleaning up, we went our separate ways. It seemed like the other teacher wasn't going to see us anymore so Eman thought of cooking lunch. While they were talking casually, I took out my cellphone. I had a text message from GagongBaliw but he wasn't my target. I texted Percy to bring me lunch. I had no intention of repeating yesterday. What are they? They're just teasing me. Do they think I'm stupid? Uyyy... It smells like adobo! I looked at Eman. It looked like what Ulopong was cooking was adobo. I felt like I wanted to eat here. Okay, just here! But I can't. I felt like I already said that I forgive them. And it's a no no no no check! Pere mesherep elem! Oh! I'm completely infected with the dead guts of the Ulopongs. But I won't give up. I won't eat here! Even if it's lechon that Eman cooks. "Let's eat, Jay!" Ci said. I stared at him. "I have something for you to do." "What's that?" He asked with a smile as he approached me. I whispered to him. "Get me some food and don't give it to me." He scratched his head and looked at me in surprise. "Huh?" "Just get some... Don't let anyone know and take it to our hangout upstairs." He nodded slowly. "Okay." Okay! My intelligence really works when it comes to ood. Just as Eman ï¬nished cooking, the bell rang. It was lunch and I stood up to go out but Felix immediately stopped me. "You eat here." He said while smiling. I shook my head. "I texted Percy. He's coming." "You're coming with me----." "No." I said seriously. He bowed while forcing a smile. He seemed to get it that I really couldn't force it. I passed him and went straight out. I took one last look at Ci before leaving. Adobo! Adobo! Ahihihi... When I got to the second floor of the building, I heard a door close. I automatically looked at the far room where the pictures of the former Section E were kept. No one else could open that room, because Keifer had the key. Unless he left it with Yuri but he was in the room. I went over there and felt if there was anyone inside. I also tried to turn the doorknob but it was locked. I also knocked on the chance that someone would open the door. Weird! But I actually heard a door close. I just shrugged. Maybe it was the door to our room. Maybe it was just closed too hard. I walked to our hangout near the stairs when Ci-N came right up but she didn't have anything with her. "Where are you?" I asked irritably. He was snoring at the bottom of the stairs and when I followed him, Felix was coming up with two plates full of rice and dishes. Shutanginamers! That's why I sent them here, so no one would know that they were for me. I strictly ordered him not to let anyone know. "W-what's that?" I asked, almost annoyed. "I just helped Ci-N bring this here." He replied with a smile. "...I know this isn't for you." You're a fool! You made me a fool! "Tse!" I looked at Ci-N who was ï¬dgeting with her ears while looking into the distance. "...Eat now. I'll wait for Percy here." Ci looked at me innocently and took the two plates that were handed to her. Felix smiled at me again before turning to leave. Before he could completely get off, I stopped him. He was looking at me in surprise. "Don't make the mistake of saying this to your fellow Ulopongs." I threatened and he winked at me in response. Tsk! Arrogant.... Ci-N had already started eating when I turned back to him. His head was busy and he didn't even pay attention to me. Since there was no one else to disturb me, I ate. It wasn't long before Percy arrived. He was still smiling at me but that turned into a grimace when he saw Ci-N who ignored him. "Why are you here?" He whispered to me while handing me the plastic bag. He was carrying takeout from a fast food restaurant. I took it and placed it in front of us. "I ordered it earlier. Let's eat." I said but he shook his head. "I ate at home." I looked at his face. He looked like he was tired but he was hiding it with a smile. He also looked pale. "Are you okay? You look pale." I said and was about to touch his neck but he quickly dodged. "I'm okay. I'm still me!" He said with a smile. "... Being pale doesn't make me look less handsome." Oh, he's really okay! He's still a big guy. Ci-N suddenly stopped eating. "Is there a storm? The wind is strong ." He said innocently. Percy immediately looked at him evilly. "Yes! There's a storm... Be careful, huh? The wind might blow you away, you're still small." Ci followed his gaze. "Don't brag too much so that the wind doesn't blow." "When did my handsomeness become arrogant?!" "Every time you say it!" "You're just jealous! I'm more handsome than you!" Ci looked at his face as if he was being examined. "Where? I can't see!" "You're so short and blind!" "You're so ugly and arrogant!" Instead of interrupting them, I just watched. I wanted to prioritize eating. When these two are together, they always make a scene. Go ahead! Push those two! After eating, I said goodbye to the CR. I left them for now. Since it was lunch time, there were people inside when I arrived. "They didn't really come in?" "Yes... Mykel's group." I overheard some girls talking while I was in the cubicle. They were talking about Mykeliling. "Aren't they? Where are they going?" "I don't know. Let's not get involved. Let's go." The girls seemed to have left. I also immediately left the cubicle and quickly washed my hands. When I left the CR, I noticed other students who seemed to be looking at someone and then about to leave. I looked at them too but all I saw was Mykel's group leaving the school . What was going on? I just shrugged and went back to our building. I was already on the stairs when I met Percy. "Where is Ci-N?" I asked. "Why are you asking me?" I looked at him in surprise. "La! You guys are together, right?" "He followed you! He said he was with me so he followed you." Damn it! But I didn't----Mykel's group. Suddenly my heart started beating faster. Nervousness consumed my whole body. I didn't understand but I felt like something bad had happened. I ran to the school gate but they were gone. I tried to go out but they were gone too. I approached the guard who was currently looking at his cellphone. "Brother! Did you see the group of students who left earlier?" I asked worriedly. He put down his cellphone and looked at me boredly. "Mykel's group was the last to leave." "Did you see if they had a man this big with them." I pointed out Ci's height. "...Look at him, he's young and white----." "Is that Section E kid? Yes, he's with them." It was like cold water was poured on me. What are they planning to do with Ci-N? What are they going to do? Do they really have no intention of stopping? Wait for me, Ci! I'll ï¬nd you.