Chapter-236

Forgiveness

Aries's POV

I'm currently
looking at my reflection in the elevator. I think I've changed a lotâ€"Ella said during our last conversation.

Maybe
because I keep coming back from the hospital. I just got out but I'm back and will be out again

. I touched the
part of my side where my scar is. She saw my scar. But she didn't seem to have a clue. There was not a trace
of fear or worry in her eyes. She also didn't seem to be interested in finding out more because she didn't ask.
Maybe she really don't remember or she just don't care at all.

It was one of my nightmares that hunt me
almost everynight. I closed my eyes to get his appearance out of my mind.

His lifeless eyes. His fist was
bleeding and one was punching the glass wall. Even the sound of falling glass pieces. How he picked up a
large piece of glass and used it as a stab....mine. The sound of the elevator bell brought me back to the
present. The door opened and I immediately walked out. I shouldn't have thought about that incident. But I
couldn't help it because every time I saw Jay-jay, I remembered how he pressed the glass under my chest. It
hurt.

It hurt like crazy. I went straight to the door of Kuya Angelo's office. His secretary greeted me. He looked
at me with a smile before standing up. "Is it Sir Angelo?" he asked. I nodded and he pressed one of the
buttons on the intercom. He told Kuya that I was here. "Let him in." I heard Kuya answer.

His secretary
gestured to me to the door of his own office. I thanked him before entering the door. The first thing I noticed
was a mountain of papers. Besides his executive table, there was also a coffee table. There were also sofa
sets. "Why are you here?" He asked authoritatively without looking at me. I crossed my arms and slightly
approached him. I didn't go into my afternoon class just to talk to him. It was a good thing he didn't have a
meeting. "I just want to ask you something." He didn't move, obviously waiting for me to say something.
"...About the pictures." His hands stopped what he was doing but he didn't look at me. "Why are those with
you?" He looked at me without reacting but there was still a trace of courage in his eyes. It was scary. "It's very
simple Aries. And I know that's what you'll do." He replied and went back to what he was doing. He was right. I
would also block those if I saw them. Kuya probably saw the contents before he got to Jay-jay. "Have you
taken any action yet?" I asked again. He stopped what he was doing. He looked at me seriously. He took a
deep breath before standing up and approaching a table where his belongings were placed. He took
something from inside the briefcase. He handed it to me without coming closer so I was forced to move to
take it. Manila envelope? I opened it and looked at the contents. Pictures and a few pieces of paper. "Ryosuke
Sato. Only son of a very well known Yakuza family in Japan. Rival of Yuri." He said and leaned on the table
while holding his pocket. I looked at the pictures. I had never seen him before. "If Yuri is his enemy, why is Jay-
jay the one he's sending death threats to?" "He probably knew Jay-jay was important to Yuri." After all, this was
his fault. But there was no point in blaming him. I looked at some papers. Information about Sato but not that
important to identify him. 22 years old. There was a case in Japan so he hid in the Philippines. Involved in
multiple cases of gambling in several illegal casinos. But there was no mention of how he confronted Yuri.
The details were too lacking. So lacking. "Do you have any plan?" I asked Kuya. "I tried to have my connections
find him but that guy is a brainless guy." I put the papers and picture back in the brown envelope and threw it
down on the table. I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. It's hard for us to think of anything to do like this. "I
talked to Yuri." I said and he looked at me. "...I told him what I saw." "What did he say?" "He said he's known
about that for a long time. He's trying to keep an eye on Jay-jay as much as he can." "But he can't be with Jay-
jay all the time." He was right. There were times when they couldn't be together. In those times, Sato could
take action. He had also told me that the entire Section E knew what was going on so they were helping too.
But that wasn't enough, their entire Section wasn't enough . It's annoying! I shouldn't be having this problem,
why can't I help it. I let out a deep sigh. "You look worried." Kuya Angelo said. I looked at him. He looked at me
strangely. It was as if he was observing me. "What?!" I asked annoyed. "Your no longer mad at her?" I suddenly
turned away. He knew I didn't want to talk about that. I cleared my throat a few times but I still feel a tension
inside me. Kuya left his desk and walked in front of the glass window of his office. "You know Aries..." He
started. "...I always take care of you and Jay- jay as if you're my own flesh and blood. I try my best to discipline
both of you and provide you your needs..." He loosened his necktie. "...I try to do many things like a real father
would do. Because I don't want you to experience what I feltâ€"growing up without a father." I shook my head.
"You didn't fail." "I did." He quickly answered and smiled. "...because if I don't, both of you will still love each
other the same way you do before." "It's a different story." "I tried to fix you but you both became stubborn. Tell
me Aries...what is the real reason for your hatred to Jay-jay?" I clenched my fist. I knew he'll ask about it. I'm
not sure if this is the right time but he will never stop asking. I have to explain everything. I slowly opened my
polo shirt from the bottom. Then I lifted my inner shirt to show him the scar below my chest. "What's wrong
with your scar?" I took a deep breath. "He was..." I closed my eyes. "...he was the one who stabbed me." I let go
of the end of my dress and slowly opened my eyes. The shock was evident in Kuya's eyes. I understand. I
didn't tell anyone the truth about what happened then. Even Keifer, Yuri, and Percy, who were my friends back
then. Everyone knows I got this from trying to escape from the man who kidnapped Jay-jay and me. From my
own father. "H-how?" "He's not himself. I've called him and talked to him several times but he wouldn't hear me
or listen to me." He was clearly confused by what I said. He was full of surprise and couldn't understand my
explanation. "I don't get it." "He's not himself. I know you know about that incident. He doesn't remember
anything he was doing." He cursed and held the bridge of his nose. I knew that Jay-jay's condition had been a
problem for a long time. He just didn't want to send the other one to the doctor. He said he was afraid....he
might find out he was crazy. "...because of her, I can't do a lot now. I always have to take medication before
doing anything." I sighed. "...because of her I got sick." "You can't blame Jay-jay like that." "I have a lot of
reasons to hate her." He shook his head. "And she has a lot of reasons to get mad at you." I was stunned. Kuya
looked at me deeply. It was as if he was saying that my reason was shallow. "...You are her Kuya, but because
of your reasonâ€"you let her feel fvcked! Jay-jay came to me a few times to ask about you but I couldn't answer
her..." His eyebrows started to meet . "...How many years have you put up with her? She feels alone! And you're
not there to comfort her." I looked away as I bowed. Was I wrong?! Was it wrong to feel angry for everything
I've experienced?! "You let her suffer! Tell me Aries....isn't that enough compensation for the pain she gave
you?! Your brother needs you." I tried to open my mouth to speak but nothing came out of me. "Try to fix
everything between you again....before it's too late." He added. Can I? Can I fix what we have. I wish it were
that easy. But that's not the only reason why I'm angry with him. Can I forget all my anger towards him?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jay-jay's POV Yes! Go ahead! You have a place with me! Go
ahead....don't pay attention. "Hey! What?! Are you just like that?!" I said to Yuri, annoyed. He looked at me for a
moment and turned his back on me again. I really wanted to slap him hard. Lunch was over and he still
ignored me. After our first subject at noon , the teachers had an emergency meeting. We missed class but
only for an hour. Suddenly, Yuri walked to the side of our building where it was crowded. He sat on the bench
where we had sat before when our first kiss happened. Iihhkkk... Memory! I shook my head to get that out of
my mind. I didn't want that to be the first thing that came to my mind every time I went to this bench. I
whistled after him and then sat down on the bench. He raised his eyebrows at me. "Do you need it?" He said
reluctantly. "W-nothing. Just sat down. Why? Need a reason to sit down and get some air." One of his
eyebrows raised. "Really?" "Why? Do you think I'm paying attention to you? No way!" Yes. Go ahead. Fool
yourself Jay. "No way." He whispered that I still heard. "Really not." I whispered. He didn't say anything more
and just sat there. I heard him sigh before standing up and trying to leave again. I quickly grabbed the hem of
his shirt. "What are you doing now?!" "I'm going to move places. It's embarrassing for you." I pulled at his shirt.
Oh wow! I stood up in annoyance and glared at him. "You're such an idiot!" I shouted at him. He stopped and
slowly turned to face me. He raised his eyebrows and was clearly annoyed by what I said. "I'm the one acting
like an idiot again?!" He shouted at me too. "Isn't it?! I've gotten so closeâ€"you're so far away!" "Because I'm
annoyed with you!" "That's it?! That's all you're annoyed with?! How many times have I punched you before,
you're just annoyed now!" He suddenly caught himself. He also sighed before answering me. "I'm also trying
to figure out what to do! I'm waiting for you to woo me but you're the one who's so proud." "I'm sorry!" "I'm
sorry, you're angry! Are you really like that?! Sometimes you should learn to be humble!" Aww... My eyebrows
urrowed but not because I was angry. I couldn't help but disagree with what he said. Apparently my pride was
too high that even a simple, sincere sorry couldn't be given to him. I bowed my head. He quickly felt that he
had hit me with what he said. He came closer to me and grabbed my shoulder. "S-sorry. I didn't meanâ€"." "No.
It's okay." I cut him off from what he was about to say. "...in fact, you're right. My pride is too high, it's not funny
anymore." I pulled away from his hand that was holding my shoulder. "...I'll go back inside so I won't disturb
you." I walked away from him. I was only a few steps away when someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I pulled
it away again but his grip on me became tighter. "Jay.... S-sorry." He said as he slowly brought me face to face
with him. "...I'm just being affectionate with you. I don't mean anything else ." I bent down and tried to avoid
looking at him. He grabbed my chin to make our eyes meet but I became elusive. "Jay-jay." He held my face in
two hands, trying to force me to face him. He succeeded but I closed my eyes. "Open your eyes." He
commanded. I kept my eyes closed. "Don't let me count." I didn't say anything. "Jay-jay. One." I tried to remove
his fingers from my face. "You really don't want to. Two." I pressed my eyes shut. "You'll regret this. Three." I
counted seconds before he moved. Before he could open my eyes in shock. I held my breath and couldn't
move. He kissed me. My hands didn't want to work at first but when my desire finally returned I pushed him
with all my strength. We both gasped for air and pulled away from each other. I wiped my lips. I couldn't
believe it. He took advantage of the opportunity. "Y-yuri..." was all that came out of my mouth. I wanted to fight
him and scold him. This is wrong! We were already talking but why did he do it. "Jay....I'mâ€"." "Nice. Keifer just
disappeared and you're moving." We both looked at the speaker. Edrix had one hand in his pocket and was
looking at us evilly. "E-edrix..." I called to him. "Ma'am is here. Come in." He said reluctantly and turned his back
on us. Shit! Why am I so nervous? I looked at Yuri for a moment before walking back. I almost chased after
Edrix who was ahead of us but before I could stop him from entering the room, he turned to me. He was
looking at me seriously. "If it's okay with you....I also wanted to ask for time to explain my side to you." I just
nodded in time. He was about to turn away again when I grabbed his arm. "E-edrix... That s-that you saw
earlierâ€"." "Let's not talk about it." He replied and completely turned away. I let him enter the room for now. I felt
a presence behind me. I knew it was Yuri so I quickly faced him. "Why did you do that?!" I asked annoyed. He
bowed his head. "S-sorry. I just got carried away." I was about to turn my back on him when he spoke again.
"...are you scared?" There was no emotion in his voice. Not accusing or mocking. It seemed serious but
without anger. "W-whatâ€"." "Are you afraid that he will report you to Keifer?" He kept saying without looking at
me. N-afraid? I don't know but the feeling of fear was there. Fear of what? Am I afraid that it will get to him. I
turned my back on him. I was confused. "I-I don't know." Every step I took into the room was quick. I
immediately sat down and Ci was just looking at me. "Are you okay?" He asked. "H-ha?" He stared at me while
rowning. I swallowed because of the tension I suddenly felt. I tried to avert my gaze until suddenly.....
'PPPRRRROOOUUUTTTTTTT' "THE SMELL!" "Animal! Who farted?!" "Putcha! It feels like the idiot hasn't
pooped in a year!" "It's sickening!" "Pota! It seems like all the resentment has been released!" "Cancel the
class!" "Jay-jay is the one who farted!" Ci shouted while pointing at me. Son of a whore! "H-no!" I denied it.
"Seriously? It stinks! How long have you been bringing that?" David asked. I quickly looked at him with a bad
look. And he really believed what Batang Kumag said. "What is that Jay! You don't look like a woman!" Eman
said annoyed.
"You think we want to die." Felix added.
"That's enough. Just breathe it in so it goes away quickly."
Our teacher scolded while fanning herself.
What a fool!
They really thought I was the one who let off the bomb. I was forced
to fan myself in the air to get rid of the smell immediately. I looked at Ci when
I noticed that she was laughing so easily.
I shot her. "You farted!"
She rubbed the back of her head with one hand while making a peace sign
with the other. How annoying!
This Kumag kid is a scolder. I'm the one who took offense
to her nonsense. While I was almost poisoned by what she did.
The smell of her fart was suffocating. It felt like my lungs were choking on the
stench. I felt like the smell was eating into every atom of my body.
I stopped fanning myself when Yuri entered the room. She didn't
look at me. She just kept going until she sat down.
Her question came back to my mind. Am I really scared?
Am I really afraid that Keifer will find out?