Chapter-244

Aries's POV


Cousins for reason

*ContinuationOfFlashback...* I hear something. Repeated beeping sounds, then the sound
of wind. I slowly opened my eyes but what I could see was blurry. Very blurry! "He's awake." I heard a woman
say. I tried to move my gaze in another direction. It was blurry but I could see something moving and there
was also light. I tried to open my mouth to speak but my throat was dry. I couldn't move properly and my
whole chest was aching. "Check the vitals." A male voice said. Not long after, my vision adjusted on its own. I
understood. I was still alive and in the hospital. Not long after, what had happened came back to me . Why I
was in the hospital and why I was having such a hard time. Jay planned to kill me! "The operation was
successful, the patient is clearly showing a good sign." The doctor told Brother Angelo. I touched the part of
my ribsâ€"where his stab wound had hit. It was like a nightmare. I had mixed feelings. "Is there a problem,
Aries?" Mama asked. I shook my head. "When can I go home?" "A week or two from now. It depends on if you
can stand up right away." The doctor replied. I want to go out. I feel strange in this place. I don't want to stay
long in the hospital. We all looked at the door when we heard a knock. It opened of its own accord and Percy,
Yuri and Keifer came in. They were carrying cake, ice cream and balloons. The doctor said goodbye and left.
Kuya followed him. "Hello Auntie!" Percy greeted Mama with joy. "Hello too. Thanks for coming." Mama replied
to him. "Sorry Auntie if this is all we brought. We didn't know what to bring." Yuri said as she lowered the cake
onto the table near us. "It's okay, it looks like you're the only ones who will eat it. Aries isn't allowed to eat it
yet." Mama explained and they all looked at me. "You're such a loser, Pre... I'll just eat what's for you." Percy
said with a smile. "...how's the new tule?" He immediately felt a tug from Keifer. He must have noticed that my
expression hadn't changed. I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't! "Are you okay?" Yuri asked me. I nodded
slowly. "I just woke up." From a nightmare. "I think he needs more rest." Keifer said. "N-no. It's okay. I'd rather
have you here." "That's great! Let's go! Let's celebrate that birthday! It's a little late ." Percy said as he opened
the cake box. Yuri tied the balloons to a bench but left one behind. Keifer lit the candle on the cake. "Happy
Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday happy birthday... Happy birthday Aries!" They sang
as they brought the cake closer to me. They even blew a trumpet and blew confetti. I forced a smile even
though I honestly didn't feel anything. I guess my heart was going numb. "T-thank you." I said and blew out the
candle. Just as I looked up, I saw Jay-jay at the door. He was holding a gift while wearing a patient gown. But
when I blinked , all I saw was Jay-jay holding a piece of glass and blood . I stepped back and my wound
tingled, causing Percy and I to panic. "Dude! Are you okay?" He asked. "I'll call the doctor." Mama said and
walked out. Jay was nowhere to be seen. I was slowly breathing properly."I'm-I'm okay." I said and lay down.
The doctor and Mom came. They checked me for a while but I convinced them that I had made a mistake
that's why my wound was tingling. I sent Mom home first because she obviously hadn't had a rest yet. She
agreed because the three of them were left with me. I silently observed Percy and Yuri fighting over ice cream.
There was a time when I looked at the door because I felt like Jay would come in at any moment. "Who's
that?" Keifer asked so I looked at him. "...the woman at the door earlier." He saw Jay-jay. I shook my head. "W-
nothing." "Why are you affected?" He asked again. "I-I was just surprised." He didn't ask again but he didn't take
his eyes off me as if he was observing me. He really could sense when people were lying to him. I couldn't
sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, his face
I can see it. Even his bloody hand can't be erased from my mind.
My brother tried to kill me.
"Aries..." Kuya called to me. "...what's wrong?"
"N-nightmares."
"You have trauma, expect nightmares almost every night." He said and
approached the table to get some water. "...we can visit a psychiatrist if you
want."
He handed me the glass he had filled with water. I drank it before
answering him.
"I don't think that's necessary."
I handed him the glass back. He put it back down on the table and returned to
his place earlier. I lay down properly and tried to close
my eyes. Every time his appearance came back to my mind,
my breathing seemed to tighten.
"It's so quiet. He must be pooping." Percy said.
He probably thought I didn't know he was talking about me. I simply
glared at him.
"Don't tease him. He might kick you." Yuri said before drinking from
the can he was holding.
The head just smiled at me before taking a bite of fries. I envy
them because they can eat but I'm still being
ed soft food.
"To be honest, I'm not getting enough of what we're eating."
Keifer said and put the pizza box down on the table.
The pizza was gone and he wasn't full yet?
"Pizza really doesn't fill you up." Percy was furious.
"When can you leave the hospital?" Yuri asked me.
"They said it's next week."
"It's been a while!" Percy complained and lay down on the sofa.
"Why did you ask?"
Yuri shook his head. "It's boring here."
"And I'm hungry." Keifer added, looking for food on the
table.
"You can eat outside. I can take care of myself. I'll call a nurse if
something happens."
Percy quickly got up. "Let's go. Aries is okay."
The boy walked towards the door but before he could open it,
Yuri stopped him.
"Are you crazy? Aries is a patient we should never leave him here alone."
Yuri said irritably.
"Don't treat Aries like a Baby." Keifer quickly countered. "...He can
clearly take care of himself."
I sighed. It looked like they were going to fight over me.
"It's okay. I'm fine. Just hurry up." I said while shooing
them away with my hand.
"Are you sure?" Yuri asked.
"Yes."
Yuri nodded and stood up. "We'll be right back."
I nodded too and watched them go out the door but before
the door could close, someone stopped them. My eyebrows furrowed in
surprise.
The perpetrator slowly peeked out.
My breathing was also getting tighter as my wound ached. I shook my head and
closed my eyes.
"A-aries..." he called to me.
I couldn't breathe.
I held on tightly to the blanket. I couldn't move and it felt like
I was in a cramped space.
"How are you? I'm sorry I just got here.
I always feel dizzy."
Even though I didn't look, I knew he was coming towards me. I took a
deep breath to calm myself down. I opened my eyes and saw
Jay looking at me while standing next to me.
"Are you feeling bad? Do you want me to call a doctor."
He asked and I quickly shook my head.
I looked at his white bandaged hands. There were also bruise marks
on his face that I knew were from the kidnapper.
He also had a bandage on his head.
While watching him, I realized that I couldn't
calm down when he was around.
"You have a visitor, right? I saw them leave earlier."
He was looking at the food my friends were eating.
I couldn't answer. My heart was beating fast and I felt like
something bad would happen if he stayed here any longer.
"...by the way..." He suddenly became serious. "...I wanted to ask
what happened to your Dad. I don't
remember much."
Suddenly, my chest tingled and I felt like I had to hold him.
Jay immediately became alarmed and tried to approach me but his arm moved on its own to
push him away.
"Don't!" I shouted at him. "Don't touch me."
"Aries. I'll call the Doctor."
"No!"
I looked at him and for some unknown reason,
I felt hatred for him.
"P-please... Jay. Don't come near me. D-don't talk to me, anymore."
I knew what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have pushed Jay away but what
could I do. I couldn't when he was so close to me.
"You're so quiet!" Percy shouted, grabbing our attention.
Even Keifer and Yuri hadn't spoken since
we first met.
"I'm bored." Keifer replied.
"I'm tired." Yuri.
"I'm thinking." Me.
"I'm handsome." Percy.
We looked at him almost at the same time with one
eyebrow raised. He would have been better off joking and smiling in this situation.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" He asked. "...Let's go to Danger's
Hills."
That place is far from here. That's the road that has many accidents
because of the curves and downhill roads. Add to that the darkness and hardly anyone
passes by. There's also a cliff on the side so it's really dangerous.
"We don't have a car." Keifer said.
"Dude! How big is your inheritance and you still don't have a car?" Percy teased
and Keifer immediately looked at him with a wicked look.
"I can buy as many cars as I can. Buy I don't have a license to drive them
all."
"You're unlucky..." he replied and smiled mischievously. "...
I'll just wait a year and then I can even get a student
license."
"Wait for our license. Our car will be even better
or you." Yuri whispered.
Obviously the fool wouldn't let me win so I spoke up to
finish the conversation.
"It's just Kuya's car." I said bored.
They all looked at me at the same time and nodded. I knew
Kuya wasn't home but he didn't use his car.
We went back to our house to do our plan. I peeked at the
door to make sure no one would see me, I also asked
Percy to open the gate.
The car key was in Kuya's room. I slowly walked
there. Kuya didn't lock the door because Mama didn't want that.
I immediately saw the key on his study table. I quickly took it and
hurriedly went out to the car. I was the one who drove because I was
the only one who knew how to drive.
Kuya taught me. I drove the car out of the house
and had them close the gate again. After making sure everything was okay,
they got in.
"Go! Go!" Percy said excitedly who was next to me.
Keifer and Yuri were behind. I drove slowly
so as not to attract the attention of the police and we might get caught.
"Let's go to the convenient store, let's buy some food." Yuri said.
We quickly agreed. I parked the car at the
nearest convenient store. Yuri and Percy were the only ones who bought it and
Keifer and I were left in the car. We were both silent at
first.
"Are you okay?" He broke the silence.
"H-ha?"
"Since you left the hospital, you've changed a lot."
Here he is again.
"W-nothing... I just haven't been sleeping well."
He didn't say anything but he looked at me meaningfully.
His right suspicion was working again.
Why was this person born smart? Smart at reading
people. Weird!
I looked across the street. Yuri and Percy were crossing the street.
They were both carrying two plastic bags each. I was just wondering why
the contents of the one plastic bag Percy was holding seemed so heavy.
When they got into the car, I immediately looked at what they were carrying.
My eyebrows furrowed when I saw that they had bought a can of beer.
"Percy... we're both minors." I reminded him.
He smiled broadly. "Let's go to the law now."
I just slapped my forehead. I couldn't do anything. They've already bought it,
I probably won't drink it.
This is it? This is the Danger's Hills they're talking about?
It's just an uphill road that's all curved.
We're now at the top of the highest part of the hill.
We can see the city.
"Why aren't you drinking?" Percy said annoyed.
Yuri answered for me. "He's still driving and
just got out of the hospital." I turned away from them and looked at the city again. What I saw
looked like toys because of how small it was. "Aries..." Keifer called to me. I looked at him and there was his
strange criticism of me again. He put down the beer he was holding. "...you still haven't told us what happens
to you." I shook my head. "Maybe next time." "Now, Pre!" Percy said sternly. "...what did your kidnapper do to
you?" "Typical scenes." "Like the one from the movie?" Yuri. I approached the one sitting next to them. "Yes."
We were silent. It was like they were waiting for me to say something but I couldn't tell them yet. I simply held
my wound. It was slowly healing but not the wound inside me. Jay-jay. "That's scary." Percy said. "...I need to
be careful." We looked at him in surprise. "Why are you being careful?" Yuri said. "Maybe someone kidnapped
me too. I'm so handsome. Maybe I already have a stalker, I don't know yet." We both winced. If anyone should
be careful of them, it's Keifer because of the huge inheritance waiting for him. From his grandparents to what
he inherited from his mother. "Serious talk, Pres... if something happens to me. You take care of my siblings
and Freya." We both got serious and looked at him. What he said was scary. "I don't want to." Keifer answered
quickly. Percy looked at him evilly. "That's it! That's it." "If I say yes, you'll be careless and let something bad
happen to you." He explained. "Of course not!" Percy defended. "Nothing bad will happen to you, because
you're the one who caused the bad things to happen to us." Yuri joked and Percy was about to retort when he
stopped. "Is it drizzling?" He said while looking up and holding his hand. I looked up too to feel it but the
drizzling I was expecting turned into heavy rain. We were all panicked. Everyone grabbed their food and
hurriedly got into the car. "Why is it raining?!" Keifer shouted angrily. "You're not taking a bath." Percy replied
and the other one immediately choked him. "Aahhhh... a-aray!" "That's enough." Yuri stopped and Keifer let go.
The rain got even heavier. We could barely see anything outside even when I turned on the car's headlights.
"Let's leave later." Yuri suggested. I checked the time on the small digital clock in front of the steering wheel.
Kuya must have gone home. I was getting very nervous. "We can't stay here for long." I said and tried to start
the car but I couldn't see anything. "Don't force it. We might have an accident." Yuri said so I was forced to
stop. "Let's stay here for now." Percy said and slightly reclined the seat so he could lie down. I followed what
they said. We waited for the rain to subside. We had been inside the car for almost an hour. Keifer had fallen
asleep because of the time. This one was still impatient. An hour and a half had passed before I thought
about starting the car. I knew they were looking for us. To make matters worse, the sky was getting dark,
making it even harder for me to drive. "It's dangerous, Pre..." Percy warned me. "No choice. It will be even
harder for us when it gets dark." He didn't answer and just let me go. We drove slowly, especially since the
road was downhill. But the pain of the heavy rain was further increased by the sudden lightning followed by
loud thunder. Keifer got up and was clearly nervous. "Aries... Don't. It's really dangerous." Yuri said worriedly. I
had to stop again. It was annoying! This made me look at Kuya and Mama. We waited for the rain to subside
again but it seemed like they really had no intention of stopping the pouring water. I turned on the radio
hoping to listen to music but the reception was bad. "The radio has no reception here." Percy said without
looking at me. I slammed the switch off. I needed to prepare my ears for listening to Kuya's sermon. I also
needed a good excuse for why I ran away from his car. I closed my eyes and tried to find a way to stop. While I
was thinking about what to do, suddenly there was a loud thunder and when I opened my eyes, I saw Jay-jay's
ace. My breathing was getting tight again. I was sweating profusely even though the car's air conditioner was
on. My hand was shaking as I held the steering wheel and started the car. "Hey... it'll be later." Percy said and
sat down. I ignored him and just continued driving. My wound was aching along with my heart beating faster.
"Are you okay, Aries?" Yuri asked. "W-we need to get home." Both he and Percy shrugged. They just talked
about things I couldn't understand. I didn't even bother to inquire because all I could think about was getting
home. The sky was quickly darkening due to the bad weather. We were on the dangerous road of Danger's
Hills so I tried to calm myself down. We were on the curve when lightning struck again. When I looked in the
middle of the road, I saw Jay-jay. His hands were bloody while he was holding a piece of broken glass. I didn't
realize what I had done. I turned the steering wheel with my eyes closed , which was my big mistake. "ARIES!!"