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Jay-jay's POV
I was afraid to enter the house. I felt like death was waiting at the door, holding his hook. Then suddenly he whispered 'Welcome Home'. Oh putcha! I don't think I can handle it. "Want toâ€"?" "DEATH!" I shouted, cutting off what Yuri was about to say. He and Keifer looked at me as if I were crazy. My answer was an awkward smile and grimace. "Look, if you're afraid of Angelo, I'll come inside with you." Presented by the King of Vipers. "That's what I'm about to say." Yuri said. I secretly bit my lip. After all, they should have been home a while ago. That's why they didn't want to leave until they were sure that I would be okay in Kuya Angelo's hands. That wasn't going to happen. I checked my cellphone when I heard the text message arrive. I was even more nervous when I saw that it was from Kuya. From: Kuya Angelo Message: Alvin said your whole section is absent. Please...if you read my messages call me. This time I knew he was worried. I quickly felt guilty. I'm more used to him getting angry because of my antics, he wasn't worried about me like this. I didn't call him like he wanted but I sent him a text message that I was on my way home. I took a deep breath before pressing send. I looked at the gate of the house for a moment before acing Yuri and Keifer. "Okay. I'm going home." I told them and they nodded. I opened the car door but before I could get out, they got out ï¬rst. "We'll wait here for a while incase something happens." Keifer said. I just nodded and walked towards the gate of the house. I looked at them for a moment before I ï¬nally entered. I took each step slowly before entering the door of the house. Aunt Gema was the ï¬rst I saw sitting on the sofa and was obviously anxious. "T-tita." I called her softly and she immediately turned around. "Jay-jay!" She shouted and quickly stood up to greet me with a hug. "Where did you come from? You made us worry." I also hugged her tightly. I thought she was still mad at me. At least my fear had decreased. "Don't do that again. Your mom might kill us when she ï¬nds out you're gone." She joked and smiled slightly. But her smile quickly disappeared when she saw the person who entered the door. I turned around and Keifer, slightly bowed, greeted me. "Good morningâ€"." She couldn't ï¬nish what she was saying because of Tita Gema's strong slap . I covered my mouth in shock. "Your face is so thick!" He gave me another slap. "What did you do to my niece?!" I immediately went over to stop him but he was already holding both of his hands on Keifer's clothes. "Auntie... W-he didn't do anything." I said but he didn't seem to hear anything. "What did you do to Jay-jay?! Huh?!" He shouted and hit Keifer with one of his hands. "You're just like your Dad! You're shameless too! Animals!" "Auntie!" I shouted and tried to push him away. I could see the anger in his eyes as tears flowed. I didn't understand what he was saying and why he even mentioned Keifer's Dad. Keifer didn't ï¬ght back or speak to Aunt Gema. He just bowed down while receiving the blows and slaps from him. I couldn't help but eel hurt by what I saw. "Auntie! That's enough!" I shouted while hugging him and trying to push him away. "You shameless people! You're not satisï¬ed with ruining my life yet, you're going to implicate my nephew!" "MA!" Kuya shouted like thunder from behind Keifer. I let go of Tita's embrace and looked at Kuya who was talking to me. Tita Gema let go and greeted Kuya. "Call the police! Have this animal picked up!" I cried on my own accord when I saw Tita's tears still flowing. Kuya quickly hugged her. "Sshh... Nothing happens. Jay-jay is okay." Kuya Angelo said calmly. I looked at Keifer who was wiping his bloody lip from Tita's strong slap. I wanted to go over and apologize to him but Tita might suddenly lose her mind and Kuya would get angry. "No! Put him in jail!" Tita insisted. "Ma, Keifer is not him. Please..." Kuya almost whispered. "I'll call â€"!" "MA! STOP!" Kuya shouted, making Tita stop. I backed away because of fear. His tone was angry but I could feel the pain. I could feel that he didn't want Tita to be like this. She was hurting. I turned to the door when I saw Yuri behind Keifer. It seemed like she had already ï¬gured out what had happened. The King of Snakes and I met each other's eyes. He smiled to say that it was okay. But that's not how I felt. It hurt me to see him just accepting the pain as if there was nothing he could do. He could make excuses. He could say that Kuya ordered it and it was just a coincidence that we had to stay longer. He could lie. But why did you just accept it? "Jay." Kuya called, making me flinch slightly. "Ask them not to leave." I wiped my tears before nodding. I watched him help Tita to her room. I waited for them to disappear from my sight before approaching the two who were still standing at the door of the house. "W-don't leave for now." Yuri smiled and nodded. "I have no plan to." He replied arrogantly. "I'll beg you." Yuri and I both grimaced at him. "Are you crazy?" I asked annoyed. "No. I'll hold you accountable." He said as if nothing had happened. "That's why your aunt is so angry. It would be a waste if she were angry if I didn't do anything." Crazy! Yuri and I looked at each other and I knew we both wanted to punch this idiot. "You know, you're crazy." I said and turned away from him to go to my room. I'm not stupid, I knew he was just joking to lighten the situation. I can't get his face out of my mind as he received Tita's slaps and hurtful words. My chest tightens every time I think about there being nothing we can do to correct what she thought. I passed Tita's room with the door slightly open. She was already lying on the bed while Kuya was talking to her. There was a maid inside holding a glass of water. I chose not to interfere in their conversation for now. I didn't know what really happened, but I remembered some things while listening to Tita's words. Mama and Tita Gema knew the Watsons because Mama had once spoken about them. But now, I found out that Tita Gema knew Keifer's Dad. Based on what she said, she had a bad experience with them. They ruined Tita's life. When I got to my room, I ï¬rst organized my things before getting dressed. I was stunned as I sat on the bed and hugged my knees. I didn't like the thoughts playing in my mind. Why do I feel like something deeper had happened then? I wanted to know the truth but I couldn't ask Tita and Kuya. I also didn't know if Keifer knew anything. I bit my lower lip before standing up and storming out of the room. I was about to go back to Keifer in the living room but stopped when I saw Kuya and her talking. And their conversation seemed very serious. I wanted to come closer to listen but I knew that if I did, I would be annoyed by Kuya. I was content to just watch them from afar until Yuri and Keifer left. I didn't even get to talk to them. I was startled when I saw Kuya Angelo staring at me. "K-kuya..." "Let's talk." He said and kept walking. I followed him until he entered his room. He sat on the swivel chair in front of his study table. I sat down on the bed. "Did I tell you to sit down?" I said let's just sit down. I stood up again. I simply played with my nails because of nervousness and fear. My heart almost jumped out of my chest and showed that he was scared too. "Where did that crazy person take you?" He asked seriously. It was so funny. "S-to... the island..." KO! He paused for a moment and thought. I feel like he's already playing around with how to punish me. Maybe he's thinking about what we could have done. Maybe he thinks we're doing something stupid . Maybe he thinks we're running along the beach while holding hands. We didn't do anything like that! Kuya is right to suspect. I need to make it clear to him that we really didn't do anything bad or anything we'll regret. "What didâ€"?" I immediately knelt down and pressed my palms together before closing my eyes and pleading. "We didn't do anything, Kuya! Believe me! I was angry with him so he couldn't get close to me properly and then the shunga had an accident and slipped on the rocks! We slept next to each other but he didn't do anything because I stepped on his reindeer! Believe me, I pushed away the temptation! He didn't do anything!" I said one after another without letting Kuya speak. I opened one of my eyes to peek at him and his serious gaze met mine. "Wow. Thanks for letting me know." He said it like it sounded sarcastic . I stood up and bowed to face him. "W- no, Kuya. He's asking for my forgiveness so he can't just do something stupid." "But you literally sleep together." I swallowed. "I-I didn't let him but I wake up next to him." "That cunning asshole." He whispered that I could still hear. "If I ï¬nd out he did something to you while you were sleeping, I'll cut him off tomorrow." Reindeer? Caretaker and Watcher can't be together. Should I regret it? "You go to school tomorrow. You won't have afternoon class because you didn't come. Alvin will talk to the teachers." He said and was about to turn his back on me. "Can I ask you a question, Kuya?" I stopped him. He nodded to signal me to continue. "Why did you order Keifer not to send me home on Friday?" I already knew the answer but I was betting he would tell me the truth. That he would say that Papa was here and was looking for me. But it seemed like they really didn't intend to tell me. "There was a visitor on Friday. And he asked if I would let him help him." He replied. I wanted to curse and get angry at him. I wanted to scold him and make him admit the real reason. I didn't understand why they were hiding the truth from me. "W-is that so." Was all I could say. He looked at me as if he was examining me. "Make sure that you never did things with Keifer. I'm telling you! You go to the convent!" "Oh, I won't accept that!" He glared at me before taking off his house slippers and about to slap me. I immediately ran out of his room. I thought that I was really going to die today. It was a good thing he even took pity on me. But I guess Kuya was just looking for time. Suddenly , he would ï¬ght me. I'll prepare for that. I was planning to go to Aunt Gema but maybe she was still resting. So I just went back to the room and lay down. I also fell asleep on my own due to fatigue. I woke up at night for dinner. But they had ï¬nished eating and I was the only one who hadn't eaten yet. While I was in the kitchen heating up the dish, Aries suddenly came in. " Hey..." He greeted me. "Yes, yes, yow." I replied and he immediately looked at me with a frown. "H- hey..." "Where did that idiot take you?" He asked while picking up a glass. "To an island." "You haven't met Percy?" I shook my head. "Not yet. Why?" He coughed slightly before pouring water and drinking. I suddenly remembered his text messages to me. "What are your messages about, by the way?" "W-what... Don't meet him for now." You too? I wanted to be angry because they were helping me again. Keeping it a secret. They didn't know that I had a clue about the reason for their trouble. "I can't promise." He didn't say anything. He just put the glass in the sink before turning around and leaving. I just followed his gaze. I knew it had something to do with Papa that made him not want me to meet Percy but I still couldn't ï¬gure out what his text message meant . It was as if he was afraid of something. I thought about taking out my cellphone and reading some of his texts. It was as if he was really begging me to listen to his explanation. I felt like he knew Percy had something to tell me. Tsk! What could this be again? I couldn't help but get nervous and think about his messages. And because of that thought, the dish I was heating almost caught ï¬re. I thought the kitchen was going to catch ï¬re again because of me. Maybe Kuya would grill me alive. I didn't get a lecture for not coming home, I would be caught in the burning kitchen. I just woke up in time. I was eating alone in the kitchen quietly but while I was doing that I thought about sending a text message to my blue-eyed brother. To: Percing... Message: Yow, wazzup? I waited for the kumag to answer but I didn't get any answer from him. I ï¬nished eating and washed my dishes but still nothing. I didn't plan to wait anymore but the one I was waiting for arrived when I planned to go back to the room. From: Percing... Message: My pretty-pretty sistah, I'm outside your maderpaking house. I winced at what he said but I still hurried out. I made sure I wouldn't be noisy. Even when opening the small gate. I looked for the kumag and luckily he didn't park far from the house. I ran like a thief to his car and went inside. I can't forget that someone was still trying to get me. "Wazzup, Baby sistah." He opened his mouth to me and smiled broadly. The idiot looked so fresh. His hair was still messy as if it had been cut with gel or hair wax. "You're ugly. Why are you dressed like that?" He looked at me in surprise as if I had said something bad. He grabbed my chest and pursed his lips. "You bastard!" He shouted and slapped me softly. "Ouch!" I complained and slapped him too. I just hit him harder, which made him grin even more. "You're a fool." "That hurts! You're ruining my pretty face!" He looked at himself in the mirror. "They're asking you questions. Why are you dressed like that?" My voice was ï¬lled with annoyance. He took the small comb from the glove compartment. He combed his hair and even his eyebrows. He looked stupid. "I asked Freya out on a date." He started. "You know, trying to get a second chance." I nodded. "But I was just at the door of her house..." He shook his head. "I didn't let her in anymore. They said I was too handsome for their house." I faked a laugh. "You're drunk, right? Your joke was corny." He also faked a laugh. "My handsomeness is no joke." We both faked a laugh. We continued to laugh until he choked and my laughter became genuine. "You're a fool." "Oh..." He said and grabbed his neck before coughing slightly. Honestly, I felt sorry for him. Freya had made him look hopeless several times but he still didn't give up. I wanted to stop him but once I told him that, his eyes quickly turned sad. I didn't want to see him like that so I just let him go. "Is that the only reason you're like that?" I asked and he forced a smile. "I was also planning to introduce him to Mother." I froze and stared at him. If his Mother was there , it meant that my Father was really there. I fastened my seatbelt which surprised Percy. "Take me to Father." I ordered but he didn't move. "It's okay. If you're ready for a Jeana and Jaspher showdown. A war of cheap and cheap money." I was startled. "What? What are you talking about?" He scratched his head. "I really don't know what happened, but you can't meet until your mom agrees." "Why? Can't you just for a moment? They won't know." I said annoyed with a mix of pity. "Just understand. Your dad respects your mom's wishes. He doesn't want trouble either. If he insists on seeing you, there might be a little war." He explained. I unbuckled my seatbelt in annoyance. I wanted to cry from annoyance. I sighed a few times until I felt Percy's arm and hand on my shoulder. "Just be patient. Sooner or later you'll meet your Daddey." I laughed softly at the way he said Daddey. There was a hint of sarcasm. I really have no choice but to endure not seeing him for now. I'm grateful because he and Keifer are there, making arrangements and helping me wait for the day I've been waiting for. "For now, you can have the pasalubong." Percy said and let go of me to get the one in the backseat. He handed me two paper bags. They were ï¬lled with expensive chocolates and candies. I looked at each one and tasted the rest. We talked about what to do the next day. Unfortunately, Kuya had already forbidden him from coming near me, so tonight he decided to show up. We also talked about what Papa looks like. I couldn't help but feel excited. "I should have given that to Freya." He said with a frown. "It's a good thing you didn't give it to me." I said angrily. He got even more angry and I suddenly remembered what I learned about Freya. I was about to ask Percy but I suddenly thought that maybe he didn't know anything either. He had been gone for a long time and had only just returned. I decided to keep my mouth shut. After a few hours of talking, we said our goodbyes to each other. I went back home and when I was about to open the gate, I stopped because I couldn't open it. I tried to peek inside the house and I felt scared when I couldn't see any lights on. Wow! I was locked in.