Meet Ares
Jay-jay's POV
"What are you doing?" I asked Ci-N who was busy texting. "I'm talking to Daddy. I'm asking him about your possible illness," he replied without looking at me. "I thought you and your Daddy weren't close?" He stopped texting for a moment to face me and smile. His gums were showing from his smile and there was still a little bit of grit in his teeth. I laughed a little because of his appearance but he just went back to what he was doing without answering me. I knew what he meant. He was ready to talk to his Daddy just to ï¬nd or help me with my problem. I smiled for a moment because of what he thought of doing. But... "You don't have to do that. I can ï¬nd out what my problem is too," I said but he ignored me. I was about to hang up on him to get his attention but the loud volume of the phone caught my attention. I quickly turned to the Ulopongs to look for it. It was coming from Kit's cellphone and they were currently watching it with Mayo. I didn't intend to pay attention to them but I could hear the narrator of what they were watching. "...trauma can also cause short term memory lost but in some cases it can also be longer..." They were watching a video related to trauma. I winced. I knew what they were watching was for me too. It seemed like they were also looking for something that could help with my situation. They were too. But it seemed like they weren't the only ones looking for information about my situation. "Hey... Read this," Rory ordered Edrix as she reached for the cellphone. "What's that?" Edrix asked before accepting it. "I can't read anymore, you either." Edrix winced as he scratched his forehead. Even I would have reacted the same way. If he was ordered to read it as if he had ound something good or useful, that's because he couldn't do it anymore. His brain must have been shocked. He couldn't handle too much information. It was different. "Selective Amnesia." Denzel read it out loud while hitting Drew. "You have it. Especially when it comes to debt collection." "Are you an idiot?" Drew replied annoyed. "Hey, that's true!" Blaster shouted. "Pay me," Josh said. And the idiots in the back ended up charging. They got into a ï¬ght and almost ended up in a ï¬ght. Felix and Eman were forced to stop them before it got worse. "Eat up! That's why you're acting like that because you're hungry!" Felix shouted at them while hitting Drew and Blaster who were already grabbing their clothes. Eman quickly slapped their hands before pushing them out. The other Ulopong immediately followed to buy ood as well. But I feel like they were just waiting for a freebie so they're only going out now. You'll be noticed there. "Come on Jay! It's lunch time!" they told me but I just smiled and motioned for them to leave. I have someone to buy. Hehe. I just waited quietly for Keifer to buy my food. I don't know which store the little guy went to because he left a while ago and he still hasn't been there. It's like the lightning just passed through the mountain. I only bought burgers, fries and milktea. There are vendors outside the school but where else on earth did that little guy look for something to buy. "Still nothing?" Yuri asked as he sat next to me. " I'm hungry." He leaned back in his chair. "Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!" Ci complained while holding his stomach. "He must be taking too long on purpose," said David who was playing games on his cellphone. I don't know what trip they were on and they also thought of asking Hari to buy. Ci-N really just wants food from outside but these two seem to be just annoying the King of the Cobras. Well, maybe he was deliberately delaying it to get revenge. I pouted before being poked but Yuri's attention was quickly grabbed by my touch. I immediately faced him. "How are you feeling?" he asked me before arranging the stray hairs in my face. "I'm pretty okay. I just don't know if I want to go home yet." He stared at me for a moment as if he was worried about something. He arranged my hair again before smiling at me. "Now I understand," he said, which surprised me a lot. "You asked for him that day." I could feel David and Ci-N's silence and watching us. He was also obviously waiting for what Yuri would say to me. "That day that you hurt yourself while we're cooking in our kitchen. I know you already explained to me why you looked for him but I'm still confused." he smiled as if he was annoyed. "Because he understood your situation from the start and knew exactly what to do." I remembered what he was referring to. The day we went on a date as ï¬ancés. We thought about just cooking for them but he did almost everything so I cleaned up but accidentally injured myself. Afraid of seeing blood and losing myself, I told him to call Keifer. I didn't mean to. "Are you still upset about that?" I asked. "Maybe yes, but not with you. I feel bad for myself. There 's still so much I don't know about you. Yet I demanded too much rom you before." he smiled sadly at me. "I can't imagine how much you will suffer if we're still engaged." I stared at him. I didn't know how to answer because he had just sunk in to me. If we had continued with the marriage and my situation was like this, we probably wouldn't understand each other. We probably both wouldn't know what to do and how to help me. It's scary that it might be the reason for our ï¬ght. Then she won't believe my situation. "Ending our engagement is really the right thing to do." he added and I nodded. "Now you know why you don't deserve her." David whispered but still focused on the cellphone. Yuri turned to him irritably. Before they could get heated and start ï¬ghting, Keifer arrived carrying the food we bought. Ci-N immediately greeted him, still clapping with joy. He ï¬rst took the paper bag where he bought it. "Yey! Delicious!" the Little Kumag said happily as he took out the food one by one from the paper bag. Keifer put the remaining food on the table in front of us. Yuri and David took theirs. I was going to do the same but Hari brought out the food and put it on my table. I guess I'm being served too much. Hehe. "How are you feeling?" he asked me while arranging the food. "Hungry." I quickly answered. He laughed a little before taking his food and pulled a stool to sit next to me. I turned to my right where Yuri was seated. Keifer was on my left. We were sharing my small table. "Eat now." he ordered me. I pouted before taking the plastic spoon and fork. But he was the one who opened the food from the container. Yuri and David ate in silence. Ci-N was constantly praising his food. I couldn't help but feel jealous. I wanted the same energy as him now. Because I felt like I was going to lose my appetite. Char. I started eating. I briefly turned to look at Hari while chewing. Because he was constantly adding food to my container. "Eat well," he said and smiled annoyingly. I was about to complain but someone else had added food to my container. When I looked back, Yuri smiled at me sparingly. What?! They probably didn't notice that I didn't feel like eating. I pouted before continuing my meal. No one said much to us until the other Ulopong arrived. "That's why we didn't buy it in the cafeteria because we bought it outside." Felix complained. He even took a look at what we were eating before poking fun. He followed the others and also looked around as if they were looking at a dish in a restaurant. But the only ones they could tease were Ci-N and David to make them ask. "I don't want it! This is mine!" Ci-N said annoyed. "Fvck off." David said calmly. They had no intention of stopping until Denzel came in with a lunch bag that looked like Grace had sent him. "Let's ask!" "Give it to me!" "You just had a baby, you've become so mean!" They immediately received a crispy snack from Denzel. We just shook our heads because the naughty Ulopong still wouldn't stop . But they wouldn't be Ulopong if they weren't that naughty. They were ready to smash and smash each other's faces for food. "Jay, someone is looking for your brother. Sikyu doesn't want him to enter the gate," said Denzel, making me stop. Aries? Weird. Why did he go to school here? I think I just heard someone looking for Aries from outside. "S-they'll tell him that too." "I just saw him outside this morning. They don't seem to be telling him." Who could it be? "Would you like me to inform Aries?" Keifer asked me, so I looked at him. "Maybe it's not necessary. We don't know anyone looking for him, maybe he'll get hurt again," I answered and he agreed . "But it might be important. He probably won't wait long if he just lets Aries get hurt," Yuri interjected into the conversation. "Could be. Can we just tell Angelo so he can tell Aries." suggested Hari. "We can just let it go and not think about it anymore. He's looking for Aries, not us," I replied and they looked at each other before nodding. I ï¬nished eating and so did the two people I was with. They also cleared away what we had eaten. I thought about going to the bathroom ï¬rst to clean up and tidy up. While I was in front of the sink and washing my hands, the two women came in and continued their conversation. I couldn't help but hear their topic. "That guy was outside the school a while ago. Section A is looking for Aries." one said before entering the cubicle. "Why didn't they go to Aries to tell him?" the other asked while inside the cubicle. "He's probably already said that. Aries just doesn't want to face him." "Why is that?" "Sis, my boyfriend in Section A said that he might be Aries's dad because he looks like him." I was literally stunned by what I heard from them. My hands were shaking, which I tried to hold back. I immediately grabbed a tissue and wiped my hands. I hurried out of the cr to go back to the room. I was breathing deeply, making my chest ache. I hoped they were wrong and that it wasn't Aries' Dad. There would be a big problem when they met. And when I saw him. Could he have called Aries earlier? But why did he decide to come and show up now? What was the reason? Is that all? After what he did to us, he would show up as if nothing had happened. I was already in front of the door when I remembered something from what happened. Before I stabbed Aries, I hit someone with handcuffs in the ace. There was a lot of blood and I clearly remembered that it was him. "Jay!" Ci called while smiling. I didn't look at him even though he was close. "Oh, I zoned out," he said and was about to punch me but someone stopped him. "Jay, what's wrong?" David's voice. I still didn't move and just stared into nothingness. Every detail of my memory played over and over in my mind. What if he came back to get revenge for what I did? What if he kidnapped Aries again and did what he did? That's all he could do. I was startled when someone snapped their ï¬ngers in front of my face. I looked at him curiously. "Are you okay? You zoned out." The worried Keifer faced me. "I-I was just thinking," I replied and entered the room. I just continued to sit in my seat and didn't say anything even though I could see Keifer's concern for me. Our teacher arrived for the next class but I just drifted off. So the whole day of class ended without me having written anything or learned anything. As usual. Nothing new. While everyone else was busy going home, I didn't leave my seat. I just held my bag on my desk. Keifer was staring at me, not moving either. "We're going home ï¬rst," Felix said goodbye to us. Hari just nodded at him but I still didn't say anything. "Did Jay-Jay get sick? Why hasn't he been talking since he came back from the CR?" Ci asked in fear. "There's no sick person in the toilet. Stop it." David answered her question. "I'll take care of her. You go home ï¬rst," Keifer ordered. David nodded and stared at me for a moment before walking away. Ci-N waved at me before walking behind her grandfather. Yuri patted Keifer's shoulder before ï¬nally leaving. "Bye Jay." he said goodbye. All the Ulopong had left. Keifer moved to a seat near me. I knew he was just waiting for what I would do. I thanked him and he wasn't teasing me. "Can you call Kuya? Tell him I won't be going home, please," I begged. "What you're thinking isn't okay." He pulled up a chair and sat in front of me. He held both of my hands. "It's all in the past now. Aries's anger towards you is over. He granted you his orgiveness already, right?" My hand shook as I held his hand as well. I took a deep breath as my tears flowed down my face. I started crying again. "B-But because... When I remember. I feel sorry for him." What he went through came back to me. "He put up with me being at home. He put up with being with the person who tried to take his life." "Please don't be hard on yourself. We don't know why you did that yet." Even if I found out, my conscience still wouldn't go away and there was no good reason for me to hurt him. I shook my head. "Even so." "I know you... You wouldn't do such a thing." I was stunned for a moment. I wiped my face followed by a deep breath. "How did you say that?" "I have a theory that you stab him because you're not in yourself." He started and it made me think. That could be the reason. Because if I were sane, no matter how angry I was with him, I still wouldn't hurt him like that. I only say words sometimes but I know the meaning is really just a threat. He continued his explanation. "I'm thinking that you're in the state of zone out. When you see blood." Blood. I thought carefully about what he said. If I go back to that memory , I remember there was a lot of blood around. But I don't know whose. I need to think carefully about what happened before I stabbed him. I let go of his grip and covered my face with both my hands. "What are you doing?" the King asked. "Using the remaining cells in my head to think." He laughed a little but it was cut off immediately. He stood up and I heard his footsteps walking away. I didn't know what he was doing but I heard a familiar voice from the door. It was Aries. "What are you doing? We need to go home now," he said. "We're discussing something important. I'll take him ," Keifer answered him. "Can't we just do that tomorrow?" "Nope." "Kuya Angelo won't like this." "I am ready to explain for us." I didn't hear Aries answer but I felt him looking at me so I peeked between my ï¬ngers and I was right. I could see his worry but I couldn't face him. Where would I get the thickness of a face to face him? Tips on how to get a thick face. He faced Keifer again and just nodded in acceptance. He left and the King immediately walked towards me. "He's gone," he said. "I'm still thinking," I answered and covered my face again while closing my eyes. I tried to go back to what happened before Aries was stabbed. But no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't remember anything. I was already pounding on the table. "I don't remember anything," I whispered before sobbing. "Hey, don't pressure yourself." But I ignored him. I cried softly and drowned myself in my conscience. I felt like I was a very bad person for what I had done. Jay-Jay bad. We had been in the room for about an hour when I decided to go home. I was grateful and the King just waited for me. There was no complaint or sign of impatience. "Do you want to eat ï¬rst before you go home?" he asked. I thought for a moment before responding to his offer. About 0.1 seconds. "Just ice cream." I heard his soft laughter. There were no students at school. It looked like they had just gone home. While in the parking lot, a man suddenly approached us. I stared at him for a moment before recognizing him properly. The mark on his jaw reminded me of what happened in the basement where we were locked up. Where he and Aries locked us up. I automatically clung to Keifer before backing away. It was as if he had caught what was happening to me. He immediately hid me behind him. "You're Jay-Jay, right?" he asked. His voice was different from what I remembered. It was as if he was just gently relaxing. I could see the resemblance between him and Aries. Even his appearance was serene if not for the scar on his jaw. That I was the one who did it. "Can I talk to you?" he asked again. I couldn't answer. He was still clinging to Keifer. He could feel my trembling. "And who the hell are you?" Hari asked irritated. They stared at each other before he answered. He even managed to peek at me for a moment. "I'm Aranes or Ares. I'm Aries's Dad."