Ares
Jay-Jay's POV
I was staring at Mama while eating. She was also looking at me as if she was surprised by what I was doing. She put bacon on my plate. "Are you crazy? Why are you looking at me like that?" I shook my head. "No." "Eat. What are you doing there?" I did as she said but I still didn't take my eyes off her. She just chose to ignore me. She was about to put food on Aries' plate but my sister stopped her when she moved the ood away from her. We all looked at her. I could feel Brother Angelo staring at her. My Mom didn't care and just put what was supposed to be my sister's on my plate. Nice. More food. "Aries." There was a hint of threat in Brother Angelo's voice. My sister stood up. "I'm done eating." she said and walked away. I just followed her gaze while continuing to chew on my food. "Hurry up with your food, Jay. Go inside with Aries." Kuya ordered, making me look at him while still taking a bite of bacon. I swallowed my food carefully before answering him. " You're not going to take me?" He raised his eyebrows at me as if he was reminding me of what happened yesterday at Yuri's house. I just scratched the back of my head before I pouted at him. I told him, he might ï¬ght me again. I hurried up with my food so I could catch up with my brother. He would probably yell at me again for being slow. To this day, it's still a mystery to me how he takes a shower in the morning. At night, he's a bit slow. Maybe he just does it in spurts. I ï¬nally proved that, he's made for me. I've been waiting for him to wake up for a long time to get even. I ï¬nished my food and said goodbye to go take a shower. I also had to hurry because I could feel the presence of fate outside my bedroom door. I hit my gums with the toothbrush a ew times because I was in a hurry. I also borrowed shampoo a few times. When I ï¬nished getting dressed, my socks were different again but I didn't care. I just grabbed my bag before putting on my shoes. When I went out the door, Horoscope was leaning against the wall. He was holding his cellphone and staring at a message. I was going to read it too but it seemed like he sensed my presence. Oh, I didn't see him. "Let's go... You're really slow," he said and turned his back on me. I pouted before following him on foot. We said goodbye to Mama and Tita Gema for a moment before ï¬nally going out. My nostrils almost flared when I saw his shiny new car. He had already gotten in so I couldn't complain anymore. It felt like I was slapped with expensive perfume when I entered. I was suddenly afraid to breathe and the air from my lungs might damage the car. My ass quickly got cold as I sat down even though the air conditioner wasn't on. I also can't pull the seat belt because I might break it. I'm still embarrassed to pull the seat belt. "What's wrong with you?" my brother asked me. He must have noticed my movement, which was almost difficult to move. "It's embarrassing to move in your new car." I replied sarcastically and he immediately frowned. "Get adjusted, you're sitting there when you brake." "Maybe it'll get scratched." I insisted. "It's just a car, Jay." "It's brand new." "It'll also get old in the future." "It's more expensive than my life." "Not really. Your life is more important to us compared to this car," he said and I smiled. Naks, important yarn. "Is it okay to do this?" I asked after leaning back and raising my foot on the dashboard. He immediately pinched my leg. I flinched hard before lowering my foot and touching the part of my leg that he pinched. "He told me to sit up straight!" he said annoyed. I was so annoyed that I adjusted the seat. I also adjusted the seatbelt before he started the car. I didn't know if the weather was really nice or if the iew from the window of my brother's new car was just nice. I couldn't help but feel jealous. I didn't want to be complacent that Dad was rich and I would get what I wanted when we met. That's not the reason why I wanted to be with him. I miss my father. I also want to be with him. It was so hard growing up that I couldn't get along well with my parents. It would be better if they were abroad and working for my future, I would understand. But it's not, what's happening to us is just a cover-up. He's hiding me from my father for reasons I don't understand. Who's hiding? I noticed the person he was passing by who looked like he was going straight to school. "Ella won't be passing by?" I asked but I really wanted it. "No, she's already in school," he replied and I smiled simply. That's how it should have started. Good news. We were almost at school when we heard his cellphone. He tried to take it out of his pocket to look at it but he dropped it and it fell at his feet. I took the initiative because we might have an accident. "Someone's calling, just a number." I said and pressed the green symbols to answer but at the same time he shouted 'stop!'. I ignored him because my attention was focused on the person on the other line. I stared outside the vehicle while remembering where I heard the voice. It was so familiar to me but I couldn't pinpoint where I heard it. I won't deny that my heart beat faster and I felt cold. I knew deep down that the owner of this voice had a part of my life that had marked me. It was as if I had met him and he had left a wound and scar on me...on me. "Jay! Hang up the phone!" Aries shouted at me. I ignored him because the next thing I heard was what the person on the other line said. ["You're not Aries."] He was silent for a moment. ["Are you Jay-Jay?"] I let go of the cellphone. At the same time, my tears fell and my ision blurred. My head also twitched slightly so I bowed my head. Both my palms and stomach were cold. I didn't even notice the car stopping. I remember something. A dark room, small windows, scattered things and boxes. Broken glass and blood on the floor. I see someone but it's blurry. Aries? I see Aries. This is part of my past with Aries. I need to remember what happened. I know I have a past with my brother that I don't remember either, just like the incident with my stepfather. I can't run away from this and wait for the next time. I need my memories of Aries, even though we're on good terms, I still want to know the reason why he avoided me or why he got angry with me. Maybe the reason is in those memories. I need to learn to face this or I'll have to live with my fear for the rest of my life. Remember it well! Even though my head hurts and my stomach feels like it's going to flip from dizziness, I still force myself to think about what happened. My breathing is gradually getting tighter. I forcefully look back at the appearance of the room, the things and the last light from the light bulb I force myself to look back at. "Jay! Please tell me what's wrong!" Aries pleaded but I ignored him. I felt his hands on my arm and he was trying to hold my face so I could face him. "Breath. Please breath!" he added and tears started falling one after another . "I will call an ambulance now." He tried to pick up the cellphone from the floor but I stepped on it to stop him. I closed my eyes and replayed the new memories in my mind. There were still things I couldn't remember, the events weren't complete. It was like a puzzle but a piece was missing to complete the image. Think carefully, even if you don't have a mind. What was missing? In that room, we were locked up. The one who locked us up was Aries' real Dad. We tried to escape but we were caught. There were handcuffs and a lot of blood. We fought back even though we were hurt. There was broken glass and I stabbed someone... I stabbed someone. Someone... I was stunned. I looked up before covering my mouth in shock. The tears I had earlier because of dizziness and pain were replaced by tears because of mixed emotions. I stepped back while looking at Aries. "Jay, w-what's wrong?" he asked me. I forced the car door open to get out. I didn't listen to his call. I quickly walked in an unknown direction. I wiped my tears several times but they still kept falling. "Jay-Jay!" Aries called and I tried to walk aster but he still managed to catch up with me. He grabbed my arm but I quickly pulled it back. I couldn't look at him straight. "I-I'm going to school ï¬rst," I said but he stopped me. "I think we should go to the hospital." he said and tried to pull me back to the car but I just pulled my arm back again. "I'm okay." I insisted. "Jay â€" ." "I'm okay!" I replied angrily. I immediately walked away and for a moment my eyes lifted when I saw the man standing not far from us. David was surprised and full of worry as he watched me pass in front of him. "I'll take care of it." I heard him say, probably for Aries. I took large steps to enter school. I no longer cared if people looked at me because of my appearance. Even though I was out of breath, I still walked at the same speed even when climbing the stairs. I was still bowed even when entering the room. "Good morning Jay, good morning Grandpa David!" Ci greeted happily. I ignored him and just continued sitting in my place. My ï¬sts were clenched and clenched as they rested on my thighs. I could hear what the Ulopongs were saying but not a single word was processing in my brain. "Jay? Are you hungry? Do you want food?" "Maybe you want bread, I have it here." "I want it!" "Pakyu!" "Maybe you're feeling bad. Eman, I need medicine." "I'm a cook, not a nurse." "Maybe he had another bad dream." "Maybe you're in his dream." "Maybe he thinks I owe him something." "Idiot, pay up." "Let him think about it again." "Maybe he's lacking in tenderness." I heard their soft laughter but it disappeared as my tears fell spontaneously. I still remained stunned. I couldn't accept the memories that had returned to me. I was stabbed. I knew I had a bad attitude. I don't let myself lose a ï¬ght and if I had to ï¬ght, I would do it. But stabbing someone is another matter. "Keifer." I heard them call to the King. I felt them move away slightly and Keifer approach me. He pulled a chair to be next to me. He held my hand but I didn't let it go from his grip and resting it on my thigh. "Hey... I'm ready to listen." My tears fell faster. My breathing became deeper. I was still bowed and stunned. I couldn't look at him because he might not accept what I had to say either. But I wanted to tell him because I didn't know what to do. My conscience was eating me. "I-I... remember something." I started. "From your past? Another bad memory?" he asked worriedly. I nodded. "About Aries and I." I tried to hold back my tears but I failed several times. "Jay?" Ci called worriedly. "Hey, it's okay. Don't rush. Take it slow," Keifer said and held my face to face him but when our eyes met I couldn't help but cry out loud. He immediately hugged me and leaned his head on his chest. "I remember... t- what I did to him." I said as if I was accusing him. "That's why he's mad at me." I started to cry. Now it's clear that he was mad at me. He had the right and I shouldn't have complained. I shouldn't have been mad at him then. I should just accept the hurtful words he said. After all, what he did to me was still not enough compared to what I did to him. He could hurt me physically, maybe I would accept it with ease in my heart. He's free to do those things. That's why he doesn't want me at home. That's why he always thinks badly of me. That's why he seems to want to erase me from his life. That's why he hid the fact that we were siblings. That's why ... "I-I stabbed him... I almost killed him." I sobbed as his face turned back to me, lying on the floor and surrounded by his own blood. "I attempted to kill my brother!" Keifer's embrace tightened and I felt the Vipers approaching. "You didn't mean it. I know you, you wouldn't go to that." He tried to ease my feelings but it was without any apology. "But I still did it." "And there was a reason." Even if I wanted to remember the reason, it still wouldn't change that I attempted to kill him. I still stabbed him and not just once. I still heard his voice pleading with me. I don't understand why I didn't listen to him. Why did I do that? I still keep crying. If before I wanted that memory to come back, now I want it to go away again. I want it to be erased from my mind again . I don't know if I can face Aries. It's so hard for him. He has to be with the person who tried to take his life. He has to hold back his anger every day he sees me. And in the end, he forgave me even though he shouldn't have. He could have just stayed angry with me, I would have accepted that more than thinking about what he went through while we were together in the house and carrying the pain of what I did. Meanwhile, I still felt bad for him back then. Little did I know that I almost killed him. If only I had known, if only I had had an idea, if only someone had told me. "I-I can't face Aries anymore." "Sshh... You'd better talk to him â€"." I immediately shook my head. "I don't want to. I can't." "Okay,I won't insist but please don't make decisions when you're full of emotion." he said and combed my hair before kissing my head. "You're still confused because of what you remembered. You need to breathe ï¬rst." I tried to calm down like he said but I still couldn't stop crying. He just let me and our position go. I could feel the Ulopongs watching us but they remained silent out of respect until I calmed down. Yuri handed me a tissue and David handed me a bottle of water . It looked like he just went out to buy some. I was still distracted. "Your brother wants to know if you're okay now," David said so I looked at him. "I just said, you look better." I nodded and thanked him. I didn't know what to say to him when we met. I would prefer if we didn't meet later. I didn't want to go home. "I'm confused. What were you saying earlier?" Ci asked but he immediately got a slap from Eren. "You'll feel it. "What happened is still fresh, don't remind me yet." he said and shook his head. "It's okay." "I think you should tell them." Keifer suggested but I quickly shook my head. "They will understand, trust me." I didn't know if I should tell them. I looked at him. all of them surrounding me. They were obviously waiting for what I would say. They were the same Ulopong who kept a secret from me back then but the same Ulopong who made up and proved they deserved forgiveness. They were the same Ulopong who were with me in mischief, ï¬ghting and fun. They trusted me and I should do the same for them. I faced Keifer and he smiled at me to tell me it was okay. I nodded slightly in response. "I-I already mentioned that there were things that happened to me back then that I don't remember anymore." I started and followed up by telling the story of what happened earlier in Aries' car. But not only that, I also told them my situation and what happens to me when I see blood. The changes and how I remember feeling. I tried to explain it to them in a proper way. I was afraid of what they would think and the judgment they would give me but if I didn't try, I would never know. I just hope they understand. Their reactions were mixed after I told them. They became quiet which scared me so I quickly turned to Keifer and looked up at Yuri who was behind him. He was full of worry but like me he was just waiting for their answer. "Jay..." Ci-N called me, getting really nervous. "I'm not surprised anymore, because you're really crazy to think â€" aray." she couldn't ï¬nish what she was saying because David interrupted her. "Be careful with your words." there was a threat in her voice. But I can't deny that Ci's words made me smile a little. I knew she just said that to cheer me up. "It's just a joke!" she replied while making a face. "It's okay. I know Ci. I know it was just a joke," I replied and smiled at her. "But seriously, that's why you did that when we fought Mykel's group. Then it seemed like you didn't hear me because there was really a problem." she reminded me and I bowed slightly. He saw me lose my mind then. I thought he had lost it because he didn't ask again. "That's why you reacted that way when I was stabbed. Because you're afraid of blood." Rory added. "If you're afraid of blood, what about your monthly period?" Drew asked and Denzel slapped him lightly. "Fix it," he said irritably. " Disgusting. Like an idiot." "Is Jay-Jay on her period?" "Probably." I bowed my head in shame and holding back and laughed out loud. They were really cobras. I just cried. Please! "Enough!" Keifer shouted and they fell silent. "What's wrong with monthly periods and that's where the conversation ended," David asked and shook his head. Drew was about to answer but I beat him to it to keep him quiet. "I was just looking at you for a moment." I said and they nodded but Drew still received a crisp, cheap slap from them. "You Kit, when is your period?" Mayo's voice and we laughed out loud. It really is a cobra.