Chapter-379

Fourth

Jay-Jay's POV

My cousin shot me. I want to cry. Can I cry? We got home early in the morning. Most of us were asleep except for
Aunt Gema and Aries who were waiting for us to get home. "Jeana is asleep. We didn't tell Alvin what
happened and it might happen at a later time," Aunt Gema said and took Kuya's belongings. Aries came to me.
"Are you okay?" I nodded. "Kuya just shot me." "Because you're stubborn." Death said annoyed before passing
me. "Angelo, really," Aunt asked him before facing me. "Are you feeling okay ? That Ram didn't do anything bad
to you ?" I shook my head. "Kuya caught everything. He protected me until the end." Aunt Gema smiled at me
and hugged me for a moment. "You should go to your room and rest." I nodded before he and Aries left us. I
handed him my bag to ask for help but he turned his back on me. Wow, that would have been a little more
polite. I walked to my room. My sister was ahead of me so I saw that she had passed her room and headed
straight to mine. It looked like we had something to talk about. She was going there too, I should have brought
my stuff. When I went inside, I was going to throw my stuff at her but she might get angry with me and we'd
end up fighting. "How's Ella? What happened to her?" I asked. She pulled the stool from my study table and sat
down. "She's fine. There was just a slight accident at their house. She was just panicking because she didn't
know what to do," she explained. "Are you worried?" "No, she was just gossiping." I organized my things while
continuing to talk to her. "So, what happened? Did Ram do something awful to you?" He asked calmly but with
a hint of concern. I shook my head. "No. Brother was the one who received the beating and stabbing." "Brother
was stabbed?" I pointed to my neck where I remembered the same part where he was hit by the knife. "Wasn't
that in the major vein?" he asked and it made me think. I tried to remember what the Doctor said and Brother
Angelo answered. "He said Brother was avoiding it so he wasn't hit, and the wound was only superficial." Aries
sighed. He must have been stressed by my story about what happened to our cousin. I finished organizing my
things. I got my change. I went straight to the bathroom to clean up. "Are you sure you're okay? You look
lethargic." He commented to me. "I had a fever earlier, so I look like this," I answered from the bathroom. I
didn't stay long in what I did. I just wanted to lie down and sleep. I still feel heavy and even though I don't have
a fever anymore, it feels like he'll come back and attack me at any moment. When I came out, Aries was still
sitting there waiting for me. It looked like he wasn't finished interviewing me. He must be dreaming of
becoming a reporter. "Why did you have a fever?" he asked. I was stunned. I couldn't tell Keifer what I saw. I
knew I shouldn't tell my cousin because he would force me to see a doctor again. I didn't know if I should tell
Aries because he might report me. But I wanted to know something that I knew he could answer. I
immediately went to the door and peeked outside. Seeing no one, I closed the door and sat on the edge of the
bed near where Aries was sitting. "Tell me, how many people has Mama been with?" "Why did you ask that? I
thought you already knew?" I was a little annoyed by his answer. Should I ask if I already know? There must be
something I don't know, which is why I'm asking him. He's been slow since he read his fortune. "I only know of
three that Kuya mentioned. I even confronted one. How could I possibly know there were more." I replied
annoyed. "What do you mean 'you confronted one'? You confronted one of your mother's exes?" He asked in
surprise. His voice rose slightly. I motioned for him to lower his tone because someone might hear us. "Our
mother," I corrected him. "Yes, that time I was shopping at the Mini Mart. He introduced himself and
apologized." "His face was so serious, what did you do?" "I ran after him. I didn't even know him." He was
about to react to my last words but it seemed like he realized that I still didn't remember what happened back
then. He sighed. "You didn't tell Kuya?" He asked calmly. I shook my head. "No. I don't understand what
happened and it's already gone from my mind." He stared at me as if he felt sorry for my situation. I poked his
nostrils. Oh, I'll read his fate later. "What I'm asking. How many are there?" He was clearly 
thinking twice about
answering. "What's the point of asking that?" "There's something I want to know. This is it." He washed his
ace with one hand. He was irritable and seemed close to getting annoyed with me. I patted his knee to force
him to answer. He sighed again. "Four," he replied. "Four? Why did Kuya only give three names?" He closed his
eyes for a moment. "The last one is dead." I was stunned. I literally gasped at his last words. Dead? As in tegi?
"W-How?" Aries stood up and was about to leave but I immediately stopped him. I could feel he was hiding
something. "Wait. There's something you're not telling me." I stopped him while holding the hem of his dress.
"It's getting late, go to sleep." I looked at him in the eyes. I really wanted to curse him but I knew that wouldn't
help. Maybe it would just make him angry. I didn't know why but tears just fell from one eye. I was annoyed.
They still hadn't finished keeping a secret about me. "Jay . . ." "Why do you always seem to have a hard time
telling me the truth?" I said annoyed and let go of him. "I just want my questions answered. Why don't you
seem to want to help me?" He was obviously struggling too. "What if I answer, then it causes you to have
symptoms? What if you have nightmares again? You lose consciousness? I'm just being careful because next
time it might all come back to you . . ." He took a deep breath. "You can't do it." I wiped my face. I also stopped
myself from crying. "That's why I have a hard time telling you, because that's how you are," I said before
pushing him out of my room. "Okay, go away. If you don't want to tell me, it's up to you." I opened the door and
tried to push him away. He didn't fight back but he watched me close the door. I locked it because I didn't want
him to come back. I fell flat on my bed. I tried to stop myself from crying and closed my eyes to sleep but I felt
so heavy. Their unfairness was suffocating. They would force me to go to the Doctor to get treatment but they
wouldn't tell me the truth. It was like they were making me take medicine that I didn't know where it came
rom or what it was for. What if it all came back to me and I couldn't handle it? What Aries said was true,
maybe it all came back to me when he spoke. But what if that was also the key to helping myself? I really don't
want my memories to come back but when I think about Mama being hurt too, I want to know everything. And
one more thing, the last man I saw was bleeding, what if he was one of Mama's husbands. I don't remember
him but I have a strong feeling he was part of my incident back then. The man who entered the house and
called Mama in my dream. A bloody man who threatened to kill my mother and me. The man who introduced
himself to me at the Mini Mart before. Two men were talking and the other one was the one who took me to
the room. They were different but which of them was the last one I saw who threatened to kill Mama and me?
I knew I wouldn't get an answer from Mama, Aries or Kuya Angelo. I could only think of one thing that would
help me. I got up and looked for my cellphone. I saw it inside my bag. I was still shaking while sending a
message to the King of Snakes. I just hoped he was still awake or that when he woke up he would
immediately check his phone. After sending the message, I lay down and covered myself with a blanket. I
didn't plan on waiting for his answer because he might be asleep but I was jolted awake when my phone
suddenly rang and his name was called. King_Bingi calling. . . I answered immediately. "Are you okay?" He
opened his mouth and I felt like a child crying at him. "Keifer . . ." I called him. "They don't want to tell me the
truth." "Calm down. Tell me what happened." I tried to stay calm while wiping my face. I sniffled just to stop my
runny nose from dripping. "Because . . . I just want to know what happened to the fourth time Mama was with
me." "Fourth? Wow," he said before coughing. "I mean, do you have his name?" What wow? This is a joke.
"Wow, you there," I said annoyed. "I don't know his name. Aries or Kuya didn't tell me." "I will figure it out. Just
don't cry anymore." I nodded as if I were in front of him. "No." He laughed weakly. "Go to sleep. You need to
rest." "But what if you can't find an answer?" "Is it me?" He answered arrogantly. I laughed softly. Yes, he did.
He had a bank line . "Don't think about it, I'll take care of it. Go to sleep." "Okay, goodnightâ€"morning." He was
about to say something more but I hung up the call. I was already feeling sleepy. I stared at the ceiling of my
room for a moment after lying down again. I didn't want to remember my past but I couldn't help it if it all
came back to me on its own. I was afraid of what I would find out. I probably needed to prepare myself but
somehow. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep. I woke up when I heard a knock on my bedroom door. "Jay, open
this door." It was Mom's voice calling me . I got up and rubbed my eyes.I was about to go back to bed when I
heard Mama swearing. I was forced to get up and open the door. It was early. "Eat now, it's lunch time," Mama
said as she carried my newly folded clothes. She went over to my cabinet to put them away. "I didn't wake you
up earlier, your brother said you'd be home early ." How long had I slept and I'd already had lunch? My stomach
was hurting. It felt like my pets were going crazy. Calm down, let's eat. I grabbed a change of clothes and
headed straight to the bathroom. We didn't even have school on Monday. It was exam week and we were
given a few days of rest before the punishment day. It made me cry. I wish I still had the things I reviewed in
my mind. What if everything was gone? What would I be on exam day? I was so bragging that I would really fix
my studies. When I came out of the bathroom, Mama had just finished what she was doing. She was stunned
when she saw my appearance. "Are those scratches on your face and arm?" she asked and also looked at my
leg and knee. "Why are you all covered in scratches?" I was stunned. She didn't know what happened
yesterday at Sir Alvin's house. I don't know if Auntie and I plan to tell her.
But it seems better if they don't let me know.
Wait a minute, why does the situation sound familiar?
Aries seemed like this to me last night too.
"W-That's nothing. I tripped a few times yesterday,"
I replied.
He obviously didn't want to accept my answer but he just let it be
.
"Eat up." He ordered before finally leaving my room.
I followed him while I pouted. I felt like
I was wrong to be angry with my brother last night. He was right about something â€"in what
he said, not in his brain. I was just really demanding last night and when
I didn't get what I wanted, I immediately lost my temper.
Sometimes I get annoyed at being immature.
I had already passed Aries's room door when it suddenly opened.
We both stopped and looked at each other.
"Why?" I asked, which surprised him. "Why are you so ugly?"
He frowned. "Did that really come from you?"
"Probably . . ."
He closed the door and walked away. I followed him.
Before he could reach the stairs, I stopped him.
"Carry me," I requested and he quickly refused.
"You're so heavy, be quiet."
I grabbed his arm and forced him to climb on his back.
He screamed as he looked for something to hold on to.
"We're going to fall!" he shouted but I was still able to carry him well.
"You're so heavy!"
He had no choice but to go down the stairs carrying me.
I laughed weakly as if he was annoyed.
Maybe he would suddenly curse my fate.
Aunt Gema saw us and just laughed at us.
"There. Let's eat," I said while pointing to the Dining.
Brother Angelo was still at the table, looking like he was finishing his meal. "What
the . . ." I heard him say.
Aries lowered me down next to the table.
"My back. My back," he complained while holding his back.
"What do you think you are? Light?" Brother asked me.
"I'm really light."
He laughed out loud. "You're dreaming."
I pouted and ignored him. I already served
my food and started eating. My cousin finished but
he still didn't leave his seat. He had his iPad in front of him and seemed
to be looking for something.
He was busy again. He
sighed a few more times. He looked very stressed
about what he was doing.
"What's wrong?" Aries asked him.
"I can't find a place for Alvin and Cindy to move. I'll be forced
to move them to my unit or here at home, temporarily."
They had to move because their property was exposed.
Poor couple, as well as Yuri who lives with them.
Wait a minute, what will Yuri do if they live here, Sir?
"Will Yuri also be with them?" I asked and
Aries looked back and forth between us.
"Wait, what? Why is Yuri coming?"
"He's still in Cindy's care. Not sure what her plan is
but we'll just let it be for now," my cousin explained.
My sister had no choice but to accept what Kuya said.
That's why Yuri will definitely move here too if they can't find someone to
move house with.
After eating, I left them to go back to my room. I immediately looked for my cellphone to see if the King of
Cobras
had a message . I wasn't disappointed because he had a text message. From: King_Bingi Message: I'm
outside your house. My eyes widened. There was no word that he was coming. I hadn't showered yet. How
could I face him if I smelled so sour. I was about to send him a message when he suddenly called. I had no
choice but to answer the call. "Hello?" I opened my mouth. "I'm outside," he said and I bit my lower lip. "I'm
going to take a shower first. Okay?" "I'll come see youâ€"." "Wait! I'm going out!" I was cut off by him and hung
up the call. Kuya and Mama can't see him. They'll wonder why he's here at home. Of course, we don't have any
alone time anymore, so how can we talk about what I'm looking for. Besides, we can't . . . gossip. I just put
deodorant on my armpits. I also changed into some nice clothes. I also combed my hair because I looked like
I was going to go bald with all the hair I'd lost. I also put on some powder but I don't know if I spread it
properly. After making sure I smelled okay, I left the room. I was so thankful that no one else was in the living
room and garage. I was able to quickly run out of the house. I looked for Kumag's car and as expected, he was
parked far away. I quickly got in and he immediately started the car. "I just ran away," I said to him but he didn't
say anything. I looked at him for a moment and he seemed very serious. I couldn't help but feel nervous. Our
journey didn't take long, he found a place to stop and parked the car there. "How are you? Did you find
anything?" I asked and he took a deep breath. His hands were still on the steering wheel. "Jay . . ." I waited for
him to say something. I felt like a child waiting for a reward. "I don't think you're ready to hear what happened
to your Mom's ex." He said seriously. I was nervous. Why do I feel like something bad happened to him? And
it's my fault or Mom's and mine. "W-Can you just tell me?" He leaned forward and looked up. "This might have
triggered your symptoms." "Keifer, don't do it either." There was a pleading in my tone. "Why did you bring me
here if you're not going to give me an answer?" "Because I want us to talk properly without looking for details
about him." I was even more itching to know what happened. I bit my lower lip hard. Why are they doing this to
me? Didn't they realize that I'm only having more trouble when I don't get answers to my questions. Keifer
grabbed one of my hands, I tried to pull it away but his grip only tightened. "Jay, please listen." I shook my
head. I was trying to stop myself from crying. "Jay . . . What if I tell you that this guy is the reason for your
mental suffering?" I looked at him. "I'm not saying that he is but he could be the cause of your symptoms. I
can't risk your condition just to satisfy your curiosity." I understood what he wanted to say but maybe he would
understand if I told him my reason. "I saw something," I said and he fell silent to listen. "Yesterday, after
confronting Ram. I saw a bloody man. He was so angry and suddenly shouted that he was going to kill Mom
and me." "You remembered?" He confirmed and I nodded. "Besides, I also had a dream. I was with Mama and
she had bruises. A man called her but she didn't have a face." I took a deep breath. "I know I remember that
and it wasn't just a dream." Keifer let go of me and he became quiet. It was like he was thinking carefully
about what he should do or what was happening to me. I too, wanted to know what happened to me. "But
what's the reason why you remembered it like that ?" He asked worriedly. I shook my head. "I don't know
either." I bowed my head. "Aries said Mama had four people with her but Kuya only gave me three names .
That's why I want to know who the fourth one is because he might also be connected to what's happening to
me." He held my hand again. "But I don't think it's safe for you to meet him." I held his hand too. "I know. If I'm
the only one who's next, I don't want my memories to come back because I'm scared, but when I think about
Mama being hurt too, I can't help but feel uneasy." He slowly pulled me into a tight hug. "Okay, if you badly
want to know. I will tell you." He broke away from the hug. "But on one condition, if your symptoms are
triggered, we'll see the Doctor." I felt like I was being choked by what he said. He knew I didn't want to go to the
Doctor. But if I didn't agree, I wouldn't know the answer. He was really smart. I nodded slowly. "S-Okay." He
took a deep breath. He held both of my hands but first he wiped my forehead with a wipe. "You have powder."
It was powder. I said I didn't wipe it properly. He held my hands again. "Jay, his name is Rodrigo Abalos . . ." He
coughed slightly. "And your Mom, killed him."