Chapter-49

Family

Jay-jay's POV


I feel like a child being scolded by my parents. Well... I'm still a child and I'm being scolded too, not just by my
own parents. "What else is going through your mind?" Kuya Angelo asked me. Aunt Gema and Uncle Julz were
in front of me and Aries was also there. I couldn't speak. I couldn't tell the truth. Maybe Aries would take it and
post it. It was a waste of my effort. "Answer me!" Kuya was already angry. "Because..." "Jay... If all you need is
money, that's not our problem." Tita Gema interjected into the conversation. I just kept my head down and
didn't answer them. I knew they would find out too. I was ready for what they would say. "Angelo, let him go for
now. Maybe he's not ready to talk yet." Tito Julz said. Aries left followed by Tito Julz. Tita Gema followed but
Kuya left. "Are you going to tell the truth or will I find out from someone else?" I still couldn't answer. Because!
He was scary to look at. Down! "Ok fine!" Kuya said. I thought I had given up. He took his phone out of his
pocket and there was a tinype. It looked like he was calling someone. "Hello Keifer..." That was the
introduction. Pull Tank! Should Keifer really be the one to call? "I know this is out of the blue. I just want to
know.... Yeah.... Can you explain it to me?" While listening to Keifer's explanation, his gaze was still on me.
"Ok... No. That's all." Kuya said and hung up his phone. He was silent for a few minutes as if thinking before
speaking. "I'll let this pass... But please don't bring it up again. You're not a hero." I just nodded my head in
response. It seemed like Keifer had explained everything he wanted to know. We heard a horn from outside
the house. They were Grandma! Big Brother walked quickly to greet the visitor. While I slowly hid to the side
where I wouldn't be seen right away. "Grandma!" Aries called to Grandma. It was good that she greeted
Grandma with all her joy. "How are you, Grandpa?!" Grandma greeted back with a hug. "Mom!" Aunt Gema
hugged her. Aunt Jenny followed Grandma. Aunt Gema's sister too. She was the one who was always with
Grandma these past times, probably because of what happened to her. "How are you, Gema?" Aunt Jenny
greeted. Aunt Gema immediately hugged her. "Are you okay? Where are the kids ?" "There they are outside..."
Aunt Gema was referring to our cousins, Talipandas. They were twins and I used to fight all the time. Twin
punishment! Aries went out to go see the twins. "Where's Jay?" Grandma asked. My ears widened at what I
heard. Does Grandma miss me too? "Yes, of course... Where's that shameless kid?" Aunt Jenny asked angrily.
How shameless! It turns out Aunt Jenny is also angry with me. She said I'm just a burden and a burden to my
mother. "Ahh... He's in his room." Brother Angelo replied. "I guess you know what that kid did?! Allan and Allen
told me that Jay had a video! He admitted to stealing something!" Aunt Jenny said. Brother and Aunt Gema
just looked at each other. "The kid must have an explanation." Grandma was defending herself. She was still
like that to me. "Mom! Don't take sides! I told you before that we should just give him back to Jeana! Let him
be abused by his child!" I bit my lower lip hard. She was talking about Mama. I'm sure she wouldn't approve. I
don't want to go to her either. Even though she's my Mama, I don't feel comfortable when she's near me. I don't
know why. I went back to my room. I closed the door and sat on the end of the bed. I wanted to say hello to
Grandma because I couldn't get close to her when Aunt Jenny was there. Hey... I'd rather be hurt by the hurtful
words Aunt Jenny would say. I'll probably just leave for now. I went to the bathroom and took a quick shower.
I'm going outside for now. It's up to me where my feet take me. I got dressed and organized my things. I didn't
orget my phone either. When I came out, I met Aunt Gema. "Are you going for a walk?" she asked me.
"Uhmmm.. I'm going to my classmate's. W- we have a report to do." I excused myself. Aunt Gema nodded. "S-
okay... Just come home early so you can join us for dinner." I smiled and nodded. I went straight to the living
room where Grandma and I were. I hesitated to approach her at first but she smiled at me immediately. "Are
you leaving?" Grandma asked me while I waved at her. "O-yes..." "Okay.. Be careful." I didn't answer. I
immediately went out. I deliberately didn't wave at Aunt Jenny. I knew what she would say to me. I took the
bike. I was about to go out the gate when the Twins saw me while they were playing with Aries. "Hey! Jay!
What are you doing?!" Allan asked. "Maybe I'll go on a bike! Don't be stupid, twins!" Allen replied. You're right
there Alle
n. And there you go! They started fighting. Aries just looked at me for a moment. I didn't react to him.
I got on my bike and honked. I'm going to go around our Village to get familiar with it. I'm still wearing my
headset and listening to music. Listening to music feels good too. Sometimes I relate, sometimes I imagine
something in the song itself. I saw a Cafe. I just got to this area so I just found out that there was something
like this here. They have a bike parking lot so I parked my bike there. There were only a few people inside. I
don't get into places like this either, so I wanted to try it. I took a seat at the end. So I wouldn't see too many
people coming in. Their waiter was a man who came up to me. He handed me the Menu and waited for my
order with a big smile. "Strawberry shake nalang..." I said. I didn't know what was on the menu. I was too
embarrassed to ask. Maybe they'd think I just got to this place. I returned the menu and the male waiter left.
While waiting, I noticed the group of women whispering and looking at me. I glared at them. I knew what they
had done to me. I said I was ready for this. The waiter approached them with their order. They whispered
something to him and the waiter seemed surprised. The waiter also left in front of them. The waiter
approached me next with my order. "Ahh... Miss." The waiter began while putting my order down on the table. I
just looked at him. "Excuse me... Y-you need to leave here." "Huh?" "It's not comfortable for the other
customers to be here. I 'm really sorry." I just bowed my head. That's terrible! Even here. I took the money to
pay for my order. "Don't worry, Miss. I'll give you that for free. As an apology for what I'm doing." The waiter
said and smiled at me. He was also kind. "S-thank you..." I arranged my things and stood up. I was about to
take my order when someone grabbed my hand. "Y-yuri?" "Stay here." He said and turned to the waiter. "...I'll
pay what this Cafe earns in a day, double if you want, as well as your salary." "S-sir?" "But I want everybody to
leave! Now!" Yuri shouted. The look on the faces of the women who wanted to kick me out immediately
changed. I heard some swearing but they couldn't do anything. "S-okay.." the waiter replied while panicking
about what to do. I pulled my hand away from Yuri's grip. "Are you addicted?" "No." He quickly answered. He
sat down on the bench next to where I was sitting earlier. I looked around and the customers who were quietly
eating and drinking something earlier were gone. "Do they really need to be kicked out?" I asked Yuri irritably. "I
don't feel comfortable with them here." His answer was bored. Oh wow! The waiter came over to us, clearly
still panicking. "Menu." Yuri said. The waiter handed it to me. While I was shopping, I just looked at him. It
seemed like he didn't care what he did. I guess that's how it is when you're Yuri. "Give me this and this... And
this one too." Yuri said to waiter. He returned the menu and the waiter was in a hurry to take his order. "Are you
just going to stand there?" He asked me. I didn't understand Yuri's trip but I went back to my place earlier and
grabbed the shake I ordered. It was a bit watery. Yuri is really weird, like Keifer just got drunk.