Chapter-113

Red Box


Jay-jay's POV


Three hours! Yes... I counted it. I counted how long I've
been staring at the little red box.
It's not that I have nothing to do in my life that's why I'm just staring at it. But
I can't help it. I haven't done an assignment on
what I'm thinking about in this box.
Is there an assignment?!
I'll think about it next time. It's the weekend, I have plenty of time to
do it. Honestly, I'm already getting bored of staring at it.
I need answers to so many questions. Of course, the first
question is 'Why?'. Why did he give me a ring? Is it my birthday
? No way.
My next question was, 'What's it for?'. What's this ring for? A sign of
riendship?
And my last question was, 'What?'. What's really going on with Yuri and
what's playing on his mind? Can't help but have money? He's rich.
I just scratched my head in annoyance. As much as I wanted to text or
message Yuri, he didn't want to hold my hand. And I didn't know
what to say.
"Is that a ring?" Someone's question was the reason I woke up from
deep thought.
I immediately looked at who it was.
"T-auntie..." I said and hid the box in the pile of pillows.
"You hid it, I already saw it." She said and sat down next to me.
"W-that's nothing... W-don't pay any attention to it."
Auntie smiled at me. It was as if she was teasing me and clearly didn't believe
what I said.
She suddenly picked up the box. Even though it was in the pile of pillows,
she still managed to get it.
"Let me see." Tita said after taking it.
I couldn't speak anymore. She was already holding it, what else could I do.
She opened the box and I could see her eyes widening in
surprise.
She removed the ring from the box and looked at it.
"Diamond ring... Did someone ask you to get married?"
Tita asked.
I quickly shook my head. "W-nothing... Why?"
"I saw this ring in a magazine. It's an engagement ring."
Engagement ring?
Why did Yuri give me an engagement ring? My head hurt.
I was even more confused by what was happening.
Tita Gema suddenly took my hand. She slowly put
the ring on my finger.
"It's the perfect size..." She said and smiled broadly at me.
I immediately took the ring off and put it back in the box. I needed
to talk to Yuri. She needed to explain to me what it was for.
"Who gave it to you?" Tita asked angrily.
I bit my lower lip hard. It might sound silly if I say
my friend.
"A person who I'm not-sure-if-he-likes-me."
Suddenly, Aunty laughed out loud. I didn't know if
my answer was funny or what.
"He gave you a ring and you're not sure if he likes you?"
She asked me.
I just nodded in response. Aunty held one of my hands.
"Jay-jay... Learn to feel. Don't be numb."
"I-I feel. I-I just don't want to be
assuming."
Aunty laughed a little. She pulled my hair back and looked at me.
"Our Jay-jay is really a girl now." She said and kissed my forehead.
Honestly, when she did that, I felt like she was my Mom.
Even when I was at Grandma's, she never missed making me feel like
I could approach her at any time.
"...Come on, let's eat. I've been calling you for a while but you didn't
hear me. You're too busy with that ring."
I scratched my head. "Oh, sorry."
Tita stood up so I followed. I put the box on the
study table first. We headed straight to the dining room where Kuya and Tito
Julz were. Aries was also there, looking like he had been hit by the sky again.
"Sit down, Jay... Eat." Tito Julz ordered me.
I sat down and spooned some food. While eating, Tito and Kuya Angelo were talking
. Sometimes Tita Gema would join in but Aries and I,
here and there, exchanged glances.
Is this happening again?!
He was about to glance at me earlier but his eyebrows met
. I felt like he was possessed again.
He and Keifer really are a troop. Both have Sapi. The ones
with brains are strong. That's probably why they are being compared to the King of Snakes.
I was just sitting quietly at my place when the phone suddenly rang. One of
Tita's maids answered.
"Miss Jay-jay... It's for you, they said." The maid said to me.
"Who's calling?" Kuya asked.
"It's Jay-jay's mom."
We were both stunned and they all immediately looked at me. I didn't want
to answer the call but I knew Kuya Angelo would get angry.
I stood up and went to the living room where Tita's landline was.
I was hesitant to speak at first.
"H-hello..."
["Jay-jay?"] The one on the other line asked.
I almost flinched when I heard her voice. Has it been that long? Has it been that
long since I heard her voice calling
my name?
"I-it's me."
["Finally, I finally talked to you! Why weren't you there when I went there?
Do you know how much I want to see you. I miss you!"]
"Why?" I asked almost in a whisper.
["What's the reason? Of course I'm your son! I want to be with you! I have so many things
I want to tell you! I'm getting married----"]
"Why didn't you tell me that Papa was here?" I cut off from
what he was saying.
There was silence on the other line but I could hear her breathing.
I knew she couldn't answer.
["Jay-jay son. This is how it is, mama can't tell you...."]
I didn't listen to what she was going to say. I slowly hung up the
phone without hanging up the call. She was going to babble on and
on.
It was rude as hell but I didn't want to hear her explanation.
It would just be a waste of time if I did that, it was obvious
she would just make excuses.
I went back to the dining room and continued eating. I didn't tell her that
Mama was still on the other line.
"What did your Mama say?" Tito Julz asked.
"Just saying hello." I quickly answered.
"That's it? Why did you seem to only be talking to her for a moment?" Tita
Gema commented.
Because I only listened to her for a moment.
"I-I told you I was still eating. She said she'd be back later."
My excuse.
I noticed Aries raising one eyebrow. I don't know if
she noticed me or what.
I hurried through my meal. They might find out what I did and
get angry right away.
"I'm done." I said and quickly walked back to my room.
When I got to my room, I immediately looked for the ring box on
my study table. But it wasn't there.
I also looked under the table in case it just fell. But it really wasn't there.
Where could it go? I just left it here, unless someone
came in here and----
"Who gave you this?"
I looked at the door where Aries was standing holding the
red box.
"I-just my friend." I replied.
"I'm not stupid Jay."
I couldn't answer. His brain was too narrow to explain
urther. I immediately went up to him and tried to grab the box but
he pushed it away.
"Who gave you this?" He asked me again with authority.
Tsk! Annoyed!
"Y-it was Yuri..." I almost whispered.
He didn't say anything. He first looked at the box in his hand.
He looked back at me and suddenly threw the box.
I tried to catch it before it fell to the floor.
"Return it." He ordered.
I looked at him in surprise. "H-ha?"
"Give it back to him!" He was annoyed again. "...And I want you to stay
away from them."
My eyebrows furrowed at what he was saying.
I guess he was getting annoyed again.
"Why would I do that?! Are you being unreasonable?!"
"Do it. I'll talk to Kuya and ask him to move you to a different
Section." He said.
I felt annoyed at what he was saying. Just now?
I've been in Section E for a few months now
. I've already passed two exams.
"Try me! I don't want to! I'm not moving!" I told
him annoyed.
He immediately looked at me with a frown. "Why are you so stubborn?!"
"What are you talking about!"
He suddenly grabbed me by the clothes and pushed me against the wall.
I felt scared but I tried to hide it.
"Follow my order or you'll never see your father!"
I stopped. What did he mean by that?
He let go of me and was about to leave my room but I immediately grabbed
his arm and made him face me.
"What do you mean by that?!"
He pushed my hand away. "Before he left, he came here. He was talking
to us about whether he could still see you. My
brother didn't agree so he left his contact number and address."
I immediately grabbed his hand so he couldn't leave.
"A-aries... I'm talking----"
"Do what I said and I will help you get his information." He cut me off from
what I was saying.
He pushed my hand away again and completely left the room.
I just sat on the floor because my knees were weak.
I could talk to him but...
I'll stay away from them.