Jay-jay's POV
This guy must be messing with me. We already reached the school and he still hasn't finished his story about why his name is Ci-N.
I wasn't really listening, so I didn't understand anything. His story was so long. Maybe I should give him some paper, a pen, and an envelope so he could just mail his story to Ate Charo. I lost track of where we were because of how long his story was. I wasn't even sure if the details he was sharing were still relevant.
"So yeah… That's why they just call me Ci-N,," he finally concluded.
Finally!
"Wow… What an amazing story," I said, flashing him a fake smile.
I just hoped he didn't catch my sarcasm. But it seemed like he didn't—he smiled again. He looked like a kid when he smiled. Talkative too, like he never ran out of stories to tell.
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
I just looked at him, waiting for him to speak.
"Can you buy me food from the cafeteria at lunchtime?"
There! I remembered what I wanted to ask Kuya Angelo earlier. Good thing I walked with this chatterbox — I can just ask him instead.
"Why can't you guys go to the cafeteria?"
He smiled at me again. "Nothing… We're just too lazy."
I should really stab this guy's gums and see if he can still smile.
"Tsk! Whatever! I'm not buying you anything later!" I said irritably. I walked faster to leave him behind, but he still chased after me.
"W-wait…" I looked at him. "…If I tell you, promise you won't tell Keifer that you heard it from me, okay?"
"Yeah… Promise, hope you die," I said, raising my right hand.
"It's 'hope TO die' actually…" he corrected, scratching his head.
Does this guy have lice or something?
"Yeah! Whatever, that's it."
"It's not that we're not allowed to go… We can actually go, but Keifer and Yuri's group banned us."
I looked at him in confusion. "I was told you guys are banned from there…"
"We are banned! They're the ones who banned us…"
I glared at him. This guy is really annoying to talk to.
"Why did Keifer and Yuri ban you guys?"
He first looked around. We were already close to our building so there weren't many students nearby. It seemed like only Section E used this area.
Once he made sure no other students were around, he finally spoke.
"Because of a girl… We had a female classmate before you. She stayed in our section longer than the ones before her. She and Keifer became a couple. The rumor was she only used Keifer to get transferred to a higher section even though she had already passed the exams."
I got even more confused. He had so many side stories and they were straying far from my question. A girl? Could it be Ella Dianne?
"Wait! I thought the teachers were the ones who help with transferring students? That's why Ma'am Zaragosa is asking me to choose a section."
"Well… It actually depends on your grades and if you have a backer. Then it's a sure thing!"
Ahh… My grades and record from my old school weren't good. That means someone with connections is the reason they want to transfer me. But who?
"Continue the story…" I ordered him.
"Okay… Yeah, that was the reason. Once she got transferred to a higher section, her attitude completely changed. She stopped acknowledging us and became ashamed of our section. Then one day, Keifer saw her kissing another guy in the cafeteria. The idiot lost it and almost killed the guy she was kissing."
Pfffttt… Girl?! That was kinda… gay?
"Then it happened again, two or three more times. The principal got mad and was about to expel Keifer, but his backer was strong. So instead, they just banned him from going to the cafeteria or getting near that girl and the guy he beat up."
His explanation was so long it almost gave me a headache. In the end, it turned out the idiot just got into a fight at the cafeteria. But I still had some questions. Also, how exactly did that girl use Keifer to get transferred to a higher section? Was it because of her backer? Tsk! What about Yuri?
"And what about Yuri? Why was he banned too?"
He didn't answer. I stopped walking when I realized we were already near the room. He walked a few more steps ahead before stopping and turning to face me.
He was just smiling. Smiling again?!
"My question…" I reminded him.
"That girl was Yuri's chick too… He also beat up the guy in the cafeteria—multiple times. The principal got mad and tried to expel him too, but—"
"He had a backer," I finished for him.
He smiled again and continued walking.
What a shocking revelation. So it was just a love triangle? I wonder who the girl is and who the guy that Keifer and Yuri beat up was.
That girl must have had such strong charm…
What shampoo was she using?
But then again, I didn't really care anymore. I didn't even want to know who she was—there was no reason to.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Aries's POV
Kuya has been calling me since earlier. I know he's back in the country and I also know he plans to force me to come home.
Not gonna happen.
"Hey, dude!" Kiko greeted me.
"What's up, dude?!" I greeted back.
He sat beside me on the bench.
"I saw your cousin…"I looked at Kiko."..She's pretty, far from what you described—as someone always looking for a fight."
I chuckled. "Are you really just judging by her looks?"
He chuckled too. "Sometimes… For your cousin? Maybe, yeah."
I laughed shortly while shaking my head. "Stop it, Kiko. You might regret it once you find out she almost killed someone."
"You're kidding.. right?"
I shook my head. He was now looking at me seriously.
"H-how?"
"My Lola had a heart attack because of what she did."
Kiko looked relieved for some reason. Did he really like Jay-jay?
No fvcking way!
"I thought she did it with her own hands..." he said and walked away.
I'm not badmouthing Jay-jay, but that's really the truth. And it wasn't just Lola who nearly died because of her. I placed my hand on the lower part of my chest. The pain — I still remember how it felt That day, her violence changed everything between us.
It was also on that same day that I saw her fighting someone much bigger than her. She had no fear and seemed to hear nothing. There was so much blood on her hands, and her eyes looked lifeless. Since then, my view of her changed.
And even now, it's still the same.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Keifer's POV
"What are we going to do about her?" Felix whispered to me while looking straight ahead.
"Up to you guys... I can't think of anything," I whispered back.
I saw Jay-jay glance at Ci-N. Someone also told me they came in together. Looks like she found a friend.
Ci-N is friendly but childish. He also talks too much. Even so, that was never a problem when it came to fighting. He could take on five people alone.
I don't know how they started talking, but I don't really care.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jay-jay's POV
Damn it! In my eagerness to get answers to my questions, I let that annoying Ci-N trick me.
And now, here I am, stepping into the lair of these pests just to buy food for that idiot. I even brought my own lunch so I wouldn't have to come here.
Ugh! Here I go!
As soon as I stepped through the door, everyone turned to look at me. They stopped whatever they were doing just to stare, and in no time, they started whispering.
And it wasn't even quiet whispering — it was loud, like they had microphones in their throats.
"Is that her?"
"I heard she's from Section E..."
"The only girl there."
"She'll leave that section soon too."
"When?"
I walked over to the vendor. There was no line, so I told her Ci-N's order. She was already preparing his special request—something totally bizarre—because it included green mangoes with shrimp paste, puto, and dinuguan.
"Hi, Jay-jay!" Rakki stood beside me and waved.
I waved back but kept my eyes on the vendor. I wasn't in the mood for small talk. Whatever!
"How's Section E?"
"It's fine..." I replied flatly.
She looked at me, pouting. "Are you mad at me?"
Not really… Just a little.
"Huh? No, I'm not..."
"Oh, I thought—"
She didn't get to finish what she was saying. A group of students suddenly entered the cafeteria, laughing loudly and making a lot of noise.
Rakki and I both turned toward the door and saw Aries. He had his arm around a girl. She was really beautiful. She looked Korean — long hair, extremely fair skin (gluta?), red lips, and long eyelashes. She had that celebrity vibe.
"There's Section A," Rakki whispered.
So Aries is in Section A. I wonder if the girl with him is also from A?I noticed they were heading straight toward us, so I quickly turned back to the ate at the counter. I could hear their voices getting louder. They were getting closer.
Why is Ate taking so long?
"Hi Rakki..." A girl greeted Rakki, but I didn't look.Until they finally came close and one of them even bumped into me. They didn't even say sorry! Nice!
"Hey Rakki Babe!"
"Fvck off!" Rakki answered irritably to the guy who called her babe.
"You're so grumpy—— wait! Is that the new girl?" the guy said.
Pvtcha! I was just minding my own business! The guy approached me and tapped my shoulder.
"Hi! I'm Kiko. You're Jay-jay, right?"
Wow! I became famous already.
I didn't really want to face him, but it would be rude. He's introducing himself! It would be impolite if I didn't at least greet him with a smile. A forced one should be fine.
I turned to him and looked. Damn! This guy is so handsome!
Why is he so good-looking? So annoying!