Chapter: Mother Jay & Her Problematic Children (Jay's POV)
I was peacefully eating my snacks.
Peacefully.
For once.
No chaos.
No Keifer drama.
No emotional damage.
Just me.
And my food.
That's when Cin appeared in front of me with the most offended expression I've ever seen.
"Mother," he said dramatically.
I didn't even look up. "What did you break?"
"I didn't break anything."
"Then why are you standing like you failed in life?"
Felix choked on his juice.
David leaned back in his chair. "This is going to be good."
Cin pointed at me like an upset five-year-old. "You hurt my feelings."
I slowly looked up.
"I don't remember signing up to care."
Felix clutched his chest. "She's heartless."
David nodded seriously. "Very tragic."
Cin pulled a chair and sat dramatically in front of me.
"You don't love me anymore."
I blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"You laugh with Mica. You scold Keifer. You tease Calix. But me?" He pointed at himself. "Neglect."
I stared at him for a full five seconds.
"Are you done?"
"No."
Felix leaned in. "Continue your trauma."
Cin wiped imaginary tears. "Yesterday I called you 'Mother' and you didn't even respond."
"Because I was drinking water."
"That's not an excuse."
David gasped. "Unacceptable parenting."
I put my snack down slowly.
"Let me understand this correctly," I said calmly. "You are upset… because I did not respond to 'Mother' immediately?"
"Yes."
"Do you pay rent?"
"No."
"Do you pass exams?"
"…Irrelevant."
"Do you stop stealing my food?"
"That's love."
Felix burst out laughing.
David added, "He has a point."
I pointed at David. "You're adopted."
Cin slammed the table dramatically. "SEE? Favoritism!"
"I treat you equally."
"No you don't!"
"Yes I do."
"You called Calix 'baby' yesterday!"
"That was bullying."
"You bully me daily!"
"That's character development."
Felix wiped tears. "I can't breathe."
David leaned toward Cin. "Bro, she's right. You need development."
Cin crossed his arms and pouted. "I feel emotionally unsupported."
I leaned closer.
"Cin."
"Yes, mother?"
"If you don't stop this drama, I will emotionally and physically support you… into the wall."
Felix screamed laughing.
David stood up and clapped. "That's discipline."
Cin looked betrayed. "You three are toxic."
"You started it," I said calmly, picking up my snack again.
He sighed dramatically.
Then leaned his head on the desk.
"Mother doesn't love me."
Felix put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. I'm your uncle."
David nodded. "And I'm the responsible father."
I stared at all of them.
"Responsible? You once tried to microwave a metal spoon."
David defended himself. "For science."
"For stupidity," I corrected.
Cin suddenly looked up again.
"Fine," he said. "If you love me, prove it."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you want?"
"My chocolate."
"That's mine."
"You said you treat us equally."
"I lied."
Felix dropped from his chair laughing.
David whispered, "Savage."
Cin gasped dramatically. "So this is how you treat your own child?"
"You're not my child."
"You call me son."
"That's sarcasm."
He looked devastated.
"Okay fine," I sighed dramatically and broke a tiny piece of chocolate and handed it to him.
He stared at it.
"This is microscopic."
"Be grateful."
Felix leaned in. "Mother's love comes in small portions."
David nodded. "Limited edition."
Cin took the piece slowly like it was sacred.
"Thank you," he said dramatically.
"You're embarrassing," I replied.
He smiled proudly. "But I'm your embarrassment."
Felix and David both went "AWW."
I rolled my eyes.
"Next time you complain, I'm disowning you."
Cin saluted. "Yes, mother."
And honestly?
For a chaotic classroom filled with idiots…
This might be the closest thing to peace we get.
Even if my "children" are absolutely useless.
And I'm definitely charging them emotional rent soon.