Jay-jay's POV
I felt like a child being scolded by a parent. Well... I was still a child.
And I was getting scolded—just not by my own parents.
"What were you thinking this time?" Kuya Angelo asked me.
Facing me were Tita Gema, Tito Julz, and Aries. I couldn't speak. I couldn't tell the truth.
Aries might record it and post it again. That would be a waste of my effort.
"Answer me!" Kuya was getting angry.
"Because..."
"Jay... If it's money you need, that's not a problem for us." Tita Gema cut in.
I just kept my head down and didn't respond. I knew they'd find out eventually.
I was ready for whatever they had to say.
"Angelo, let it be for now. Maybe she's not ready to talk yet," Tito Julz said.
Aries left, followed by Tito Julz. Tita Gema also stepped out, but Kuya stayed behind.
"Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to find out from someone else?"
I still couldn't answer. Because—damn—his stare was terrifying.
"Okay, fine!" Kuya said.
I thought he was giving up, but then he took his phone from his pocket and started typing.
Looked like he was calling someone.
"Hello, Keifer..." he began.
Pull Tank! Why did he have to call Keifer?!
"I know this is out of the blue. I just want to know... Yeah... Can you explain it to me?"
As he listened to Keifer's explanation, he kept his eyes on me.
"Okay... No. That's all." Kuya said and hung up.
He stayed silent for a few minutes, like he was thinking things through, before finally speaking.
"I'll let this one slide... But don't do it again. You're not a hero."
I only gave him a small nod.
Keifer must have explained everything he wanted to know.
Just then, we heard a car honk outside. Lola!
Kuya quickly walked out to greet our guests, while I hesitated, staying to the side where I wouldn't be immediately seen.
"Lola!" Aries called out to her. Lucky him—he could greet Lola so cheerfully.
"How are you, my grandchild?!" Lola greeted back, pulling him into a hug.
"Nanay!" Tita Gema hugged her next.
Following behind Lola was Tita Jenny—Tita Gema's sister.
She had been staying with Lola a lot lately, probably because of what had happened to her.
"How have you been, Gema?" Tita Jenny greeted.
Tita Gema immediately hugged her. "I'm okay. Where are the kids?"
"Outside..."
She was talking about our annoying cousins—the twins. They used to always pick fights with me.
Twin trouble!
Aries stepped outside to find them.
"Where's Jay?" Lola asked.
My ears perked up at that. Did Lola miss me too?
"Yeah... Where's that shameless brat?" Tita Jenny asked irritably.
Wow. Shameless? Right—I had forgotten. Tita Jenny was mad at me too.
She said I was just a burden and that I took after my mother.
"Ahh... She's in her room," Kuya Angelo answered.
"I'm sure you already know what that kid did?! Allan and Allen told me there's a video of Jay admitting she stole something!" Tita Jenny said.
Kuya and Tita Gema just exchanged glances.
"I'm sure the kid has an explanation," Lola defended me. She was still on my side.
"Nanay! Don't take her side! I already told you before—we should just send her back to Jeana! Let her be her problem!"
I bit my lower lip. She was talking about Mama. I was sure Mama wouldn't agree. But I didn't want to go to her either.
Even though she was my mother, I never felt comfortable around her. I didn't know why. I went back to my room, closed the door, and sat at the edge of my bed. I wanted to check on Lola.
But I couldn't bring myself to approach her while Tita Jenny was around.
Sigh...
Rather than sit here and take whatever painful words she was about to throw at me,
I might as well leave for now.
I went to the bathroom and quickly took a shower. I'd go out for a while—wherever my feet took me. I got dressed and packed a few things. I didn't forget my phone. As I stepped out, I ran into Tita Gema.
"Going somewhere?" she asked.
"Uhmmm... I'm going to my classmate's house. W-we have a report to work on." I lied.
Tita Gema nodded. "O-okay... Just come home early so you can have dinner with us."
I smiled and nodded. Then I headed to the living room, where Lola was. At first, I hesitated to approach her, but she smiled at me right away.
"Going out?" Lola asked as I took her hand and placed it on my forehead.
"Y-yes..."
"Alright. Be careful."
I didn't say anything else. I left immediately. I purposely didn't pay my respects to Tita Jenny. I already knew she would just say something nasty to me. I grabbed my bike and was about to head out the gate when I saw the twins playing with Aries.
"Hey! Jay! What are you up to?!" Allan asked.
"She's probably going for a bike ride! Don't be stupid, twin!" Allen replied.
You got that right, Allen. And just like that, they started arguing. Aries just glanced at me briefly. I didn't react to him. I got on my bike and started pedaling. I figured I'd ride around the village to familiarize myself with it.
I had my headset on, listening to music. It felt good—sometimes the lyrics hit close to home, sometimes they made me imagine things. I spotted a café. I had never been to this part of the village before, so I didn't even know there was one here.
There was a bike parking area, so I locked my bike there.
Inside, there weren't many people. I had never been inside a place like this before, so I wanted to try it out. I sat in a corner seat, away from the entrance, so I wouldn't be too noticeable.
A male waiter approached me, smiling as he handed me the menu and waited for my order.
"Just a strawberry shake..." I said.
I didn't really know what was on the menu.
I was too embarrassed to ask—I didn't want to seem like I had never been to a café before. I handed the menu back, and the waiter left.
As I waited, I noticed a group of women whispering and glancing at me. I shot them a glare. I knew exactly what they were up to. Like I said—I was prepared for this.
The waiter approached their table with their orders. They whispered something to him, and he looked a bit surprised. But then he simply walked away from them.
A moment later, he came over to me with my drink.
"Uh... Miss," he began as he set my order down.
I just looked at him.
"I'm really sorry... B-but I have to ask you to leave."
"Huh?"
"Some customers feel uncomfortable with you being here. I'm really sorry."
I lowered my gaze. Seriously? Even here? I reached into my pocket for money to pay for my drink.
"No need, Miss. It's on me. As an apology for what I had to do." The waiter smiled kindly.
So he was actually nice.
"T-thank you..."
I gathered my things and stood up.
I was about to grab my drink when someone grabbed my wrist.
"Y-Yuri?"
"Stay here," he said, turning to the waiter. "I'll pay for this café's entire daily earnings—double if you want, including your salary."
"S-sir?"
"But I want everyone to leave. NOW!" Yuri ordered.
The women who wanted me gone suddenly looked panicked.
I even heard one of them curse under her breath, but there was nothing they could do.
"O-okay, sir..." the waiter stammered, scrambling to follow orders.
I yanked my wrist away from Yuri. "Are you insane?"
"No," he answered quickly.
He sat down on the stool beside where I had been sitting.
I looked around—the café was now empty.
Just moments ago, it had been filled with customers quietly eating and drinking.
"Did you really have to make them leave?" I asked Yuri irritably.
"I wasn't comfortable with them here," he said in a bored tone.
Oh, wow!
The waiter returned, still visibly flustered.
"Menu," Yuri said.
The waiter handed it to him. I just watched him as he browsed the menu, as if what he had just done meant nothing. I guess that's just how it is when you're Yuri.
"I'll have this, and this... Oh, and this one too," Yuri told the waiter.
He handed the menu back, and the waiter rushed to prepare his order.
"Are you just going to stand there?" Yuri asked me.
I didn't understand what he was up to, but I sat back in my seat and chugged my shake.
It was already a bit melted.
Yuri was really something else. Almost like Keifer, but more annoying.