Jay-jay's POV
The days passed by without me realizing. I hadn't been stepping out of my room—I was too shy to face Kuya.
During those days that passed, the only people I talked to were Percy and that GagongBaliw on the phone. All they ever did was annoy me.
Speaking of cellphone.
It rang, and when I checked, it was Percy calling. I answered right away—he might need something. He still hasn't been coming out of his room.
"Hello." I said casually. ["Jay... It's Felix."]
I glanced at my phone screen for a second to make sure I saw the right name of the caller.
"Why? And why are you holding Percy's phone?"
["Because... Kuya Percy—"] Suddenly, someone yelled, "I'm not coming out!"["There, he said he doesn't want to bump into anyone who might drain all his handsomeness."]
Percy has completely lost it. That Persing Baliw.
I scratched my head. "Tell him Honey knows his address."
["Who's Honey?"]
"The friend of..." I hesitated to say his name. "...your King."
["Ryder? The nephew of Keifer's lawyer?!"] He asked in a surprised tone.
"Yeah." I replied lifelessly.
["Why is he involved in this?"]
I rolled my eyes. I was too lazy to explain. I was still getting myself ready to go to school.
"Just tell him, okay?"
He didn't say anything for a moment, and I heard some faint sounds from his end. The creaking of a door reached my ears.
["Hey! Come out now... I'm heading to school."] Felix said.
He was probably talking to Percy now.
["No... I'll just stay here."] Percy replied.
["Fine! Honey knows where my house is."] Felix said, and I heard another creak of a door.
["Jay?"] he called. ["I told him already."]
"What was his reaction?"
Suddenly, I heard a loud slam of a door from his side, followed by heavy footsteps.
["I'll take you to school!"] Percy's voice boomed. ["I'm going back to Tito Jasfher's house first."]
Papa's house?
Oh right, that's where he used to go home at first. But when things got better between him and Felix, he returned to their house. Now I suddenly got curious what Papa's house looks like.
["Whatever..."] Felix muttered, clearly uninterested. ["Jay, see you at school. Bye!"]
The call ended. I placed my phone on the bed before putting on my shoes. It was Monday and we were heading back to school again.
It was only us who got the unexpected break.
I don't even understand what's up with our school. When there's a guest that looks rich, we suddenly don't have class.
After finishing getting ready, I picked up my phone again. I also grabbed my bag and stepped out of the room. I headed straight to the dining area where they were having breakfast.
As soon as I walked in, they all suddenly fell silent—as if an angel had passed by. Mama wasn't there because she had followed after Andy, that attention-seeker.
"G-good morning." I greeted them.
Tita Gema and Tito Julz smiled at me. Kuya Angelo kept his head down while eating. Aries, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at me. As if his eyes were about to fall out.
"Good morning, Jay. Are you heading out already? Eat something first," Tita invited, but I immediately shook my head.
"Thank you... I just wanted to say goodbye. I'm heading to school."
"Just take some food with you," she added and was about to call the maid, but Aries stopped her.
"Let her be, Ma. If she wants to leave, let her go," he said without even looking at us.
I bowed my head but forced a smile. "I'm leaving now."
I didn't wait to hear what they'd say. I walked straight out of the house. I'll admit, what Aries said hit differently. It felt like he wanted me gone.
When I stepped outside the gate, something felt off. Like something was missing, but I couldn't quite figure out what. I was used to someone picking me up.
Better get used to being alone again.
I kept walking until I reached the corner of our street. I was planning to wait for a ride, but I remembered—I hadn't eaten breakfast yet. I went straight to the mini-mart and bought a sandwich.
While I was in line at the cashier, I glanced up when a guy walked in. How could I not look at him? His hair was a mess like he had just woken up—and it was red.
He didn't even glance my way and went straight to choose his food.
Yuri, the mess.
I paid for my food and sat on a bench by the glass wall. I was quietly eating when someone approached and stopped in front of me.
"Hi Miss, mind if I share this table?" Yuri said, acting like he didn't know me.
Maybe he really wasn't in his right mind. He adjusted his glasses and smiled. I raised an eyebrow but nodded. He quickly sat across from me. He placed what he bought on the table between us.
"Are you from HVIS too? What year are you in? I'm Yuri, by the way. You?" he asked one question after another.
I was about to snap at him, but then I remembered something— He said he wanted us to start over. And by starting over, he meant literally from the beginning—where we didn't even know each other.
I'll go along with your little game.
"I don't talk to strangers," I replied lifelessly.
He pouted a little. "Well then, let me introduce myself properly."
He wiped his hand on his pants near his thigh and extended it toward me.
"I'm Yuri Hanamitchi, 18 years old. I'm Japanese with Filipino blood. Single and ready to mingle. I like the color red and I'm not related to Hanamitchi Sakuragi of Slam Dunk."
I just stared at him while he smiled at me. He looked ridiculous doing all that, but part of me found it funny.
I tapped his hand. "I'm not interested," I replied.
Yuri lowered his hand but kept smiling. "Nice meeting you, Not Interested," he said.
Great... he's officially lost it.
This guy really went all in with the "start all over again" thing. Good luck if he can keep this up.
"What's with this act?" I asked him irritably.
"Hm?" he responded while unwrapping the food he bought. "This is good, want some?"
I wanted to slap myself. I meant this whole act he was doing—whatever this weird thing he's pulling with me right now.
"Crazy," I muttered, but loud enough for him to hear.
He smiled at me before taking a bite of his sandwich. He also drank from the juice he bought. Then he looked straight at me, as if waiting for my reaction to his eating.
Totally out of it.
"Not interested, what year are you in?" he asked me.
Every chew felt heavy as I looked at him, bored. To be honest, I should be playing along with his little game—because that was part of our deal.
I let out a deep sigh and set my food down on the table. I dusted off my hands and leaned my face slightly closer to him.
"Jasper Jean Mariano is my real name. Jay-jay is my nickname. I'm in 4th year high school, 17 years old, turning 18 this May. I like foooood, because food is life..." My lips exaggerated the word foooood."...I like punching, kicking, and trash-talking. Every breath I take comes with a curse word. And lastly... I DON'T LIKE THIS. I don't like what we're doing. We look like total fools!"
He just stared at me quietly, like he was caught off guard by what I said last. Which, honestly, was fair—we did look like fools. We've known each other for months already. Heck, we even kissed!
And now here we are, introducing ourselves like strangers.
What even is this, Tataa?!
He tilted his head slightly. "So... your real name isn't Not Interested?"
I full-on slapped my forehead. Ugh, this guy! I even leaned my head against the table in frustration. Why was I doing this to myself?
Almost forgot—he's in Section E. Just as slippery as the rest of them...
I lifted my head and resumed eating. I'd finished my food, but honestly, I was still hungry. I glanced at what Yuri was eating. He probably bought a dozen sandwiches.
I had to find a way to smoothly swipe some food off him. He at least owed me that much.
"W-why are you talking to me anyway?" I asked, feigning curiosity while eyeing the sandwiches in front of him.
"I just wanted to get to know you. You're wearing an HVIS uniform. It's not bad to make a new friend from the same school, right?" he said while looking me in the eyes.
I nodded, but the truth was—I'd already snuck one sandwich while he was talking.
"You said you're in 4th year—what section?" he asked.
I started devouring the sandwich I swiped. I was on a tight budget, so I didn't want to keep spending. It was hard times!
"Section E," I answered between chews.
He acted surprised by my answer. "Really? Wow, same here—Section E too."
Eh?
I just went along with his bit. I acted just like he did.
"Really?! Wow, that's amazing, huh?" I said while grabbing another sandwich near him.
"Then we can go to school together," he suggested.
Perfect. I can save on fare!
I nodded at him with a big smile. "Sure!" Then grabbed another sandwich.
He kept smiling at me. He took one of his own sandwiches and started eating. Apparently, he hadn't noticed that his stash was getting smaller.
While he kept eating, he handed me some of the sandwiches in front of him.
"Just take the rest..." he said. "...so you don't have to sneak them one by one."
I cringed. So he did know what I was doing. But I didn't feel embarrassed. I took the sandwiches he gave me and stuffed them in my bag. I continued eating—and so did he.
After we finished, he immediately invited me to ride in his car. Said we'd go to school together.
He looked like a kid who just made a new friend—so happy, smiling, overjoyed with no way to contain it.
Maybe if he had been like this the very first time we met—the real first time— Maybe we would've become friends right away. Maybe... we wouldn't have turned out like this.
What a weirdo.
When we got to school, I waited for him to finish parking properly before getting out. I could only grimace as I looked at him.
I glanced at a few students who were looking our way and whispering. I had no idea what they were talking about, but it seemed serious.
"What's that?" Yuri asked, staring at the group of students gathering near our building.
I ran toward them, forcing myself through the crowd of curious students. A large tarpaulin greeted me. It was attached to a big sheet of plywood propped up by two wooden poles.
Notice for Demolition!
I didn't get to read the whole notice. I immediately ran to our room. Right on cue, I saw Sir Alvin chasing after our Guidance Counselor and a few teachers.
"Sir!" I called out, but he just walked past me.
"Sir Alvin!" the Counselor shouted at him, trying to stop him from following them. "...That order came from the higher-ups. There's nothing we can do."
"But Ma'am! Can't you at least wait until the kids graduate? It's just a little more time." Sir Alvin pleaded.
"There's nothing I can do about that. You know very well the Board Members have been wanting to tear that building down for a while now, but you always opposed it." She adjusted the books she was carrying. "...And now that Mr. Fernandez is no longer here to support you, there's no one left to stop what the entire Board wants."
Mr. Fernandez? That's Kuya Angelo. What do you mean he's gone? I couldn't understand.
"But Ma'am… you can see for yourself! This building is fine. It was built solid. So why have it demolished?!" Sir asked, irritated.
The Guidance Counselor chuckled slightly, which annoyed me. There was nothing funny. Sir was telling the truth. Even if the paint was faded, and the place was dusty and full of cobwebs—you could clearly see the walls were sturdy.
"Sure, it's sturdy, but look around you. It looks like a dumping ground for trash! The walls are full of graffiti! And the students? They don't even look like students!" Ma'am pointed a finger at Sir. "...If it were up to me, I'd have all of Section E removed too! The only reason they're even here is because they have connections or influential families. But they just dirty up this school with their behavior!"
Sir took a deep breath, trying to hold back his anger. "Section E isn't the reason this building ended up like this. You were the one who ordered all the broken desks, chairs, cabinets, and old books to be dumped here. It was other students who messed this place up—not them."
He combed his hair back with his hand. "...Why are you always picking on Section E?!"
Ma'am's brows furrowed. "Why do you keep defending that section?!"
She looked him up and down. "...Then again, what should we expect from you? You came from that Section too."
She turned and walked away, followed by the other teachers.
Sir was left behind, wiping his face several times in frustration. I felt someone's presence behind me, so I turned around.
It was the rest of Section E—except for their King.
"What do we do now?" C-in asked sadly.
"As long as we graduate early, I'm good," Eren said, but Calix quickly smacked the back of his head.
I looked at Yuri when I noticed how serious he looked. He walked up to Sir.
"I thought Angelo was the one stopping the Board Members. Why does it seem like he didn't do anything this time?" Yuri asked.
Sir shook his head. "He didn't attend the last meeting. We also found out about the problem in their company."
So Kuya was the one helping Sir Alvin prevent the demolition of this building. But what does that have to do with their company? What if there's a problem—what now?
Sir faced us with a sad look but tried to smile. "Go back to your room. I just need to make a call."
The Ulupong walked away one after another. Yuri, meanwhile, held my arm and gently pulled me back toward the room. But his eyes were still fixed on Sir Alvin.
If they demolish this building, where will we have class? What about the pictures upstairs?
Everything was quiet when I entered. Even C-in looked lifeless as I sat beside him. The news really was depressing—especially on a Monday.
"Sir Alvin used to be in Section E." Drew said, making us all turn to him. "...I saw him in the pictures upstairs. I also saw that same picture with Tiger and on his table in the faculty room."
Right. He and Kuya Angelo did know each other. That probably explained why he was so against the demolition. Everything in this place must mean a lot to him, too.
"So annoying! Just when we need Keifer, he disappears!" Edrix said irritably.
Keifer's gone?! Should I be celebrating now?!
"Why is Keifer gone?" C-in asked sadly.
"Yeah, he didn't even say anything to us," Mayo added.
Edrix sat down with a huff and rested his foot on the table. "He submitted a letter to the school committee. He's going to be gone for a month."
A month?!
"I'm giving you space." I remembered what he told me again. So this is the space he meant? One month? What about his birthday? What about his studies?
I looked over to his usual spot at the back and caught Yuri staring at me. He smiled when he realized I'd noticed him.
"What could he possibly be doing that he'll be gone for a whole month?" David asked.
"Preparing," Rory replied dully. "...His birthday is on the 29th. They're transferring all the rights to the inheritance from his grandparents to his name."
So that's why it's one month. He really just timed this whole "space" thing with it. Clever move, that snake.
"But he might not come back," Blaster said. "...Would you return to this trashy school if you had billions?"
I noticed how some of them glanced at me. I turned my back to them and rested my chin on my arm. I didn't want to show them that Blaster's words affected me.
Even though they were true!
There was a sting in my chest as I thought about the possibility that he might never really come back. You've got billions now! What would you need trash for? He could buy a school, classmates, and a girl who would love him. He had more than enough money for all of that.
"Keifer will come back," C-in whispered, still looking at me. "...I know he will."
I messed up his hair and smiled at him. "He might not have to," I joked half-heartedly.
He pouted as he tried to fix his hair. I really didn't understand his behavior. He was such a mess. That's why I didn't want to believe him—he was too confusing.
I just hope when he comes back, he fixes everything he left behind. And I hope he comes back soon… because with the kind of mess we are in now, there might be nothing left for him to return to.