Gem of section eBook-2

Past

Jay-jay's POV

When I once got angry with
Ci-N because of her laziness and messing up my room, all I could think about was getting her out. I was quiet
in my room when she wasn't there. I didn't have to clean every day or night. But my world was shaken when
she came. After a while, I ate chutchirya, ice cream, juice or soda, candy and cake. I also always hang out at
the Mini Mart to buy midnight snacks for him. I wash his clothes, because he doesn't know how and doesn't
want to let Aunt Gema's maid wash them----they say their hands have a lot of germs. I also always stay up late
watching movies on his laptop. I also often get scolded because of his foolishness that I was the one to
blame. Aunt Gema and Kuya Angelo take care of him more often than I do. And most of all, Aries and I often
argue because of him. Messy? Yes! But so much fun... My shoulders slumped as I watched him organize his
things. I didn't want to help to make him last longer. So that he would stay here longer. There was a time when
I wanted to send him away but now that he was really leaving ----I don't want to! I don't want him to leave.
"Help me." He told me. I sighed and approached him. But instead of helping him put his things in the suitcase,
I did the opposite. I take out the things he's putting away. "Hey! We'll finish it. Keep going!" He said to me
annoyed and grabbed the clothes I was holding. "You can just leave the next day." I pleaded. "Mom doesn't
want it... It's embarrassing." He sat down next to me. "...If you don't want to be separated from me, apply for
my helper." I looked at him angrily. He's really crazy! Why would I help him?! "...It's okay so Keifer and Aries
won't get jealous." He added. Huh?! "Keifer and Aries?" I asked him in surprise. I get Keifer. He's really jealous,
jealousy is the ultimate candy in my mouth. But Aries? It seems impossible. "How did you say Aries is
jealous?" "In his eyes. He's so jealous of us when we're having fun." He answered me quickly. It's blurry! It's
even blurry in floodwater. Maybe Ci-N is jealous of all the attention in the house. He went back to organizing
his things. Even though it was against my will, I felt compelled to help him. While folding the clothes, I noticed
something. "This is mine!" I said while looking at the t-shirt in my hand. I looked at Ci who was laughing at me.
"It's mine." I grimaced but gave it to him anyway. We had organized his things and I was amazed. We managed
to squeeze his things into his very large suitcase . He had brought so many clothes plus toys and it looked like
it wouldn't fit in his suitcase. But we managed to fit. Someone knocked on the door and it opened. It was Kuya
Angelo who was immediately looking at Ci's suitcase. "Are you ready?" he asked us. Ci-N smiled and nodded. I
stood up and we helped him push his suitcase out until I could fit inside. But we failed, we had just passed
Aries' room but I felt like my blood was drained from my body. "Ci-N! What are you carrying? Ginto?" He just
shook his head at me. We were close to the stairs so I forced myself to push. My push was too hard and the
suitcase rolled down the stairs unintentionally . Shit! Shit! "Argh!" Someone shouted. We ran downstairs. My
eyes widened when I saw the suitcase and there was a mark----it would be more accurate to say that it had
been run over. "A-aries! S-sorry..." I said and tried to remove the suitcase. Aries pushed the suitcase with all his
strength. I followed him and Ci-N. The suitcase that had run over Aries was removed but he looked really hurt.
Especially the one around his chest. "Hey... I didn't mean to." I said and was about to grab him but he pushed
my hand away hard. "What is that?! Where did that come from?!" He said angrily to us. "S-sorry. That's my
suitcase." Ci-N replied. Aries slowly stood up and immediately yelled at Ci. " Just leave, you're going to get
hurt!" I hid Ci behind me. "It's my fault! You don't need to yell at Ci-N!" I said annoyed while glaring at him. It
was obvious from his face that he was in pain. He was already sweating profusely .He just walked away but
he gave Ci who was behind me a bad look. We tried to push the suitcase again after Aries left. We reached the
door and Kuya Angelo greeted us. He took the suitcase and almost collapsed when he realized how heavy it
was. "How much do you bet? Kuya can't lift it." I whispered to the little boy. "He can lift it. Your Kuya is strong."
He replied to me. Kuya tried to lift the suitcase. He was still counting one-two- three to get it rolling. Ci and I
just laughed because he looked like he was having a hard time. "Get in! You made me laugh!" He said to us
annoyed. We immediately got into the car. Ci and I were next to each other and his hand was still anchored on
my arm. "I'll miss you..." I whispered and laid my head on his shoulder. "Jay... Don't be a jerk, we'll meet at
school." I looked at him with a frown. This kid was really ruining the moment! We were quiet during the trip. I
was watching the lights of the building we were passing. His condo unit wasn't that far away. That's why I felt
like I was in another world. A world of wealth! Kuya parked and we hadn't been there long when I saw Ci's
entire family waiting at the entrance of the building. Rakki was also there next to his sister.
I heard her sigh next to me. She bent down and played with
her fingers in her hand.
"That's it... I can live on my own from now on."
I felt sad. I knew she couldn't do it yet.
She was only 14 so she thought she was 4 years old. How could she live on her own?
I looked at her. "Are you sure you really don't want to apply to be
my maid?"
I immediately pinched her cheek. How rude! Why is she forcing me
to be her maid?
Kuya put down the suitcase. His family was waiting for us.
I held Ci's hand.
"That's okay... Just call me when you need something."
I said.
"Thank you." She replied and forced a smile. "...I was just thinking. Now
that I have my own place to live." She suddenly smiled widely.
"...I can party and bring a baby----Argh!"
I cursed at her to stop. My heart is already heavy because
he's leaving and all he has on his mind is nonsense.
Irritating!
"That was just a joke... Why do you have to scold me?" He
asked tearfully.
"You're so ugly!"
I got out of the car. He followed me. Brother Angelo was the
one who pushed his suitcase. Even though he didn't show it, I knew
he was having a hard time.
"Sorry for bothering you, Mr. Fernandez." Ci's mom opened up to us.
"...I know Ci-N is causing you a lot of trouble."
Ci-N bowed. I felt embarrassed by what his mom was saying.
"It's okay. Ci-N didn't make us suffer."
Brother Angelo said and smiled.
You're not, I'm YES!
"Let us thank you for letting Ci-N stay at your house. How about
dinner?" Ci's dad said.
"Thanks Mr. Peralta. That will be great." Brother answered.
"Saturday night?"
"Sure."
I kept looking back and forth at Ci's older brother and father.
Their conversation was so arrogant. The dating was so rich.
Even though I spoke English, my dating was not like that. I looked at Ci who was bowing down and glancing at
her brother. I also looked at her brothers. Her older brother was looking at me with a bad look--- expected. Her
sister,
on
the other hand, didn't even look at my feet . She looked at me from head to toe- I ruffled her hair, even though I
really wanted to slap her on the floor. "Bye Jay... See you at school tomorrow." She said and walked closer to
her family. Kuya came closer to me and hugged her. "Shall we go?" I nodded and we walked back to the car.
As we drove, we were quiet or it would be more accurate to say the surroundings were quiet. No one was
making any noise. Hey... Kuya stopped in front of the Mini Mart. "Let's go... I'm just going to buy something."
She said and got out. I followed even though I was surprised. She picked up a basket as she entered. She
picked up something and looked at me. "Get what you want, Jay." She ordered me. I smiled and picked up my
own basket too. She said I wanted it, so I 'll take it all. Joke----but I really wanted it all. While picking, I looked at
the other side of the shelves. She had corn-colored hair. The owner was tall because I could see his head even
though the shelves were high. Corn-colored! I suddenly remembered something. Who was the one with the
corn-colored hair? The name was the one who stabbed the baduy and resembled the PPAP singer. "Jay-jay?"
Someone called out. When I looked, it was the man with the yellow hair and he was also the one I said
resembled the PPAP singer. "Tiger?" "You said it was you!" He said and immediately came closer to me. I
backed away a little because he wanted to hug me. It was a good thing he caught me right away because I
didn't want to hug him. He looked like a slob! He was wearing long sleeves, faded shorts and slippers while
wearing socks. The outfit was okay! "How did you get here?" I asked curiously. "Probably got in the car and
parked it outside." He answered me annoyed. "Ahh... So you didn't walk from the car to here inside?" I asked
sarcastically. He paused and looked at me. Suddenly he laughed out loud, and I laughed too. Abnormal! "Jay!"
Brother Angelo called me. "...Are you okay----" he stopped when he saw who I was talking to. "Leo?" Leo?
Who's Leo? I looked back and forth between Brother Angelo and Tiger----wait! Leo, Lion sound. I looked at
Tiger. "Are you Leo?" He suddenly smiled broadly. Brother walked over to me and pulled me slightly closer to
him. "How are you, Angelo? Long time no see." He said as if teasing. Brother's hand tightened on my shoulder
so I looked at him. His gaze was on Leo---Tiger. "It's okay. Nice seeing you here." Brother's answer seemed
orced. The two of them stared at each other for a long time. It seemed like there was something about them.
Tiger suddenly looked at me and winked. My forehead creased. "I'll poke your eyes." I threatened. He laughed
slightly. "You're cute there. I won't make you pizza again." But don't! "Do you know each other?" Brother asked.
Oh shit! Brother doesn't know that I went to Kingsground. I'm so angry ! I looked at Tiger who was talking.
That's why he's so shameless, he doesn't know how to get along. "Yes... I met him when they went to
Kingsground." Brother's hand suddenly tightened. Ouch! Mud! I feel like he's going to break my bones. "They
went to Kingsground." Brother repeated while looking at me meaningfully. Jay-jay! Play Dead! But it's not
possible. I'm so angry when I go home. I think I need to eat everything I want. I'm going to be hanged. "Oh,
look at me..." Tiger said while looking behind us. "...Alvin!" We both looked at the person he called out. Sir
Alvin! He looked at us in surprise and walked closer. Do they know each other? "Angelo..." He greeted Brother
and smiled. They even fist bumped. Are they troop by troop? I looked at him and smiled too. "...Hello Jay." I
smiled and wanted to shout 'Get me away from Kuya Sir'. Maybe he could help me, he's my teacher. He turned
to Tiger and suddenly his face became serious. "Leo." Tiger laughed slightly but it seemed to be mixed with
annoyance. "Don't look at me like I'm a very bad person." "Sorry... You've only changed so much." Sir replied.
"Well... How's the change I made? Are you okay?" Kuya Angelo and Sir Alvin looked at him from head to toe.
"Oh... You're so ugly." Sir replied seriously. Ppffttt... I almost choked trying to hold back my laughter. Tiger's
eyebrows immediately crossed. "Ugly?! Are you stupid?!" He looked at Kuya. "...Am I ugly , Angelo?!" "The truth
is... I'm not." Tiger smiled at Kuya's answer. "...You're just so ugly." I couldn't hold back my laughter. Their faces
were still very serious as they answered. These two are okay! They really look like troops . "Tsk! Let's go! There
are so many insecure people around me! They 're just trying to ruin me!" He said as he walked towards the
cashier. Kuya and Sir's faces were still serious. They greeted each other for a moment and then walked
towards the cashier. It's a good thing they didn't talk about my studies. When we left the Mini Mart, Kuya
suddenly put his arm around me but his arm went around my neck. I was so angry! "You went to Kingsground
without me knowing. You're so stubborn!" He said. I slapped his arm. "K-kuya! It's been a long time!"
"Whatever! You're really stubborn!" The way his arm went around my neck tightened so much that I could only
scream. "Get ready for me----" His phone suddenly rang. He let go of me and answered the call. "Mom, you're
going home----ha?!.... Why?!.... What happened?!.... Okay, we're on our way." He hung up the call and quickly
walked closer to the car. I followed. "What's that, Kuya?" I asked as I got in. "Aries was rushed to the hospital." I
suddenly became worried. My heart was beating fast because of the nervousness. Aries! W-why?! +