Jay-jay's POV
It turns out locking yourself in your room is nice. Having someone bring your food to you. Like being a prisoner, but with the freedom to leave.
I just don't want to. Even last weekend, I didn't go out either.
It's been a few days since I last attended school.
Can I quit studying now?
There was a knock on the door, and it slowly opened. Aunt Gema entered, carrying a tray of food.
"Jay... eat and take your medicine."
I sat up. "Auntie... can I stop going to school?"
"Why? Is it because of those bullies?" There was concern in her voice.
Rather than getting into fights... I might as well just avoid them.
"I just don't want to get into fights. Didn't I promise to change?"
She held my hand and looked me in the eyes. "There are many ways to deal with bullies. Smashing skulls isn't the only solution."
Smashing skulls? Where did Auntie get that from?
"But if it's really necessary... then we'll accept it." She added.
Is she giving me permission to fight? I suddenly felt a little excited! Hahahahahaha Evil laugh
"Are you sure? It's really okay?"
"Yes... but not all the time." She held my cheek and stroked it with her thumb. "Alright... I'll be leaving now. If you need anything, just call the maids. Okay?"
"Okay..."
Aunt Gema left the room. So, I can fight back if I'm being bullied, but only sometimes? That works. At least I can refuse when they mess with me.
I ate the food Auntie brought. I didn't want to take the medicine because I felt like it wasn't effective. My nose still hurt, after all. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw Santa's reindeer, Rudolph.
I just put a strip on my nose. Now I look like I got a nose job. I was about to get a new one, but I realized I had run out.
Should I go out to buy some?
Honestly, locking yourself in your room isn't fun. It's nice, but not fun.
I changed clothes and brushed my teeth. I was going out to buy a new nose strip. After getting ready, I grabbed my wallet and left. I told Auntie's maid I was heading out.
Maybe I'll just buy it at the mall. There's a pharmacy there anyway. I might as well take a walk. I hailed a taxi. I still don't know how to commute by bus or jeepney to the mall.
It wasn't actually that far. The trip just took long because of traffic. I got out of the taxi and paid. This feels embarrassing. There were so many people, mostly students. Should I just go home?
But then again, I'm already here. Whatever. As soon as I entered the mall, people stared at me because of the strip on my nose.
Never seen one of these before?
Since I had no idea where to go, I was lucky that there were always guards and staff around.
"Sir... where's the pharmacy?" I asked a security guard.
"Watsons? Just go straight ahead."
"Alright. Thank you."
I walked straight down the path. Watsons seems familiar... Who do I know with that surname? It's on the tip of my tongue.
Say it out loud, maybe you'll remember.
No way! That'd make me look stupid.
I was right in front of Watsons when I finally remembered who had that surname. That cursed Keifer.
Mark Keifer Watson.
Could his family own this place? Now I don't feel like buying here anymore. But maybe not—this is "Watsons," and he's just "Watson." Whatever.
I went inside to buy what I needed. I asked a saleslady for help to make it quick.
After purchasing, I headed out. I was checking what I bought when someone bumped into me.
Shit! My nose!
I immediately held it and checked. Whhoooohaaaaaa! Whhoooohaaaaaa!
I heard laughter. "Her nose is so red! Hahahaha!"
I looked at the idiots laughing. Am I just unlucky, or are the Watsons cursed? These people are my classmates.
I also looked at the person who bumped into me. -_-! The Watsons really are cursed!
"You look stupid!"
Bastard! Stupid, huh? Damn you! Damn you! F*** you!
I didn't say anything and just walked away.
"Wait! Jay! Come with us!" one of them called out.
What are these four doing here? Did they skip class too?
Obviously! They're here, after all! Common sense, Jay! Use it sometimes so it's not wasted.
"I don't want to!" I gave a short reply and walked off.
I barely took a few steps when someone grabbed my arm. Ouch!
"What the hell?!" I snapped angrily at the jerk who stopped me.
Keifer? What's his problem?
"Tss. Come with us."
"No!"
"Childish!"
I narrowed my eyes at him. What part of "No" does he not understand?!
"I said no! Annoying!" I tried to pull away, but he only gripped me tighter.
"You're the annoying one!" He suddenly started walking, practically dragging me along.
"Son of a... I'm gonna trip! Let go!"
"Tss."
Should I cut off his tongue so he'll stop with the "tss"? Freaking weirdo! So annoying!
People were already staring at us because of the scene we were making. We looked like idiots. This Keifer guy is seriously something else.
We stopped in front of an ice cream parlour. His three companions went inside, and we followed. We went up to the second floor, and there was a VIP section right in front of us.
Wew.
"Sit!" he ordered me while pointing at a chair.
The way he said "Sit!"—like I was some kind of dog?! I didn't follow. I just crossed my arms and glared at him.
"What do you want? I'm going home!"
"Sit down!"
"What is this about?!"
"DAMN IT! IS IT THAT HARD TO SIT?!" he snapped angrily.
The people on the ground floor of the ice cream parlor were now staring at us.
So annoying!
I didn't care if he was mad, but I didn't want to make a scene. So, I just sat down and looked away from him.
"Kit… Order for me. Your specialty," Keifer ordered one of our classmates.
Kit immediately followed. So his name is Kit? Kit! Okay…
Wait a minute! "Your"? Meaning this place belongs to Kit? Wow! Rich kid.
Keifer suddenly grabbed my chin and forced me to face him. I was about to fight back, but his deadly glare froze me in place.
"Don't move," he said as he examined my nose.
Yeah, take a good look at what you did!
He took out the item I bought from Watsons and opened it. He also removed the strip on my nose.
"Owww…"
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
Is he an idiot?
"Is that even a question?!" I snapped at him.
He suddenly pressed my nose. I almost fell off my seat from the pain.
Harrrooooo! That hurts! Damn it! Dear Lord, I hate making a scene!
"You son of a… It hurrrttts… You freak…" I groaned, trying to keep my voice low and controlled.
I saw Keifer's two remaining friends laughing.
"I'm asking you properly here," Keifer said.
"It's obvious… Why even ask? Idiot?"
My eyes watered from the pain. I carefully touched my nose. Oh no! What if I turned into Voldemort?!
He grabbed my chin again and forced me to face him. He had already gotten a new strip from what I bought and was about to stick it on my nose.
"Do it properly… or you'll regret it," I threatened him.
"Tss. Hold still," he said as he carefully placed the strip on my nose.
He had already put it on, and for some reason, I suddenly found myself staring at him, and he stared back. But then he rolled his eyes at me.
Why are you rolling your eyes?!
Kit arrived with the special order that Keifer the jerk had requested. He placed it in front of Keifer.
Wow! It was overflowing with ice cream, had a stick-o stuck in it, was drizzled with chocolate syrup, and was topped with marshmallows and sprinkles.
I thought he was going to eat it, but he suddenly pushed the big Mason jar filled with ice cream toward me.
"This is for you…" he said.
"What's this? A bribe?"
"If that's what you'd like to call it, then fine. A bribe."
I stared intently into his eyes. "Do you think you can win me over with this?"
"Yeah… This is every girl's weakness."
"No. Not me. I don't like ice cream."
Really?! Are you sure, Jay?
I won't fall for a bribe. Sorry, ice cream! T_T
"Then… what do you want?"
Whoa… Your buddy is persistent! Looks like he feels guilty about what he did to me.
"A simple sorry that comes from here." I pointed at his heart. "…Then, an explanation of why you did it."
He chuckled. "Apologizing is not my thing, nor is explaining."
Whoa, that rhymed. That's probably his motto.
"Then we're both wasting our time. I'm going home," I said, grabbing my stuff. I quickly walked away from them.
Is he an idiot? Does he really think it's that easy? He wishes!
But that ice cream was a waste… I'll just buy some at a convenience store. But before that, I need to figure out how to get home. Where am I even supposed to catch a ride or find a taxi around here?
Great. Just great! Now walk home!