Jay-jay's POV
My bag is so heavy! It's not even notebooks inside anymore. Just lunch boxes.
Mine, Ci-N's, David's, and the damn King of Snakes' lunch.
Maybe I should just ask Kuya for money so I can finally pay off that jerk. But he might scold me. Never mind. I'll just buy a bigger bag so all these lunch boxes can fit.
I was nearing the corner when I saw a familiar car. That flashy car. The one owned by Kuya Blue Eyes. I wasn't mistaken because a short distance away, Kuya Blue Eyes was standing there, smoking.
"Hi!" he greeted me.
I just waved my hand. Feeling close, huh?
"Are you heading to school?" he asked me.
Whoa! He's speaking Tagalog now. Unlike last time when he was all-out English.
"Yeah..." I answered shortly.
"Need a ride?"
I immediately shook my head. I don't even know him, and I'd just hop into his car? What is he, a kidnapper? What if this Blue Eyes guy is a rapist?
"Are you sure? You look like you're struggling with your stuff."
"Just looks like it... But I'm not." I replied and quickly walked away.
What's up with this guy? Smoking and roaming around early in the morning. Does he even go to school?
He looks like an out-of-school youth. I kept walking when I suddenly heard a car honk behind me. I was about to turn around, but I had a bad feeling that it was Kuya Blue Eyes.
I quickened my pace. The car honked again, and it felt like it was following me. I stopped, and the car also stopped. It really seemed like I was being followed.
I turned to look at the car, ready to confront and threaten the driver, but I froze when I saw who it was.
Yuri.
And he was driving the same car he used when he took me home before. The door opened, and Yuri stepped out.
"I've been calling you for a while! What's wrong with you? Deaf?" he asked irritably.
Wow! So grumpy. He's worse than a girl on her period.
"I thought..."
"Just get in the car." he ordered.
Now, this one I would actually go with. I walked up to the passenger seat, opened the door, and got in, followed by Yuri.
Relief!
I finally got a break from my heavy bag and the heat of the day.
"Hey! Rich kid Yuri... What are you doing in our village?" I asked him.
He cleared his throat.
"I-I just had to drop by somewhere nearby," he answered.
"This early?"
"Y-yeah..."
I just let out an 'ahh.' Yuri really has some weird habits. I noticed he kept glancing at the side-view mirror.
"Someone's following us," he said, briefly looking behind.
I tried to check too, but I wasn't sure how I was supposed to turn my head. Yuri sped up the car.
"Do you know them?" I asked, suddenly worried.
What if he's the one they're after and I just got dragged into this? I only hitched a ride, and now I might be in trouble.
"No," Yuri replied shortly.
The car slowed down slightly. At that moment, the car behind us overtook, and I saw who it was.
"Is that the one following us?" I asked.
Yuri nodded. Why would Kuya Blue Eyes follow us? He must have a screw loose and nothing better to do in life. We arrived at school, and Yuri parked the car. I got out, and so did he.
So heavy!
"What's in your bag that you're struggling so much?"
"Lunch boxes. Mine, David's, Ci-N's, and Keifer the idiot's," I answered.
"Why are you bringing food for Keifer too?"
Should I tell him it's for paying off my debt? He probably already knows I borrowed money from Keifer.
"For----"
"Because she wants to." Someone cut in.
Yuri and I both turned to look. Keifer the idiot. Looks like he just got here too.
"No, it's not!" I corrected him. "...It's actually to pay off a debt."
"Debt?" Yuri asked.
Oh, he didn't know yet? I thought this guy already told him.
"I'll explain it to you later," Keifer said before quickly walking toward our building.
Yuri and I followed. When we got to the classroom, everything was back to normal.
Ci-N was already messing around with our classmates.
"Hi, Jay!" they greeted me.
I smiled at them. See? We're friends now. After everything we went through, of course.
Am I being arrogant?
As soon as I sat down, Ci immediately approached me with a big smile.
"Do you have chocolate?" she asked.
"I do... But I won't give you any," I replied.
Ci pouted, even doing puppy eyes.
Poor kid.
I grabbed one from my bag and handed it to her. The other troublemakers saw it, and of course—chaos erupted!
It took a while before Sir Alvin arrived. Looks like he was late for class.
Section E, I won't be discussing any lectures today. We'll be talking about the Festival."
Festival?
"Sir… But that's still a long way off. Why are we talking about it now?" one of my classmates asked.
"There's a chance the date might change, so while it's early, we'll discuss it now," Sir explained.
I turned to Ci, whose mouth was still full of chocolate.
"Ci! What's the Festival?"
"Fiesta!" she answered briefly.
"I know that… I mean, explain it to me."
She was about to answer, but her mouth was stuffed with chocolate.
I scratched my head at the sight of her and turned to David instead.
"David! Explain the Festival."
"School Festival… It's a one-week celebration at school. There's a sports fest, food stalls, and booths. There's also a program. What happens depends on the rules the school will release." He explained.
Good thing David's easy to talk to. Unlike someone who's busy eating.
"There are rules?"
David didn't answer. He just pointed at Sir, who was busy organizing some papers in front of him.
"Okay… The number of booths depends on the representatives from each section. Right now, there are none yet. As for the program, as usual, there's the never-ending pageant. We don't know the full details yet, but one thing's for sure—Freya will win again."
What the heck? Why even hold a pageant if the crown is just going to end up with Freya anyway?
"…For the tasks, Section A will organize the program, B will handle the sports, C is in charge of the booths, and D will take care of security. As for your section… You'll be assigned to the night shift again."
Sir's last words sounded a bit hesitant.
"Night shift?" I asked, maybe a bit too loudly, because Sir suddenly looked at me.
But David was the one who answered.
"The festival lasts a week, so security is needed at night to guard the equipment."
"And, of course, to clean up the trash!" Keifer angrily added.
"You know that's the rule. You won't be allowed to join the Festival if you don't do it," Sir replied to Keifer.
But it only made the King of Snakes even more irritated.
"That rule was created before! David was still the president then, but now it's me!" Keifer protested.
This guy is so rude!
I glanced at David. His brows were furrowed, and his fists were clenched tight.
Are these two about to fight again?
"What are you suggesting?" Sir asked.
"We will do no task!"
"But you won't be allowed to enter the Festival."
Sir's words immediately triggered a reaction from the troublemakers in our class. They were all against it.
"Come on, don't do that."
"We want to go."
"I have a date with Mica."
"I won't get to watch Rakki's match."
"There will be so many hot girls there."
"Food! Food!"
Sir tried to calm them down, but it wasn't working. Keifer was still as stubborn as ever, refusing to listen to our classmates.
"I want to go too! I've never been to a Festival before!" I said.
Where I came from, we called events like these Intrams. It was just games and a program, and barely anyone went because most people preferred staying at home. So dull!
"No! My decision is final! No Festival, no TASK!" Keifer declared.
The troublemakers almost lost it because of what Keifer said, but no one dared to oppose him.
"You're unbelievable! You're only thinking about yourself!" I said.
And just like that, the whole class fell silent. The staring contest had begun. The participants? Me and Keifer.
"I'm just saving this section from embarrassment!"
"What about what we want?!"
"Why? Would you rather be humiliated?" Keifer asked the troublemakers.
They all avoided his gaze. They didn't want to be embarrassed, but they also wanted to go to the Festival.
"But you want to go to the Festival?" I asked them.
They agreed.
"Okay… I'll let you choose! Be trash collectors and get embarrassed, or just hang out somewhere else?" Keifer asked.
They all exchanged glances. It seemed like their opinions were split. But I also really wanted to go.
"Have fun at the Festival or just laze around at home?" I added.
They started discussing again. I really wanted to go. I was getting excited just thinking about it.
"The Festival is still a long way off. The board hasn't even announced the date yet. You still have time to think about your decision," Sir added.
Keifer was still giving me a dirty look. But of course, I couldn't back down. The King of Snakes was so annoying!
Cleaning up isn't a big deal as long as you still get to have fun. Festival in the morning, work at night.
I was already excited for the Festival!