Jay-Jay's POV
Deliver and pick up! Bring a skin and pick it up. What about Kuya? Should I follow that? Yes, I'm afraid of him, but... Shina! Rebel against men!
It was the last class of the day. I had managed to get through without much interaction with the Serpents—except for the one sitting next to me.
"Go home!" he suddenly shouted just as the school bell rang.
"...Let's eat ice cream."
"I don't want to," I quickly responded while gathering my things.
Ci's shoulders slumped, but he forced a smile. "Alright..."
"I don't want to."
"Please..."
"Ci-N," I called his name, making him take me seriously. "...I said I don't want to. Do you understand what 'I don't want' means?"
I didn't wait for his response. I walked out of the classroom and kept going, even though I could still hear him calling after me. I had no intention of delivering anything to Yuri.
I picked up my pace, and when I reached the school gate, I spotted the familiar car of my long-lost stepbrother. I ran up to it and knocked loudly on the window.
"Wazzup?!" he greeted me with raised eyebrows.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I came to pick up Felix. Why?"
For a moment, I thought... Awtsu!
"Nothing. Just asking," I replied lifelessly.
He suddenly grinned widely. "You missed me, didn't you?"
The nerve of this guy. Thick-skinned! Solid rock! Hardcore if hardcore! I cringed at his words.
"Thick face," I muttered just loud enough for him to hear.
His phone rang, and he checked it before turning his attention back to me.
"Well, it's your lucky day," he said, pocketing his phone. "...Felix won't be coming. They have a meeting. Get in!"
Meeting?
The Serpents have a meeting. I hope they're not talking about me.
I got into Percy's car and sat in the passenger seat, fastening my seatbelt as he started driving. He began singing while focusing on the road.
"I'm handsome! I'm handsome! I'm the most handsome of them all!"
It sounded like some kind of rap.
I wanted to open the car door while he was driving and just jump out for fun. He was at it again with his nonsense. And he wasn't even drunk!
He's normal… Normal!
The car came to a stop at a red light. He was still rapping. Trying to ignore him, I shifted my focus outside, feeling bored.
I noticed a group of young people walking by, carrying skateboards and wearing helmets. They were laughing and teasing each other. Some of them took turns riding their skateboards.
"You want to learn that?" Percy asked.
I hadn't realized he was also watching the same scene. He restarted the car, but my attention remained on the skateboarders.
"I want to try," I said.
I thought he didn't hear me since the car was still moving and he hadn't responded. I turned to repeat myself but stopped when I noticed him scanning the road as if searching for something.
"Where is it? It should be around here somewhere," he mumbled to himself.
I looked outside, but all I saw were different establishments—clothing stores, shoe shops, and even a spa with a salon. Our search ended when he suddenly parked in front of a bike shop.
The bikes were beautiful!
"Come on!" Percy called out to me.
He got out of the car, and I followed. I paused for a moment to admire the bikes displayed outside before heading inside.
It was a large store that sold only branded bikes and motorcycle parts. But they didn't just sell bikes—they had an entire wall of skateboards.
"Cool..." I said with a smile.
It looked like they had every type imaginable. They also stocked helmets and protective gear for knees and elbows.
"What are you looking for?" a man asked me.
He seemed to be one of the salesmen, with a name tag attached to the left side of his chest.
Percy answered for me. "A skateboard for a beginner."
"Is it for you, sir?" the man asked.
"No. It's for my trans-sister," Percy replied seriously.
I immediately shot him a glare. He was still holding on to the past. No matter what he said, he knew I was really a man.
Transgender, sister Transgender!
The salesman just laughed. The two of them started discussing what I should buy while I listened at first. Then I got distracted by the rollerblades on display—for both children and adults.
While they continued talking, I wandered off to look at the bikes on display.
I couldn't help but be amazed. The models here were better than the one I had bought before. If I had known this store existed, I would have shopped here instead.
Bike lovers be like...
As I kept browsing, I suddenly got an odd feeling—like someone was watching me. I glanced around and wasn't wrong.
Three men were staring at me. One had blonde hair, the other had brown, and the smallest of them had black hair. They whispered and smirked as if they were teasing me.
Is there a problem?
I was about to go back to Percy when I caught sight of the store's glass wall. Through it, I could see the parked cars—and the large motorbikes that had chased me before.
I turned back to the men. Only then did I notice their black jackets—the same ones those motorcyclists had worn.
Shit! They're the ones who chased me!
I quickly turned and walked toward Percy. He was at the cashier, paying. The salesman from earlier handed him four large paper bags.
"I did the shopping, and you just disappeared," he remarked as I approached.
I took a deep breath and glanced back at the men, but they were gone.
"O-okay… Shall we go?" I asked.
Percy looked a bit surprised but chose to ignore it.
"Just waiting for the receipt," he said, turning back to the cashier. "Where do I sign?"
After signing, he retrieved his credit card along with the receipt. He picked up the bags and handed them to me.
"I paid. You carry them," he said before walking away.
"Wow, such a gentleman! Unbelievable!" I said sarcastically.
I just laughed at him. As we left the store, I noticed the motorbikes were gone. The men must have left earlier.
What do they want from me?
I placed the shopping bags in the backseat of my car, still wondering why Percy had bought so much. Once everything was secured, I got in.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To the park," Percy answered quickly, starting the car.
It was a short drive since the park wasn't far from the store. But this park was different—it was paved, with no grass. Trees lined the edges, but the ground itself was uneven, with slopes, curves, and small, flat-topped hills.
What caught my attention the most was the large pit in the center.
Skateboarders would slide down one side and shoot up the other. It looked awesome!
"Put these on," Percy ordered, handing me a helmet.
I did as he said. He then gave me protective gear for my knees and elbows, and finally, the skateboard.
"Do I look cool?" I asked.
"Are you a referee to be cool?" he asked sarcastically.
The excitement I felt instantly disappeared, replaced by annoyance. It's because I'm with you!
Can only a referee be cool?!
He put away the trash and plastic he had removed. While he was doing that, I took out my cellphone and snapped a picture.
"Take a picture later," Percy said boredly. "...Let's go."
Such a nuisance!
We walked closer to the skateboarders. Instead of approaching the crowd, I chose to sit in the corner. I'm too embarrassed—I'm not good at this at all.
"Are we really staying here?" Percy asked, patting a bench with his hand.
"Let's stay here first... I'm shy," I said, setting my skateboard down.
I placed one foot on the board and observed the skilled skateboarders. I'll imitate what they do.
They pushed with one foot while the other remained on the ground. Then, when they gained enough speed, they lifted the pushing foot onto the board. When the speed slowed, they pushed again.
I felt both nervous and excited.
I tried pushing off with one leg, but as soon as I placed both feet on the skateboard, it wobbled slightly. I tried again, pushing harder and gliding a longer distance.
"Wrong," someone commented.
I stopped and turned to look. A girl! She approached me with her skateboard.
"First-timer?" she asked.
"Y-yeah... I'm still learning," I said, glancing at Percy for a moment.
"Look at me," she said, gesturing toward my skateboard.
I picked it up and handed it to her. She examined it, looking around as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
"It's brand new... still stiff and scratch-free," she noted before handing it back to me. "...Let me teach you some basics. I'm RheannaRaine, by the way. You?"
"Jasper Jean, in short Jay-Jay," I answered, shaking her hand.
"Come on, let's go to my crew. You'll have more space to practice." She motioned for me to follow her toward a group of skateboarders.
I glanced at Percy. He simply gestured for me to follow Rheanna. Hesitantly, I approached them—I was still shy.
"Here she is..." Rheanna said to two girls in front of her. "...Jay-Jay, these are my friends, SherriAnn and Kay-Kay."
They waved at me, and I did the same.
"Hi, Kay-Kay. I'm Jay-Jay."
"We'll teach you," Sherri said with a smile.
They started explaining the basics and showed me the proper stance on the skateboard. I felt more confident than before.
I looked toward Percy. He seemed bored, sitting there all alone. I gestured for him to come over. He refused at first, but his boredom was obvious. Finally, he sighed and walked toward us.
"You're coming too..."
"This is my brother, Percy," I introduced.
Sherri's cheeks turned red as she waved at him. Rheanna nudged Kay-Kay with her elbow, her eyes fixed on Percy.
I turned to look at him, but he didn't seem to notice their reactions.
"Percy, meet Rheanna, Sherri, and Kay-Kay," I said.
Percy smiled, and instantly, the girls nearly pushed each other in excitement. I just winced.
"Well, they're..."
"Tsk! I'm really handsome," I heard Percy mutter under his breath.
Just then, the wind picked up, blowing so strongly that I almost lost my balance. I shot him an annoyed glare, but he only laughed.
Rheanna and I talked for a while, but Percy seemed to be up to something. He suddenly grabbed my cellphone and took a picture of me.
"Did you learn a lot from them?" he asked.
"Sort of," I replied hesitantly.
"Let's see," he said, smirking mischievously.
Before I could react, he pushed me—hard.
Caught off guard, I forgot everything they had taught me. I couldn't even remember how to stop. Panic set in as I realized I was heading straight for a cliff.
I'm going to fall!
"Jay-Jay!" one of them shouted.
I just closed my eyes and felt my body hit the floor after the skateboard struck my head.
Good thing I was wearing a helmet.
"Nice! It's viral!" Percy shouted as he approached me.
"Still alive?"
"What happened?"
"That must've hurt!"
I heard the voices of people gathering around me. I couldn't get up because of the embarrassment I felt. Everyone at the skate park had seen it.
I wish I could just pass out.
"Jay-Jay! Where does it hurt?" Sherri asked as she helped me stand up.
"Should we call an ambulance?" Kay-Kay asked.
As I stood up, I felt a sharp pain in my back. I had fallen backward, hitting the ground hard. Good thing I was wearing protective gear, but it still couldn't save my back from the impact.
"It hurts..." I whispered, trying to reach for my back.
Sherri and Rheanna supported me as I walked toward a bench to sit properly. Kay-Kay brought my skateboard over.
And Percy? That idiot was busy watching the video of my fall, grinning like an idiot.
"Look at yourself, Jay!" he said, handing me my phone. "Your face is covered in dried blood!"
Unbelievable!
Annoyed, I smacked his hand, making him drop my phone. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. My phone flew through the air, hit the helmet of a guy skateboarding nearby, bounced off, smacked into a light pole, and finally crashed onto the ground.
I thought it was over, but then a skateboard rolled over it—not once, not twice, but three times!
And the result? A completely shattered screen.
My Phone!
For a moment, I forgot about my pain. I rushed to pick up my phone from the floor. No signs of life. No response. Gone. Completely dead.
"The screen is broken," Percy commented casually, standing next to me.
And he actually dared to come near me?!
I shot him an evil glare before smacking him on the head with my phone.
"You idiot! This is all your fault!" I yelled, hitting him repeatedly.
"Hey! Hey! Test! That's enough!"
Rheanna ran over, while Kay-Kay was still holding my skateboard, watching in amusement.
"It's already broken, and you're just making it worse!" Sherri scolded.
I stopped hitting Percy, but my glare remained locked onto him. I was so frustrated I could cry. This guy was seriously raising my blood pressure.
"Let me see..." Kay-Kay said, reaching out her hand. "...Maybe it can still be fixed."
I handed her my phone. She tried to turn it on. The screen flickered for a moment before dying again. She tried once more, and this time, it stayed on a little longer before shutting off.
"It's still fixable. Let's take it to my brother. He can repair it," she said.
"Don't bother! I'll buy you a new one," Percy said casually.
Wow. Rich kid moment.
I immediately smacked him again. "I don't want a new one!"
"Come on, let's hurry. The shop isn't far from here," Kay-Kay said.
I nodded, and they started walking ahead. My annoying stepbrother trailed behind me. In just a short walk, we reached the repair shop Kay-Kay had mentioned.
"Brother!" Kay-Kay called out as she dropped her bag.
Rheanna placed the skateboard against a wall and sat on a bench. Sherri walked into the shop alongside Kay-Kay.
A well-built guy came out, wearing a blue T-shirt with a bit of grease on his face. Kay-Kay spoke to him and handed over my phone.
"It's just the screen. The phone itself still works," he said, looking at me.
I just nodded and let him get to work.
It was taking a while, and soon, Rheanna and Sherri got bored and decided to head back to the park. Kay-Kay followed them, leaving only Percy and me waiting at the shop.
I removed the ones on my elbows and knees, along with the helmet. I still have nothing but bad thoughts about those putages with blue eyes.
Can I gouge out his eyes?
Darkness has overtaken us. Kay-Kay is back, and her friends have gone home. I almost fell asleep for so long. I was about to lie down on the long bench when the worker called me.
"Miss..." he said, "...your phone screen is fine, but I just noticed something."
I approached him. He held my phone in front of me and showed me an unfamiliar app.
"O-T-J-101?" I read the name aloud. "What is that?"
"It looks like a virus, but it functions like a normal app. Besides, look..." He pressed the icon to open it. "...It's requesting a password."
I didn't remember ever downloading this app. I didn't even know its purpose. I took my phone and tried to uninstall it, but it asked for a password again.
"Why is this happening?" I whispered, trying once more.
"It's really a virus... Do you want me to format your phone?"
I didn't know much about these things, nor did I understand what this app could do to my phone. I glanced at Percy and noticed his boredom.
Facing the worker again, I hesitated. "M-maybe tomorrow. It's late."
He nodded. I turned to Percy and signaled him to pay. With a snort, he stepped closer, pulled out some money from his wallet, and handed it over. We thanked the worker and left.
Back at the parking lot, I placed my skateboard in the backseat. Once seated next to Percy, I fastened my seatbelt and looked at my phone again. It felt as if it were brand new—brand new!
"What is it?" I asked, trying to unlock it.
"Which one?" Percy glanced at me.
I showed him the app, but he didn't react. Instead, he started the car and drove.
This app is too much to think about. I just don't have the energy for it. I don't know anything about these things, so I have no idea what to do.
I only downloaded a single thing…
"Why don't you try asking your classmates?" Percy said seriously, making me pause.
"Why should I ask them?"
His eyes remained on the road. "You have a classmate who's good with computers."
I thought for a moment. Only one person came to mind—someone who actually knew his way around my phone.
Edrix Knight Peñaflor.