Keifer's POV
Where is Jay?" Ci-N asked me.
I had already gone back to the room. I wasn't needed there. Jay had taken the blame for something that should have been mine—which was a good thing for me.
"She's at the guidance office with her guardian," I answered, bored.
I sat down and relaxed. I was sure Jay-jay wouldn't be in trouble. Angelo was with her, backing her up. No wonder Ms. Zaragoza wanted to transfer her to a different section.
"What happened? Did she do what you expected?" Yuri asked.
"Yeah… She did. She was even willing to accept expulsion." Yuri looked at me with a hint of concern. Was he worried? "...But her guardian arrived. And he's a big shot," I added.
"Who?"
"It was Michael Angelo Fernandez… He looks different from the last time we met."
"I heard he's now the CEO of Fer Corp."
Really?!
"No wonder your buddy has gotten cockier… I'm sure Aries is going to join the company too."
It's true. I knew Aries would find a way to rise even higher. The only question was, would he still be able to, knowing the information I had against him?
"I don't care about their company, as long as the old man still hasn't accepted their proposal. That's good enough for me," Yuri said.
"I don't even know what's going on between our company and theirs."
"Because you don't care."
I chuckled. "Yeah…"
I really didn't care about anything involving our company. The money still ended up with me anyway. All I had to do was wait.
"What's your next step? You're done testing Jay, right?"
Am I?
I smirked. "A few more tests, and my plan begins."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jay-jay's POV
"Unbelievable! Promise?! Promise my ass!" Kuya shouted while driving.
And that was just the beginning. He hadn't even reached the part where he'd start throwing things around. Seriously… If only Tita had answered my call instead.
Kuya suddenly slammed his hand on the steering wheel. I had to admit—I was starting to get scared.
They had sent me out of the guidance office before discussing the whole issue. Their conversation lasted only about 30 minutes. When Kuya came out, he said everything was settled, but he didn't let me back in.
He said he'd explain what was discussed first. But from the moment he started talking, he was already ranting.
"Do you know that you lost your chance to transfer to another section?!" Kuya asked. I was about to open my mouth to respond, but he beat me to it. "Of course you know it! Or maybe not! I don't know! You don't know!"
That was another thing he did when he was angry—he answered his own questions like a lunatic.
"You weren't expelled, but now the school guidance will be watching you! Just like they do with Keifer and Yuri!"
Huh?! He knows Yuri too?!
"How do you know Yuri—"
"DON'T FVCKING CHANGE THE TOPIC!!" he roared, making my whole body tremble.
Okay, okay… I won't.
I just lowered my head. I had forgotten that when he started his rants, I wasn't allowed to interrupt.
"You were supposed to be suspended, but since your periodical exams are in two weeks, they can't pull you out of class!!"
Tsk! Right… That.
I really needed to fix my academics. But how was I supposed to do that when all this drama kept happening to me?
"It was so hard to negotiate!!"
Honestly… I had been wanting to ask where we were going.
"You promised no more fights! But fvck! I forgot, promises are meant to be broken!"
Oh great! Now he's being dramatic!
"What would Mom say?! Or Tita?! And Grandma?! Oh, and Dad too!"
All that's left is for him to name the entire family tree.
"Maybe I should put you and Aries together so he can watch over you?!"
My eyes widened at what he said. Hell no! Don't you dare! That would turn into a civil war.
"I worked so hard to get you into that school… And the result?! Another record!"
Wew! Will he ever stop?
"Now I even have to visit the student who's in the hospital!! Wow, Jay! Just wow!"
Wow, Magic Sing…
"What's your plan?!... Oh, of course, you don't have one! I already took care of everything!!"
As usual, asking and answering his own questions… Suddenly, the car stopped. We were in the parking lot of a huge building. Why were we here?!
Kuya got out of the car, so I followed him. That's when I saw a banner hanging in the parking lot. It had Kuya Angelo's face on it, with the words Fer Corp!
We were at Fer Corp?!
What were we doing here?! This was my first time coming here. Kuya was walking fast toward the building, so I had to half-run to keep up. When we entered, he immediately approached the receptionist. Their counter was made of marble. Fancy!
Kuya took an ID and put the lanyard around my neck. Visitor's Pass. That's what it said.
A woman in a skirt walked up to Kuya. She looked really sexy, but she was carrying a ton of paperwork. They started walking toward a different area. I just followed behind. People were staring at me. Probably because I was still in my school uniform. They were probably thinking I had skipped class.
The two of them entered the elevator. Again, I followed. They were talking about something I couldn't understand.
When we stepped out of the elevator, they started walking again, and I followed—again. What is this?! This is exhausting!
Finally, they entered a room that looked like Kuya's office. It was huge! Just like the ones I saw on TV. A big desk, a sofa set in the middle, a flat-screen TV, speakers, and a bookshelf packed with books.
Since they were busy, I decided to look around. All the books were novels. Fancy... So Kuya actually reads. I tried picking up a book, which I immediately regretted. Some books fell. Oh no! I didn't mean to! I grimaced and looked at Kuya, who was glaring at me like he wanted to melt me with his eyes.
"Leave us," Kuya ordered the woman he had been talking to. Once the woman left, his aura changed. He looked like he was about to kill someone.
I'm doomed! He made me sit on the sofa, then he sat down too.
"Kindly explain..." Kuya said.
Explain what? "I-I didn't know the books would topple over—"
"Not that! I'm talking about the incident with the three students!"
Oh, he's mad! What else could I do but explain what happened? I started with how Section D ambushed me. I didn't want to mention Freya. I also told him the truth—that Keifer was actually the one who did that to the Section D students, and I just took the blame so he wouldn't get expelled.
"Trying to be a hero?"
"Not really… More like paying him back for helping me before."
Kuya took a deep breath. It seemed like his anger toward me had lessened. There was a sudden knock on the door, and the woman he was talking to earlier came back in.
"Sir… Your meeting is about to start," she informed him.
Kuya just nodded and stood up. He took something from his wallet and handed it to me.
"Go entertain yourself… Go to the mall or eat at a restaurant. Just don't go home yet, I haven't talked to Mom."
I took what Kuya handed me. A credit card! It was the legendary wallet with endless money. Awesome!
"Can I buy anything with this?" I asked Kuya. He just nodded before leaving.
I stared at the credit card. Light bulb! 💡
I quickly ran out of Kuya's office, gripping the credit card tightly. I couldn't afford to lose it—this was my chance! I had wanted to buy something for a long time…That night…
"What are you even going to do with that?!" Tita asked me.
The truth? I didn't know. I just really wanted to buy this electric pencil sharpener. I also bought a bike so I could have my own ride to school. And of course, I bought a new phone—the latest model.
I was jealous of Yuri and Keifer, who both had iPhones. Felix and David had the latest Samsung models. Ci-N had a Samsung too, though last year's model. Most of my classmates had touchscreens. My phone was the only one with a keypad.
"I don't know," I answered with a smile.
We barely even used pencils anymore unless necessary. We used pens most of the time. I just really liked it.
"You should've bought some clothes instead." Clothes again?! I already had so many!
"Tita, I haven't even worn the ones Kuya gave me yet, and now you want me to buy more?"
"You don't like—" Tita stopped when Aries arrived.
"Ma! Whose bike is that in the garage?!" he shouted.
Mine!
When Aries entered, as usual, he glared at me. He only kissed Tita on the cheek and went upstairs.
Nothing. We were still avoiding each other. If he was in the living room, I'd be in my room—or the kitchen. If I was in the living room, he'd be in his room. When Kuya was home, that was the only time we were both in the same place.
"He still won't talk to you?" Tita whispered.
I just shook my head. Tita was aware of this silent treatment thing. But she didn't know the real reason. And I didn't want to tell her.
Oh, wait! Tita didn't know what happened at school earlier. Kuya wasn't home yet. I'm about to get lectured!