Jay-Jay's POV
"SHUT UP, YOU CIRCUMCISED BRAT!" the Little Rascal shouted while trying to grab my stepbrother.
"I'LL SHUT YOU UP, YOU SHORTY!" Percy retorted angrily, struggling to break free from Felix's hold.
I knew it—these two couldn't be in the same room without arguing. If it weren't for Kuya getting mad, the Snakes wouldn't even bother stopping them. They only intervened because Kuya Angelo was already scowling at them.
Go ahead, punch each other.
I looked at Kuya sitting next to me. "Give me some water."
He shook his head. "No. You've had enough earlier."
As painful as it was to admit, my cousin really didn't love me. He didn't see me as family. My feelings didn't matter to him. What I wanted wasn't important.
I had one simple request, and he denied me.
He didn't love me.
"Maybe tomorrow, you can have as much water as you want," he said, and I smiled.
So he did love me after all. He still saw me as family. I was just being dramatic because my stomach was empty. But I really did feel his care—as long as I was well-fed.
"You two need to stop," Sir Alvin told the two who were still bickering, but they ignored him, so he turned to the Snakes. "Just take them outside. They clearly won't stop."
The other Snakes followed his order, dragging the two out of the room. Ci even tried to kick, but his leg was too short.
"Your legs are too short, shorty!" Percy teased before being pulled out.
"Stop it!" Felix snapped, leading the effort to restrain him. Even Felix was getting annoyed with them.
Once the door closed, the room finally fell silent. This must be peace of mind. A piece of brain.
"I'm really sorry," David apologized to Kuya and me. "I shouldn't have let them stay in the same room."
Kuya shook his head, laughing. "They're not your responsibility. Percy's old enough to know better than to pick fights with someone younger."
Older? When he acts more childish than Ci-N?
David just smiled. He turned to me and brushed the hair away from my face.
"I hope you get better soon so you can go back to school," he said with a smile before letting go of my hair and glancing at Kuya.
I saw him swallow and avert his eyes, but when I looked at Kuya, he just raised an eyebrow at him. Even David was scared of him. Angelo really was something else.
"I'll go outside. They might need me there," David excused himself and walked out.
When the door closed, I turned to Kuya to ask something, but he spoke first.
"He doesn't get along with Keifer."
Was Kuya a mind reader now? How did he even know that? He really had too many careers. So many talents. I thought only horoscopes could predict this family's fate. Then again, I'd long noticed Kuya had a knack for knowing what I was thinking. He must have some tele-thingy.
"Not really. He used to be the President of Section E, and well... hehe." I couldn't exactly say the King of the Snakes was jealous of him. "But David has a lot of patience, so their clashes are rare."
Define rare.
"How does he treat you?"
"He often treats Ci-N and me to snacks. He gives great advice, and he always lets me copy his notes—sometimes even answers on tests or quizzes," I replied with a smile, but it quickly faded when I saw Kuya's expression. "A-And... he also defends me when people pick on me."
"Did he ever flirt with you?" Kuya asked, surprising me.
"What? Flirt?"
"You know what flirting is."
I knew what flirting was, but I didn't understand why he was asking—especially about David.
"I know, but why are you asking if David flirts with me?"
"Just answer."
"No, he doesn't! David's kind, but I never saw any other meaning in his actions," I answered.
Did I, though?
Maybe once. I wouldn't deny it, but it was better to set that thought aside. He'd always shown that his intentions were pure—just friendship... I think. The way he treated me wasn't much different from how the Snakes treated me, so there was no reason to think otherwise.
Besides, maybe I was just overthinking. Poor David—if his kind gestures were misunderstood, that wouldn't be fair. He never said anything despite all the times we were alone together. So I believed he wasn't flirting with me.
Even if he did kiss me that one time.
Kuya raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right."
"What?" I asked, but he just shook his head.
I squinted at him suspiciously. I had a feeling he was thinking something again—and that it involved David. Whatever it was, I hoped it wasn't anything bad. David was way too kind for that.
Kuya moved to the table and started cleaning up the mess left by the wonderful Snakes. He put the trash into a plastic bag.
"Aries is looking for you," he said while continuing to tidy up. "I haven't told them you're in the hospital."
I lowered my head, playing with my fingernails. It was better they didn't know. I didn't want my siblings to think I was seeking sympathy after everything I'd done to them. But maybe they'd see this as karma.
Maybe it really was karma.
My head shot up when the door opened. Kuya and I both turned, waiting to see who would enter.
We were greeted by the tired face of the King of the Snakes.
"Hey," he greeted me, walking past my cousin.
Kuya Angelo's eyebrow shot up, but he quickly returned to his cleaning.
"Do you feel better now?" Keifer asked me.
"A bit." I quickly covered my mouth when I remembered my breath's... intensity.
Keifer chuckled before sitting next to me, facing me. "I've smelled it already. Nothing to be ashamed of."
It was still embarrassing. If it were just regular morning breath, it wouldn't be so bad—but this was something else. Give it a few more days, and my breath would rival a sewer's stench. I really needed to brush my teeth.
I slowly lowered my hand from my mouth, though I still kept it partially covered to block the smell.
"K-Kuya... Do you have a toothbrush here?" I asked in a near whisper.
My cousin stared at me, clearly annoyed that I'd called him. He turned away and rummaged through the paper bag next to his things. Finally, he pulled out a new toothbrush and toothpaste and tossed them at me.
Before I could catch them, the King of the Snakes beat me to it. He even opened them for me.
"Let me help you," he said, standing up.
It seemed he understood my plan—or maybe he just really wanted me to brush my teeth because of the smell.
I couldn't blame him.
Keifer took two glasses, filling one with water. He approached me, and I quickly sat up. He even opened the toothbrush from its packaging and squeezed some toothpaste onto it. He was about to brush my teeth for me, but I snatched it from his hand.
When I tasted the toothpaste, I felt like swallowing it all. I was so hungry I was ready to eat anything edible. My stomach couldn't take this kind of suffering any longer.
After brushing my teeth, he handed me the two glasses. I rinsed my mouth with the water and spat it into the empty glass. When I was done, Keifer took everything except the glass with water.
I smiled widely.
Water. This was my chance.
I was about to drink the water when Kuya suddenly snatched it from me. I even tried to chase the glass with my mouth, but he kept it out of my reach. I felt like crying.
"Nope. You're not allowed to have this," he said as he walked away with the water.
The King looked at us curiously. "What's wrong?"
"She's not allowed to consume too much water. Doctor's orders," Kuya explained.
Keifer sat beside me again. "Don't worry. Maybe later, you'll be allowed to drink water."
"Why not now?" I asked, feeling utterly dejected.
I really was upset.
"Calm down. Once you get out of here, we'll go out on a date and eat anywhere you want."
My spirits lifted at his words. Maybe we could go to an all-you-can-eat buffet. I'd make up for all the meals I missed because I was stuck in this hospital.
"Wow, your mood really lightened up after hearing the word 'eat,'" Kuya Angelo teased.
I pouted. Who wouldn't be happy about food? Especially after not eating for so long. I was so lost in my thoughts about food that I didn't even notice Sir Alvin coming in.
"Hey, can I talk to you?" he asked Kuya Angelo seriously.
It looked like they were going to discuss something important—Sir Alvin's aura was different, and Kuya's mood immediately shifted.
The King stood up, about to follow them, but Kuya stopped him.
"Stay here," he ordered, pointing at us.
Keifer stopped and just watched them leave.
"Why?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
The King of the Snakes turned to me and smiled. "Nothing."
Why did it feel like they were hiding something?
I wanted to know what it was about or if something bad had happened, but I knew they wouldn't tell me. I let it go and decided to ask about something else.
"How's Keiren?"
"He's feeling better. He was asleep when I left."
I nodded in acknowledgment. "A-And Keigan... how is he?"
He looked sad when I mentioned his brother's name, but he quickly forced a smile.
"He locked himself in his room when we got home."
I suddenly remembered that his two brothers were back in the same house. That didn't seem like a good idea. I knew Keigan was getting better, but it was still too soon to be complacent about his condition.
Not that I wanted to think badly of him... but, well, he did make us drink glue.
"D-Do you think it's okay to leave Keigan at home with Keiren? It's not that I don't trust your brother, but..." I struggled to say what was on my mind.
I didn't want him to take it the wrong way or think I was being offensive. After all, we were talking about his brother. Still, I couldn't help but worry.
"I know what you mean. Honey's there to watch over them," he answered, and I grimaced.
The memory of what I saw Honey and Kuya doing flashed through my mind. I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the chills. For goodness' sake.
I felt reassured when Keifer told me Kuya wasn't serious about his relationship with Honey because he loved someone else.
But what if they did get serious? What if he introduced her to the family, and they ended up getting married, having kids, and living close to us—or worse, moving into Aunt Gema's house? We'd see them at every family gathering. And I'd have to watch their PDA while I was eating—and I'd lose my appetite. What a waste of food. I'd rather be swallowed by the earth.
"What's wrong?" Keifer asked.
"Break up Kuya and Honey," I ordered as if I were just asking him to fetch something.
He burst out laughing. "Are you serious?"
Take a guess.
"I just think... you know... they might get serious."
He laughed even harder, lying back on the bed while clutching his stomach. I let him be—he seemed so happy teasing me.
I smiled at the sight of him. I liked seeing him laugh. Even if it didn't solve his problems, at least it lightened his mood.
"What's the problem if they get serious?"
I frowned. "Hey."
He sat up, still chuckling. And judging by his mischievous grin, he'd thought of something else to tease me with.
"Imagine having an older female cousin you'll call... Ate Honey."
I grimaced at the word 'Ate.' I knew Honey was older than me, but I refused to call her that—she acted more childish than I did. Sometimes, it felt like her brain didn't work at all.
"No way," I said, shaking my head.
He laughed again. "Better start practicing."
I smacked his arm, which only made him laugh harder.
He really enjoyed teasing me. I felt like a clown, but it was okay—as long as he was happy.
Damn it.
I'd been holding back my swearing because of everything he was saying, but it was probably for the best. If it was just the two of us, I might actually cause a disaster.
"I feel like I'll be stuck in this hospital longer because of what you're saying."
I fixed my messy bed while he helped, though his laughter still annoyed me.
"You're so cute. I just want to pinch your gums," I said.
He grinned widely. "Do it. Use your teeth," he teased, leaning closer and showing his gums.
I pushed him away. "Behave."
"What? Come on. While there's no villain around," he said, leaning in again.
What villain? Kuya?
"One... Stop messing with me." I glared at him.
But he kept teasing and laughing until I couldn't help but laugh, too.
Couldn't we just stay like this—laughing without a care in the world? No looming threats, no danger, no one getting hurt. Just lighthearted moments, laughing until one of us farted—but hopefully, not me.
I was tired of asking why these things kept happening to us. I never got any answers. We had no choice but to face everything head-on because if we didn't, the problems wouldn't end. It was exhausting. It would be so easy to just stop.
But we couldn't.
After everything I'd been through, I couldn't give up now. Not when I'd already survived drinking glue. Maybe next time, it wouldn't affect me at all if I accidentally swallowed it again—but I had no plans of testing that theory. Not if Keigan came up with another crazy idea.
Sometimes, I amazed myself with my own thoughts.
Amazing.
But I really won't stop. They say every problem comes with a reward — I hope mine is an all-you-can-eat buffet with every type of food in the world available. There must be something like that, right? With so many restaurants in the Philippines being so similar, of course they need to step up their game to attract customers.
Or maybe for my reward, I hope I can have peace for at least a hundred years without my brother around. I'm not wishing for him to drop dead or anything — I just want him to leave me and his endless lectures alone.
If that's not possible, I hope he gets a decent love life. And it shouldn't be Honey. It should be a woman who'll really grab his attention and time, enough for him to completely forget about us. A woman who'll give him amnesia. Just kidding.
"A penny for your thoughts," Keifer said, grabbing my attention.
He smiled at me and was about to lean in closer, but I pinched his lips between my fingers.
"Oh, you think you can outsmart me? I was just thinking about something, and here you go acting like that," I said, glaring at him while tightening my pinch on his lips.
He ended up looking like a duck — a venomous, long-beaked duck. Wow, a crossbreed.
I let go immediately when his lips started to turn pale, looking like the blood had drained from them because of how hard I pinched him.
"That hurts."
I started feeling guilty, especially when he held his lips and suddenly looked serious. He really seemed hurt by what I did.
"Let me see," I said, reaching for his lips, but he quickly pulled away.
"Don't bother yourself."
Oh no, he really seemed upset.
"Let me see," I insisted, but he turned his face away again.
"Let me see. Come on, so I can kiss it better."
He spun around so fast, facing me with his lips ready, that it was like he turned into The Flash.
I smacked him on the head.
"Trying to fool me, huh? You never sulk like that," I said, laughing while he held his head.
This sneaky idiot.
"Seriously, that was my only chance."
I was planning to get mad at him, but I couldn't help but laugh.
"Can I at least have one kiss?" he asked, and I stared at him.
His accent had suddenly changed. He sounded like someone from Harry Potter.
"Fvck, that was handsome!," I blurted out.
His grin grew even wider. Only then did I realize I had said that out loud when it was supposed to stay in my head.
He leaned in closer and whispered, "Profanity."
"Hey, wait—!"
In my effort to dodge him, I ended up lying down on the hospital bed. I thought he'd stop, but he just climbed on top of me.
He smiled. "Finally."
But my attention wasn't on him anymore. I was staring at the guy who had just walked in and was now approaching us angrily. It looked like the morgue would be my next resting place.
"Kuya! Kuya!" I shouted at Keifer, pushing him, but he ignored me.
He probably thought I was joking because of the irritating smile on his face.
That was until my brother Angelo's arm wrapped around his neck, yanking him away from me. I immediately sat up.
This was the end for us.
"Fck!" Keifer shouted, struggling.
"I was only gone for a second, and you're already up to something!" my brother yelled, tightening his hold around Keifer's neck.
"Kuya! Wait!" I pleaded, trying to pry his arm off.
I could hear Keifer's strangled gasps and saw his face turning pale. He couldn't even speak — only his eyes were moving frantically.
In the middle of trying to stop my brother, I didn't even notice Sir Alvin entering the room. He quickly rushed over to help.
"Angelo! Let him go! You'll kill him!" Sir Alvin shouted, trying to loosen his hold.
"That's exactly what I plan to do!"
"Kuya!" I yelled, and he glared at me.
"You're next!"
I froze, stepping back in fear at his threat. This was really it — my end at his hands.
Maybe I should just get sick again.
"Jay, stop your cousin!" Sir ordered me.
I had no choice but to try again, especially when I saw Keifer's eyes rolling back and his face going completely pale. He was too weak to fight back, only tapping weakly at my brother's hand. But before we could fully stop my brother, another commotion broke out. Ci-N and Percy ran into the room, chasing each other like kids playing tag.
They even crawled under the bed, and then Ci-N decided to hide behind my cousin. They ended up playing a game of tag around us, and because Ci kept tugging at my brother's shirt, he kept getting dragged along — which meant Keifer was also dragged along, and so were Sir Alvin and me.
"You're dead meat, you little brat!" Percy threatened.
"Stop it already!"
"Percy's uncircumcised! Percy's uncircumcised!" the brat teased.
The other guys barged in to break up the fight between the two kids. They were immediately greeted by the sight of Keifer's near-death state, and everything turned into chaos. Some tried to pull Ci-N away, while others tried to get Percy under control.
"Section E, help Keifer!" Sir commanded.
Even though they were clearly scared of my brother, they still followed orders. Felix and David, the tallest guys in our group, were the first to grab my brother. When that didn't work, the rest of the group jumped in to help.
"Let me go!" my brother shouted.
I could see the fear in their faces, but they stood firm. It took seven people holding him back, even grabbing his legs and arms, just to get him to release the King of the Snakes.
As soon as my cousin let go, I rushed to help Keifer, who was still struggling to breathe. He almost collapsed, but I caught him — though I nearly fell over because of his weight.
"Calm down!" Sir kept shouting at my brother, who was still trying to break free.
"Calm down! This isn't you!" Percy cried, hugging my cousin like a girlfriend trying to stop her angry boyfriend.
What kind of drama was this?
Keifer looked at me, still catching his breath. "I'm dying," he said.
"What?"
"I'm dying, but at least let me kiss you one last time," he whispered, cupping my face with both hands.
I don't know why, but I found myself pouting, ready to meet his kiss. Wait — why was I even doing this? Was I just that eager?
I knew he was just being dramatic. He wasn't really dying — he was just as over-the-top as my brother. But whatever — we were going to get punished anyway. Might as well make the most of it.
Our lips met.
My brother went wild, almost throwing off everyone holding him back.
"Stop! Look at me! This isn't you!" Percy shouted, clutching my cousin's chest like some kind of soap opera heroine.
Despite the sweetness of that kiss, I couldn't help but notice Yuri's face. Disappointment, pain, and a forced smile — but there was anger, too.
Keifer pulled away and slumped to the floor. "I told you I was dying."
Nothing serious had happened to him — he was just catching his breath and still looked pale, but he was smiling at me.
It was like he was really asking to get killed by my cousin who was still pretending to be an angel. I quickly went to his side to make sure he was okay. I'd talk to Yuri later — I didn't know why, but I felt like I owed him an explanation.
The door opened again, but I ignored it because my brother's nonstop cursing was still the loudest thing in the room.
"Angelo. . ."
My brother and I both froze when we heard that voice. It was Aunt Gema. When I turned to look, my heart pounded even harder when I saw my mom and Aries right behind her.
I was even more terrified now than when my brother had Keifer in a chokehold.