JayJay POV
We were all silently staring at Drew. Even if they didn't say it, I knew they were waiting for him to take back his words or at least follow them up with a "just kidding."
Please, just say you were joking.
But he didn't say anything or add anything. We waited for a few minutes until my cousin and the Ulupong started cursing one after another.
"F*** you, Drew! That's not funny!" Blaster yelled angrily before approaching him and pushing him.
The other Ulupong would have also charged at him if David hadn't stepped in to block them.
"Stop it first! Let him explain himself!"
"Explain? F*** that, he already betrayed us!" Mayo shot back.
"What other reason could he have? That guy's always after money!" Eren said angrily, pointing at Drew.
"So that's why you kept borrowing my phone? Because you were taking pictures from it? F***, you even put Grace in danger," Denzel said calmly, but it was clear he still wanted to hurt Drew.
I just watched them in silence. I couldn't accept that someone really did betray us. That someone actually did it.
Why? I couldn't understand.
I was so confident before, saying that after everything we had been through, there was no way any of them would think of doing that. But here it was, right in front of us.
I was having a hard time looking at him, not because of what he did, but because of how our friends were ganging up on him.
I had every right to be angry at him because what he did hurt, but I felt like the anger from our friends was already enough. He didn't need to hear it from me too.
"So our lives were only worth a price tag to you?" Calix yelled angrily. "You know what Ram is like—he'd kill just to entertain himself!"
"Calm the f*** down!" Rory tried to stop them, but he became the target instead.
"F*** you! You're just as guilty! You knew something too!" Felix snapped at him.
"Can you all just listen first?! This won't end if you let your anger take over!" Edrix shouted as he stepped in.
"You knew something too!" Kit accused him. "Did you even think about Jay-Jay?"
My body felt weak seeing them like this. It was painful to watch them fighting. It was just like before—when they fought because of Yuri and Keifer's argument, when the truth about their plan came out.
And now, it was happening again because of betrayal.
It was hard seeing them like this.
I sighed. In an instant, the shouting and cursing turned into chaos.
Kuya Angelo tried to approach Drew, and because they already knew what he was going to do, most of them—despite being angry at Drew—held him back.
"You son of a b****! You better give me a good reason for risking my cousin's life!" he shouted in rage.
Even Ma'am Cindy and Sir Alvin were trying to stop him. With so many of them holding him back, he almost dragged them along as he tried to step forward.
"Speak up, Drew!" Yuri ordered, looking like he pitied him.
Drew didn't want to speak, but when our eyes met, it was as if he was asking for help.
He took deep breaths multiple times, but he still broke down in tears when he saw me wiping my own eyes.
I felt unbearably heavy. I wanted to go back to bed and lie down, but I was afraid I wouldn't want to get up again.
"I needed money. I had no one else to turn to," he finally said, and was met with another round of cursing.
"F***! If you seriously needed help, we would've helped you!" Blaster shouted.
Drew let out a bitter laugh. "I came to all of you multiple times. Keifer, David, Eman, Rory—I approached almost all of you."
"I didn't lend you money because you weren't telling the truth," Keifer said. "I just wanted to know where you were going to use it."
"Same reason. You were hiding something from us," David added.
Eman sighed. "How would I know if you weren't just going to use it for gambling?"
Drew grabbed his hair in frustration. I could feel how much he was struggling, but he still couldn't bring himself to tell the truth about where his money was going and why his debts kept piling up.
I just hoped gambling wasn't the reason.
"I owe money to a new loan shark. I thought our agreement was settled, but he cornered me. He even used my sister to blackmail me. I had nothing left." He wiped his tears aggressively.
"He said that if I was having trouble paying him back, he'd find me a side job. He introduced me to Ram. I really didn't want to, but he promised to cut down a huge chunk of my debt if I did well. He even said they'd remove the interest and extend the deadline."
I could see the frustration in everyone around us. Even Ma'am Cindy was visibly affected by what she heard. Sir had no visible reaction, but my cousin was still fuming.
But how did he even end up in another debt? What did he use the money for? I didn't know of any financial problems in his family.
"I was scared. I was desperate. That loan shark is involved in sex trafficking. What if they did something to Marianne? What about my sister?"
He collapsed onto the floor. He was scared. That was his clear reason—it wasn't just about the money.
He should have told the truth. He should have come to me. Even if I didn't have money, I would have found a way. Then he wouldn't have had to lie to us.
"But believe me, I never gave him all the details he asked for. Just enough to satisfy him. I thought Ram wouldn't execute his plan yet since he was short on people and had just gotten out of the hospital."
"So you were confident enough to send the location of my house?" Sir Alvin asked.
Drew couldn't answer. He couldn't even look at Ma'am and Sir. I knew he was ashamed because we had troubled the couple as well.
It looked like they would have to move houses now.
"What assurance do we have that you only gave him those details?" Josh asked.
I knew he was just being cautious, but the way he said it sounded accusatory.
"We know. I saw what he was sending," Edrix answered.
Felix angrily pointed at them. "So you two knew? And you didn't say anything? Not even to Keifer?"
I looked at Keifer. He was calm, yes, but I could see in the way he looked at Drew that he had been wanting to hit him for a while now. He was probably holding himself back with all his might.
"We needed to confirm Ram's plans first. If we had told Keifer, he would've acted immediately, and Ram would have noticed Drew's movements. Ram's plan was sudden," Rory explained.
My cousin sighed multiple times. The ones holding him back had let him go, but they were still surrounding him just in case he decided to attack again.
"These kids managed to find Ram before we did?" Sir asked Kuya. "I don't know if I should be amazed or disappointed."
I remembered that Kuya Angelo and his group had also been looking for Ram but had never managed to get a solid location on him. He always disappeared whenever they got intel.
Be disappointed, Sir. Your trackers suck.
"Sudden or not, you should have known he would charge in no matter what. Look at what happened now—Jay had a panic attack and now has a high fever, her cousin almost died, and Sir's house got exposed." David calmly pointed at us. "Your irresponsible decision caused all of this."
"Alright, let's say Drew was desperate and in need, but couldn't he have asked for help from the right people? From Jay-Jay's brother, from David, or even from Sir Alvin?" Yuri asked, clearly trying to understand his friend's situation.
"It was risky! We couldn't predict what would happen. What if Ram told the loan shark that Drew betrayed him?" Rory defended.
I can't help but think that Rory and Edrix were also wrong. They took the lead in the situation and chose not to tell us what was happening.
Calix ran his fingers through his hair. "But are you sure about what will happen with what Ram is about to do? I mean, look at this—they rushed in without you even knowing or predicting it."
"We were sure at first. That's why we felt confident in forming a plan before telling Keifer," Edrix replied.
"Well, where's your plan now? It's gone, isn't it? Damn it, use your brains properly! You think so highly of yourselves that you thought you had everything under control!" Eren said angrily.
They received a barrage of accusations and curses from their fellow Ulupong. Rory almost got into a fistfight.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Kuya Angelo's voice echoed throughout the house.
The Ulupong fell silent. Drew sat on the floor, his head bowed.
I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to hear his reasons clearly and understand what he was thinking. What he did hurt me, but what hurt even more was the thought that our friendship was ruined and might never be fixed.
I need Bob the Builder—maybe he can still fix this.
"What will you do with these friends of yours?" Kuya asked Keifer.
Keifer took a deep breath. He looked at me as if he was trying to gauge if I would be okay with his decision. He was calm, but there was a mix of anger and sadness on his face. I wanted to tell him to talk to Drew first and carefully think about his decision.
But it looked like he had already made up his mind.
"I want him to stay away from Jay-Jay," he said, and his next words shocked all of us. "And I want him out of Section E."
"W-Wait, Keifer..." I called out to him, but he didn't seem to hear me over the Ulupong's reactions.
"You're kicking Drew out?" Edrix asked.
"Hold on. You're deciding too quickly," Yuri tried to stop him.
"Just like that? Isn't his reason valid?" Rory questioned.
"Don't you think that's too harsh?" David asked, clearly disagreeing with his decision.
Our other friends were confused. They were shocked and didn't expect their king's decision. I could tell they didn't agree with it, but they also couldn't outright refuse because they understood why it had come to this. Even though they were angry at Drew, I knew they didn't want this.
"W-What about the exam? The graduation?" Blaster asked.
"He can talk to Sir Alvin and arrange a schedule for the exam and set up for his graduation. I don't want to see him anywhere near Jay-Jay," Keifer answered, walking toward me.
"Wait, think about this carefully," I pleaded with him.
We were so close to graduation. Why did he have to expel Drew? He could punish him in another way.
Like plucking out his eyebrows one by one—something like that.
"My decision is final. I want him to leave our section, our classroom, and our friendship."
I couldn't stop myself from crying. I looked at Drew, but he was still bowing his head, silently enduring all the harsh words thrown at him. I knew he was hurting because of Keifer's decision.
"Keifer, maybe you can reconsider?" Rory insisted, but Keifer shot him a sharp look.
"I need to talk to both of you. For now, I don't trust either of you. Your loyalty to me and this group is in question."
Keifer turned back to me and supported me. "You need to go back to your room—you're turning pale."
I tried to struggle, but with my fever and weakness, I couldn't fight back. I kept my gaze on Drew. Our eyes met briefly, and it was as if he was silently apologizing.
Just wait!
When we got back to the room, Keifer helped me lie down on the bed. He picked up the bowl of porridge again.
"Eat this so you can take your medicine."
I shook my head. "Why did you make that decision?"
"Let's not talk about it."
Because I got up earlier, it seemed like my fever was getting worse. On top of that, Drew's confession and Keifer's decision to expel him made me feel even worse. My tears wouldn't stop falling.
"Please eat."
I shook my head again. "I just want to sleep."
I couldn't help but sulk at him. It was as if he really didn't think about what he did. It seemed like he could feel my frustration, too.
"Come on, Jay. Do you think I'd let him get close to you again? How can I be sure he's not talking to any more of our enemies?"
I couldn't answer. Instead, I sobbed harder.
It was frustrating because he was right. It was hard to trust Drew now, but kicking him out was still too much.
Keifer put down the bowl and immediately approached me to hug me, but I turned my back on him. I hugged my blanket up to my chest.
"He's still our friend," I cried. "He's still our friend."
He's still our friend, even if he betrayed us.
I didn't know how long I cried. I didn't even realize that I had fallen asleep. I only became aware when I felt movement around me.
When I opened my eyes, the first person I saw was Kuya Angelo. He seemed to notice that I was awake, but he didn't tell the person he was talking to.
"Are you serious with your decision?"
"Of course, I am. What about you? What will your decision be about what Drew did?" Keifer's voice answered.
"Probably, termination of his existence," my cousin replied, and I was immediately alarmed.
Damn it! What does he think Drew's life is? A termite that needs to be exterminated?
"Kuya!" I called him out threateningly, but my hoarse voice drowned it out.
My cousin just laughed, while Keifer approached me.
"Hey, do you feel better now?"
I nodded and tried to sit up. My head ached immediately, but I ignored it because I wanted to confront my cousin, who was pretending to be an angel.
So bold. Acting all tough.
"I'm fine. What were you two talking about? And what termination?"
"If you're feeling better, we can leave now. You can rest at home," my cousin said and turned his back on us.
I faced Keifer again. "What were you talking about?"
"Random things. And also, my decision to kick out Drew."
I felt crushed again. After all the time I was asleep, he didn't even try to talk to Drew or reconsider his decision.
"I want to talk to Drew," I said and was about to stand up, but he stopped me.
"Drew's gone. He left with Rory and Edrix. David took them while you were sleeping. And the others have gone home."
I sighed. I was planning to argue with him if only I didn't feel the sharp pain in my stomach. I hadn't eaten since morning. I couldn't think straight in this state.
I also didn't have the energy to start a fight.
I needed to eat.
I held my stomach. "I want to eat."
It seemed like he had anticipated that I'd be hungry when I woke up. He helped me fix myself. He even combed my hair for me—though I was embarrassed because it felt like he was pulling my scalp along with it. Now I regret not brushing my hair regularly.
When we were done, he assisted me downstairs to the kitchen, where Yuri and Sir Alvin were sitting while Ma'am Cindy was standing. They seemed to be in the middle of a discussion.
Yuri quickly stood up and offered me his seat. "Jay, do you feel better now?"
"I'll get you some food. You must be starving," Ma'am said and quickly moved.
Sir Alvin stood up and left us. It seemed like he was going to look for my cousin.
The two friends sat beside me. I rested my head on the table.
"My head still hurts," I said, though I knew I no longer had a fever.
I still felt weak, though not as bad as earlier. My bones ached too. I glanced at the wall clock. It was already 12:48 AM, and I was just about to eat.
Going the whole day without food was exhausting. I was lucky to still be alive.
Ma'am set down the food she had prepared for me, and I thanked her.
Yuri got me a drink, while Hari helped me whenever I struggled to lift my arm.
Suddenly, I got annoyed because I felt like an invalid, and these two were my nurses.
"Stop it! I just want to eat properly!" I snapped.
Yuri laughed, but Keifer didn't say anything. Still, they let me eat in peace. I was almost finished when I overheard Sir Alvin and Kuya Angelo talking as they entered the kitchen.
"Live underground so no one can find you," my cousin said. Sir almost cursed, but he stopped when he saw us.
"I know a safe house. We can stay there if you're still having trouble deciding," Yuri suggested.
Wait, were they moving?
"It's too far. It'll be difficult to travel to school," Ma'am replied.
"You can all move to my house, I don't mind," Keifer said, and I looked at him.
"And Keigan? What do you think he'll say about us being there?" Yuri asked.
"I think he would understand."
"I think he would NOT understand. He might even trigger his symptoms because of us."
I looked back and forth between the two friends, feeling like I was going to get a stiff neck.
But it was true that Ma'am needed to move. Was it because their house had been exposed? Were they afraid of being found by their godchildren?
"Why are you moving? Did something bad happen?" I asked Yuri.
He shook his head. "Not really. It's just not safe here for the three of us anymore."
"Is it because of Ram's arrival?"
Yuri looked at Ma'am Cindy, so I did too. She averted her gaze, as if she didn't want to confirm it. I understood—she probably didn't want Drew to be blamed again.
I couldn't help but feel hurt by what he did, but I also pitied him for being caught in the middle. However, why did he end up with another debt again?
The only thing I could think of was gambling.
"Are you done eating?" Kuya asked me.
I gave a small nod. He checked the time on the wall clock.
"Pack your things. We're going home," he instructed.
I was about to stand up when Hari stopped me. "I'll do it. Stay here."
He got up and went to the room I had stayed in. I didn't have much with me, so he wouldn't have trouble packing my things.
Sir and my cousin continued their conversation.
"Tomorrow, I'll help you find a house. Even if it's just a cave."
"Sure, find us a house under the sea," Ma'am replied sarcastically.
"If I do, don't bother coming back up. You're a sea monster anyway," Kuya Angelo shot back. Sir chuckled quietly but quickly turned serious when he saw his wife glaring at him.
Understanding, huh.
Before long, Keifer returned with my things. He even made me double-check if he had left anything behind. I assured him he had packed everything.
Now that I had eaten, I felt stronger. They walked us out until we got into the car.
"Hey, text me when you get home," Keifer said, then quickly kissed me on the head.
I glanced at Yuri, who was standing behind him. He smiled and waved at me. I waved back at all of them before saying goodbye.
During the ride, Kuya kept wincing at his wounds. I stayed quiet, not wanting to make him angry. Besides, he didn't seem to be in a good mood.
I thought we were heading straight home, but suddenly, he turned toward the nearest hospital.
It seemed he couldn't endure the pain from his wounds anymore.
"Both of us need to be checked," he said as he parked the car.
I just followed him, even though I knew full well that he was the only reason we stopped here.
When we arrived at the ER, there were only a few nurses and no other patients. Maybe because it was a small hospital, or perhaps not many people came here.
A male doctor approached my cousin first. They talked for a bit before the doctor led Kuya to one of the beds, pulling the curtain aside before gesturing to another bed.
"Stay there, please," the doctor told me.
I sat down and just watched them. Kuya removed his shirt, revealing his stitched wounds.
Only now did I clearly see that he had a lot of injuries. Most seemed shallow, but the stitched wounds were impossible to ignore.
But why did his stitches look like that?
The doctor first examined the stitches on Kuya Angelo's neck. He removed the bandage, then picked up a pair of scissors and another tool that had no sharp tip—probably forceps. He started removing the stitches.
I saw the doctor's confusion and amazement at Kuya's wound.
"Who stitched you up? It looks like someone was sewing fabric," he remarked.
A nurse approached them, carrying a tray with new thread and needles. She set it beside Kuya, and I immediately noticed the way she looked at his body. I wasn't sure if she was staring at his wounds or his muscles.
Girl, I caught you.
"Whoever stabbed you must have been scared too. The wound isn't deep, and it didn't hit your external jugular vein." After properly stitching Kuya's wound, the doctor pointed to his neck. "It's here—your vein. Just a few centimeters off, and you'd probably be dead by now."
The so-called angel chuckled. "I know where it is. That's why it wasn't hit. I managed to move my neck a second before he could stab me."
I rolled my eyes at my cousin's arrogance. He dodged a stab to the neck but couldn't avoid Keifer's comment—he even fainted.
The doctor kept talking while replacing the bandages on Kuya's other wounds. Meanwhile, a female nurse approached me.
"What are you feeling?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm not—"
"She had a high fever from morning until the afternoon. It only returned to normal recently," Death interrupted before I could finish.
He spoke like he was my personal doctor. All that was missing was for him to recite my entire medical history.
Maybe my cousin was studying to be a doctor—a quack doctor.
The nurse grabbed a thermometer and placed it on my forehead. For a moment, I thought she was going to shoot me, so I flinched slightly.
"I'm fine now, right? I just got stressed this morning, which is why I had a fever," I reasoned, trying to peek at the result.
But it was true—I had been stressed. My body just couldn't handle everything that happened.
Next, she picked up the blood pressure monitor, but before she could start, I got off the bed.
"Jay . . ." my cousin scolded.
"I'm really fine. He's the only one who needs help," I said, pointing at him.
I could feel Death glaring at me. "Let her do her job."
I ignored him, thanked the nurse, and left the ER. Kuya called after me, but I took large strides.
He couldn't chase me yet since the doctor was still treating him.
I just wanted to breathe. The hospital smell was starting to make me uncomfortable.
But I truly couldn't breathe when the memories of what I saw and what happened kept coming back to me.