Ruz's POV
After the car started moving, I leaned back in my seat and focused on a game on my phone, trying to relax after everything that had happened.
A few minutes later, Kuya suddenly spoke.
"You didn't tell me?"
"Hm?" I glanced at him briefly before looking back at my screen. "About what?"
"The presentation," Kuya said. "When did you prepare the new version?"
I knew Roy wouldn't let the project go without pulling something, so I deliberately handed over the wrong one. Meanwhile, I had already prepared a backup version, just in case.
Telling Kuya wouldn't help anyway… so I lied.
"Last night," I replied casually. "I was reviewing it and noticed some errors, so I made a few changes."
He frowned slightly. "Why didn't you inform me?"
"I was going to," I said, shrugging lightly. "But you were asleep."
He didn't respond after that, and silence filled the car. A few minutes later, he pulled over and stopped in front of a café.
We went inside, found a table, and placed our orders. I ordered carbonara, a croissant, and a chocolate smoothie.
Do not judge me. I barely ate this morning and survive a confrontation from a old man who have same surname.
Kuya, on the other hand, ordered only black coffee. Seriously… how do people even drink something that bitter?
As we waited for our food, my thoughts drifted back to Roy.
The way he had been scratching himself earlier like a restless monkey.
I almost laughed out loud just thinking about it. But then… The amusement faded. Every time I thought about him, something inside me twisted.
Uneasiness.
Discomfort.
Disgust.
I really did not like him. In fact, I did not even want to see him again. I snapped out of my thoughts when the waiter placed our food on the table. We ate quietly, paid the bill afterward, and left.
When we reached home, Aunt and Uncle were already there.
My face lit up instantly.
"I missed you!" I exclaimed, running toward them. Without even pausing to breathe, I started firing questions.
"Aunt, how are you? How was your trip? How is Grandma? Is she taking her medicine properly? Did she ask about me? Did you finish your work?"
Uncle laughed. "Ruz, slow down. You are not even letting her answer."
"I missed you too, Ruz," she said softly. "The trip was good… but it felt boring without you. And your grandmother misses you very much."
She placed a bag in front of me.
"Look what she sent for you."
My eyes widened with excitement.
Cookies. Biscuits. Homemade snacks.
"Do you like it?" Uncle asked.
"Like it?" I grinned brightly. "I love it!"
I hugged Aunt again. "Lola knows me so very well!"
I quickly grabbed a cookie and took a bite.
"Is all of this really for me?" I asked, my voice full of excitement.
"Yes," Aunt replied with a smile. "It is all yours."
SMACK!
"Owww!"
"You glutton," a voice said from behind me. "Do you have any idea how much effort she put into making those?"
I turned around.
Adrian.
He casually grabbed a few cookies and walked away.
"Hey! That is mine!" I protested.
He did not even bother to respond.
Ugh.
Adrian my extremely annoying second cousin. He always finds new ways to irritate me.
"Ruz," Aunt said gently, "go to your room. Change your clothes and get some rest. Your school starts tomorrow."
"Oh right!" I said, my mood instantly lifting.
Grabbing the snack bag and my jacket, I ran upstairs. My room is on the left side of the Upstairs. Adrian's is on the right.
As I walked past his room, I noticed that the door was slightly open.
Voices came from inside.
Kuya… and Adrian.
"…we should take her as soon as possible," Azmain was saying.
"No," Adrian replied firmly. "We should not force her. What if it makes things worse?"
There was a brief silence.
"She could not handle it last time,"
Adrian continued in a quieter voice. "I still remember… she was acting inhuman. She could not recognize anyone. Her eyes were lifeless…"
I froze.
What…?
Before I could even process it, tears began streaming down my face.
I quickly rushed into my room, shut the door, and collapsed onto the bed.
What are they talking about?What happened to me?My head started to ache. I tried to remember but there was nothing. Only a strange emptiness.
Anxiety.
Pain.
After some time…
I fell asleep.
"Ahh...!" I woke up after some time. clutching my head tightly.
"It hurts…"
I reached for my phone and checked the time.
4:00 p.m.
After taking a shower to calm myself down, I went downstairs. Everyone was there, talking. But the moment they saw me they stopped.
…Maybe I know what they were talking about.
"Hey, come here, Ruz," Uncle called out warmly. "Look, your new school uniform is ready."
I walked closer. The uniform looked elegant and refined, clearly from a prestigious English medium school.
"Do you like it?" Aunt asked.
"Yes," I replied softly. "It is beautiful. I really like it."
"It is not easy to get into that school," Adrian said. "You should consider yourself lucky."
There he goes again. Always provoking me. Always annoying. I hate him.
…But sometimes… He does care.
"Do not mess around and embarrass me," he added.
Nope. I take that back. 😑
Unfortunately, we are going to the same school. Luckily, we are in different sections. Still… I might be doomed.
We spent some time talking about my new school, had dinner together, and eventually went to bed. But deep inside…
Something did not feel right.