Chapter: The Youngorina War
(Jay's POV)
Let me make something very clear.
Aries and I are 17.
Seventeen. Mature. Responsible. Supposedly.
Ci N?
He is 14.
Fourteen.
And somehow… by fate, destiny, or pure academic chaos, he ended up in Section E with me.
While Aries?
Mr. Perfect. Mr. Golden Child.
In Section A.
Three years older than Ci N.
And yet.
At 9:52 PM.
He was banging on Aries' bedroom door like a dramatic landlord.
"JAYYYY! ARIESSSS!"
I groaned from the couch. "Why is he like this?"
Aries, who had just walked back in from outside, sighed. "Ignore him."
The door burst open.
Ci N stormed in with the energy of a child who had just discovered sugar.
"I want Youngorina."
Silence.
I blinked at him. "You want what?"
"Youngorina," he repeated confidently. "Large cup. Double chocolate. Extra drizzle."
Aries rubbed his forehead. "It's almost ten."
"So?" Ci N crossed his arms.
"So you're 14."
"And?"
"And you should be asleep."
He gasped. "Age discrimination."
I stood up. "You're the youngest. You go get it."
He pointed at me dramatically. "I am in Section E with seniors. Do you know how stressful that is?"
I stared at him.
"You're stressed because you're 14 in Section E?"
"Yes."
"Then study."
He ignored that.
"I deserve Youngorina."
Aries leaned against the wall, clearly entertained. "Why us?"
"Because," Ci N said proudly, "you both are older. Three years older. That means responsibility."
I almost choked.
"RESPONSIBILITY?" I shouted. "We didn't even ask to be responsible!"
Aries laughed. "He has a point."
I turned slowly. "Why are you supporting him?"
"I'm not. I just enjoy watching you suffer."
Traitor.
Ci N suddenly climbed onto Aries' bed like he was addressing a crowd.
"Listen. Jay ended up in Section E. I ended up in Section E. Trauma bonding."
"That is not trauma," I snapped.
"It feels like it."
Aries crossed his arms. "Why don't you go yourself?"
Ci N froze dramatically.
"…It's dark outside."
I stared at him.
"You're not scared of dark."
"I'm not," he said quickly. "I'm scared of stray dogs."
"Liar."
"I'm scared of expensive ice cream melting."
I facepalmed.
Aries suddenly smirked. "Fine. Let's make this interesting."
I narrowed my eyes. "No."
"Yes," Ci N grinned.
Aries pointed at me. "Whoever loses rock-paper-scissors goes to buy Youngorina."
"I refuse."
"You're scared," Ci N teased.
"I'm not scared!"
"Then play."
I hate when they do that.
"Fine. One round."
"Best of three," Aries corrected immediately.
"You both are evil."
We stood in a triangle like we were about to start a battle.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors!"
I threw paper.
Aries threw scissors.
Ci N threw rock.
Aries smirked. "One point."
Second round.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors!"
I threw rock.
Aries threw paper.
Ci N threw scissors.
Aries clapped dramatically. "I am unbeatable."
"Shut up," I muttered.
Final round.
My heart was beating like this was some life-changing decision.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors!"
I threw scissors.
Aries threw rock.
Ci N threw paper.
Silence.
Ci N slowly turned toward me with the most evil smile a 14-year-old could produce.
"Jay lost."
"No."
"Yes."
"You're minors!" I shouted. "This is illegal!"
"You're 17," Aries said calmly. "Go."
I glared at both of them.
"I hope your Youngorina falls."
Ci N gasped loudly. "You wouldn't curse ice cream!"
"I just did."
He jumped off the bed and attacked me with a pillow.
Wrong move.
War started immediately.
I grabbed another pillow and smacked him.
Aries joined in like he had been waiting his entire life for this moment.
"THIS ISN'T FAIR!" I yelled while laughing.
"BUY THE ICE CREAM!" Ci N screamed.
"I HOPE IT'S SOLD OUT!"
He froze.
"…Don't say that."
Aries collapsed on the floor laughing. "Okay okay stop before neighbors call police."
We all fell onto the bed, out of breath.
Ci N looked at us with dramatic puppy eyes.
"Please?"
Aries looked at me.
I looked at Aries.
We both sighed at the same time.
"Fine," Aries said. "We'll go together."
Ci N jumped up like he won a championship. "YESSS!"
I pointed at him. "You're paying."
He froze.
"…With what money?"
Aries and I stared at him.
He slowly smiled nervously.
"Emotional support?"
I grabbed another pillow.
He screamed and ran.
And just like that…
The great Youngorina mission began.
Three chaotic humans.
One overpriced ice cream.
And zero maturity.
Sometimes I think Section E isn't the problem.
The real problem?
These two idiots I call family. 🍦