Yuri's POV:
The surroundings were blurred. Nothing was clear, but I could see something moving. I walked closer, and slowly, everything became clearer.
It was Ella. She was cooking, wearing an apron.
"Ella? W-what are you doing here?"
She looked at me and smiled.
"Isn't this what you wanted? To be with me."
She was right. That's what I wanted. But why wasn't happy? Was it because I knew she didn't love me?
"You should leave."
She looked at me with concern. I avoided her gaze.
Suddenly, she threw the ladle she was holding and tore off the apron she was wearing.
"Why do you keep pushing people who love you away?"
I woke up drenched in sweat. I don't want to dream about her. I don't want to dream of her. I've already forgotten her long ago.
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**Jay-Jay's POV:**
"Bastard! No one loves you!" Shouted the kid from our neighborhood at me.
I had no choice but to go home and sulk in my room. What could I do? I was still young, and I was smaller than him.
Besides, what he said was true. No one loves me.
I tried to shake off that dream. It was a nightmare!
I touched my face. It was wet with tears. I was still crying because of that same dream. I don't want to cry over it. There's no reason to cry over that dream!
I got up from bed and went straight to the bathroom to wash my face. I glanced at the wall clock in my room---it was only 5:30 in the morning.
After that, I went to the kitchen. Honestly, I didn't feel like doing anything, but I needed to prepare breakfast.
I felt embarrassed around Tita Gema, so I took it upon myself to cook even though they had maids. But it seemed like they've caught on.
Breakfast was already perpared. What a waste of my early wake-up. What's going on?
"Why the long face?"
I turned to the person who spoke. It was Kuya Angelo!
He walked over to me and ruffled my hair. "Go eat breakfast."
But I couldn't move from my spot. He had scolded me before he left, and I was a bit scared of him.
Did I do something wrong recently?
He's Aries older brother, the eldest son of Tita Gema.
"Jay, what are you spacing out for?"
"K-kuya, when did you get back?"
"At 3 am. I was supposed to go straight to my condo, but I wanted to see Mama first."
I just nodded. He had come from Singapore. He's been managing Tita's businesses there. The last time we saw each other was when Lola was in the hospital.
I still remember how he looked back then----like he wanted to bury me alive. Thankfully, he seemed to be in a good mood today.
"Is Aries still not coming home?" He asked while brewing coffee.
"Not yet. But I saw him at school."
"Hmmm...." He took a sip of coffee. "....How are you doing at school, by the way? Mama told me you were placed in Section E."
I scratched the back of my neck. "Yeah...."
Kiya Angelo also went to HVIS (Higher Value International School). I wasn't sure if he knew anything about the current Section E, though.
"Kuya...." I started. ".....Do you know anything about Section E?"
He looked at me. "Yeah...."
I moved closer to him. "Tell me about it."
I could see his hesitation. It felt like he was hiding something. I didn't like the vibe I was getting from him.
It seemed like there was something!
"There was no Section E back then. It only started when students got into trouble at school---troublemakers, to be specific. At first, there were out five or six students in Section E, but over time, the number grew."
"Once Section E is opened and students are placed there, they can't leave. For example, if you're in your first year and you're placed in that section, you can't leave until you graduate."
His explanation was long. No wonder Aries said I fit in that section. I'm a troublemaker!
"What else?"
"Uhmmm..... I'm not sure if it's the same as our batch.... But in our time, it was full of delinquents who couldn't be controlled. They couldn't be expelled because they had backers."
Ahh.. So that's how it is.
"But why are there no girls in Section E?"
"I'm not sure, but there have never been girls in Section E. Sometimes, there are a few like you, but they're quickly transferred.... Maybe because girls aren't as rowdy in school."
I felt a bit embarrassed about the "rowdy" part.
"So if you behave, they might transfer you to another section."
"Hhmmm.. I'm fine with Section E. I think I'll stay there."
"It's up to you...."
Even though they're scary at times, they seem nice. And I don't want to judge them just because they're in Section E.
I had more questions for Kuya, but I forgot them. I'll eat first and think about them later.
I was halfway through my meal when he said he had to leave. He'd come back later. That's fine; maybe I'll remember my questions by then.
After eating, I quickly took a shower and got ready. I planned to walk to school. I wanted to see how far the school was from the house.
When I went back to the kitchen to get a drink, I saw Tita Gema.
"Good morning, Tita...." I greetes her.
She smiled at me. "Good morning.... Are you going to school?"
"Yea... I plan to walk to school. I want to see how far it is."
"45 minutes.... "
I looked at her, confused. "Huh?"
"It takes 45 minutes to get to school if you walk."
I still looked at her, puzzled. How did she know that?
"I used to walk to school too. I went to the same school."
I just went "ahh." Tita's cool---she made the school within walking distance from the house.
"I know a lot of shortcuts.... Do you want me to teach you?" She asked with a smile.
I nodded. She immediately grabbed a piece of paper to give me the instructions. There were so many streets---Avenida St., Bonifacio St., Aquino St., and more.
After Tita gave me the paper, I left immediately. Wow! I felt like Dora the Explorer. I first tried the shortcut closest to the house.
It was called Calla Street. According to Tita's instructions, I could choose the next street to get to the next one.
Next was Camella Street, then Aquino Street. I was about to enter Aquino Street when I stopped at the scene in front of me.
There was a fight. One guy was taking on three guys. Huh? Is this for real?! Yes! The three guys we're already down, but the standing guy kept kicking them.
How am I supposed to pass? The path was narrow, and they were blocking it. If I waited for them to finish. I'd be late.
Ugh!!! I have no choice!
I approched him but kept my distance---just enough for him to hear me.
"Uhmmm.... Excuse me! Can I pass---"
"IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, GET OUT OF HERE!" the guy shouted angrily.
I frowned at what he said. He could've said it nicely. He was facing away from me, so I couldn't see his face, but he seemed to be from HVIS because of his uniform.
"I'll leave if you let me pass!" I retorted sharply.
He suddenly stopped kicking the guys. I saw his first clench.
Oh no! He's mad!
He turned to me and glared. His gaze was deadly, but it quickly softened when he recognized me.
He's my classmate! I just can't remember his name. I'm still trying to figure it out.
"Jay-Jay?" He smiled at me as if nothing happened. "... I'm your classmate, remember?"
I just nodded and kept walking. I stepped over the guys lying on the ground. Some of them already had blood on their faces.
"Wait! Are you going to school?"
I turned to him and nodded.
"Let's go together... I'll just finish this real quick, " he said, pointing at the guys he was kicking.
"Finish? They're already down... What else is there to finish?"
"Not yet... I want their faces bleeding before I leave, " he said, smiled again.
This guy's brutal. He might kill tose guys.
"Fine! Do whatever. I'm leaving!"
I continued walking even though I could him calling me. He looked too young to be fighting. I'm even taller than him.
His uniform was a but loose on him, making him look even smaller. He had black hair and slightly slanted eyes. He looked cute when he smiled.
I should've asked for my classmates' names first. Maybe I'll list them down on paper
So far, I only know Felix, Keifer, and Yuri----
"Wait up!" I heard him shout.
I didn't look back because it was obvious from his voice that he was running. He caught up to me and grabbed my shoulder. He was catching his breath and held onto his knee fir support.
"I-I said.... Wait for me..." he said, still panting.
"I might be late if I wait for you..."
He straightened up. "No, you won't.... It's still early."
I didn't say anything and just kept walking. He followed me.
"By the way, I'm Ci-N.... "