Jay-Jay's POV:
"Dibs, Calix was Mica's ex?
I suddenly remembered the letter. The one I found in one of the rooms on the second floor of Section E's building.
They know Mica.
'Ineng!' shouted Ate'ng Tindera.
I immediately approached her. She was with Ate'ng Kahera.
'P1, 445 in total...' said Ate'ng Kahera.
I quickly took out 2,000 from the money they gave me. And since this isn't mine....
'Keep the change, Ate.... Consider it a tip for you and your companion who took my order,' I said with a smile.
Ate'ng Tindera was visibly pleased and immediately thanked me.
They handed me the box. It wasn't that big, just the size of a box of chichirya. I thought that was all, but I noticed they were about to hand me another box.
'Wait.... Why are there so many boxes?'
'Ineng..... You have a lot of orders.'
Oh! What's this? I can't carry all of this. Damn Section E!
'Are... I'll come back for the rest. I can't carry all of this.'
'O-okay..' Ate replied.
I quickly lifted the box. It wasn't heavy, but you could feel there was something inside (ulam).
'She has a lot of stuff...'
'Is that all for her?'
'Maybe she's going to feed the whole Section E.'
'Maybe.... That's why they don't mess with her, she's bribing them.'
'So that's how it is.'
What? What bribe? No! Why would I do that? I can handle them.
That's why I followed their orders without question.
I left the cafeteria. I kept walking even though it was obvious that students were talking about and looking at me.
Go ahead.... keep talking!
Why is our room so far?
My arms are getting tired! Damn you, Keifer, I'm going to throw this at you!
I reached our building. I saw Felix waiting at the door, and he quickly went inside when he saw me.
'She's here!' shouted one of them.
When I entered, instead of helping me, they immediately opened the box to get their food. Animals!
I put the box down on one of the tables. I stretched because my arms were really tired.
'Where's mine?' asked one.
'Ours too,' added another.
'Wait.... There's more, I'll go get it,' I said and quickly ran back to the cafeteria.
I'm so hungry! When will this torturr from Section E end?
When I got back to the cafeteria, there was a long line again.
I had no intention of lining up. I already had an order, and it was paid for. I quickly ran to the cashier and squeezed past the guy who was ahead of me.
'What the hell?!' I said, and she quickly got it.
'Hey! Ate, get in line!'
'We've been here for a while!'
'Don't cut in line!'
Oh! You pests! I gave them a deadly glare, the kind that pierces through flesh and bone.
Screw you! See if I care!
Ate'ng Tindera handed me two more boxes. They were slightly smaller than the first one. I took them and started walking.
I was in the middle of the cafeteria when someone suddenly blocked my path. Why now?!
'Excuse me!' I said, but they didn't move. '... Let me through....'
'What is that?' Asked the person blocking me.
Oh no! I'm in trouble! It was Aries in front of me.
'Uh.... It's.....'
'Is that for Section E?'
I didn't answer. People around us started whispering.
'Sorry, Aries.... I need to go,' I said as I passed by him, accidentally bumping her arm.
I was near the door when he suddenly spoke. 'Put that thing down.'
I looked at her in confusion. 'Huh?!'
'Put. That. Thing. Down.' he said calmly but with authority. 'Do what I said now.'
Aarrrgghhhh..... What the hell?
I really needed to leave. I wanted to obey him, but I couldn't.
'Sorry.' That's all I said and quickly walked away.
I heard him calling my name. Damn these Section E people!
When I got back to the room, those who got their orders were already sitting down. The others were waiting. I put the boxes on the table and let them go at it again.
Do whatever you want!
I threw Keifer's change at him.. Let him pick it up.
I slumped into my seat, almost lying down. Will I even got to eat? My body is tired. No one even helped me!
I sat up straight to see what they were doing. All of them had their orders in front of them, but.... Why aren't they eating yet?
I looked around, and all of them were like that, except Yuri. There was no food in front of him. Oh no! Did I forget his?
But if I forgot, he would have complained, right?
Suddenly, Felix moved to sit closer to me. The others did the same.
'Let's eat together,' Felix said with a smile.
Were thay waiting for me? That's why they weren't eating yet? Wow! My friends are so sweet!
I took out my lunch and moved my chair to face Felix and the others.
'LET'S EAT! They all shouted in unison.
I couldn't help but laugh; they looked so cute. We started eating, and they looked like kids enjoying their food. Pffft.... Such children!
Yuri still had no food. What about him? The others weren't sharing with him. I felt a bit of pity for him. Our eyes met, and he looked annoyed. So grumpy!
He suddenly stood up and walked towards us..... Oh no, wait! He was actually walking out, just passing by our side.
I tried to stop him. I grabbed his wrist.
'Hey.... Have some!' I offered him.
He didn't say anything. He just looked at my hand holding his. I could feel he was annoyed, so I let go.
'Have some.... Let's share,' I said.
There's nothing wrong with that, right? Keifer and I shared food before.
Yuri still didn't say anything and kept looking at me. It seemed he didn't like my food. I took out a chocolate from my bag.
'Here, if you don't want rice,' I offered him.
'Take it, Yuri.... It's better than not eating,' Felix said while chewing. Sigh? Such a child!
Yuri still didn't say anything but slowly took the chocolate from my hand. No reaction at all, and he looked at me. I smiled and continued eating. He left immediately even though I gave him something to eat. Does he not like eating with others?
We finished our lunch. The crazy ones cleaned up their mess. I thought they would throw the trash in the proper bin, but they just threw it outside our room.
Oh no! It's all over the place.
Since there was already a pite of old stuff outside, the front of our room looked like a trash area. Great job, guys!
'Is that really where you throw trash?' I asked them.
'No... Over there, but it's far, so we just throw it here,' one of them answered and left.
Wow, great! The building is already a mess, and now they're turning the front into a trash area.
I quietly sat down in my seat. I looked to my right. Ci-N really didn't come. I couldn't help but worry.
'Felix!' I called.
'Hmm?' He answered. His mouth was full again. Glutton!
'Do you have Ci-N's cellphone number?'
He took out his phone from his pocket. 'Yes. Why?'
I took out my phone. 'I'll get it,' I said as I approached him.
He showed me his phone's screen, and... Wow! His phone was the latest Samsung model. My phone with a keypad looked so small in comparison.
I just copied Ci-N's number. Maybe he was already in trouble with the guys I saw following him. Maybe I should have followed them too to make sure.
I was about to go back to my seat, but Felix stopped me.
'Oh?' I asked.
'Your cellphone number? He asked while showing me his phone.
I was really embarrassed by his phone.
I just put my number in his phone. I went back to my seat and texted Ci-N's number. I hope he replies.
**To: Ci-N**
**Message: Jay-jay 2....why didn't you come to class?**
I waited for a reply, but there was none. Maybe he's resting. I just put my phone aside because our teacher arrived, followed by Yuri.
What's going on? I can't stop thinking about Ci-N. What if something happend to him? Even during our next subjects, he was still on my mind.
I don't like him or anything! I'm just worried. He's so young, and maybe he got into trouble after dropping me off. So annoying!
We were in our last subject with Ms. Smith, and I was still thinking about Ci-N.
'Ms. Mariano?' called Ma'am.
'Yes?'
'What's your middle name?' She asked while facing the class record.
'Fenandez.'
The whole class suddenly went silent. Ut was as if I said something bad. They all looked at each other and then at the back. I couldn't help but shiver even though there was no cold wind.
What's going on?
Even Ma'am stopped what she was doing and looked at me.
'How are you related to Michael Aries Fernandez?'
'H-he's my cousin.'
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy. It felt like a disaster was coming. Why?'