Aries's POV:
"Section E has P.E. today..... Can we watch?" Mykel asked me.
Why is he asking me for permission?
"It's up to you...."
"I'm sure Jay-jay's there..... I wonder what she looks like during P.E.?" Kiko said.
Why do I feel like he's imagining something inappropriate?
"Hey, Kiko! She's still my cousin!"
"Why? Is there some----"
"Babe!" Ella called me.
She walked over to us and kissed me on the check.
"We're going to the gym..... We have practice. Want to come?" She asked.
Wait! The gym? Section E has P.E. today. Keifer.
"Yeah.... Sure," I answered shortly.
Kiko and Mykel gave me knowing looks. I know they understand why I agreed.
Ella started walking toward the gym, and we followed. When we got there, Ella almost stopped in her tracks when she saw the entire Section E inside.
I immediately put my arm around her. I don't know why I did that, but I felt like I had to.
Keifer and Yuri's group glared at us.
"Look who's back....." Kiko said.
I looked at him before turning to see who he was talking about. David----he's lost a lot of weight. I glanced back at Keifer's group, but my eyes caught something else.
Jay-jay.
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**Jay-jay's POV:**
"Class, grab a partner!" Our P.E. teacher ordered.
We were supposed to play dodgeball first. Pairing up was the first step.
Of course, it was obvious no one would partner with me, so I grabbes Ci-N.
"You're my partner!" I said, clinging to his arm.
He quickly nodded with a smile. We walked together, almost swaying like in movies or TV commercials. I felt like Ci-N and I were really meant to be partners or best friends.
I found a spot for us, and he followed. I grabbed a bell. It was red and slightly soft, the kind usually used for dodgeball.
Ci-N and I started playing. At first, we were quiet as we threw the ball back and forth until a ball flew past me.
Whoa..... That was close!
I almost got hit, so I looked to see where it come from. But the jerks acted like nothing happened.
"Did you see where that came from?" I asked Ci-N.
"Where what?"
"The one that flew past me!"
"N-no"
I decided to ignore it----maybe it was an accident. We went back to playing. Throw here, catch there, throw again, and----whoa!!
Another ball flew past my face! No just one, but two this time.
I looked around to see where they came from. It wasn't an accident anymore---two balls had been thrown at me.
I saw our classmates. They were glaring at us---no, just at me. They were holding balls---different kinds, like footballs, tennis balls, volleyballs, and basketballs.
W-why?
My heart started racing. This wasn't normal. I had a bad feeling about where this was going.
I looked at Ci-N for help, but the jerk suddenly disappeared. Ci-N!
I swallowed hard and stepped back. Then they started positioning themselves and winding up.
Oh no.... Run, Jay!
But my legs wouldn't move. Ugh!
"Section E!" Keifer shouted. He was holding a baseball, winding up like a pitcher.
"Charge!" He yelled.
One word?! That hurt! How much did it hurt? Damn it! It hurt so much!
At Kiefer's command, they started throwing balls at me. There was nothing I could do but protect my head. Even if I run, it wouldn't have mattered.
I could hear their laughter and cheers. Even the tecaher's whistle was loud in my ears. The other students who were just hanging around cheering and shouting too.
My body collapsed on its own. I wasn't a pole that could just stand there no matter how many hits or kicks I took.
It hurt! Even my feelings were hurt!
You started wondering why it's you. Why me? Did I do something wrong to them? The barrage of balls stopped, and I looked at them.
They were all laughing at me. Ci-N was being held back by Felix and others----I could see the worry on his face. I also noticed the other students staring at me. That's when I realized Aries and his classmates were there too.
Aries. If he weren't my cousin, would this still be happening to me? Is he the reason they're doing this?
I don't know why, but I wanted to cry. Maybe because my body hurt from the hits kr because I couldn't fight back even though I wanted to.
I'm still a girl. I get hurt easily----not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
I forced myself to stand up. I felt so oppressed, and I didn't want to feel that way anymore. I was about to stand when I saw Keifer winding up.
He was holding a baseball. Wait! Didn't he already throw that? He looked like a pitcher with the way he was throwing it.
He threw the ball, and it happened too fast for me to block or dodge. The ball hit me straight in the nose, and I fell to the floor again.
"Ugh...Ouch..."
Enough! I'm so tired! It hurts too much!
I stayed on the ground for a while----I felt dizzy. A few seconds later. I forced myself to stand again. I glared at Keifer, but he just smirked at me.
Just one punch! That's all I'm asking for! I'd be happy with that!
I felt something coming out of my nose. I thought it was shot, maybe because I was about to cry.
I used my hand to wipe my nose. It would be embarrassing if they saw. But it didn't stop----I could still feel something dripping from my nose.
"Jay....." I heard Ci-N say.
I looked at him ans saw the extreme worry on his face. I suddenly felt nervous..... I didn't want to, but I looked at the hand I used to wile my nose.
I wish I hadn't.
"B-blood..."
Calm down, Jay! It's just a little blood!
My heart started beating even faster. My whole body began to tremble. This isn't good! It's happening again! I can't breathe. It feels like something's choking me.
My vision started to blur. I don't know if it's because of the tears or because it's starting again.
This is just like before. This is how I felt before everything went dark, and I couldn't remember what happened.
Fight it, Jay! It's just blood! Calm down!
No matter how much I tried to talk myself out of it, it felt pointless.
"You're so stubborn! Just do what I say!"
"You're useless!"
"Just die! You're just another mouth to feed!"
"Your mom's not here, so I can do whatever I want to you!"
There it is again. Memories that aren't familiar to me. Voices of men shouting in my head. They're scary, but even so, I still feel like I need to fight back.
I just started at my hand, watching it tremble. I was starting to get drawn to the blood, and it felt like my hand had a mind of its own as it slowly moved toward my mouth.
No! Jay! Don't! Listen to me!
My hand was just inches away from my mouth when someone pushed it away. It was like I woke up from a dream and looked at who did it.
Aries.
"Get your things. We're going home," He ordered authoritatively.
I was confused. I couldn't move. My legs wouldn't budge.
"JAY!" Aries shouted angrily.
I was startled but immediately obeyed. I quickly ran back to the room.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
**Keifer's POV:**
Looks like someone got pissed. I didn't know her nose would bleed. But why did she react like that to blood?
"Can you not drag Jay-jay into this?" Aries said.
"Are you affected?" I asked and smirked.
Nice! Another weapon against you!
"No.... I'm just worried for you," He said, also smirking.
"..... If I were you, I wouldn't let her see blood."
"Since when do you care about us?"
"Just now.... You too, you might be surprised when you suddenly face the deluge."
I crossed my arms. "I don't believe you, and besides, your cousin belongs to Section E, so you have no say in what we do to her."
He chuckled. "Don't say I didn't warn you," He said and walked away.
Kiko followed, giving David a sharp look. Then Ella followed too.
She looked very disappointed in me. I can't blame her. I'm still a failure---maybe that's why she didn't choose me.
I'm sorry, Ella...
"Keifer! Why did you have to do that?!" Ci-N shouted angrily at me.
"It was an accident! I didn't know her nose would bleed."
"Yeah, right.... That's what you said the last time you played basketball," Ci-N said.
His words made me angry. Why did he have to bring that up?
I grabbed his shirt and glared at him.
"Don't talk to me like that..... You might forget who I am."
"I know, but Jay---"
"What? Are you getting soft?"
"Keifer.... Let him go," Yuri said boredly.
I let go of Ci-N but kept my eyes on him.
"Don't test my patience. Do everything I say," I said, looking at everyone.
"... Jay will stay in Section E!"
"What?!" Yuri asked in disbelief.
"You heard me. She'll stay. I have a plan."
Thanks to Aries, I now know what to do with his cousin. I didn't know she'd be useful. Like I said, a new weapon against him.