I woke up to the sharp smell of antiseptic and medicine.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked around.
A hospital room.
White walls. Machines. The faint beeping of monitors.
So that's where I was.
I carefully sat up and leaned against the bed frame.
Just then, the door opened.
Kuya Cris walked in.
Of course it was him.
He crossed his arms and looked at me.
"So," he said, raising an eyebrow, "how does it feel after taking down eight boys?"
"Very good," I replied calmly.
He smirked.
"See? I told you that watch would be useful."
He pointed toward the watch resting on the nightstand.
I glanced at it and nodded.
"You're right. It was really helpful."
"What about your hand?" he asked, his tone becoming serious. "Does it hurt?"
I looked at the bandage around my arm.
"No. It's fine. It's just a cut. Nothing serious."
"No," Cris said immediately. "It is serious. The doctor said it was a deep cut. So make sure you don't move your hand too much."
"Fine," I sighed. "I'll take care of it. By the way, what time is it?"
"It's six."
I immediately pushed the blanket aside.
"Then drop me at my condo. I have school."
Cris stared at me like I had lost my mind.
"You really want to go to school? Your arm is injured."
"I already took leave for an entire week," I said. "And besides, it's just a cut. It's not like my arm is broken."
Cris sighed in defeat.
"Fine. But I'm dropping you. You're not driving until your arm is fully healed."
"Yes, sir," I said sarcastically.
Soon we arrived at my condo.
I quickly got dressed and started packing my things.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cris asked.
"Packing my stuff," I replied. "Did you forget? I'm coming back home."
"Why are you packing?" he said. "Your arm is injured."
"Kuya," I said patiently, "it's not that serious. I'm not made of glass."
"Still," he said, taking the bag from my hands, "leave it. I'll handle it. Just go straight home later. I'll bring your stuff."
"Okay," I said. "As you wish."
After breakfast, Cris dropped me at school.
I had already put on a jacket to hide the bandage.
The last thing I needed right now was unnecessary questions.
I walked straight to the classroom and sat down at my seat, avoiding everyone's gazes.
I took out my notes and started studying.
After all, I still had two exams left before graduation.
I couldn't afford to fail.
I was lost in my thoughts when someone called me.
"Jay Jay."
I ignored it.
"Hi, Jay Jay," Ci-N said cheerfully. "Look, I brought chocolate."
I didn't respond.
"Take it, Jay. It's for you."
"I don't want it."
"Just take it," he insisted. "Otherwise someone else will grab it."
"Then hide it," I said flatly. "Don't bother me."
"No, Jay Jay. It's for you."
Still, I stayed silent.
"Please," he said softly. "Just one bite."
"I told you I don't want it," I snapped. "Which part of 'no' do you not understand? I'm busy. Can't you see?"
He flinched.
"Okay," he said quietly. "I'll keep it. We can eat it later."
For a moment, I felt bad.
But I kept my face cold and returned to my notes.
Soon it was lunchtime.
As usual, I hadn't brought food.
And today I couldn't even go outside because I didn't bring my car.
"Shit," I muttered.
Most of the class had already left.
So I decided to stay in my seat and take a nap.
I was exhausted anyway.
But when I looked up—
Ci-N, David, Felix, and a few other boys were standing in front of me.
"What now?" I asked.
"Jay," Eman said carefully, "can you eat with us?"
"No."
"Please," Felix said.
"I said I'm not coming," I replied coldly. "Don't make me repeat myself."
They all nodded.
They knew that expression on my face meantdon't push your luck.
So they quietly left.
I put my head down on the desk and closed my eyes.
Soon, I found myself somewhere else.
A room.
It looked familiar… but I couldn't recognize it clearly.
Everything was blurry.
But the voices were clear.
"Don't do it, Jay! Stop!"
"It's me… Jay, look at me!"
"Jay Jay!"
My heart skipped.
That voice…
Aries.
Why was he here?
"Jay Jay, look at me!"
"Put that down! You'll hurt me!"
Suddenly another voice joined.
Mine.
"You're going to hurt me too!"
The voices grew louder.
"Jay, stop!"
"Look at me!"
Then—
A scream.
Blood.
My hands were covered in blood.
"NOOOOO!"
I screamed as I jolted awake.
The entire section was rushing toward me.
I was trembling.
Sweat covered my entire body.
"What happened, Jay?"
"Why did you scream?"
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"Do you need water?"
"You're shaking!"
Their voices overlapped.
But I couldn't answer them.
My mind was still trapped in those voices.
And only one question kept repeating inside my head.
Did I hurt Aries?
My head felt like it was about to explode.
The classroom suddenly felt suffocating.
Then I looked at them.
Their eyes were filled with worry.
But right now, I didn't care about that.
I only wanted answers.
"Leave me alone," I said quietly.
Then I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the classroom.
I could hear footsteps behind me, but I didn't turn back.
I just needed air.
The hallway suddenly felt too narrow… too suffocating.
My head was still spinning from the nightmare.
Aries' voice.
The blood.
My hands clenched as I walked faster toward the exit.
But before I could reach the stairs—
Someone grabbed my arm.
"Jay, wait—"
"Aah!"
A sharp scream escaped my lips before I could stop it.
The sudden pain shot through my injured arm like fire.
The person immediately let go.
I staggered slightly and turned around.
Keifer was standing there.
Shock was written all over his face.
"Jay… I—"
Before he could finish, the others caught up with us.
Ci-N, Felix, David, Calix… and the rest of Section E.
Their eyes quickly moved to my arm.
The sleeve of my jacket had slipped slightly from the sudden movement.
And the white bandage wrapped around my arm was now clearly visible.
Everyone froze.
Ci-N was the first to speak.
"Jay… what happened to your arm?"
Felix frowned.
"Why is it bandaged?"
David stepped closer.
"Were you hurt?"
Eman's eyes widened.
"Is that blood?"
Questions started flying from every direction.
"Did someone attack you?"
"Did you get into a fight?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Jay, what happened?"
Keifer looked the most shaken.
His gaze stayed fixed on my arm, his jaw tightening.
"You're injured," he said quietly.
I pulled my sleeve down, hiding the bandage again.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing?" Felix said. "Jay, that's clearly a deep cut—"
"I said it's nothing."
My voice came out colder than ice.
Silence fell instantly.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Keifer stepped forward again.
"Jay, at least tell us—"
I stepped back.
"Don't."
My eyes met his.
"I don't need your concern."
The words clearly hurt him, but I didn't stop.
"I'm fine."
Without saying anything else, I walked past them.
No explanations.
No answers.
Behind me, I could still feel their shocked gazes.
But I didn't look back.
I kept walking until I finally reached the school gate.
Just then, I heard a few boys whispering nearby.
"Bro, did you hear about Kiko?"
"He's in really bad shape."
"Yeah. His fault. He messed with Aries' cousin."
"Of course. Aries was the one who got him expelled too."
"He's a Fernandez, bro."
I stopped walking.
"What the hell is going on…?" I whispered.
Behind me, I could see Section E approaching again.
I immediately stepped out of the gate and stopped a cab.
"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.
"Benedict Hospital."
As the car started moving, my mind filled with questions.
But one question echoed louder than the rest.
Did I misunderstand him?
Was it… my fault?