Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Jay-Jay's POV

It's official—there will be no wedding! I wanted to jump for joy and celebrate all night, but Kuya disappeared outside my room.

"Angelo! That's enough!" Aunt Gema scolded. "You've been drinking! Get some rest!"

"No! I just want to talk to them!" Kuya Angelo insisted.

I felt sorry for him, though I didn't fully understand why. I had never seen him this drunk before. The deal between Yuri and me came at the cost of their company refusing to help Kuya.

"Tomorrow! It's late!" Aunt Gema shouted.

"No! We need to talk about it now!"

I slightly opened my bedroom door and peeked outside. Aunt Gema was struggling to get Kuya into his room, with two maids assisting her.

I glanced toward Aries' room. His door was also slightly open, and he was peeking out just like me. We looked like nosy neighbors, curious about the commotion.

"Mom!" Kuya shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "I failed you again."

Ouch.

It felt like a rock had been thrown at my face. None of this was his fault, yet he carried the weight of all the problems.

"No, son. You didn't fail me," Aunt Gema reassured him gently.

"Now, please rest."

Kuya's resistance seemed to fade. He allowed her to lead him inside his room without further protest. They stayed inside for quite some time before the two maids finally exited.

Aunt Gema followed. Just as she was about to close the door, I started walking toward her, but Aries beat me to it.

Trust this guy to always be one step ahead.

"Ma… where are we going?" Aries asked.

Aunt Gema smiled and gently touched his cheek.

"Go to sleep. Don't worry about it."

Aries hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"You too, Mom."

What if Mama hadn't adopted him? Would he still be this sweet and obedient? Or would his weirdness be even worse?

Yeah, probably worse.

Aunt Gema broke the hug and walked to her room with a smile. Aries turned to head back, but he stopped when he saw me.

"A-Aries..." I called him hesitantly. "A-Are Aunt and Kuya okay?"

He raised an eyebrow, walked up to me, and suddenly grabbed my elbow—hard.

"Are you brainless?!" he snapped. "Of course not! Tell me, did you do this?!"

I couldn't answer. I tried to pull my arm back, but he only tightened his grip.

"Do you have anything to do with the Hanamitchis backing out?!" he yelled in my face.

Damn it. So much spit.

"Let go of me, or I'll punch you!" I threatened.

He did let go—but in the worst way possible. I stumbled backward and hit the door. I shot him a glare.

"I really hope you have nothing to do with this," he warned. "You better hide from Kuya."

Then he stormed back into his room and slammed the door shut.

I stood there, frozen.

This was the result of the freedom I had asked for. I knew things like this could happen, but I hadn't expected it to be this bad. Sighing, I entered my room and collapsed onto my bed.

Annoying. I had no idea how to face Kuya Angelo now. I felt guilty. We hadn't even talked properly since the last time I yelled at him, and now… this.

Just then, my phone caught my attention. It rang for a moment, but by the time I reached for it, the call had already ended.

A missed call from Gagan gBaliw.

Great. Just what I needed—another problem.

I had no intention of calling back, but for some reason, I felt compelled to waste my load on this person.

To: Gagang Baliw

Message: Crazy!

I thought he wouldn't reply, but after a few minutes, a message popped up.

📩

From: Gagang Baliw

Message: Are you talking about me? Well, of course!

This person's confidence is off the charts.

Who even is this? I should probably borrow David's Social Instinct to find out.

To: Gagang Baliw

Message: What is it really? Your trip to the world is over! If you're going on a trip, can I join you?I don't have a problem; I just don't know what I want, I don't want to join.

I stared at my cellphone while sending the message. My eyes remained fixed on it as I waited for his reply. I played some games on Facebook, but he still hadn't responded.

Maybe I should give up…

I let out a deep sigh. The silence on his end only made me feel worse.

Frustrated, I threw my cellphone onto Snorlax without a second thought. I was about to turn away and go to sleep when my phone suddenly rang. Someone was calling.

I picked it up, and to my surprise, it was Gagang Baliw. I hesitated, not wanting to answer, but my hand moved on its own, pressing the green button on the screen.

I put the phone to my ear and waited for him to speak, but I heard nothing.

"H-Hello?" I said, but still, there was silence.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I tried again.

No response.

"...Is it an animal? An alien? A fairy? An impact—" I paused. "...A panicking ghost? Goo?"

I checked my phone screen to see if the call had been disconnected, but it was still active. I put it back to my ear.

"If you don't talk, I'll kill you," I threatened.

A deep sigh echoed from the other end.

So, there is a creature on the line?!

I frowned at his antics. Was he trying to mess with me? He was making me look like an idiot. I sat up properly on my bed.

"Hey! Can you stop it? Quit the whole mysterious effect thing! It's not funny—it's annoying! You're just adding to my already endless list of problems!" I snapped.

Suddenly, the call ended.

What a jerk!

A message notification popped up from him. Even though I was annoyed, I opened it anyway.

📩

From: Gagang Baliw

Message: I can't talk, but I can listen. Tell me your problems. At least reduce the weight of what you feel by saying it.

I stopped. He had a point.

I was still thinking about how to reply when my phone rang again. He was calling. I sighed but answered, putting the phone to my ear.

He stayed silent again.

This time, I was the one who sighed. I didn't know him. I had no idea who he was. But right now, he was the only one willing to listen to me.

"Gagang Baliw..." I began. "...I don't even know you. That's why I gave you that name."

[ Gagang Baliw means 'Stupid Crazy' or just CRAZY]

I could almost feel him grinning on the other end. I didn't see it, but I knew it was there because of the soft chuckle I heard.

I continued. "...I really don't get what's up with you. You could introduce yourself, you know? Why act so weird? Maybe you're hiding something—ugh, what a huge ego!"

I lay back on my bed, hugging Snorlax.

"...I have so many problems. Family, home, school, classmates, and—ugh—that whole love life mess. Throw in a couple of jerks, and I guess my life's just one big joke."

["Hhmm..."] he responded as if telling me to go on.

"I don't know if you already figured this out, but I come from a broken family. My mom married someone else, and my dad isn't around. It feels like I got stuck carrying the weight of both their choices."

I stared at Snorlax, imagining it as the person on the other end.

"...At home, I live with people who consider me family, but, of course, not all the time. They tried setting me up with a business partner's son—yeah, an arranged marriage! But they backed off… in exchange for completely ruining their company."

I shifted my position, still hugging Snorlax and playing with its ears.

"...My problem at school? Probably the same as every student's—graduation stress!" I huffed, and I thought I heard him chuckle.

"...As for my classmates..." I trailed off as memories of our happy moments came rushing back.

"I thought they believed in me. I thought I was one of them." My voice wavered. "Turns out I was just a game to them. A bet. A joke they all played along with."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I took a few deep breaths to keep them at bay.

"And the person I loved? He's the worst of them all!" I gritted my teeth. "I'd love to slap him back and forth. He played with me—what am I, a Barbie doll?! His game was too good. I think he's just as rotten as the rest!"

I heard a noise, as if the person on the other line wanted to speak.

"...That guy! Do you know Mark Keifer Watson? He's the worst! The absolute worst!" My voice grew louder. "You know what? He's probably—he's probably gay!"

I heard another sound, as if he wanted to say something again.

He's gay! He's gay!

I don't know why, but I suddenly laughed at what I just said. If I were facing the King of Serpents right now, I probably would have melted his evil glare and raised his eyebrows.

["Tss..."] I heard him say.

I suddenly felt nervous. I stared at my cellphone. Wait—no! Not Keifer, not Yuri either. Many people say that when they're annoyed.

That can't be him... He wouldn't waste his time just to text mate.

I was about to speak when the call suddenly ended. I waited to see if he would call again, but he didn't. I tried calling him back, but he didn't answer.

Frustrated, I just typed a message.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: I haven't even spoken yet… I don't know if you'll listen?

I stared intently at my cellphone screen, waiting. After a few minutes, I finally received a reply.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Sorry, I have to go.

Annoyed, I smacked my cellphone against the pillow. I didn't even know why I was so irritated. There was just something different about this person.

It's like he's one of the Snakes. But how is that possible? None of them know my new number. I only gave it to Percy. Rakki, too, because it was Ci-N's birthday. As for David, I'm not sure.

Sweetie! Who is this, really?

My phone rang again. Another text from him.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: It was nice hearing your voice again. 😊

I bit my lip instinctively. My irritation suddenly faded, even though it shouldn't have. Ugh, this is crazy! That emoji he used!

I'm not thrilled! No! It's just—ugh!

I ran my hand over Snorlax in frustration. This is so annoying! Grabbing my phone, I quickly typed a reply.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: I don't know about you! Good Night!

I didn't want to say goodbye just yet. But he said, I have to go. I actually enjoy texting this weirdo. My phone rang again with his reply.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Good night… I hope you will have sweet dreams. 😘😘😘

Tsk! Is that really him?! And now, these emojis?

My hands trembled slightly as I typed back. I wanted to say, Yes, my dreams will be sweet because of you, but of course, I can't make it too obvious.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: I know, Sweet dreams to you too 😊😊😊

His reply came almost instantly. I hadn't even finished reading it before I found myself rolling around in bed, overwhelmed by feelings I couldn't understand.

And no, it's not excitement! I quickly checked his message.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Nah! But wet dreams will do!

Hey! This jerk!

Whatever feelings I had instantly vanished. Annoyance took over, and I suddenly felt like throwing my phone against the wall. I had completely forgotten that my texting partner was Barabas.

I furiously typed my response, pressing the keys hard enough to take out my frustration.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: You're a pervert! No more texting! You're so annoying!

I squeezed Snorlax tightly in frustration. This guy is insane! My beautiful mood is completely ruined—because of him!

My phone rang again. I wasn't planning to check it, but something urged me to read his message.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: I like it even more when you talk to me like that…

I scowled. This guy is seriously messed up. He actually enjoys being cursed at? What kind of twisted logic is that?

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: You're really crazy! Your name suits you perfectly… Gagong Baliw!

He responded almost immediately.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: I'm Gago and I'm Baliw? How rude!

[This message means that she's calling him stupid and as well as Crazy, she is really being rude.]

It's rude! Your face is rude! That's just his thing. He whistled. Impact! I immediately replied to him.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: What are you? Don't bother me! I thought you had to go now? Why are you replying to me?

I pressed send, annoyed. I stared at our conversation for a few minutes, but no answer came. Maybe he fell asleep or got offended by what I said.

I put my phone on the bedside table and tried to sleep. But for some reason, sleep refused to come.

I turned over, changed positions, and tried to find a more comfortable one. I closed my eyes, but my brain was wide awake. I pulled the blanket over me, but still—nothing.

I tossed, turned, lay flat, rolled over—still nothing. I was still awake! When you don't want to sleep, you get sleepy. But when you want to sleep, you stay awake! I checked my phone and saw the time. My frustration grew. 2:26 AM?!

Shit! How many hours have I been texting this Gagong? Add the time I spent talking—I talked to him, because he barely replies!

Gagong Baliw popped back into my mind. Who is he really? I want to meet him just so I can slap him—twice, for good measure!

My phone rang. Even though I was startled, I grabbed it and checked. Speak of the devil! The annoying guy texted.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Stop thinking about me. I can't sleep.

Wow! He really suspects me.

I quickly replied.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: Your face is thick! What do you feel that I am thinking about you? YOU'RE THICK!

This guy is insane! I'm the one who can't sleep, probably because I'm not thinking about him! I'm not assuming anything—it's obvious. Why does he text me first when he can't sleep? My phone rang again. I immediately read his message.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: What am I doing now? Because you're the only person I've been talking to since a while ago.

Oh that idiot!

I typed my reply.

To: GagongBaliw

Message: Don't me! Don't blaming me!

I pressed send before I could check my English. I was too annoyed.

I didn't put my phone down—I was waiting for Barabas's reply. But since that idiot was taking too long, I texted him again.

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: It's because you're the one who is texting me! I can't sleep!

Right after I sent that, his reply to my previous message arrived.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Hahaha… What's with your English?

I was about to reply when another message came in.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Yes, I am thinking about you. Here in my bed, naked… 😍😜

My nose flared in anger. This guy is insane! Pervert! I stopped typing my reply and sent him this instead:

To: Gagong Baliw

Message: wow! I don't want to talk anymore, I'll make sure to break your bones. You're rude! You're a jerk! You're being cut by anise to carry it! People like you should be the beaten!

You're rude! Such a pervert! You should be thrown into a pineapple field so you can learn your lesson!

I wanted to type more, but the message limit stopped me, so I hit send. I was about to send another text when his reply arrived.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: I'm just kidding. Yes, I'm thinking of you, but not like that. I'm thinking about you in a wedding gown, walking down the red carpet, smiling at me with so much happiness.

I suddenly froze. What is this guy even saying? Is he dreaming about marrying me? This is weird. I frowned, about to type a reply, but before I could finish, another message popped up.

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: And of course… the honeymoon!

I was so annoyed with him that I threw my cellphone on the bed, but it kept bouncing until it fell to the floor.

I was also stomping on the bed in frustration. Even Snorlax wasn't spared—I wrestled with it too.

"Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!" I shouted angrily while punching the pillows.

As I kept moving and kicking, I didn't realize I was already at the edge of the bed. Suddenly, I fell—headfirst!

I can really take you on! Todas me!