Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Jay-Jay's POV

I've been staring at the big "Notice for Demolition" sign for a while now. I can only see the back, but that's enough.

I'm currently on the second floor, eating lunch and watching these two fight.

"Get out of here! I'm going to snap you!" Percy says, annoyed.

"I'll tear your eyes out!" Ci-N threatens.

Ci-N followed me here, thinking I would join him to eat Eman's cooking. I refused and came straight to the second floor instead.

"I'm an idiot!" Ci says happily, grabbing a slice of pizza.

"You've got some nerve! That's not for you!" Percy snaps, trying to take the pizza back.

They've been like this since they met. I really shouldn't put them together—the noise and chaos are unbearable. It feels like I have two naughty children to babysit.

"Are you done eating?" Percy asks, noticing that I haven't touched my food in a while.

"I don't want it," I reply, handing the rest of my food to Ci-N.

He takes it eagerly. Percy looks at me seriously, as if trying to figure out whether something is bothering me.

"Is it the demolition notice that's worrying you?" he asks.

Ci-N glances at me for a moment before continuing to eat. I nod at Percy in response.

The truth is, that's not the only thing on my mind. No matter how much I try to convince myself that I shouldn't believe in or rely on the Pest King of those Snakes, it's useless. I still hope—even though I shouldn't.

What's even worse is that a huge part of me is clinging to his words—that he would come back after giving me space.

But it feels like he boarded his own spaceship and left for good.

"Don't dwell on it. I love you."

Ci-N doesn't say anything and keeps eating. Percy cringes at him. If I weren't used to Ci's antics, I'd probably smack him.

"Is he always like this?" Percy asks, pointing at Ci-N. "He's starving, yet he's still talking to himself."

I nod. "He also bites."

As soon as I say that, Ci automatically lunges at Percy's outstretched finger, biting down with all his might. Percy panics instantly.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" he yells, trying to push Ci-N away. "Jay! Make him stop!"

I don't want to! Haha.

I burst out laughing at the sight. Ci must have caught rabies from that cat he calls Edy—he's even picked up a biting habit.

Percy starts crying from the pain, so I finally decide to step in.

"Ci... let go." I say, unbothered.

Ci immediately lets go and goes back to his food, stuffing his mouth like nothing happened. Percy rubs his nearly bruised finger, tears still brimming in his eyes as he glares at Ci.

That guy is totally out of it.

For a moment, my fears fade because of these two. But Blaster's words from earlier keep replaying in my head.

"Maybe he's never coming back."

Maybe it's better to accept that now—so I don't keep hoping. So it won't hurt as much when the day finally comes.

My phone suddenly rings. I pick it up, and—of course—it's another text from my daily textmate, blast!

📩

From: Gagong Baliw

Message: Eat well… Ptba you, to fill up.

I want to think he's concerned. But since he admitted to being a snake himself, I know he means something else entirely.

I ignored the message and looked away.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice students running, curiosity filling their faces.

Percy and Ci-N notice it too.

"I think they're messing around," Percy said.

"Oh no! They're not messing around. That's normal, normal," Philosophizing by Ci.

The two would have been ready to exchange harsh words, but they stopped when someone called my name from below.

"JAY-JAY!" a voice screamed.

I approached the stairs to go down, but that's when I saw who was calling me. Eren greeted me.

"Jay! Your cousin!" he called out to me.

I didn't wait for him to say anything else. I immediately ran toward the main building. The students were obviously just curious.

I almost pushed past everyone standing in my way to get to the center. But even before I got close enough, I could already see what was happening.

The Horoscope!

Sections A and D were working together against Aries. They were led by Mykel, a friend of Kiko and Aries. But I couldn't understand what was going on.

I saw Ella crying while hugging Mica. Freya, on the other hand, looked like she was just watching a boring show. She inspected her nails and sighed.

"What! Aries the Great... Where's your courage?" I heard Mykel said "...We still have the same name, and yet you're like this?"

His companions laughed. Section D was holding Aries, while Section A watched with amused smiles.

But they don't have the same name. My cousin—my brother—is Michael Aries.

And this guy? He's Mykel. Mykeliling!

I couldn't see Aries' face properly because he was leaning on his side, but I noticed blood on different parts of his face and uniform.

I was about to step in to stop them, but a hand grabbed my arm. When I turned, Yuri was looking at me with concern.

"Don't act yet... Aries might get hurt even more," he whispered to me.

He was right. Two sections were involved, and they were all against him. If I acted recklessly, things could get even worse.

I clenched my fists, my anger rising. I wanted to punch someone. Can I punch the person in front of me?

"Poor Aries," a girl near us muttered.

"Oh, Jelaii! Too bad you got scolded before!" the girl next to her added.

They were so noisy! I wanted to shut them up!

Two students blocked my view slightly, so I had to shift my position to see Aries properly. I had been staring at him for a while now.

"Babe! Poor Aries," said a girl in front of me, clinging to her boyfriend's arm.

Wew... Trouble is brewing!

"Hey, Rhona Camille! Do you like that Aries guy?!" the guy beside her asked, annoyed.

The girl immediately frowned. "Hey! Sebastian Estebe! Don't doubt me!"

I scratched my head in frustration. Unbelievable! They were actually arguing right in front of me.

People these days. When they're single, they cry about being alone forever. But when they're in a relationship, they fight over nonsense.

What a mess...

I turned my attention back to Mykel. Just then, Aries suddenly took a punch to the stomach. I covered my mouth in shock.

He fell to his knees, held by two people from Section D.

"Yuri! Let's make a way," I said urgently.

They hit Aries again, landing another punch and a kick. He coughed up blood, his eyelids starting to droop.

I couldn't take it anymore. I was about to charge forward and punch Mykel in the face, but I stopped when I saw... Percy?

Percy stood in the middle of everything, grinning.

"How's Kuya doing over there?!" Felix asked in surprise.

Even I was shocked. Percy looked completely unaware of what was happening, as if he were just watching the fight for fun. Since he was in the middle, everyone stopped and stared at him.

"Hey! Get out of here! You're in the way!" Mykel snapped at him.

"I can't see what you're doing properly. I'm just here," Percy replied casually, as if watching a show. "...So, who exactly are you hitting?"

Son of… The intensity!

"You look familiar to me. Who are you?!" Mykel asked irritably.

Percy flashed a dazzling smile, the kind you'd see in a toothpaste commercial. "That's just how it is when you're this handsome. Everyone thinks they've seen me before."

"That's some thick skin," I muttered under my breath.

Aries raised his head slightly, furrowing his brows as he stared at the person in front of him.

"P-Percy? W-what… What are you doing here?" he stammered, almost in a whisper.

Percy casually rubbed the back of his neck. "Delivery."

Thanks! Delivered food for me.

Mykel studied Percy closely, his expression shifting as if recognition finally dawned on him. He glanced at Freya, then back at Percy.

"You're Freya's boyfriend! But you're supposed to be dead! Damn—"

"Correction!" Freya interrupted loudly. "...Ex-boyfriend."

Percy suddenly clutched his chest as if in pain, dramatically sinking to his knees while staring at Freya.

O.A. nito! (Overacting!)

"Pain! Ouch! So much pain!" he whined. "...Freya killed me."

And just like that, he collapsed onto the floor as if he had lost consciousness. I was about to step forward and drag him out for stealing the spotlight, but Ci-N beat me to it. He grabbed Percy's wrist, checked his bare hand as if looking at a nonexistent watch, and sighed.

"Time of death: Skin before skin. Cause of death: Broken heart—courtesy of Freya," Ci-N declared before covering Percy's face with a handkerchief.

All of Section E and I simultaneously smacked our foreheads. Freya just sighed, shaking her head before walking away.

I'd probably do the same later. When something stops making sense.

"What the hell?! What are you two doing?!" Mykel snapped, pointing at Ci-N. "...And you! Get out of here before I lose it!"

"What did I do?!" Ci-N protested before bolting towards us.

Wait… wasn't that supposed to be my line?

Percy suddenly sat up, shaking his head. He even used Ci-N's handkerchief to wipe his face.

"You idiot… You just declared me dead," Percy grumbled at Ci-N.

"Hey! I don't care where the hell you came from, but get out of here! You should've stayed in your coffin!" Mykel barked angrily.

"I don't want to!" Percy shot back. "...But you're free to go if you'd like."

Mykel was seething, his patience hanging by a thread. Even Sections A and D looked irritated by Percy's antics.

Percy grinned mischievously. "Want me to take you with me to the hell I supposedly crawled out of?"

That did it. Mykel lunged at him, aiming a punch, but Percy effortlessly dodged, laughing when he caught me watching him.

Then he turned to Aries. "You let that weakling take you down?"

Aries couldn't respond. Section D finally released him, and he collapsed onto the floor. Ella and Mica rushed forward, using the opportunity to help him.

"You're too cocky!" one of the Section D members growled before charging at Percy.

Without even trying, Percy caught the punch mid-air and shoved him aside like a child. His face darkened as he realized more people were surrounding him.

"I don't like hitting people younger than me," he sighed. "...But I guess I don't have a choice."

The guy who had just attacked him didn't even get the chance to make another move. Percy effortlessly dodged and countered every punch as if he were merely bored.

The girls in the crowd screamed in fear. The boys, on the other hand, were hyped, cheering for their bets.

I caught sight of Mykel sneaking up behind Percy, gripping a baseball bat. Alarmed, I ran forward, but before I could do anything—

A foot.

Yes! A foot flew through the air, landing straight on Mykel's face.

Ci-N had executed a perfect flying kick, hitting Mykel's elbow in the process. The little rascal was grinning from ear to ear.

"YES! I've been waiting so long to do that!" he cheered, throwing both hands in the air. "That one's for Kuya!"

Crazy! But he had a point.

I knew Mykel and Ci-N's older brother were close. Which meant Ci-N's Kuya was probably already familiar with all his mischief.

I snapped back to reality as I ran toward Percy, finding myself caught between him and the people preparing to attack. I considered stepping back—

But it looked like I wouldn't need to.

Felix has stepped in to help us.

But since I'm in the middle of this mess, I have no choice but to get involved.

"Get out of here! Don't get yourself into trouble!" Percy warned me.

But I ignored him. Instead, I kicked the Section D member who rushed at me, though I took a few punches to the face in return.

I glanced at Ella and noticed that, despite the chaos, they hadn't moved from their spot. Worried, I ran toward them.

"Why are you still here?!" I asked anxiously.

"Isn't it obvious? We're struggling to support Aries!" Ella snapped, clearly frustrated.

That made me even angrier!

I tried to lift Aries, and with their help, we struggled under his weight, nearly out of breath.

"We need to take him to the clinic!" I urged, but Ella suddenly stopped.

"They won't accept him," she said.

I looked at her, then at Mica, but they both held serious expressions. Why wouldn't they accept him?

Frustrated, I shut my eyes tightly. "Tsk! Then to our room!"

They both nodded, and together, we carried Aries there. It felt like we were hauling ten sacks of rice.

No one even bothered to help us.

When we finally reached our room, I let go of him and quickly looked around for something to use as a makeshift bed.

The only thing I found was Eman's apron. I laid it down and helped Aries lie on it. His face was swollen, covered in wounds and bruises. He was conscious, but every movement seemed painful.

"Don't you have a first aid kit?" Ella asked, tears streaming down her face as she wiped Aries' injuries with a handkerchief.

Damn it! I don't know…

I just shook my head. Aries needed proper medical attention. He should be taken to the clinic or a hospital. But why couldn't we go there?

I didn't understand anything.

I turned to Mica, who looked just as worried about Aries.

"What's going on? Why did they do this to Aries? I thought they were his friends?" I asked them.

They exchanged hesitant looks before Mica finally took Ella's hand, as if silently telling her it was okay to explain.

"T-they pulled Aries down from his throne," she stammered, tears in her eyes. "They said Angelo failed, so now Aries has to pay the price."

I sat there in shock, speechless at Ella's words.

Why did Aries have to suffer because of Kuya? Sure, their company was going downhill, but that didn't mean they had to go down with it.

"They thought highly of Aries only because Angelo's name was attached to him," Ella continued, crying. "He was made the King of this school, but now that Angelo is gone, it's like everything disappeared with him."

I collapsed onto the floor. This is all my fault.

Because I wanted to escape that marriage, I sacrificed Kuya's company. And now, the life they once knew is slipping away, too.

This… is the price of my selfishness.