Chapter 6: Change
Jenrick's point of view
"Jenrick wake up" I can feel my father's hand on my cheeks, tapping it slowly.
I slowly open my eyes then headache comes in that made me furrowed my eyebrows.
"Let's go to your aunt's house. Hurry!" Dad's said while shaking my body a little bit. I nodded my head and I was trying to lift up my head but I can't.
"Fuck cod" I said and I force myself to stand up because my head will hurt more if I hear my father nonstop scolding.
"Look at your face haha" I saw my brother looking at me while he is leaning on the wall and his arms cross in his chest.
"Shut up" I said and I get up, he just laugh and pat my head.
It's our tradition to go to our aunt's house for a dinner. It's every weekdays and I also like there actually especially my triplets cousin who is so adorable.
"Boys did you bring some snacks?" Dad asked and I look at my brother who is looking at me too.
I can't help but to laugh and he laugh with me that made our father look at us. He just smile and playfully hit our heads with his newspaper.
Yeah we didn't pack anything.
We just got into the car with a smile on our face. I bid goodbyes to our maids and they wish us a safe trip.
Before we got into the roadtrip we passed by the grocery store to by something. Dad and James are on the front while James is wrapping his arms around Dad's shoulder.
I was looking around and I notice some of the families are here to enjoy the weekday. I just smile when I saw a kid who is dancing in front of his parents. His parents are taking a video that made me emotional a little bit.
I was used to be like that.
"Anyway Jenrick how is school? I didn't ask you" Dad asked and I look at him. I slowly lower the volume of my music.
I took off my airpods and put it in my pocket.
"It's good" I answered simply that made him nodded his head.
"I heared you are friends with Piper? Dad remember the student who won the writinv contest?" James asked and I raise my eyebrow at him. He just smirk and turn his head into our father who is listening to him.
"Really?" Dad said and his smiles are turning into a smirk.
Here we go
"Yes I was friends with her brother"
"Really? Ehem Piper is pretty" James said while raising his eyebrows up and down.
"So?" I act like a stone because I don't want to know those two to know that I am interested at Piper.
I admit that I want to be close to her. I can't say that I like her or I have a crush on her. Just I want to know about her. That's it.
"Haha hey if I were you I would definity like her. She is pretty, smart and mostly she is an angel" James said while smiling at me. I roll my eyes while getting a snack on the shelves and put it in the shopping cart.
"Friends we are friends. Pip would kill me if I court her" I said while sighing
"Omg! Did you hear that?" James asked while hitting dad's shoulder. Dad just giggle and put some snacks that we need also some jellies for the kids.
"Ha! You just saying that you want to be friends with her but in fact that you want to be you know you know" he said while wiggling his eyebrows at me.
I glare at him and said "Just leave me alone" I pout while pushing the cart forward.
"Ha! Jenrick you are just new then you have a crush now yieee" James teased me that made me blush but I'm trying to hide it.
I maintain my emotionless expression.
"Just leave your brother alone. Be glad that he got a nice friends. Piper and the girls are very kind and have a good record on us" he said and I nodded my head.
I agree even though I don't know about Catherine and Natty but I can tell that they are nice.
"Anyway how did you know that?" I asked him that made him close his mouth and I chuckled.
"It was Jessica, right? Yieee you can't move on her right? Yieee" now the tables have turn. I saw his ears turn into red while coughing.
"So? I'm over with her" he said and he push me lightly to get the cart on me.
I just laugh and kick his butt.
After that we go to the cashier to pay for it but something catch my eyes. On the cashier I notice that the girl is trying to cover her face that made me curious.
Ugh why she is covering her face?
I won't judge her and also my brother and father. I mean it's uncomfortable to stay looking at down while typing at the computer.
"It's 1,304 pesos sir" she said and she cough. I raise my eyebrows because her voice kinda familiar.
I don't know where I heared but Dad already gave his card and he told us to carry it.
"What with your face?" James asked and I look at him. I shook my head. The girl in the cashier really looks familiar.
I just knock off my thoughts and help carry my brother. When we got into the car, Dad open his radio to break the silence among us.
I'm sitting in the back while James in the shotgun, busy with his phone. I am surfing on youtube some new music and I stop when I saw a familiar name on the video.
TWICE "WHAT IS LOVE?" M/V
This is the group that Piper likes, I unconsiously click on it and I watch the entire music video with a smile on my face.
The song is addictive and also the music video itself is fun to watch. I also love the lyrics on the music that makes me think, 'what is love?'
Yeah what is love?
How can you say that you love someone? Cause base on what I learn. Love is a feeling that yoy feel towards a person. But if it vanish then there is no love.
'Every day, in a movie
In a book or in a drama, I feel love'
Uhm I usually not fan of watching or reading love stories. But can you tell that you feel love when you are watching like that?
'Ooh, maybe someday
Could it happen to me too?
When will it be? Who will it be?'
When it is? When I get older? Or I already found who is it? That thought makes me think about Piper.
Okay this is not right, Jenrick. You can't fall for her. It's kind of reckless.
I close the video and look outside. It's already hours of trip we actually arrive at my aunt's house.
I can see my cousins waiting in their gate with a snack on their hands that made me smile. They were wearing a dinosaur onesie that makes them cuter and their cheeks are puffed.
"JENJEN!" I smile when I go out of the car and they run towards me.
I welcome their hugs on me and hug them tighter. I smile when they broke the hug and cover me with their kisses.
Meet Liam, William and Benjamin. Liam is the oldest, William is second while Benjamin is the youngest. They were boys and I can tell you that they were adorable. They are already 5 years old and they are already smart on their age.
"Jenjen snacks!" Liam said while giving me a chocolate biscuit while William is shoving the biscuit in my face.
Being kids they can't pronounce my name correctly so they call me by my nickname that they create.
"Wow where is my hug and kisses?" James asked while pouting his lips to the kids and they run towards him, giving him a tons of hugs and kisses.
"Jenricko, how are you my brother?" Aunt Jenny said, Dad's younger sister. Dad smile and give a hug to my aunt.
"I'm good, still energetic. Let's get inside" Dad said and the kids run to me again as they cling on my legs.
James is carrying the groceries and Uncle Oscar who is Aunt's husband is helping us to get inside the stuff that we buy.
"Jenjen see my scar. It's cool right!" Liam said while showing to me the scar on his left eyebrow. I just notice it.
"Yeah it's cool. What happen to this?" I asked and I lift him up to sit in my lap. William is at my Dad telling something to him while Benj is at the floor reading some book.
"Benj get bullied at school. So I protect him" he said while smiling at me. I lightly squeeze his cheeks because it's so adorable.
"That's good Liam but don't get in trouble, okay?"
"But they hurt Benj"
"Still. If they bully Benj or William tell it to your mom and dad or the teachers. Don't hurt others too" I said and he nodded his head.
"Actually his classmate accidentally push Benj that made him push his classmate too. Well in the end he accidentally hit his head in the table" Aunt Jenny said while sitting beside me.
"I remember him to you" Aunt Jenny said that made silent.
I used to be like that.
"Aren't you afraid that one day he will become like me?" I asked while playing at my hands.
Liam already run to Benj and read the book for his brother. What a cute scene to be witness.
"If he will grow up like you, it's okay"
"Wait what? I-"
"Jenrick, people makes mistake so it's fine. You know what's important?" she said and I look at her.
"Learning to mistakes"
That words makes me emotional a little bit. I used to be jolly kid but that incident made me change.
After the dinner I go to the room that I use with my brother.
"Take a bath, you stink" James said and he throw his towel at me. I glare at him and he just laugh.
I get inside of the bathroom and take off my t shirt. I saw at the mirror the scar on my side. Suddenly the memories in the past appear that made me dizzy.
(Back when he is 10 years old)
"Aha Jenrick you are here again?" I flinched when someone call me so I quickly get my things and I was about to run when I realized that they surrounds me again.
I was shaking and they were smirking at me. Showing me the bat that they used to threaten me. I was shaking so much and I flinched when their leader touch my shoulder.
"D-don't t-t-touch me" I stutter but they laugh at me and still his hands on my shoulder. I whimper in pain when he hold it tighter.
"What did I say to you? Don't talk back and give your allowance" he said and I immediately get my wallet and give him my remaining money.
He get it and he check it. He smirk and throw the wallet in my face. I hid some of my allowance at the pages of my book so that they can't get it but I guess he found out.
"Give me now!" he shouted so I don't have a choice but to give it to him.
Before they left, they throw punches and kick on me. I was groaning in pain while going home. I was hungry and my body are aching so much.
"Corndogs corndogs!" I heared someone said and I look back.
I saw a little girl, she is same age with me. She is smiling while selling the corndogs. The sight of the corndog make me hungry.
"Are you hungry little boy?" the lady asked while smiling at me. I quickly shook my head but she chuckled when she heared my stomach grumbling.
"Here some corndog, it's free" she said and I was about to reject it, she already put it in my hand.
"Mommy!" the girl called the lady. I guess it's the girl mom. I bitterly smile, I wish I had a mom like her.
(Flashback ended)
I quickly wipe my tears and calm myself. I wonder where is the lady now.
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