Angelo's rule
Jay-jay's POV
It's Saturday after all. I'm not in school, so no one should wake me up early. What I didn't understand was the opening of my bedroom door , which was almost thrown by someone and that was the reason I woke up. I looked at Judas----whoever he was----who opened my bedroom door. Since the doorknob was broken, it was easy to open. He's an Aries... That's why I'm a Taurus! "Get up and have breakfast." He said to me annoyed and immediately left. "Abnormal." I whispered into the pillow. I was forced to get up immediately even though I really wanted to drown myself in bed. I had many other plans for today; sleep, sleep, sleep and sleep. I went straight to the bathroom to get ready. I also changed my clothes before ï¬nally leaving the room. When I got to the dining room, they were all there----and that's including Kuya Angelo. Dead... He looked at me badly. I knew that my not going to school had gotten to him. One week, that's solid! That's why his punishment for me was solid, I'm sure. "Jay..." Mama called to me as I sat up. "...come with your Uncle Andy and I. We'll look at our future house." "Can't you guys walk without me?" I asked bored. "Jay!" Kuya asked me. Don't I have any allies here at home? Tita Gema would have been ï¬ne but she wouldn't be able to go against Mama. Lola would have been ï¬ne but she went back to the province. I'm really alone... I just bowed my head while eating. I can't stand them. It seems like I'm really being orced to go on this trip with my Mama and her new husband. I'm sure nothing will get worse from this incident. "You're coming too, Aries." Mama added. Whaaaaaaaaatttt?! "I don't want to." Aries quickly replied. I don't want to either! "You come with Aries." Kuya ordered. "...If you don't want me to take your car back." I could see how Aries was taking a deep breath to control his anger. I wanted to laugh out loud. It felt like you weren't the only one who was often scolded in the family. But I really didn't want to be with him. "He's with me, so maybe I shouldn't go?" I asked and Kuya's eyebrows immediately crossed. "You'll go." He ordered. I waited to see if he had something to say like Aries. But it seemed like he couldn't say anything. I don't have a car that he can take back, he can't reduce my allowance because I'm asking Percy for money----yes, I'm asking him!---- he also won't gain anything if he restricts me because he rarely comes home. "What if not?" I asked challengingly. Kuya glared at me. It was as if he got the challenge I was making of him. "If you don't go..." He started and suddenly his eyes widened. "...You'll sleep in Aries' room." WHAAAAAAATTTTTTTT?! NO! NO! NO! "I told you I'd go." I answered quickly and turned my attention back to my food. No one spoke after that. I immediately went back to the room to take a shower and get ready. I don't know where we're going but I brought some money----just in case I get mad at them, I'll throw them out. Aries and I walked out of our rooms almost at the same time. He didn't look at me and kept walking. I knew he didn't want me with him. We just quit, I didn't want him with me either. "Are you ready?" Andy opened his mouth to us. "Yes... I'm ready." Mama said happily while clapping. Aries and I didn't have any answers. We both looked bored and obviously had a bad trip. Nice! You can see how similar we are. "Be careful on the trip." Auntie said and kissed Aries on the cheek. He hugged me so tightly that I almost didn't accept it. I wasn't mad at him, I was just upset because of what happened but I didn't want to show him that. He was the only one on my side and I was going to drive him away. We got into Andy's SUV. My brother Horoscope and I were sitting in the backseat . Aries and I were a little far from each other and were both huddled together by the door. It was like we were sick and both were moving away from each other. In fact, he was really sick. Lung and brain pain. The pain was so strong that it made me dizzy sometimes. While the car was moving, Mama and Andy were constantly talking. About their wedding, of course. I was starting to hear it so I immediately took out my headset and stuck it in my ears. I also turned up the volume so it was solid. The music was ear-splitting, of course. It took us three hours to get to what they said would be their house. Thanks to the traffic, the trip took three hours----wow ! We went straight to an exclusive subdivision and stopped in front of a simple but beautiful house. The house was up to the second floor. At ï¬rst glance, the house was suitable for newlyweds. It wasn't too big and not too small, just enough. I took off my headset and got out of the car. Aries got out after me, still raising his eyebrows to this day. "Is it beautiful?" Mama asked with a smile. "...Your Uncle Andy designed it." Really?! The apple turned out to be a designer. "He's an architect?" Aries asked. He's a house designer! "Yes... Right now, I'm handling our own ï¬rm." Andy answered. "What's the architect?" I didn't have a question of my own. Andy was supposed to answer my question but this Aries guy is also an apple . "Designing brains for idiots like you!" He said to me annoyed. My eyebrows furrowed at what he said. I was asking because I wasn't sure but that didn't mean I was STUPID. "Oh really?" I asked sarcastically. "Since you're smart, what's my fate now?" "Fate?" He asked in surprise. "Aren't you a Horoscope?" He was clearly annoyed by what I said. He probably knew what I meant. He suddenly raised his hand to shake me but before he could get close to me, Mama and I hugged each other. "Picture!" I heard her scream and a click of the camera. Oh, bad trip! Kingina! How do I look? I feel like I look stupid. I was about to go to Andy to grab his cellphone but he opened the gate of the house and went in. "Let's go! Let's go!" Mama and I went. Mama followed Andy and left Aries and I outside. I looked at her evilly. It was her fault why I looked stupid in that picture. "You're ugly." I whispered but she seemed to hear it too. "You're even uglier!" She said annoyed. "Horoscope!" "Tomboy!" "Gay!" "Ugly!" "You're uglier!" "What time are you planning to stop?" Mama hissed while looking at us irritably. I didn't answer. I went ï¬rst into the gate of the house. I took big steps towards the door itself. The last thing I noticed was that the yard was wide and there was a garage but it wasn't ï¬nished yet. Andy was at the door waiting for us. I stopped with my arms crossed and looked at Mama who was following me. It's a bummer! Why did I come here anyway? We don't have anything to do here. Kuya Angelo has a bad trip. Sometimes I don't know if he's getting even or if this is his punishment for me. He's so bad! "Hon!" Andy called to Mama while handing over the house key. Mama happily took it. She approached the door and smiled at me like a model. I noticed last time that she was being photographed . The mud! The door was a model. "Here we go... We're going to enter our house." Mama said with a smile as she slowly opened the door. "...Come on!" I slowly peeked inside. Mama was the ï¬rst to enter ollowed by Andy. I slowly followed them. There were a few things already, like a sofa set still wrapped in plastic, there was also a table and a refrigerator. Andy pressed the light switch and everything seemed to be unctioning. The only thing missing was the one that would stay. "Let's go upstairs." Mama and I said. She led the way up the stairs. I followed and if I had been lucky, I had already caught up with this Aries up the stairs. "I went ï¬rst." I said annoyed. "What now?" He replied. "Saturday... Stupid!" "Boplaks!" Before I could even respond to his yelp, he had already climbed the stairs. I quickly chased after him but his steps were really big. When I got to the second floor, I saw another sofa set. There was a flat screen TV opposite it, attached to the wall. There were three doors that looked like a bedroom and one door leading to the terrace. Mama held my hand and pulled me to the ï¬rst door. "Your room is here." She said while opening the door. It wasn't as big as my room at Tita Gema's house but it was enough for me. There was also a cabinet and a study table. A bed frame and mattress wrapped in plastic. "This is for Aries." Andy said and opened the door opposite my room. The room was just like mine. But Aries didn't look happy there. He crossed his arms and looked annoyed. "Why do I have a room here?" He asked seriously. "Of course, when we're here---." "Wait a minute!" Aries cut off what Mama was going to say. "...Are you saying we'll live here too?" Yes, right? I hadn't thought about that either. Mama had already said that I would live with them for a while, at least before I got married. But it does n't seem like that's going to happen, based on what I found out. "Yes... Just for a while. Besides, it's only when you're on vacation from school." Mama replied. "No! That's never gonna happen." Aries said and shook his head. "Aries... I just want---." "That's it again! What you want again... What about what we want." He cut off what Mama was going to say again, annoyed. "Aries." Andy looked at him calmly. He stopped and glared at Mama. He turned to me for a moment and suddenly walked down the stairs. The three of us were left just looking at him. I understand Aries. The reason is that he made a decision without asking for our opinion. I wanted to protest like my sister Horoscope did, but I didn't. I knew he already knew that. Mama looked at me and before she could speak, I turned my back on her. I went straight to the terrace and looked around for a moment. The feeling was very familiar. I saw Aries outside as if he was talking to someone on his cellphone. He was constantly circling and even though I couldn't hear what he was saying, it was as if he was very annoyed. He looked at my behavior so I immediately turned away. I looked in another direction but all I saw was a roof and power lines. The view was ugly... I just went back inside. Mama and Andy were gone but I could hear their voices. It seemed like they were downstairs. I went back to the room that was meant for me. I just looked around even though no one was interested . When I got bored, I went downstairs. I saw Mama and Andy in the kitchen and they were talking. They all looked at me at the same time. "Jay... What do you want to eat? I'll buy your Uncle Andy." Mama asked me with a smile. "I'll ask Aries." I said lifelessly. I immediately went out to ï¬nd Aries. I didn't have any trouble because he was still at his place where I saw him earlier. He was still talking to someone on his cellphone. "What do you want to eat? He said they'll buy it." "Anything, as long as your brain is full!" He scolded me. This is really bad! "Don't eat! You'll die of hunger!" I shouted and rushed back to the house. Andy was already standing at the door holding his car keys. He also seemed to be waiting or what I would say. Aries didn't give me a sensible answer but insulted me. "He wants pizza and a bucket of chicken." I said. He said as long as my brain is full. That's probably okay. My stomach and brain will be satisï¬ed with this. It's better than nothing to eat. Andy left with an apple and the three of us were left at home. Mama and I were now sitting in front of the table. Aries had just ï¬nished talking to someone and had already sat down. We looked like we didn't know what to expect, waiting for our food. I think I had already given a dialogue to all the ants that passed in front of me. "We used to be like this, right Aries?" Mama said and I looked at them. I don't remember us being together in front of the table before. Maybe because I was 3 years old when I gave Aries to Auntie for adoption. I don't remember much anymore. Aries bowed while resting one hand on the table. "Oh-yes..." "You still remember." Mama added and forced a smile. I couldn't relate. "I remember of course..." Aries said and looked at Mama. "...I also remember how you would hit me when I disobeyed you. I also remember how you would scold me when I did something wrong." Her eyes gradually changed. I can see anger in her. I want to interrupt and ask but she might take it out on me . "...I remembered it. I remember how you hit me with a slipper, belt or hanger. I remember how you called me 'worthless', 'brainless' and 'not thinking'. Well let me tell you, I have a brain because I remember what you did!" She scolded. Mama couldn't react. Even I was shocked by what I was hearing. I didn't know what she was saying. "...and you know what I remembered the most? When you made me sleep outside just because I left Jay-jay alone at home!" A tear fell from one of her eyes. "...But do you know the reason? Do you know why I went out and left Jay-jay alone?! Because I bought him food! Because you weren't there to cook for him!" She took a deep breath. "I did what you should have done but I was the one who was wrong in the end!" Mama's breathing became deep, and that's when I noticed that she was crying. She held Aries' hand tightly. "I was just carried away by anger... I didn't mean to." She said while continuing to cry. "....forgive me. I'm still too young--- -." "That's not an excuse!" Aries shouted. "...Jay-jay is the only one who matters to you! Why?! Because his dad is rich, while mine is just hanging out?!" Shit! I'm confused! I know Aries's father and I have different fathers, but I really don't know anything about what he's saying. I didn't know that he had experienced anything like that with Mama. Aries tried to pull his hand away from Mama's grip. He couldn't let go because of his weakness. Mama cried and cried and honestly , I was hurt even though I shouldn't have. "That's probably why you adopted me." Aries added. Stop it... Please. Feeling like this is so heavy. I looked away and took a deep breath. "That's enough, Aries." I said and his evil gaze shifted to me. "...Stop it." "Aries..." Mama called to him. "...I didn't want you to be adopted. I just had to do it to take good care of Jay- jay. Hurt your brother, he needs me more." Listen to Mama... "And I don't?!" Her voice was ï¬lled with reproach. "I don't need a mother?! Is that so?!" "That's enough." I stopped. "I know you need to... But understand." "Are you just going to understand? How do we understand you?!" "Stop it, Aries." I felt like I was going to be shocked by the way they were responding. The headache and the heaviness in my chest. I expected us to ï¬ght but we weren't scolding each other like this while looking back at the past. "I'm no use to you! That's why you adopted me!" I slammed the table hard. "STOP IT!" I shouted while looking at Aries with a look of displeasure. "...YOU'RE IN DEBT!" Mama also stopped speaking. She wiped her face that was wet with tears. I also heard her breathing deeply a few times. "Look at what Mama just said! Maybe you're forgetting that you have shortcomings too!" Mine! "...if you talk! It's embarrassing for you!" From where she was sitting across from me, she grabbed the collar of my dress. I stood up as she brought my face closer to her. Her gaze almost killed me. "You don't know what I've experienced---." I cut her off. "You don't know what I've experienced either !" A tear fell from one of my eyes. "...I don't even remember it yet but I know! I know it was hell!" But are you there to protect me?! Even though I didn't say the words I wanted to let go, I knew she got them. She got what I meant. She slowly let go of me. We still didn't take our eyes off each other . "Mom..." I called to Mama without taking my eyes off the person in ront of me. "...Stop crying and if you can..." "Don't expect us to make up." Aries continued what I was going to say. Silence prevailed among the three of us. I don't know how long we had been like that. Until Andy arrived with the food. "W-did anything happen while I was gone?" He asked Mama. Mama only smiled at him. If only you had come earlier, you might have caught the drama. Maybe you could have bought popcorn while watching.