Hex POV
The walk home felt like I was marching toward my own execution.
Jay didn't speak the entire ride.
Which was worse than shouting.
When we stepped inside, she didn't even remove her shoes.
She didn't even sit down.
She dropped her bag.Aries was on the couch.
Nodding.
Why was he nodding?
"I told you," Jay continued, pacing like a lawyer preparing a closing statement, "stay calm. Stay composed. Don't let people provoke you!"
Aries nodded again. "Yes. Stay composed."
I glared at him.
Traitor.
"I'm only twelve," I muttered.
"And that is exactly why you should behave like one!" Jay snapped.
What does that even mean?
"Charles Navarro."
Full government name.
I was finished.
"What," she began calmly, which is never a good sign, "possessed you?"
I opened my mouth.
"Don't answer that. Because clearly, thinking was not involved."
Aries was on the couch.
Eating groundnuts.
Watching like this was premium entertainment.
"He punched Marcos," Jay announced dramatically.
Aries blinked. "Oh."
Then he looked at me.
Then at my cheek.
Then back at Jay.
"He punched Marcos?" Aries repeated, louder this time. "In school? With teachers? And students?"
"Yes!" Jay snapped.
Aries stood up slowly. "Hex… why are you like this?"
Excuse me?
"I'm defending myself," I said.
Jay pointed at my face. "Defending yourself? That slap mark says otherwise!"
"It was a grown man," I muttered.
"Exactly!" Jay shouted. "A grown man slapped you! What if he did worse? What if—"
She stopped.
Her voice cracked slightly.
I noticed.
But I pretended not to.
Aries shook his head. "You really went and called them murderers?"
Silence.
"…Yes."
Aries dropped onto the couch dramatically. "This boy wants headlines."
The front door opened.
Angelo entered.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Even the air straightened up.
He looked at Jay.
Then at Aries.
Then at me.
His eyes paused on my cheek.
"Explain," he said.
So I did.
I told him about the argument.
About Marcos.
About what I said.
About the slap.
Jay interrupted every thirty seconds.
"He insulted them first."
"He escalated it."
"He never listens."
Aries added commentary like a news reporter.
"And then he said 'husband of a killer.' Bold. Very bold."
I shot him a look.
"Are you helping or destroying me?"
"I'm presenting facts," Aries replied calmly.
Angelo rubbed his forehead.
"You are twelve," he said firmly. "Twelve. Not twenty-five. Not a street fighter."
"I didn't start it," I insisted.
"You finished it," Jay replied instantly.
Aries snapped his fingers. "Yes. Finished it. Dramatically."
Why was he enjoying this?
Just then, Aunty Gemma walked in with an ice pack.
Without saying a word, she gently pulled me to sit down.
She pressed the ice against my cheek.
Cold.
Sharp.
Slightly painful.
But also… comforting.
"Hold still," she murmured softly.
Meanwhile, the lecture continued.
"You are suspended for a week!" Jay said.
"One week," Aries repeated. "That is seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours."
"Thank you, Aries," Jay said dryly.
"And," Jay continued, pointing at me, "you are grounded."
My head snapped up.
"What?!"
" No games. No going out. Straight home for the next two weeks."
"Two?!" I almost stood up but Gemma pushed me back down gently to keep the ice in place.
"Stay still," she warned.
"That's unfair!" I protested.
Aries folded his arms. "You punched someone. Publicly. Called their family criminals. Got slapped. Almost got expelled. And you're negotiating?"
"I thought you were on my side!"
"I was," Aries replied. "Before the 'murderer' speech."
Jay crossed her arms. "You could have been expelled, Hex. Do you understand that?"
I looked down.
"Yes."
"If not for Keifer, you would be at home permanently."
I swallowed.
Angelo stepped closer.
"You cannot let anger control you," he said quietly but firmly. "Pain does not give you permission to hurt others."
Gemma adjusted the ice gently.
"He's still grieving," she said softly.
The room fell silent for a second.
I stared at the floor.
"I know," Angelo said. "But grief is not an excuse to destroy yourself."
Aries nodded again. "Yes. Destroying self is not productive."
I glared at him.
He raised his hands. "What? I'm agreeing!"
Jay sighed deeply.
"You scared me today," she admitted quietly. "When I saw that slap mark… do you know what I thought? I thought I failed you."
That made me look up.
Her eyes were glossy.
Oh.
Now I felt slightly bad.
Slightly.
Gemma removed the ice and checked my cheek. "Swelling will go down."
"Like his attitude?" Aries muttered.
"Aries," Jay warned.
He coughed. "Sorry."
Angelo straightened. "Grounded. Two weeks. Suspension week included. Extra chores."
"Extra what?" I whispered.
"You will assist Gemma in the kitchen. Daily."
Aries gasped dramatically. "Kitchen duty. That's severe."
"I don't even know how to cook."
"Perfect," Jay replied.
This was turning into a punishment marathon.
"And," Angelo added, "you will apologize."
My eyes widened. "To Marcos?"
"Yes."
"For getting slapped?"
"For starting the fight."
"That's emotional damage," Aries said.
"Aries!" Jay snapped.
Gemma finally stood up. "Enough. You have all spoken. The boy has ears. They are working."
Silence.
Jay took a deep breath.
"Go upstairs."
I stood slowly.
Before leaving, I looked at Aries.
"You enjoyed this."
He smiled innocently. "Very educational."
As I climbed the stairs, Jay called out one last time.
"Suspension is not a vacation!"
Too late.
I had already mentally planned sleeping until noon.
Gemma walked closer and gently touched my cheek. "It still hurts?"
"Just my pride," I said.
She smiled faintly. "Go wash up."
As I turned to leave—
Jay said one last thing.
"Again suspension is not a vacation."
I grinned. "Too late. I already planned snacks."
"CHARLES!"
I ran before round two could begin.
Upstairs.
When I reached my room, I closed the door.
Leaned against it.
Exhaled.
Okay.
Let's summarize:
One week suspension.
Two weeks grounded.
Kitchen duty.
Public humiliation.
Emotional speeches.
Ice pack therapy.
Honestly?
…Still kind of worth that punch.
End of chapter 😭🔥