Chapter: Alien Language Betrayal at Home
(Jay's POV)
Going out for evening snacks with Section E sounded harmless.
Just samosa.
Just juice.
Just chaos.
After school, all of us were walking toward the small café near the corner. Yuri was arguing with Blaster about who eats more. Cin and Felix were already planning to steal fries from everyone. Keif was walking beside me, hands in his pockets, calm as usual.
Responsible me decided to inform home.
Big mistake.
I opened my phone and texted the family group.
Jay 👽:
otw 4 snx wth sctnE. bck 8:30. nt alne. dnt cll.
Send.
Satisfied.
Aries replied first.
Aries:
What.
Kuya Angelo replied after 10 seconds.
Kuya Angelo:
Translate.
I rolled my eyes.
Jay 👽:
snx = snacks.
sctnE = section e.
nt alne = not alone.
relx.
Seen.
No reply.
Good. Peace.
I went back to laughing at whatever nonsense Yuri was saying.
Fast forward.
I reached home at 8:42 PM.
The door was open.
That's never a good sign.
Aries was sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed dramatically.
Kuya Angelo was standing near the dining table.
Calm.
Too calm.
I slowly removed my shoes.
"Hi," I said carefully.
Silence.
Aries looked at me like I committed tax fraud.
Kuya Angelo spoke first.
"What language was that?"
I blinked. "English?"
"Sounded like WiFi password," Aries muttered.
I glared at him.
Kuya Angelo held up his phone.
"'otw 4 snx wth sctnE.' What is this?"
"I translated."
"After I asked."
Oops.
Aries stood up and started walking in circles dramatically. "Kuya, she sent a secret code and expected us to understand. What if she was kidnapped? What if snx meant 'secret ninja x-mission'?"
I stared at him. "Are you okay?"
Kuya Angelo ignored Aries' drama.
"You will text properly."
"I did!"
"That was not proper."
"It was efficient."
"It was confusing."
Aries added, "I thought she joined a hacker gang."
I crossed my arms. "It's alien language."
"Yes," Aries nodded. "We know. Only one human understands it."
I froze.
No.
Don't.
He smirked.
"Guess who translated it in the Section E group chat today in 0.2 seconds?"
I pointed at him. "Don't."
Kuya Angelo slowly turned to me.
"Who?"
I swallowed.
"Keif."
Aries clapped once. "Of course."
Kuya Angelo raised an eyebrow.
"So he understands your codes."
"It's not a code."
"It looks like a code."
I internally screamed.
Why is this an interrogation again.
Kuya Angelo walked closer.
"If I send you 'wrk mtg tmrrw 9am brng fls,' will you understand?"
"…No."
"Exactly."
Aries whispered loudly, "But if Keif sends 'mkk wtsn 404,' she'll faint."
"I WILL PUSH YOU DOWN THE STAIRS," I threatened.
Kuya Angelo blinked slowly.
"What is mkk wtsn 404?"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Aries covered his mouth to stop laughing.
My brain:
JayJay. Play dead. Collapse. Fake a power cut.
Out loud:
"Nothing."
Aries lost control. "It's his full name coded!"
"ARIES."
Kuya Angelo looked unimpressed.
"You code his name?"
"No."
"You scream it."
"That was once."
"Twice," Aries corrected.
I wanted to evaporate.
Kuya Angelo sighed.
"Why couldn't you simply text: 'I'm going out for snacks with friends. I'll be back at 8:30.'"
Because that's boring.
Because I'm dramatic.
Because Keif understands me without explanation.
But I couldn't say that.
So I mumbled, "Habit."
Aries leaned closer to me. "You only type like that when he's around."
I slapped his arm.
Kuya Angelo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Does he influence this behavior?"
"What behavior?" I asked nervously.
"Secret language."
"It's not secret!"
"Then why can't we understand it?"
Because you're not him.
Oops.
That almost came out.
I quickly looked down.
Kuya Angelo noticed.
Danger.
"Jay."
"Yes?"
"Are you hiding something?"
"No!"
"Then why are you nervous?"
"Because you're interrogating me like a criminal!"
Aries laughed loudly. "Guilty reaction!"
Kuya Angelo shot him a look.
Silence returned.
He spoke calmly.
"I don't mind you going out. I mind not understanding where you are."
That softened me a little.
"I wasn't hiding it," I said quietly. "I just type fast."
He nodded slightly.
"Then type clearly."
"Yes."
"And no more WiFi passwords."
Aries burst out laughing again.
Kuya Angelo wasn't done.
"And one more thing."
I froze.
"Yes?"
"If he understands you that easily—"
My heart skipped.
"—make sure he understands responsibility too."
Oh.
That was… deeper than expected.
I nodded slowly.
"He does."
Aries leaned back on the sofa dramatically. "Kuya, should we test him with algebra in alien language?"
I grabbed a cushion and threw it at his face.
He fell backward dramatically. "Abuse! Witnessed!"
Kuya Angelo finally shook his head slightly.
"You both give me a headache."
As he walked away, he paused.
"And Jay?"
"Yes?"
"Be home on time."
"…Yes."
He disappeared into his room.
I collapsed onto the sofa.
Aries sat up again.
"So," he grinned, "snx wth sctnE, huh?"
"Shut up."
He leaned closer.
"Did Mr. Priority walk you home?"
My eyes widened.
"How do you know that word."
"Section E leaks everything."
I groaned loudly.
"I hate all of you."
Aries smirked.
"You don't hate him."
I threw another cushion at him.
He dodged this time.
But he was still laughing.
And unfortunately—
He wasn't wrong.