Keifer's POV
"You keep hanging out with Yuri, but that guy's a coward." Percy said and took a sip from his glass.
I just shook my head. I'll just pretend that he's drunk. His answer is way off from what I asked.
How did I become gullible?
"I don't care about Yuri's cowardliness. I'm here for My Jay-jay's phone number." I said and signaled the bartender for another round.
"I have a lot of concerns and things to say before I give you her number."
I massaged my temple because of the headache. Why am I even bothering to sit here next to him?
"You know what? I think I'll just find another way to get her number." I said and reached for my wallet.
"Okay… Then I'll just tell Jay-jay to change her phone number." He said and smiled like a lunatic.
I couldn't believe it. This guy is really messing with me on purpose.
I put my wallet back. "Just say all your concerns already. Stop being so dramatic!"
He suddenly placed his glass down on the counter, making a noise that caught the bartender's attention.
Percy's seriousness was back.
"I just don't understand why you let Aries suffer like that." He chuckled bitterly. "You guys should have been the first ones to stand by his side, but you were the first ones to leave him instead."
I frowned. "Don't talk as if it's all our fault. If you had let us know you were alive, this would have never happened to us."
"If you still don't know it, my Mom never let me contact anyone from here! Not even my own family!"
"You should've at least tried. Just one freaking sign that you were alive!"
"And then what? I still wouldn't have been able to show up, it would've been useless!"
"But we could've searched for you. Aries, Yuri, Angelo, and I could have searched for you."
I can't believe I'm saying these words. I didn't expect this conversation to turn into a blame game.
I know he already knows that I have a lot of things I want to hold against him. And I know the others feel the same agony.
"…but obviously, it's pointless to fight because of that. What's done is done, and there's nothing we can do about it anymore." I added and took a drink.
He shook his head. "The damage my 'death' caused was huge."
So huge that it even led to the downfall of Fer. Corp. Since everyone knew Aries was a Fernandez and about the accident that happened to the four of us, many investors and stockholders pulled out.
That's when their collapse started. They tried their best to save the company, but things just got worse because of the Hanamitchis.
Poor Angelo.
"So huge…" I whispered. I took another sip from my glass. "What's the real reason you came back? Obviously, you're not here to get your life back."
"I plan to take Felix and bring him to the US. My crazy father left some money for them, but they can't claim it because the insurance company couldn't find them." He explained. "…I'm also taking Jay-jay to her father."
"Do you plan to tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
"That her father has cancer."
He froze and looked at me. He probably can't believe that I know about that.
When I said I would help Jay-jay find her father, I meant it. But I didn't stop looking like she thought. I searched for him using my limited resources. It was just harder because her father was based in another country.
The Marianos are extremely private. They even use different names for their business ventures. There are barely any pictures of their family. I can't believe someone like him can stay hidden from the business world.
Honestly, Rory and Edrix were lucky to have found even a little bit of information about him and Percy back then.
"Wow…" He said sarcastically. "I'm really amazed at what you can do. You even found that out."
"It was my lawyer who found out. He was in New York at the time, looking for someone who could help me. Then he saw Mr. Fernandez at the hospital getting chemotherapy."
"How did your lawyer even recognize him?"
I cleared my throat. "I had him look for him before, for Jay-jay. When I got a picture of him, I gave it to my lawyer to find more information."
"Damn!" He said with an annoying smile. "You're willing to do everything, huh? Is that love?"
Yes. It is!
I ignored him and continued drinking. I ordered another one after finishing mine. Percy did the same.
"Can I have her number now?"
"Kiss first!" He answered.
I almost threw my glass at him, but I held back, not wanting to waste the drink.
"Just tell me if you're drunk." I said, almost commanding.
"Not yet! Maybe you are, though, since you got here before me."
I shook my head and took a sip. It takes a long time for me to get drunk.
Something I apparently inherited from the Watsons. I only recently found out that this runs in our family. I used to think it was just because my body got used to alcohol.
There's a lot of things I still haven't discovered about the Watson family. It's scary to learn about them, but it's even scarier not to know anything at all.
What else do they know that I don't? I don't want to know, but at the same time, I do. I feel like I can use it against them.
One dark little secret.
"Freya…" he said.
That's what I've been waiting for him to ask. All he's asking for is an explanation, and in exchange, I can have Jay-jay's number.
"Was she happy when I was gone?"
I slightly shook the glass I was holding. I hate to say this, but there's no point in hiding it.
"She didn't even cry when we thought you were dead. I thought she was just acting tough, but I was wrong." I took a sip from my glass. "…I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I will hurt them. She wasn't really into you back then."
I heard his soft laughter, followed by him suddenly gulping down his drink. He swallowed it as if it were just water.
He signaled to the bartender. "Give me something hard."
Give him a solid earth rock.
The bartender placed a glass with ice in front of him. He poured the drink before sliding it closer.
He drank it before speaking again.
"Because she was into Yuri." He said and drank again. "…I didn't see it back then, but I knew she had a hidden crush on Yuri."
My forehead creased. "Did she date you before just to get closer to Yuri?"
He shook his head. "I don't know, but…"
He obviously couldn't continue his words. Probably too painful.
"That's what it looks like." I completed his sentence, and he nodded. "She had her chance with him, but Yuri screwed up."
"He's a f*cker!" He shouted and slammed his glass on the counter. "He took advantage of my Freya! If he didn't really want her, he shouldn't have done that!"
He buried his face in the table while continuing to talk, but I could no longer understand him.
I signaled for another glass from the bartender. He looked at me as if checking my condition.
"Are you not drunk yet, sir?" he asked while pouring the drink into my glass.
"Nope. Still not drunk." I said proudly.
Suddenly, Percy stood up. I thought he had fallen asleep or was too drunk to function, but he still looked very much awake.
"How did you and Freya end up together?" he asked in a serious tone.
"I really liked Freya. So when I saw her crying because of their breakup, I took advantage of the situation and comforted her." I shook my head.
Remembering my actions makes me regret our past. I shouldn't have approached her back then. I should have let her fix herself first.
She was a mess, and starting a relationship in that situation is a big NO.
"Did you take good care of her?"
"With my best." I answered shortly and took a drink.
"Did you make her cry?"
I did…
I don't know if I should answer him. I'm ashamed of what I did to her in the past.
I promised myself I would take care of her. In the name of Percy—whom we thought was dead. But I failed because of my anger management issues.
"Silence means yes." he said, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor with a stinging pain on my cheek.
He punched me! He fcking punched me while I was occupied. Is this why he came here? Just to hit me?*
"That feels good." he said while looking at his fist.
He returned to his seat while I stood up. I grabbed my glass and pressed it against my cheek. If I didn't need something from him, I would have punched him back.
I sat down again, still pressing the glass against my face.
"Why did you hurt her?"
"It was an accident." I tried to massage my face. "…I was furious because of jealousy. I kept seeing her with different guys. I even saw her flirting with another guy."
"So you punched her?"
I looked at him in shock. "What? I never punched her!"
"That's what she told me."
"I pushed her too hard against the wall, then I punched the wall beside her! I would never do such a thing to her!"
I can't believe this. No wonder I've been hearing different stories—because she's been telling different versions. Some even called me a sadist. I chose to ignore it.
"…And it only happened once!" I added.
I swallowed my drink. I regret that we fought that day. That was when our problems began.
If only I hadn't pushed her so hard, she wouldn't have been so afraid of me. I probably wouldn't have punched the wall in anger either.
I know she was hurt, but she chose to cry silently. I'm so stupid! If only I had given her the freedom she was asking for, things would have turned out differently.
I tried to fix things between us. I bought her a penthouse, a car, and gadgets her parents couldn't afford. She accepted them, and we made out, but I didn't know she was planning something else.
"So, who's who and who's not?" he asked, sounding uninterested.
"It's useless to point fingers at whoever should be blamed. Think whatever you want to think."
He took out his phone. "As I promised."
I was about to take it from his hand, but he slightly moved it away.
"I'm telling you, Keifer. If Jay-jay comes running to me crying because of you again…" He pointed his finger at me. "…I'll tell her father."
I quickly grabbed his cellphone from him. As I unlocked it, Jay-jay's phone number showed up. I sent it immediately to my phone before handing his phone back to him.
I quickly took my phone when I heard it ring. I stared at her number for a while. I wanted to press the call option to talk to her.
But I'm scared.
Fvck this!
I'm Keifer Watson, and for the first time, I'm scared to call a girl over the phone.
I thought Watsons turn into beasts. Why does it feel like the opposite for me? Why do I feel like I'm turning into a coward?
I'm starting to hate this feeling. Is this what it really feels like to be in love? Does it make your mind a mess? I was never like this with Freya and Ella.
Maybe because it's different. She's different.
I put my phone back in my pocket. That was for the best, or I might get tempted to call her. It wouldn't be good if she knew that I had her number.
I turned to look at Percy when I noticed he was drinking straight from the bottle. I shook my head.
To be honest, I was jealous of him. He was so close to Jay-jay. Before, I was jealous of how he could make other people laugh. Even my own problems faded away because of his antics.
That's why I preferred being with the four of them back then. It helped me escape the problems at home. I bit my lips. Because of that escape, I neglected Mom and Keigan. If only I had been stronger back then…
And now, I hope I can do what I failed to do before. To protect the people I love and never be weak again.
For my brothers and for her.
"You think I'm weak?" I asked Percy, almost whispering.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I can't protect her without hurting her feelings."
"That's not weakness. That's stupidity."
I didn't know if he was teasing me or what. He just called everything I was doing stupid.
I wish he was drunk. He sounded like he didn't even know what he was saying anymore.
"Thanks," I said sarcastically. "Not to mention that I'm also suffering."
He laughed while shaking his head. "That's because you're only looking at the easiest option."
"It's not an easy option. It's actually the hardest for me—and for her."
"By hurting her? Bullshit." He said calmly.
"Easy for you to say."
"Yet you still haven't let her go."
I looked away.
Because I fvcking can't.
All of this is just temporary. This is just what my enemies need to see, but that doesn't mean I'm really letting her go.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't let her go completely."That will kill me!
"Haven't you thought that what you're doing now hurts more? You're showing her that you're not really in love with her, but in reality, you still keep her." He chuckled bitterly. "…It's like you're putting an invisible rope around her neck. And that rope will soon kill her!"
"I won't let that happen!"
He put down the bottle. "It already happened! That's exactly what you've been doing these past few days!"
I ran my hands over my face. My actions are true to his words.
"You're fvcking killing her inside."
"Do you think I haven't thought about that? This is painful for me too, but I have no choice!"
He suddenly stopped and stared at me. He gestured toward the bartender, who immediately looked our way. I didn't like the way Percy was looking at me.
"Leave us." He said, and the bartender left.
"What is that for?"
"Tell me, Keifer. Who are you trying to protect Jay-jay from?"
I looked away. I had no intention of telling him the truth. I didn't want him to get involved.
He shook his head. "Did you get yourself into trouble and drag her along?"
"No. It's not like that. I am trying to protect her from my old enemy."
"From your father?"
I nodded shortly. I wasn't lying. He was one of the people I was fighting against—for her and my brothers.
"Fvck! So your battle isn't over yet?" He sighed deeply. "I missed so many things about you."
My lips formed a thin line. "Yeah. I think."
He drank from the bottle again. It was almost empty.
"If you truly want to protect her, I suggest you let her go—for real. It's obvious, you don't love her, but at the same time, you can't stay still."
I held my temple. He was clearly drunk now. It showed in the way his eyes fluttered. Until the bottle was completely empty, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"I have a joke. Want to hear it?" He said, still laughing.
Oh fvck!
"No," I said and was about to leave, but he grabbed me.
"Wait… No one's going to hear my joke. What a waste!"
I forced his hand off me. "Save it for the future."
He shook his head furiously. "No way."
I took out my phone and dialed Felix's number. He answered after a few rings.
["What?"]
"Pick up your brother here at KingsGround." I said.
"Hey… Listen to my jokes. Jay-jay really likes my jokes." Percy begged.
["Is he drunk? Damn! Just leave him on the highway."]
I shook my head. I couldn't believe he was disowning his own brother. Who would even want to take home this drunk guy? He was full of corny jokes.
"Just pick him up." I said before ending the call.
"I have sooooooo many jokes."
I sighed deeply. I can't stay here any longer.
I saw the bartender returning.
"There's the bartender. He's ready to listen to your jokes."
He let go of me and approached the bartender, who looked at him in confusion. I placed some cash on the counter before leaving.
I quickly headed to my car, which was already surrounded by people interested in stealing it. I walked straight up and pressed unlock right in front of them.
They scattered immediately. I got in and quickly drove off.
I enjoy talking to Percy, but I don't like his advice.
Let go of Jay-jay for real.
How? Isn't pushing her away enough? Do I really have to let her go completely?
I pressed harder on the gas pedal. My car sped up without me realizing it. Where am I even going? I kept driving until I noticed the tallest building in front of me.
I was in the business district. I gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Is it time to tell Yuri?I don't want to involve him, but I'm out of choices. Even a simple piece of advice would mean a lot to me.
I just need someone to listen to this.
I turned the steering wheel and headed toward Yuri's building. I drove straight into their basement parking. The guard quickly let me in after recognizing me.
After parking, I headed straight for the elevator. Unlike other elevators, this one wouldn't take you straight to Yuri's home. Someone from security had to process a face recognition scan. If the Hanamitchi Family didn't approve, no one could get in.
It's a good thing I always visited Yuri. I didn't have to go through their security process anymore.
When the elevator doors opened, Yuri's mother greeted me. Which is kinda weird.
"Tita…" I said and hugged her briefly. She smiled at me. "Visiting Yuri?"
"Yeah. Is he home?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Maybe on his way." She held my arm. "I'll take you to his room. Come on."
This is really new.
She walked slowly, and I tried to match her pace. I felt restless. I don't like the way she holds me. It's really awkward.
"You and Yuri have been friends for a long time. I still remember how Angelo scolded you in front of us.Quite painful because I don't like seeing my son getting hurt or reprimanded. But I guess it had a good result." She said and forced a smile.
"I never liked it when someone yelled at or hurt him. I feel pain for my son. Especially when he cried, I was the one who felt shattered for him."
What every mother feels for their child. But I really don't understand why she's telling me all this.
The last time she spoke to me like this, it was about Ella. Who is it now?
"That's why I deeply regretted seeing him cry because of Ella. I thought I was doing the right thing for him. But then I saw him change. My sweet son turned into someone I no longer recognized. I can't afford to see him like that again."
I stopped walking as she slowly removed her hand from my arm.
This is about Jay-jay.
"I know you understand what I'm trying to say. That Jay-jay girl. She has to be with my son." She said with teary eyes.
"No." I answered shortly and was about to leave, but she stopped me again.
"I will tell the Watsons the truth!" She shouted.
I turned to face her in shock. How on earth did she know about the Watsons?
"There have been several calls from the Watson company. We thought it was about your investment in us, but it was more than that." Her teary eyes turned into a fierce glare. "They keep asking about Jasper Jean. We gave them the same answer we've always given them. She's my son's fiancée."
Fvck them! They're making their move!
I tried my best not to show any emotion, but I was fuming inside.
"But I know that Clyde—your cousin—is waiting for a different answer. I can give that to him."
My fists clenched. I don't want to say anything disrespectful to Tita. She's been so good to me that I almost treat her like my own mother. But my patience has a limit.
It is true that Yuri's mother is a genius. She knows exactly when to use her resources against someone's weaknesses.
"Fine. I'll do what you want." I said, and she smiled in relief. "I will tell your son exactly what you want to hear."
I started walking toward her until I was close enough.
"…but if Jay-jay gets married to Yuri before I receive my inheritance, I will burn your family alive and turn them into ashes."
Her smile vanished. "You can't do such a thing."
"You don't know me, Mrs. Hanamitchi. I'm a Watson, and I'm more powerful than you think I am."
She shook her head and smiled arrogantly.
"Not without your inheritance. You're still a kid claiming to be powerful." She pointed at me. "They will still get married, whether before or after you receive your inheritance. The Headmaster of our family wants to meet her, and that is not a good sign for you."
I smirked. "You think I will let that happen? I assure you, someone will be in checkmate—and that will not be me."
I walked past her and headed straight to Yuri's room.
I never expected Yuri's mother to interfere. But I don't give a fvck.
What I said will be done. She threatened the wrong person.