Keifer's POV
"They're so ugly." Eren said.
"Why are they dressed like that? Is there a dress code for a gang war?" That was Denzel.
"I want to eat!" Ci-N said while hugging David.
"Get away…" David said, trying to push Ci-N away.
"Is this really how gang wars go? I have no clue! It feels like we just gate-crashed a party!" Edrix said.
"You guys know nothing about gang wars!" That was Blaster.
Out of all of us, I think only Blaster and Drew have ever been in something like this. We're all clueless about what will happen next. I don't even fight like this.
I only face people who actually want to fight me.
"I counted more than 120 of them." Josh said, still trying to count them all.
That's fewer compared to the usual number Ram has when he fights like this. Maybe because some of them don't really want to be in his group.
Aside from us, other groups also want to challenge their new leader. So if we take them out of the count, there are only about 60 left from Ram's former group.
"Before we start!" A man shouted while holding a baseball bat. "I want you all to know what Watson replied to the invitation I sent him!"
If I'm not mistaken, this must be their new leader. I haven't seen him before. Or maybe I have, but I just don't remember.
Everyone here turned to look at us. Mostly at me.
They look at me like a predator looking at its prey.
"He said that he is the real Boss! That if we lose to them, we'll become their dogs! We'll obey them!" He explained, and the others started laughing.
"NONSENSE!" One of his men shouted.
"YOU'RE CRAZY! RAM IS THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN DEFEAT!" Another one added, and they all laughed again.
Ram is the only one? They're underestimating me too much.
They keep talking as if they know me.
When in reality, they never even had a chance to try me. And now, I'll prove them wrong.
"Let's give him a chance!" Their new leader said, and everyone fell silent.
"We'll agree to that deal! But if you lose, you'll be the one obeying us!" He said, pointing at us. "And the girl is ours!"
My vision instantly darkened at what he said. Before I knew it, I was already in front of him, gripping his neck. The people around him quickly backed away.
"Don't you dare mention her." I said in a growling voice.
I heard someone whistle.
"Woah! So the rumors that he was just using the girl weren't true!"
"He used her? Watson really is ruthless!"
"Maybe they're actually together?!"
"Who even started that rumor?"
"Your group! You idiots!"
"You moron! It was your group!"
"You're a grown man, and you're gossiping?!"
I let go of their new leader when I noticed he was close to losing consciousness.
I'm becoming too obvious.
They started pointing fingers and exchanging harsh words.
Until someone threw a big rock. Then another. Then suddenly, people were punching and hitting each other with whatever they could grab.
I took a step back when the guy in front of me swung his baseball bat. He then dropped it and pulled out a balisong. He spun it around before trying to stab me.
I simply pushed his hand away and punched him.
That's all?
The brawl had begun.
People were running, chasing, and shouting, throwing punches at each other.
The Section E guys just stood there watching. Ci-N was even smiling, struggling to keep calm.
Obviously excited to punch someone.
"Do me a favor! Show no fucking mercy!" I shouted to them, and they all grinned like children ready to play with their new toys.
"It's brawl time!" Ci-N shouted.
They jumped into the fight, each one picking a target.
I focused on finding that fake leader.
He's going to pay for what he said earlier.
While searching, several guys charged at me. I didn't waste time with them. I either knocked them out with a single punch or threw them into the air.
I struggled to find that guy.
Then I spotted him hiding behind a pile of wrecked cars.
"How did you become their new leader? You did nothing but hide." I said as I walked toward him.
I saw the fear in his eyes as he slowly backed away.
He stumbled on some scattered metal and fell on his back.
I really don't understand how they accepted him as their leader.
"I-I'm not their leader." He said, making me stop.
"…Ram just ordered me to do this."
My forehead creased.
"What do you mean?"
"T-they were looking for your girl. They just told me to distract you!"
What the fuck?!
I didn't hold back anymore and yanked him up. I punched him in the stomach repeatedly, and when I let go, he immediately dropped to his knees.
He kept coughing, clutching his stomach.
I wanted to snap his neck, but there were still things I needed to know.
I knew Jay-jay was already home and under Angelo's protection. I was confident nothing would happen to her.
"What is Ram planning?" I asked with authority.
"I-I don't know!" He shouted, breathing heavily.
"What is he planning?" I asked again.
He shook his head violently.
"I really don't know!"
I kneed him in the face. He fell back, bleeding from his mouth and nose.
"Where is Ram, and what is he planning?!"
He kept shaking his head, even though he was already struggling to breathe.
"B-believe me… I really d-don't know!"
Fuck this! There's nothing to get out of someone who knows nothing.
I turned when I saw five men approaching me. They were all carrying weapons, clearly meant for me.
One had a baseball bat, another had a pipe, one carried a huge rock, another had a balisong, and the last one had his fists covered with brass knuckles.
"Ram's orders are to kill Watson and take the girl alive!" One of them shouted.
Two of them charged at me after one threw a rock.
I dodged them all.
When the one with the pipe swung at me, I grabbed it, and we wrestled for control. He refused to let go, so when the guy with the baseball bat tried to hit me, I yanked him hard, making him take the hit instead.
It worked—he was knocked out instantly.
The guy with the baseball bat panicked, unsure of what to do next.
The one with the rock came at me with another stone. Just as he was about to strike, I smashed it with the pipe, shattering it in his face.
He closed his eyes, and I kicked him in the chest.
The one with the baseball bat came back at me, swinging nonstop while screaming. I kept dodging.
When he finally slowed down, I punched him in the ribs.
I heard them crack.
"Can I have someone else?"
The two remaining guys looked at each other.
I raised both hands, showing I had no weapon.
They both charged at me.
But I wasn't dumb enough to raise my hands without a plan.
I grabbed the guy with the balisong by the wrist and pulled him as a shield. The brass knuckles hit him instead.
I heard the bone crack.
I let him drop and faced the last one.
He got into position, and so did I.
He tested me by throwing punches, but he was too slow.
One punch to the face.
Another to the jaw.
Knockout.
That's all? Don't they have anyone stronger?
I went back to that fake leader.
He escaped?!
I quickly ran after him, searching everywhere.
I couldn't find him, so I went back.
Then I saw him.
Looks like he just hid from me.
He was trying to help his fallen men get up.
"Stand up! There's only one of them, and you still can't handle it?!" he said angrily.
"C-call R-Ram. Ask for backup." one of them responded while struggling to get up.
"He's not answering! Let's just get out of here!"
I smirked. Ram left them hanging. Looks like they were only sent to distract me.
Tss… So Ram doesn't really care at all.
I said as I turned around to face them.
He was still shaking while desperately trying to aim the metal pipe I had used earlier at me. The others moved aside to avoid me, and some couldn't even stand up anymore.
"Brace yourself. I'm about to break your bone." I said and walked quickly toward him.
He tried to swing the pipe at me, but I blocked it just like before. I snatched it from his grip and threw it far away.
"P-please have mercy! I was just following orders!" he begged, falling to his knees in front of me.
I swiftly grabbed his wrist.
"Don't you dare mention that woman in your nonsense. She's mine. She belongs to me. No one else is allowed to claim her." I said while tightening my grip on his wrist.
"F-forgive me! If y-you want… I'll help y-you get rid of those who are targeting her. Like the threats t-that are being sent—aaarrggghhh!" he screamed as I squeezed his wrist even tighter.
"I don't need your help! After the way you spoke about her, do you think I'd ever trust you?!"
He could no longer respond, only cry in pain. I tightened my grip further, twisting his wrist until I felt the bone snap, followed by his agonizing scream.
This is my warning!
But this isn't enough. It's nowhere near enough!
"FVCK! This is not enough!"
"What do you mean 'not enough'? Keifer… We've already taken down half of the gang. What more do you want?" Felix said while pointing at the people lying on the ground.
Just half? Does half really seem enough? That will never be enough. Angelo can take down more than this. How many were they back then? Eight or nine? Yet, they still managed to defeat more than this.
The thought only made my anger boil even more.
"Do you think this will make us strong?! Ha?! Do you think this is enough?!"
"What do you want us to do? Join every gang war here?" Edrix asked irritably, which made me glare at him in fury.
"If that's the only way, then we will."
"You're just making more enemies! Why don't you ask Jay-jay's cousin for help? He has more connections." Josh suggested.
No! I will never ask him for help.
"That's not an option. He'll take Jay-jay away from us if we do that." Yuri said.
He knows exactly what will happen if we talk to Angelo.
"That would be great!" Drew shouted. "…At least that way, we can make sure she's safe."
Yuri and I both turned to him, ready to kill him with our glares. We had already talked about this before, but they kept bringing it up.
"Why are you looking at me like that?! You're scared of being separated from Jay-jay, aren't you?!" he asked, as if he didn't already know the answer. "…You got her into this mess, and now you're acting like this?!"
As if he did nothing to her. He was with us. Maybe he just wants Jay-jay away so he won't have to pay his debt.
Yuri lunged at him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Shut up, Drew." he said.
I noticed their eyes shifting to a different direction, as if they had just seen a ghost. I turned to look—there she was, my Jay-jay, standing with Percy.
She's really here.
Did Ram succeed? Did he take Jay-jay? How did this happen?!
"Who brought her here?!"
"It was Kuya Percy." Felix answered, walking toward us.
I felt a bit relieved, but she still shouldn't be here. Why did Percy bring her? He's only putting her in danger.
I looked around at the ones we had taken down. I wasn't satisfied.
"Tell me… How many did you defeat?" I asked without looking at them.
I heard footsteps. More people had arrived.
"Quite a lot." Felix answered.
"And how many is that?"
"M-more than ten."
More than ten? Bullshit! That's not enough! How are we supposed to strike fear into the others if that's all we can take down in one fight?
I turned to the man whose wrist I was still holding. I finally carried out what I had planned earlier, twisting it further until I felt the bone snap. His scream echoed through the place.
This is my warning!
But it's still not enough. Not even close!
"FVCK! This is not enough!"
"What do you mean 'not enough'? Keifer… We've already taken down half of the gang. What more do you want?" Felix asked, pointing at the bodies on the ground.
Just half? Does half really seem enough? That will never be enough. Angelo can take down more than this. How many were they back then? Eight or nine? Yet, they still managed to defeat more than this.
The thought only made my anger boil even more.
"Do you think this will make us strong?! Ha?! Do you think this is enough?!"
"What do you want us to do? Join every gang war here?" Edrix asked irritably, making me glare at him in fury.
"If that's the only way, then we will."
"You're just making more enemies! Why don't you ask Jay-jay's cousin for help? He has more connections." Josh suggested.
No! I will never ask him for help.
"That's not an option. He'll take Jay-jay away from us if we do that." Yuri said.
He knows exactly what will happen if we talk to Angelo.
"That would be great!" Drew shouted. "…At least that way, we can make sure she's safe."
Yuri and I both turned to him, ready to kill him with our glares. We had already talked about this before, but they kept bringing it up.
"Why are you looking at me like that?! You're scared of being separated from Jay-jay, aren't you?!" he asked, as if he didn't already know the answer. "…You got her into this mess, and now you're acting like this?!"
As if he did nothing to her. He was with us. Maybe he just wants Jay-jay away so he won't have to pay his debt.
Yuri lunged at him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Shut up, Drew." he said.
I noticed their eyes shifting to a different direction, as if they had just seen a ghost. I turned to look—there she was, my Jay-jay, standing with Percy.
She's really here.
What was she thinking, coming here? Why did Percy let her come? It's not good that those two are related—they're both too stubborn.
I tried my best not to show any emotion, but I badly wanted to hug her. I missed her so much, even though we see each other almost every day.
"J-jay? How long have you been standing there?" Felix asked, looking at both Jay-jay and Percy.
I could see the anger in Percy's eyes. Felix still seemed afraid of him. Now I knew why they were here.
"Is this what you've been busy with?" Percy asked calmly, but I could still sense his anger.
Felix clearly didn't want to answer, so his brother turned to us.
"Is this what you taught my brother while I was gone?! You taught him to join a fight to the death?!"
Both Yuri and I look at each other. I don't want any drama. That's a conversation between siblings. I decided to turn my back, and Yuri did the same to avoid it, but I stopped when I heard her voice.
"Don't be rude!"
I feel a bit of pain. I don't know why, but it hurts to hear her voice. Maybe because I miss her too much.
I choose not to turn to face her. I can't—I might lose control and run to hug her.
"J ay—." It was Yuri, but Percy cut him off.
"Damn it, Yuri!"
I don't want to prolong this!
"Your brother has his own mind. Even if we teach him, it's still up to him if he wants to join us." I said, still not facing them.
Out of nowhere, I suddenly feel weird. Something like someone is watching us. But this is no ordinary feeling. I have a bad feeling about this.
Jay-jay.
Percy continues arguing with Felix. I try to look around without them noticing. And as I look at Jay-jay, there it is! Someone is aiming for her.
I quickly took a step, and at the same time, a man rushed at her with a knife in his hand.
"P-PERCY!" She screamed, and everyone turned to look.
But they're too slow to run to her. Adrenaline rushes through my body. In an instant, I'm in front of Jay-jay, grabbing the man by the neck and holding the hand that wields the knife.
I don't know where my strength is coming from, but I'm ready to break a neck.
"Who the fvck are you?!" I asked furiously.
Instead of answering, he just laughed at me, making my blood boil even more. I tightened my grip on him, causing his laughter to turn into groans of pain.
"What the hell do you want?!" I asked again.
I saw his eyes shift to my side—where Jay-jay was.
"We… want… her… dead."
Who's that 'we'?
Who are they, and why is she their target?
"Who?! Who wants her dead?!"
He laughed at me again. Fvck! He still has the audacity to laugh while I'm livid.
I couldn't stop myself anymore—I twisted his wrist. I heard his bone crack, and he started screaming in agony.
I let him go and watched him suffer. I don't like people who don't give me proper answers.
"This is your fault!" Jay suddenly shouts. "… I'm the target again! Because of you!"
Maybe she's right. Maybe I am the reason. I'm the one with many enemies connected to her.
I heard the man in front of me laugh loudly again. He's really trying to make me lose it.
He's probably out of his mind—clutching his broken wrist but still laughing.
"Sato." He said and looked at Yuri. "Jason."
Then he looked at me. "And Ram."
He then turned to Jay-jay.
Isn't my warning enough? They even joined forces just to target Jay-jay.
I know Jason is up to something. He better not show up, or I'll burn his motorcycle right in front of him.
Ram still can't move on from what Jay-jay did to him. He can't accept that a woman defeated him. If he knew what was wrong with Jay-jay at that moment, he'd probably lose his mind with rage.
Sato. Who the hell is he? I've never faced anyone named Sato—if that's even his real name.
"Who is Sato?!"
"Keifer." Yuri called me. "I fought him before, and it looks like he's coming back for me."
WHAT?! Why is he targeting Jay-jay too?!
This is not fvcking good! My enemies are increasing while my allies are decreasing. They're all after Jay-jay. Where did I go wrong?
Rumors about us are already spreading like wildfire. Is it because I also spread warnings? But if I hadn't, they would've kept coming after her. It doesn't even matter anymore whether they believe she's my girlfriend or not.
They have to stop!
"Go back. Go back to Sato, Jason, and Ram. Tell them to come after me instead—I'll be ready for them." I ordered him.
I held myself back before I broke another bone in his body.
"I had no idea this was happening here. I have no choice." It was Percy.
He looked at Jay and Felix. "You're coming with me back to New York."
NO!
Jay-jay can't leave. What if they go after her there instead? I won't let that happen.
I won't let him take her. We're going to see who's stronger.
I glared at Percy threateningly, but he just rolled his eyes at me.
"Let's go! We're going home!" He called out to Felix.
But Felix didn't move and instead looked at me.
"Go ahead! I can go home on my own!"
Felix answered.
Percy was visibly irritated but had no choice. He was forced to leave, but not before giving us a nasty look. Jay-jay followed him, shock evident on her face.
I need to make sure no one harms her and that her stepbrother doesn't take her away.
"David. Kindly check if they'll leave this place safely." I said.
Without reacting, David left to follow Jay-jay.
"Keifer." Someone called me.
I turned around and saw the bloodied leader of a group I had fought before. He couldn't even step properly and was clearly struggling.
Behind him were some of his men, also injured. He walked toward me but collapsed right in front of me.
"M-make an a-alliance w-with us!" He said, pointing a finger at me.
"What for?"
"We're r-ready to be y-your men. A-as long as you h-help us w-when we n-need it."
Seeing how many people they had fought, I could tell they were tough.
I smirked while looking at them. People like them are what I need.
"Deal."
One by one, they collapsed, exhausted.
"Keifer, what do we do with those we took down?" Yuri asked me.
"Leave them. They're too weak, and they're not the kind of people we need."
"What about those who survived, like them?"
Felix asked, pointing somewhere.
I followed his gaze and saw a group of men approaching us, clearly exhausted and wounded.
"I-I challenge you… WATSON!" One of them shouted before charging at me.
I only gave him a weak kick to the chest, and he fell like a lifeless body. His companions were no better.
"If you won't make an alliance like the others, then go back where you came from, and don't ever cross me again."
I turned my back on him and walked away. I have no intention of waiting for those I defeated to wake up and make an alliance.
I have too much to do. One of them is stopping Percy from taking her away.
"Let's go. Help those who need help." I said before leaving.
Yuri immediately followed me after.
"What are you planning?" He asked before grabbing my arm to stop me.
I took my phone out of my pocket and dialed his number—using my original phone.
"I'm calling Angelo. We need to stop Percy."
Few phone rings later, he answered my call.
"Percy is up to something. He didn't come back just to catch up!" I said in a hurry.
["Tell me everything."] He calmly said.
"He plans to take Jay-jay away!"
I heard him softly cursing under his breath.
["Find him now!"] He said and ended the call.
If I can't stop Percy myself, I'll find someone who can. I won't let him take the woman I love away from me.
"We need to find Percy." I said to Yuri, and we both got into our car.
I pressed hard on the gas pedal, determined to find that jerk. I called him several times, but he didn't answer.
If he makes one wrong move, he's dead to me. I'll hunt him down to the ends of the earth and make him pay over and over.
He probably took Jay-jay home. I was about to turn back toward their subdivision when I saw his car pass by mine. I quickly stepped on the gas to chase him.
But the idiot didn't seem to notice me, probably because of his loud music. Eventually, he turned onto a familiar street. He was heading to Felix's place!
I immediately blocked his car with mine. He honked loudly, clearly annoyed by what I did.
"Hey! What's your problem?!" he shouted angrily at me.
I quickly texted Yuri and Angelo about our location. I got out of the car and confronted Percy.
"I won't let you take Jay-jay away from us," I said in a threatening tone.
"How can you stop me?" he asked mockingly.
"By hook or by crook."
"Don't stop me. It's her right to see her father."
"But not now. Not when her life is in danger. What if they followed her there?"
He shook his head. "You think I can't protect her?"
We both turned to look at two newly arrived vehicles. Angelo quickly got out and grabbed Percy by the collar.
"I knew you weren't coming back for nothing," Angelo said.
"Woah! Relax… I came in peace," Percy replied, flashing a peace sign.
"You can't take Jay-jay. As long as her mother doesn't allow it, she's not going anywhere."
Angelo let him go but kept his eyes on him.
"One wrong move!" Angelo threatened, pointing at him. "I'll send you back to your grave."
Angelo turned around and quickly got into his car. He left without saying another word to us.
I looked at Percy and Yuri.
"Like a child…" Percy said with a pout. "…you even had to tattle on me." He scratched his head. "Now move your car!"
I just shook my head, and so did Yuri. Now he knows he can't just take Jay-jay away so easily.