Jay-jay's POV
There are so many things I'm afraid of. Too many to count. But somehow, I always manage to face them.
Just like now—I'm face to face with one of my biggest fears.
Kuya Angelo...
"Yuri said he dropped you off here at 5:38 PM." He spoke, arms crossed.
"Was it really 5:38 PM? I think it was around 6-something." I said, pretending not to get what he was trying to imply.
He raised an eyebrow at me while staring intently. I looked away. No way was I going to engage in a staring contest with him.
I got home at 12 AM. We took a while... Crying, talking, and... well, you know—talking again.
I thought they'd be asleep when I got home. Turns out, Kuya Angelo had been waiting for me.
I didn't even get the chance to make up an excuse because he had already called Yuri.
"Where did you come from?" he asked calmly.
Signal #1!
"J-just nearby..." I replied.
"Where is 'just nearby'?" His voice rose.
Signal #2!
Where was 'just nearby' anyway? I didn't know any place open at this hour. Except maybe the mini-mart I usually go to.
"At the Mini Mart."
Kuya took a deep breath and massaged his temple.
"Aries was just there... Why didn't you run into him?!"
Signal #3!
Crap! Aries goes to the Mini Mart too? And of all times, now?! Wew!
"I hid from him." I quickly answered.
Wow. Great excuse, Jay.
Kuya instantly shot me a sharp glare. I knew he could tell I was lying. But who knows? Maybe I could still get away with it.
"Is it so hard to just tell me where you were?!" he asked angrily.
Signal #4!
Here comes the storm! I'm doomed.
"...Look at the time! Is this the time a decent girl should be coming home?!"
I just kept my head down as he scolded me. I knew he was right, but it was really all the fault of that damn King of Serpents.
I wish I could just tell him the truth. But of course... I couldn't. If he found out what happened earlier, it might just be the end of me.
"Angelo..." someone called out.
We both turned at the same time. It was Tita Gema, walking toward us.
"...It's late. You can scold her tomorrow. She still has school." She ordered.
"Just a little longer, Ma. I need to get some answers from her." Kuya said, giving me another sharp look.
"I said tomorrow." Tita insisted. She looked at me and gestured for me to come to her. "...Come on. Just ignore your brother."
I quickly went to Tita's side. I didn't even dare look at Kuya anymore—I knew his glare alone could burn a hole through me.
Tita walked me to my room.
"Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow." she said before walking away.
I carefully opened my bedroom door, knowing that C-in was already asleep. And I was right—his snoring was ridiculously loud.
As soon as I stepped inside, my phone suddenly rang.
King Ulupong Calling...
I answered it as I closed the door behind me.
"Hello..."
["Did they scold you?"]
"Hmmm... Yeah, but they said we'll talk tomorrow instead."
["Are we going to tell them now?"]
I frowned at my phone before pressing it back against my ear.
"Tell them what?"
["That you're already pregnant, and that the two of us are getting married."] He said, then suddenly burst into laughter on the other end of the line.
He's completely out of his mind!
"Get a grip!" I shouted.
I quickly covered my mouth. I forgot that C-in was already asleep.
"...You're crazy. Just go to sleep."
["I can't sleep yet. I have many things to do."]
"Like what?"
["Secret... I have to go. Don't have any wet dreams about me."]
Damn it! This shameless bastard!
"You're so full of yourself!" I yelled again.
I didn't care anymore if C-in woke up. This guy was really getting on my nerves!
His only response was loud laughter. Maybe it was a mistake confessing to him.
["Alright... Good night, my life. I love you to infinity and beyond."]
I froze at his words. I bit my lower lip.
Am I... blushing?! Damn it!
"Good night too, and I love..." I stopped when I saw C-in's eyes wide open, staring right at me. "...Me."
I immediately ended the call before that idiot could say anything else. I placed my phone on the bed and casually walked toward my cabinet to grab some clothes.
"Go ahead, ignore me." C-in spoke.
"Y-you're awake?"
"Oh no, I'm still sleeping. I just sleep with my eyes open." He said sarcastically.
I shot him a glare. This brat! He still had the nerve to be sarcastic.
"Who was that?" he asked.
I quickly looked around the room, pretending to search for something.
"What? Where? Do you see someone?" I said while continuing my fake search.
I knew exactly who he was referring to. I was just hoping I could get away with it. I didn't want to tell him, because I knew that before the night even ended, the whole town would already know.
"Keep that up... and I'll start spread the word that you have a boyfriend." he threatened.
He is not my boyfriend!
"Go ahead, spread it." I said smugly.
"So who was it?" he pressed.
"No one... It was nothing."
Suddenly, he stood up and reached for my phone on the bed.
I immediately ran, almost tripping in the process, just to get ahead of him.
"Why won't you show me?!" he said, annoyed.
"Why should I?! Just go to sleep!" I yelled.
"Just tell me----"
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SLEEP, THEN GO PUT YOURSELVES TO SLEEP!" a voice suddenly shouted.
That was probably Aries, since his room was the closest to mine.
C-in and I were forced to communicate through silent gestures. We glared at each other, neither one willing to back down.
Good luck to us trying to settle this argument anytime soon.
Keifer's POV
I love me?
Was it really that hard for her to say "I love you" that she ended up saying that instead?
Anyway, it doesn't matter. I heard her say it once, and there's no taking it back. She's officially mine.
But that's not what's worrying me right now. There are more important things.
"Where is Keiren?!" I asked everyone.
All the lights in the house were on. The maids and butlers were still awake. I knew something bad had happened.
"Kuya..." Keigan called out to me.
Keiren was hiding behind him. Suddenly, he ran towards me and hugged me tightly, crying.
"It's okay... Kuya is here." I said, hugging him back.
"Where did you go? You knew Dad had already returned to the Philippines, yet you still chose to leave the house." Keigan said.
I didn't answer him. I looked around at everyone—they all looked exhausted.
"Everyone can go to sleep now. Thank you so much for protecting my brother." I told them.
They all bowed to me and walked away. One of the butlers stopped in front of me.
"We've also increased security for your brother." he informed me.
I smiled and nodded at him before letting them all leave. That left just the three of us. Keigan was looking furious with me.
"What happened?" I asked calmly.
"Dad came here! He tried to take Keiren! Good thing there were a lot of us here!" he said.
I looked at Keiren, who was still crying.
"I don't want to go with him."
I shook my head. "No... He won't be able to take you. Not while Kuya Keigan and I are here."
I carried him and walked upstairs. Keigan followed behind us.
Damn it!
I didn't know they'd come back so soon. I would have increased security earlier if I had known.
We're all still minors living in this house. By law, children must be under the care of their parents or relatives.
Of course, he went after Keiren first since he's the youngest of the three of us. But I won't let that happen.
I went straight to Keiren's room and laid him down on his bed. He had already fallen asleep in my arms.
As soon as I stepped out of the room, I faced Keigan.
"Did he say anything?" I asked.
"Nothing. What are your plans now?"
"I'll be turning 18 soon... I'll finally have legal rights over you and Keiren." I said and started walking.
Keigan quickly followed me.
"So, we're just going to wait for your birthday? Is that it? Kuya! They might take Keiren before that day even comes!" he said angrily.
I stopped walking and looked him straight in the eye.
"No... That will never happen." I answered seriously.
"I hope you can keep your word."
I understood Keigan. What kind of brother would willingly let his sibling fall into the hands of someone terrible?
I walked quickly to the office next to my room. I grabbed all the necessary documents, including a copy of my mom's last will and testament.
I needed to study every single detail in it and the laws that applied. I need to fight back legally.
There was no way I would let Keiren end up with him. Then what? Would they do to him what they did to Keigan? And yet, even now, I still don't know what exactly they did to him.
I also grabbed my phone and called my lawyer.
"Good evening, Mr. Ryder. Sorry for disturbing you. I just need to talk to you about something... About my legal rights."
I was definitely going to be busy this week. I'd be missing school and a lot of other things. I just hoped nothing bad would happen while I was away.
Even now, I couldn't help but think of Jay-jay. I just hoped the whole Section E would be able to look after her properly.
Her words kept running through my mind, and I couldn't help but smile.
I love me...