Keifer's POV
I'm dead.
I'm so dead. Mom will get mad at me. Dad will SURELY get mad at me.
And here I am, facing my penalty.
What have I done?!
"Annoying! This is someone else's fault here! Acting all tough, looking for a fight!" Percy muttered, loud enough for me to hear.
He's making it obvious. He could just say it to my face since we're practically next to each other.
"Shut up! This is your fault too!" Aries scolded him.
I don't understand. With so many of us involved in the chaos earlier, why were only the four of us called to the guidance office?
"Why me?!" Percy asked irritably.
"Stupid! If you hadn't punched me and pushed me toward Keifer, I wouldn't be involved in this!"
Now I know!
So that's why he suddenly got thrown at me. It was Percy's fault all along.
"Sorry... I thought you were our skinny classmate," he explained sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
I glanced at Yuri. He was looking at me calmly. If I was annoyed with him earlier, now I just felt embarrassed.
"Why did you even do that?" he asked me.
"W-well... I just got annoyed by your face. And it's also payback for our last fight."
He looked at me in confusion. "Did we fight?"
"O-of course!"
He paused for a moment, trying to recall what I said. What is he? Does he have amnesia? Our last fight wasn't even that long ago!
"I don't remember," he replied. "...But if that's true, I apologize."
Seriously?
He's apologizing even though he doesn't even remember what happened. But why?
"Don't apologize to him!" Percy told him.
"But it was my fault. If we hadn't fought before, maybe this wouldn't have escalated." He looked at me again. "...Again, I'm sorry, Keifer, for what I have done."
I felt even more embarrassed. Maybe I was wrong to pick a fight with him.
"S-sorry too. I shouldn't have made a scene and started the fight." I said.
Yuri smiled at me, so I did the same.
"Apologize to me too!" Percy demanded.
I frowned. "Why would I?"
"I got dragged into the mess you made!"
"You dragged yourself into it! It was only Keifer and Yuri who actually fought!" Aries pointed out.
Percy glared at him, but before he could respond, the door to the guidance office opened, and in walked the counselor along with—
—what is he doing here?
"K-Kuya..." Aries muttered.
He looked at all of us. I have to admit, there was something eerie about the way he stared.
"Good thing you came. Their parents haven't responded yet," the counselor said.
"What exactly happened?" Aries' older brother asked.
The guidance counselor turned to me. "Mind explaining?"
I looked away. I had nothing to explain to them. How was I supposed to tell them that I simply got too annoyed and picked a fight?
If Mom finds out about this, I know she'll be disappointed.
Suddenly, Percy raised his hand. "Me! Me! I'll explain!"
Yuri and I exchanged glances. What exactly was he going to explain?
"Keifer suddenly started a fight, then he and Yuri started punching each other, then I jumped in to help, then I accidentally punched Aries, then—"
"Mr. Collins! That's enough," they interrupted.
The Guidance Counselor and Aries' older brother talked for a moment. I wanted to listen and find out what they were discussing, but every now and then, he would glance at me with a stern look, making me bow my head in guilt.
Suddenly, the Guidance Counselor walked out, leaving the five of us inside. Aries' older brother closed the door and locked it.
We all swallowed nervously at the same time.
"K-K-Kuya A-A-Angelo," Aries stammered.
So his name is Angelo!
He slowly turned to face us, and just as he stopped, Yuri, Percy, and Aries suddenly lunged at me.
I thought they were going to attack me, but instead, they shoved me closer to Angelo.
"W-what... Stop! Don't push me!" I shouted.
"You face him! You're the one who started this!" Yuri yelled.
What the hell?!
He literally just apologized to me, and now he's pushing me forward?!
"Kuya is scary when he's angry!" Aries screamed.
Is that why they're pushing me?!
"You can handle it! You're brave, right?" Percy added.
I was just one person, and since there were three of them pushing me, they succeeded. I was practically shoved right in front of Angelo.
From where I stood, I could clearly see his intimidating glare.
W-w-why am I so scared right now?
"You... You're Keifer..." he asked slowly.
"Y-y-yes, sir."
He only gave me a short nod. I thought he was going to say something, but he remained silent.
I turned to look at Yuri for a second, which I immediately regretted. Without warning, Angelo grabbed me and flipped me upside down.
Then, he shook me like a soda bottle.
"Aaahhhhh... Stoooopppp!" I screamed.
"You were bold enough to start a fight! Huh?! What?! Answer me!" he scolded furiously.
"Pppllleeeaaassseee sssstttoooopppp!"
He finally stopped shaking me. He set me down on the floor, and that's when I felt the full effect of what he did.
I collapsed from dizziness, feeling like my stomach was going to flip inside out.
I'm too young to suffer like this. Why is he doing this to me?!
"Who's next?!" I heard Angelo ask.
Suddenly, the three of them ran to the door, pounding on it frantically.
"I don't want to die yet!"
"Open this door, please!"
"I won't do it again!"
They all screamed at once.
Is this it?! Is this our punishment for the fight?!
Honestly, I'd rather just let Mom find out about what happened than go through this. I don't want this!
That's weird. Only Dad's driver came to pick me up—Mom wasn't there. I entered the house, and Keigan was the first one to greet me.
"Where is Mom?" I asked him.
"Mom sick, in bed."
I held his hand and guided him as we walked toward Mom's room.
"Dad mad again. Keigan hear shout," he said.
Dad got angry again? Did he hurt Mom again? I quickened my pace, and Keigan did the same.
When we reached their room, I knocked first, but there was no response.
I couldn't wait any longer, so I opened the door.
Keigan was right—she was in bed, sleeping. I walked toward her and looked at her closely. I even touched her forehead to check if she had a fever. But I think her temperature is fine.
"Keifer..." Mom whispered. "...how's your school?"
Oh no! I woke her up!
"Sorry... I didn't mean to wake you up."
"No, don't apologize. I'm not sleeping in the first place. I'm just resting my eyes," she said and smiled.
"Mom, I had a fight with Yuri."
Mom slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. "What happened?"
"It's my fault. I just wanted to get back at him, but we're okay now. We already apologized to each other. We're friends now," I explained.
"Please don't do that again," Mom said, sounding disappointed.
"I'm sorry. I promise I won't do that again."
She held my hands and smiled. Something was wrong with Mom. Her eyes weren't the same as how she usually looked at me.
I noticed her neck—there was a red mark and a wound. The moment she saw me looking, she quickly covered it with her hair.
"Go change your clothes... and ask the maids to prepare some snacks," she instructed.
I nodded. "Okay."
She kissed my forehead before I walked away. I held Keigan's hand and asked him to leave the room. I wanted Mom to rest.
I changed my clothes as she told me to. Keigan was still following me.
"New guy!" Keigan shouted by the window.
I looked at where he was pointing.
There's a new guy? I've never seen him before.
"His name is Dylan. Keigan will play with him," he said and ran off.
"Keigan! Wait!"
He disappeared from my sight.
Who is that? He's wearing the same uniform as Dad's other men. Did Dad hire someone new? For what reason?
I don't feel comfortable with this guy.
"Dylan has a tattoo and a gun," Keigan said.
"What?!"
"Keigan saw it!"
A gun? Why does he have that?
"Please... Don't talk to that Dylan again."
"But why?! Keigan like him."
"But I don't. I'm still your older brother, so follow what I said," I commanded.
"Okay..."
I don't trust that Dylan guy, and earlier, I overheard him talking to Dad. He said something about killing someone.
Mom said killing is bad. So that means Dylan is bad because he will kill someone.
I just hope he doesn't do anything bad to us—especially to Mom and Keigan.