Keifer's POV
"I have to finish some business," I said over the telephone.
["Keigan's already throwing a fit! I don't know what excuse to give anymore!"]
"Just tell him it's for Keiren."
I ended the call and put down the telephone. I splashed water on my face before adjusting the baseball cap I was wearing.
Holding the notebook where I wrote down what Jay-jay and I discussed during our video call, I stood at the nurse station, waiting for the doctor I needed.
Good thing Jay-jay and Keigan's doctor were at the same hospital. She's the one I brought my brother to before, when he returned to us after being kidnapped by my monstrous father.
I looked at the woman in a sky-blue Sunday dress walking toward the nurse station. She adjusted her glasses before speaking.
"Someone's looking for me?" she asked the nurse, who pointed at me.
I approached her while she looked at me intently, trying to recognize me. I adjusted my baseball cap so she could see my face.
"Keifer? What brings you here?"
"I have a case to ask about."
"About your brother? Well, he never came back here after I told him he needed a test. How is he? It's been months since he last came here."
I froze and thought about what she said. It was two years ago when I brought Keigan to her. How could it be just a few months since his last visit?
"S-so far so good," I said and forced a smile.
"Come to the clinic," she said and started walking.
I followed her. Her clinic wasn't far from the nurse station.
Her clinic looked more like a businesswoman's office. Filled with books, a wide carpet on the floor, a long sofa, and of course, the executive table.
"Sit down," she said, motioning to the sofa.
I sat, and she did the same on the sofa across from me.
"Do you want some coffee? How about juice or cola?"
"I'll get straight to the point. It's about someone else."
She was slightly surprised, but she let me speak. She listened attentively to the case. I made sure I didn't miss any details.
From the moment she saw blood, tasted it, and how her attitude or personality started to change. The things she said and the things she did. The aftereffects and how she felt afterward. I told her all of that—the only thing I withheld was Jay-jay's name.
"From the way you explained it, she's more like suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. But this is the first time I've heard of someone being attracted to blood before transforming into someone else. And you mentioned that she responded when you called her name," she said and rested her elbow on the armrest of the sofa. "Maybe something happened in her past. Do you know what she went through?"
"From what I gathered, she was hurt by the men her mother married."
"That's it. It could be Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But it's hard to confirm unless you bring her here."
"Not sure if I can do that. She's also scared of facing a psychiatrist."
She shook her head. "As soon as possible, Keifer. We're not sure what's on her mind. Right now, all I can offer you is a theory. Without proper tests and observation, it could be something bigger." She sighed. "Just like your brother."
My forehead creased. "What do you mean?"
"Based on his explanation, he could be suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder—same as what I mentioned before—"
I cut her off. "Multiple Personality Disorder."
Keigan came here without me knowing. And now she's telling me that Keigan could be suffering from DID.
"How can you say that?" She looks at me, confused. "Doesn't your brother tell you anything?"
I chose not to answer. I didn't want her to think that Keigan was keeping secrets from me, and I didn't want to lie about it either. But I don't think I needed to say anything—she already figured it out from my silence.
"What do you observe with your brother?" she asked, leaning a bit closer to me.
I looked away and didn't say a thing. Whether I admit it to myself or not, I could clearly see his problem. From the day he came back, I knew something was wrong. That's why I took him to a psychiatrist—but that only made him distance himself from me.
Since then, I chose not to force him into anything I knew would drive him further away. I can't afford to lose him again.
But maybe turning a blind eye was also a mistake. And because of that, I couldn't even pinpoint exactly what he's going through.
"I need you and your brother's cooperation. I can't help you if you both keep pushing me away."
What if she's right…
"K-Keigan does things that I can't explain."
She took a pen and a piece of paper. I started telling her everything I'd noticed about my brother—including what Keiren had told me before.
While I was speaking, I couldn't help but feel pain for my brother. I doubted him. It's as if I was saying I didn't trust him. And that's all Keigan ever asked of me.
To trust him.
"This could be worse than what I expected. We need to have Keigan tested. I have a friend who handles special cases like this. I recommend—"
"No. I'm sorry, but I don't want to bring my brother to another doctor and see him suffer through the same process again." I stood up, and so did she. "I want him to open up to me on his own. I don't want to force him."
She stood and gave a forced smile. "I understand. But you still have to try."
I nodded briefly. "Thank you, Doc."
She walked with me up to the clinic door. We both stopped—me already outside, her still by the doorway.
"If you can't bring your brother here, at least bring that girl you're helping."
"I will try."
We said our goodbyes, and I started walking back to C-in's hospital room.
While walking, I noticed Eren and Blaster pacing around the hallway. I adjusted my baseball cap and quickened my steps. They're probably checking out the female nurses.
I reached C-in's room and, as expected, he was playing PS4. I flopped down on the long sofa across from his bed.
"How was your outing?" he asked without looking at me.
"So far so good." I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. "Did Jay-jay get suspicious during the video call?"
"No. She asked me if I knew anything what you were doing."
"And your answer is?"
"Chasing girls in London—YES! I WON!" he suddenly yelled, waving his hand in triumph.
My jaw dropped. Did he just say 'chasing girls'? He told Jay-jay that I was having an affair abroad.
I can't believe him.
All this time I thought he was helping me with Jay-jay, and now he's goes and tells her I'm having an affair?
I stood up and walked over to him. I grabbed the backrest of his wheelchair and slowly turned him to face me.
"You told Jay-jay that I'm having an affair?" I asked in a serious tone.
"I-it was just a joke." he said, making a peace sign with his fingers.
I let go of his wheelchair and went back to the sofa. I lay down and used my cap to cover my face.
I really thought he told her that. That was not a funny joke.
"I think Jay-jay misses you." Ci-N said.
I heard the sounds from his game. He must've gone back to playing while talking to me.
"Just come back already." he added.
I didn't answer. I pretended to assleep so he wouldn't bother me. Good thing he noticed right away.
I'm exhausted and pissed at the same time. I had the jet plane turn back after Edrix phoned me. The news he gave me was bad.
Jay-jay wasn't able to fight Mykel, and on top of that, her illness attacked her again. Ci-N's legs almost broke because of them. And all of that happened because I wasn't there to protect them.
And when I came inside the hospital, I saw them in fatal condition. My sanity almost left me from the anger. I wanted to smash Mykel Mitchell's face right in front of Jay-jay and Ci. He's lucky I couldn't find him.
My Jay-jay was hurt.
I badly want to visit her, but how can I when most of our classmates are around her? Ci-N was the only one I could approach because he was alone in his room.
We talked, and that's when I found out what happened. The moment I saw her walking like a turtle—that was already when Mykel's group had cornered her.
If only I waited a little longer.
I also found out from him that Jay lost herself again. I want to know what exactly happened. There's something about Jay-jay that I just can't figure out. That kind of reaction has never been normal.
Seeing blood and turning into someone who isn't her? That's why I told Ci-N to go see Jay-jay, but he came back to me the moment he reached her room's door. He said he forgot what he was supposed to ask.
We almost argued before finally agreeing on something that would let Jay and I talk.
Video call.
We even borrowed a laptop from a doctor and a nurse he knew. I walked him back to Jay's room, but he still managed to annoy me. The result? Jay-jay screamed as loud as she could because she thought Ci-N was a ghost. Apparently, she already saw us at the door.
The video call went well. I had the chance to see her. A few scars were visible on her face, and her hands were wrapped in bandages. I feel so bad thinking that I wasn't there to protect her.
I made sure we only talked about what I came for. I didn't want our conversation to end in tears. But it wasn't enough. Yes, I saw her—but I never got the chance to hold her.
I sat up from lying down, just as Ci-N turned to look at me.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"I-I think I need fresh air."
"My fart's fresh." he said with a smile.
I grimaced. "But it's suffocating." I said before putting my baseball cap back on.
I stood up and walked out. Only nurses were walking in the hallway now. It must be really late already. I didn't realize I'd been lying down and thinking for that long.
My steps were heavy, but there was no rush in them. Jay's room wasn't far from Ci-N's, so it didn't take long before I got there.
I was just about to reach the door when it suddenly opened and her mom stepped out. I quickly adjusted my baseball cap to keep her from recognizing me.
I also forced myself to walk normally. Good thing she didn't suspect anything and just continued walking away. I glanced at her briefly before finally entering Jay's room.
I closed the door slowly and locked it. I don't want anyone interrupting us.
And there's my queen.
I walked closer to Jay-jay who was sleeping soundly. She looks so peaceful, but I know she's really not. I brushed aside the strands of hair covering her beautiful face.
"I'm so sorry for letting this happen." I said before kissing her forehead.
I stared at her face for a while. Few minutes aren't enough for me. I want to look at her for the rest of my life.
I was about to hold her hand but stopped when I saw the bandage wrapped around it. It makes me pissed and my fist automatically clenched.
Damn you, Mykel.
You'll pay for what you did to Jay-jay. I took my secret phone from my pocket and dialed Edrix's number.
["Keifer..."]
"Any update?"
["I didn't get anything, but Rory did."] he said, and I heard a few rustling sounds before Rory's voice came in.
["The idiot didn't even leave the city! He's in an exclusive penthouse not far from Yuri's building."]
"Text me the exact address." I said before ending the call.
I turned back to Jay and caressed her cheek.
"I'll make him pay for you." I kissed her lips briefly.
The text I was waiting for arrived, and I quickly ran out. Just as I was closing the door, I saw Jay's mom walking back. Her brows were furrowed as she stared at me.
I adjusted my baseball cap again and widened my steps. We had just passed each other when she suddenly spoke.
"Watson." she said in a calm voice.
I stopped—which I shouldn't have done.
"What were you doing in my daughter's room?" There was a hint of warning in her voice.
I glanced slightly back. "I just wanted to see her before I leave."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Really now?"
"I did nothing that will disrespect her."Except kissing her while asleep.
"I know how your stomach churns. Just make sure you mean that."
"I'm telling the truth."
She raised a brow. I knew from the start that her trust in me was thin. I'm the only one who noticed because I'm the only one she looks at strangely since we first met. She never looked at Yuri that way. She even smiles when she notices me watching her, but I know there's a second meaning behind that.
"Did Jay-jay wake up?"
I shook my head. "She's peacefully sleeping."
"That's good."
"Please don't tell Jay-jay that I came to see her." I said, almost begging.
"Why not?"
I gulped, trying to come up with a good reason. I'm not sure if she knows what happened between us.
"Don't tell her if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you." she said and continued walking back to Jay's room.
I let out a sigh of relief. I just hope she really won't tell Jay. I'll thank her a lot if she doesn't.
I continued walking and quickly headed for the exit. I didn't waste any time and flagged down a taxi. I gave the driver the address Edrix had texted me.
It didn't take long to get there. They were right—it wasn't far from Yuri's building. And he didn't even saw him.
The guard tried to stop me at the entrance, but when I handed him the I.D., he almost froze.
"S-sir?"
"It's okay. I'm just visiting a friend." I said and continued walking.
Inside the elevator, I cracked my knuckles. I'll break every bone in his body. I'll make him cry and bleed.
For my Jay-jay.