Key
Keifer's POV
"She's a hindrance..." Keigan said.
I couldn't stop myself from gripping the glass I was holding tightly. It shattered in my very palms, spilling liquor all over the counter table.
"Don't fucking tell me what to do. You're just my brother."
I heard him chuckle. I didn't want to listen to him. I hate people telling me what to do, especially about Jay-jay.
I stared at the blood dripping from my palm. It was mixing with the liquor that spilled because I broke the glass.
"Honey! Don't just sit there! Talk to him!" Keigan shouted to Honey.
"What's the point? He won't listen anyway," she replied.
Out of frustration, he walked toward me and forced me to face him. I gave him a blank stare. He gripped my shirt tightly.
"You're blinded by your love. You can't even focus on our problems anymore."
I brushed his hand off and walked away from him. I also passed by Honey, who even tried to approach me.
"You're drunk," she said, but I chose to ignore her.
I don't want to talk to anyone. The only person I want to see right now is Jay-jay. But how? How can I, when every time I think of her, I remember what she and David did?
I want to rip his throat out.
He kissed Jay-jay. He kissed my Jay-jay. No one is allowed to kiss her except me. I want to hurt them. Every guy who dares to claim her lips.
I suddenly feel the pain in my chest. It hurts me every time I remember how Yuri and David claimed her lips. It feels like she just let it happen.
I know she's not that kind of girl, but I can't help it.
I rushed to see her right after coming back from London. I needed strength because of everything I went through there at the hands of relatives who only wanted to squeeze money out of us.
But I didn't expect to be crushed that day. I'm trying my best to convince myself that she didn't do it on purpose.
But it still hurts like hell.
I didn't even realize I had reached the door of my room. I was about to open it but stopped. I glanced at the door behind me.
The room across from mine, where I let Jay-jay sleep that time.
My hands and feet moved on their own. I walked straight inside. The light was off, but my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. I walked toward the bed and lay down.
I still remember the first night I let her sleep here. I stared at her like she was prey. She was sleeping with her mouth slightly open, and I found it funny.
"Jay..." I whispered before my eyes closed and I fell asleep.
I didn't know I would regret falling asleep so soon.
"You are no different from your father. You're a bastard. Useless and nothing but dirt on our name," one of the elders said, clenching his teeth.
I hope he doesn't have a heart attack from all that anger he's got for me.
I ignored him. I kept reading the papers in front of me while they all stared. My other relatives were standing at the end of the long table.
A very long one, to be exact.
I put the papers down on the table and looked at them all. The Watson Family. There were more of them than I expected. And from what I know, some of my cousins who are abroad aren't even here. Neither are the illegitimate children who carry the family name.
"What exactly is the reason you're here?" I asked, confused.
I know the answer. I just like messing with them. Especially the elders. They're my grandfather's siblings, but they don't let anyone call them Grandfather. Especially not someone like me, who they don't even acknowledge as their grandchild.
"His Filipino brain doesn't understand us," one of my cousins said, and they all laughed.
"Keifer..." Honey whispered from behind me. "...let's go. You've already got what you needed."
I ignored what Honey said. I just smiled at my cousin, whose body was probably bigger than a drum.
"And your penny-sized brain doesn't understand me," I shot back, and their laughter stopped. "You will never have my money. It's all mine, only mine."
They all reacted to what I said at once. They were furious because they couldn't get anything from the massive fortune just sitting in Watson's Bank.
That doesn't even include Mom's inheritance. That was just the money my grandfather worked hard for and entrusted to the eldest son of my monster of a father.
Because of the enormous amount, my relatives took an interest. They tried to take it before I even turned 18. But the bank was too strict—even with the Watson surname, they couldn't get a single cent.
I stood up, about to leave, but then I heard the sound of wood tapping on the polished floor of the room. It came from the cane of the eldest among the siblings.
Since I arrived at the Watson mansion, I hadn't seen him or heard him react to me. This was the first time I'd heard his cane.
Everyone fell silent, and even I waited for what he would say.
"That money is not yours," he said, standing. "It belongs to Kaizer's firstborn child."
"I am his first—."
He cut me off. "You are not!"
I looked at Honey. The nervousness was obvious on her face. I didn't know it would reach them. My heart was pounding so hard I started sweating instantly.
"What makes you think that I am not?" I asked, trying not to show my nerves.
"Kaizer had a lot of women before marrying your mother. It's not impossible for him to have a child before you," one of the elders answered, clearly mocking me.
I chuckled, full of pride. "Think whatever possibility you want to think, but the money is still mine."
I didn't wait for their response. I walked out of the room's door. Honey followed me, wiping her sweat.
"You're quite obvious, Honey. They don't know about it yet, and if anyone does, I'm sure they don't know who it is."
"You can't blame me. One mistake, and everything we've worked for will be gone."
I loosened the necktie I was wearing. It felt like I was choking from the pressure I was under. I really thought they already knew about that matter—but it's not impossible. Maybe they know something I don't.
"Keifer..." Mr. Ryder said as he approached us. "Did you get it?"
I nodded and handed the papers and key to Honey. She read the small piece of paper tied to the large key. We kept walking.
"Watson's Bank?" she said. "How rich is your family? You even own a bank."
"Honey, they are more than rich," Mr. Ryder replied. "They're elite."
We reached the grand staircase of the house. As we were descending, my cousin, who I never wished to be related to, was coming up. He stopped right in front of me.
"So, I guess I'm too late," he said, glancing at the key in Honey's hand.
I smirked at him, full of arrogance. I won. The Watson fortune was mine, and I was the new CEO of Watson Enterprise.
"Better luck next time—oh wait! You don't have a next time," I mocked.
I tapped his arm and walked on. We were already on the ground floor when he spoke, making me stop.
"You may have won. You have the money and the company. But what about your girl?" he said, laughing. "We all know you're going crazy over a girl named Jasper Jean Mariano."
I clenched my fist. I wanted to break his bones right then and there. I don't want my Jay-jay's name being dragged into this.
"Make sure to keep her safe, Keifer," he added before finally leaving.
"It's a threat. You have to be careful," Mr. Ryder said as he walked out the door.
Honey and I followed him afterward. We got into one of the three Mercedes-Benz cars parked outside. The other two belonged to my bodyguards.
As the car moved, I couldn't sit still. My stupid, acting-CEO cousin is up to something. He's so predictable, and he's taking advantage of that.
I have to make sure Jay-jay is okay. I immediately pulled my phone out of my pocket. I was about to dial her number but stopped. If I hear her voice, I'll definitely head home unplanned.
It's only been a day since I last saw her, but I'm already dying to see her. But I can't go back yet. There's still a lot I need to do here.
I was about to put my phone back in my pocket when a text message came in. It was from Keigan.
From: Keigan
Message: Your girlfriend was here.
What?!
I dialed Keigan's number. I waited for him to pick up. After several rings, he finally answered.
"What took you so long to answer your phone?!" I asked, irritated.
I didn't hear a response from him. I wasn't sure if it was a signal problem.
"Keigan?"
Out of nowhere, I heard a small laugh. I suddenly felt uneasy. I know something's off with my own brother, but I'm not sure what it is.
["Relax, Bro..."] he said in a different tone.
His voice was clearly my brother's, but the way he spoke was like a completely different person. It's been happening a lot lately.
But now's not the time to worry about how he's acting. I tried to push his behavior out of my mind. There are things I need to prioritize, and he himself told me to put him and Keiren lower on my list for now.
"I want to know what Jay-jay was doing there."
["Nothing important. She was looking for you, but since you're not here, she left right away on her bicycle,"] he explained.
I know she's worried. The last time we were together, I punched a tree. I was so pissed because I saw Yuri kissing her. Maybe she thinks I'm still mad at her.
"Don't say anything that will make her worry."
["Sure,"] he replied and ended the call.
I'm sorry, Jay. You'll have to wait a little longer.
I texted Ci-N and our other classmates, including Yuri. I'm beyond pissed at that guy, but I have no one else to rely on besides our friends—especially him.
He can protect Jay-jay the same way I do.
Our car suddenly stopped. I looked out the car window.
"This is the Watson Bank?" Honey asked.
That's exactly what I wanted to ask. It didn't look like the bank I was expecting. It was a brick castle, its walls covered in creeping plants. The gate, though, looked brand new with its fresh black paint.
Someone opened the car door, so I stepped out. Honey and Mr. Ryder followed me.
"Mr. Mark Keifer Watson," a man in a business suit called out, walking toward me. "We've been expecting you."
I sized him up from head to toe. "You are?"
"Oh, where are my manners?" He offered his hand. "I'm your mother's brother. Call me Sin."
I took his hand and shook it. I smiled, looking at him. Mom used to talk about him and his mischievous adventures before he graduated college. I didn't know he worked at our bank.
He let go and adjusted his suit. He glanced briefly at my companions before turning back to me.
"Do you have the key?"
I held out my hand. Honey gave me the papers and the old key. I showed them to him.
"Follow me," he said.
Honey and Mr. Ryder were about to follow, but the guards standing on either side of the gate stopped them.
"They're with me," I said, but the guards still blocked their way.
"Sorry, but we can't allow them," my uncle said.
I looked at Mr. Ryder, and he nodded, as if giving me permission to go on. I walked with my uncle.
The place was incredibly dark. At first, I thought we were in a hallway, but I realized we weren't. Thanks to the light at the end of our path, I could tell we were inside a tunnel.
"How's your brothers?" he suddenly asked.
I glanced at him briefly, but his eyes were fixed on the path ahead.
"They're fine. I guess..." I answered hesitantly.
"Sorry if I didn't make it to your Mom's funeral. I wasn't allowed to leave the bank back then."
I let out a sigh. Not one of Mom's family members attended her funeral. They might be distant relatives, but I didn't really know them.
But that was a long time ago. It doesn't matter to me anymore.
"I understand. You have a duty to fulfill."
He stopped walking. I noticed we had reached the end of the tunnel. A large door stood in front of us now.
"Your Mom is still my sister. It's my duty to protect her," he said, looking at me seriously. "And I failed to fulfill that duty."
He didn't wait for my response. He opened the door in front of us. The first thing I saw was a huge fountain. The ceiling was made of glass. The floor was covered in pebbles. The surroundings looked like a garden because of the withered plants.
Is this really a bank?
Three doors stood behind the fountain. Uncle Sin walked toward the first door and opened it.
"We have to move faster. The clock is ticking," he said as he stepped inside.
He was right, so I quickened my pace. When I entered the first door, a marble counter table greeted me. Uncle Sin was behind it.
He was typing on what I assumed was a keyboard. While waiting for him, I noticed what was behind him. It was a wall of safety deposit boxes. They covered almost the entire wall.
After typing something, one of the safety deposit boxes opened—the one in the corner at the end of the wall.
I couldn't understand how he was doing all this. All I knew was that I was here for the money left to me.
Uncle Sin walked toward it. He picked up something inside.
"What exactly is this?" I asked as he started walking back to me.
He gave me a brief smile. "Everything your Mom wanted you to see."
I raised an eyebrow. What she wanted me to see?
He handed me a wooden box. It was locked, and the keyhole looked old. I could literally peek through it.
I studied it for a moment until I remembered the key I got from the old mansion. I took it out of my pocket.
I had assumed this key was for the vault door itself. I tried fitting it into the box's lock and was amazed when it fit perfectly.
I slowly turned the key and heard a small snap from the box. I glanced at Uncle Sin, who was just watching me. He was clearly waiting for me to discover what was inside.
Why do I suddenly feel so pressured?
I carefully opened the box. As I did, I stared at its contents. Seeing what was inside made me want to throw it away.
Seriously? Who would put a small remote control and a piece of card inside a box? And then store it in a safety deposit box at a bank?
This has to be a joke. There's no way Mom would do this. I almost laughed in disbelief, but when I saw Uncle Sin's serious expression, I stayed calm.
I first took the small card and read it. There was a letter printed in gold that was hard to make out under bright lights. I tried to read it but failed, so I just picked up the remote and examined it.
There were only a few buttons on the remote: Play, Pause, Stop, and End, each in different colors.
"If you're done, please follow me," Uncle Sin said.
I took the remote and the card, leaving the box behind. We left through the door and moved to the one at the far end. He opened it, and all I could see was darkness.
"From here, you have to do everything on your own," he said with a forced smile.
I hesitated to step inside. There wasn't even a sliver of light. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and used it as a flashlight.
I slowly stepped forward. A few more steps, and the door suddenly slammed shut. When I turned around, all I saw was the sad expression on my uncle's face.
I tried to run back to stop the door, but I was too late. I even tried opening it again, but it was pointless.
Damn it! Is this a setup?
Does he have some kind of bad intention? Is that why he didn't let Honey and the others come with me inside? I hope he's not involved in getting interested in the money too.
Out of nowhere, a light shone from a box. I approached it to check. It was a projector box. Is this what the remote control is for? I removed the cover blocking the projector's lens.
The light spread across the wall, which looked like a monitor. Three options appeared on the screen: Play, Pause, and Stop. Almost the same as the buttons on the remote.
Even though I wasn't sure, I pressed Play on the remote. Something appeared on the screen. A video started to play, and there was a woman in it.
It's Mom...
I couldn't take my eyes off the monitor. It was Mom. My own mother, whom I hadn't seen in so long. I didn't understand why she was in this video.
"Keifer..." she began. "...if you're watching this, it means I didn't make it to your 18th birthday." Her words hit me, and my tears started to fall.