**Keifer's POV**
I want Jay-jay to stay. I want to hold her tight and make sure of not letting go. I badly want to.
"What happened, Kuya?" Keigan asked me.
I looked at him with my usual blank expression and shook my head.
"Nothing."
"Your face is full of bruises and wounds. How could that be nothing?"
I tried to get up from the bed. My head throbbed slightly, and dizziness quickly wrapped around me.
"Rest for now," Keigan said, forcing me to lie back down.
I pushed his hand away.
"I've had enough rest."
I forced myself to stand and walked toward the bathroom. Facing the mirror, I shook my head at my reflection. Jay-jay can literally damage a face through her punches.
Until now, it's still a mystery to me how her punches got this strong. I don't think it's just because she used to get into fights before. She's a woman, and it's quite impossible for her to make her punches stronger.
Or maybe it's because of how angry she is at me.
I tried to touch my face, and the pain was immediate. I ignored it. I've been through worse, but somehow, it hurts more this time. Maybe because it came from the person I love.
My mind went back to what happened earlier. I'm on the verge of giving up my inheritance. I can't push Jay-jay away from me anymore. I think I'm going crazy thinking about her and what's going to happen to us. But one thing's for sure—
I have to make sure that I will not lose her.
I turned on the faucet and washed my hands. Afterward, I dried them on the towel hanging beside the mirror. I headed straight to my walk-in closet to change clothes.
"Where are you going?" Keigan asked.
I glanced at him briefly before taking off my shirt and changing into a polo shirt.
"You're going to her?"
There's no point in answering him. He already knows it.
"Please, Kuya… Tell me that Honey heard it wrong earlier," he pleaded.
"No. She heard me right," I answered without any hint of regret.
I grabbed another hoodie from my closet and put it on. I was about to step forward when Keigan grabbed my arm.
"Let go, Keigan," I said with authority.
"No," he replied, forcing himself to face me. "…I will stop you no matter what."
My eyes bore into his. I could sense his fear, though he was obviously trying to hide it. I didn't want to yell at him. I didn't want to make him feel like I still ruled this house. He's still my brother, and I didn't want him to feel scared of me—the same fear he had with our Monster Dad.
I took a deep breath to calm myself. I held Keigan's hands and slowly removed them from my arm.
"Keigan…"
"Why is it always her that you care about?! What about us?! What about me and Keiren?!" he burst out, tears streaming down his face.
I couldn't help but wonder about his behavior. I wanted to explain why I needed to see Jay-jay, but I knew he wouldn't understand.
"I didn't—"
"NO!" he shouted.
I won't deny that I was a bit shocked. It was like he became a different person in my eyes, but I knew he was just letting out his feelings. I chose to ignore it.
"Keigan, I know—"
"No! You don't know anything. You're too busy praising your girl that you forget and ignore us!"
"Listen to me!"
"I don't want to listen to you! You don't care about us anyway!"
"No! Keigan!"
Suddenly, he covered his ears and started screaming.
"Aaaarrrggghhhh! Aaaarrrrggghhhh!"
He dropped to his knees, shouting like he was scared of something. I grabbed both of his arms and tried to make him face me.
"Keigan! Listen to me!"
He shook his head, still screaming. I tried to hold his face, but he kept dodging me.
"You don't want us! You only want her! You don't love us! You only love her! You don't care about us! You only care about her!" he kept shouting and crying.
"Keigan! Stop!"
I was starting to get irritated. I didn't know what he was going through to act like this.
"Keigan!"
"No! You're a coward! You're giving up everything! You're wasting Mom's death!"
His words made me stop.
I–I'm not a coward.
I let go of him and just stared. I pulled my own hair out of frustration and took a deep breath.
Hearing Mom's death is like a switch being turned on. It automatically breaks my heart.
"I'm not…" I couldn't stop the tears from falling from my eyes. "…Keigan, I'm not."
"You don't love us!"
I fell to my knees, weakened. I was struggling. I didn't want to let go of Jay-jay, but I also didn't want to waste Mom's death.
I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what kind of battle I needed to fight. My head was empty, and I had no plan.
I heard someone knocking at the door.
"Keifer! What's going on in there?" It was Honey.
I went to Keigan and forced him into a hug, even though he kept avoiding and pushing me away.
"Keigan…" I called out, my voice sounding like I was begging. "…please."
I didn't know why, but he suddenly stopped and let his arms drop.
I continued speaking.
"I'm not giving up anything. I will continue fighting—for Mom, for Keiren, and for you. But please… don't stop me from seeing Jay-jay…"
I heard him gasp.
"…She's my strength and weakness. Without her is like breathing without air, bleeding without blood, and dying with no killing."
He moved his hands and patted my arms.
"You really love her. Do you?"
He sounded different this time. Maybe he had finally calmed down.
"She gives me purpose."
He slowly pulled himself away from the hug.
"Go ahead. Go to her. But promise me…" he said and looked at me seriously. "…Promise me that you won't give up."
I frowned, confused. Why did he suddenly change his expression? From desperate, he now looked like the usual Keigan I talk to every day.
"Keigan—"
"Fulfill your promise, and I swear I will help you," he said, smiling slightly. "…I will help you become stronger. I will help you face our relatives, especially Clyde. I will help you create a plan."
I was tempted to say yes. It's the first time Keigan had ever offered me this kind of help. But something about it… felt a bit suspicious.
"Tell me, Keigan… What is happening—?"
He cut me off by standing up. Without a word, he walked straight into the bathroom. Moments later, I heard the faucet turn on.
I followed him and found him bent over the sink, splashing water onto his face.
"Just say 'no' if you don't want my help," he said, sounding disappointed.
I took a deep breath. I appreciated Keigan's offer, but something inside me was unsettled. Something was wrong, and I needed to understand it.
"Okay… I accept your help," I finally said.
He smiled at me. "Thank you for trusting me."
"On one condition," I added, and his smile vanished. "You will tell me what exactly is happening to you."
But instead of answering, he turned and walked out of the bathroom. He headed for my bedroom door. Before he could touch the knob, I called his name with authority. I saw him flinch.
"I will… but not now," he said quietly.
The door creaked open. Outside, Honey stood frozen, along with some of the maids and a butler. They'd clearly been eavesdropping.
"W-what happened? Someone was shouting, so we thought—"
Keigan didn't let her finish. He walked past her.
"It was nothing. Please leave," I told them firmly.
Without a word, they dispersed. I returned to the bathroom, my thoughts in disarray. I couldn't understand what was happening to Keigan.
Ever since he came back, something had been off. I kept asking him what happened, but his answers were always the same: they traveled around, and Dad was just ignoring him. But that didn't make sense. Dad was the one who brought Keigan with him, and now he was just ignoring him?
It didn't add up. I had no one to ask about what really happened while Keigan was with that monster.
Although… maybe there was one person. My brother. He's the only one who had contact with him—Dylan.
My phone suddenly buzzed with a message alert. I grabbed it off the bedside table. It was from Tiger.
**From: Tiger
Message: Blue eye, alive alive. D2 cla ni 2mboy Jay-jay.**
*(They're here with tomboy Jay-jay.)*
I clenched my phone. I couldn't fully understand the message, but the important part was clear: Tiger saw Percy and Jay-jay. Most likely, they were in KingsGround.
Dammit. Of all places...
I rushed to get ready. I applied medicine and band-aids to the wounds on my face. Once that was done, I headed to my walk-in closet.
Inside the glass drawer, I grabbed a key—different again from the last one I used. I also took my wallet and phone.
Without wasting a second, I left my room and made my way to the garage.
"Keifer! Where are you going?" Honey called out as I stepped out of the house.
"None of your business," I snapped.
"Uncle is coming here. He wants to talk to you," she said, running after me.
"Tell him to go back tomorrow."
"Keifer, what's this?! Are you really serious about fighting for your family? You're acting like this is just a game!"
I ignored her. I walked straight to the car I chose, unlocked it, and got in.
I drove like I was chasing an enemy. My mind was racing. I couldn't stand the idea of Jay-jay being in KingsGround. She didn't know what kind of place it was.
It wasn't just a disco. There were underground fights, an illegal casino run by Tiger, a strip club—and worst of all, an underground forum where drugs were sold.
I didn't know how Tiger kept all of this hidden from the police. Maybe he used some sort of "hocus focus," but whatever it was, it worked.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. I stepped on the accelerator harder. I had to get her out of there. And if something happened to her—if Percy let anything happen—I would put him back in his grave myself.
I arrived at the street of KingsGround. It was a terrible idea to bring a car here. Theft was rampant. But I didn't care. I parked just outside the building.
As I stepped out, I spotted Dan—one of Tiger's men. He looked like an actor, but I couldn't remember which one. Maybe it was the way his two front teeth were the only ones left.
"Keifer… You dropped by," he greeted, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Watch my car," I said, pulling out some cash from my wallet.
His eyes widened when he saw the three thousand pesos I handed him. He grinned, showing off the gap between his teeth.
"Keep it safe," I said and turned toward the entrance.
Inside, a dark hallway greeted me. From a distance, I could already see the flashing lights, hear the thumping bass, and feel the chaos of bodies moving to the music.
Just before I fully entered, I ran into one of Tiger's bouncers. He was restraining a few guys.
"Let me go! I need to get back at that girl!" one shouted, struggling.
"Savannah and her friend are such a headache!" another one muttered.
I glanced at them briefly, then continued inside.
KingsGround's disco floor was as packed as always. Lights flashed, music roared, and bodies swayed everywhere.
Some women smiled at me, but I didn't come here for them.
I didn't even know where to start. I was planning to go see Tiger, but someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder. A bouncer.
"It's been a while since you visited. What brings you here?" he asked seriously.
"I'm looking for someone. Maybe you could help me find her."
"Knew it… a girl. Who is she? I'll ask security to check."
"My girlfriend. She's probably still wearing a high school uniform."
"Is she one of Boss Tiger's friends?"
I nodded, scanning the area again.
"She's at the bar counter. Almost got into a fight earlier," he said, pointing.
I frowned. A fight? Of all places… here?
I thanked him and made my way toward the bar.
Moving through the crowd was a struggle. Someone even wrapped their arms around me, but I shoved them off.
Finally, I saw her. She lifted a shot glass to her lips, drank, and closed her eyes.
What the hell did she drink?
I looked at the woman beside her—clearly watching Jay-jay's reaction.
Jay-jay laughed, chatting with the woman like they were old friends. My curiosity burned. I needed to know what she drank.
Her companion also took a shot, and then they headed to the dance floor.
I rushed to the counter.
The bartender was about to clear Jay-jay's glass, but I grabbed it.
"S-sir Keifer," he greeted nervously.
I ignored him, examining the glass. I smelled it, then dipped a finger in to taste the last drop.
Something was wrong.
"What did you put in this drink?" I asked coldly, my voice like a threat.
The bartender paled. "S-sir—"
I grabbed his collar over the bar. If there hadn't been a counter between us, I would've punched him.
"Sir! That was Ma'am Savannah's order! I couldn't say no!" he pleaded.
"If I find out what you put in it, I will rip you into pieces," I growled, releasing him.
The glass dropped onto the bar with a hard thud.
I turned and searched for Jay-jay in the crowd.
It took a few minutes, but I found her—dancing and laughing with that same stranger.
All I could do was watch.
I couldn't approach her. If I did… I might never let her go again.
Keigan's words echoed in my mind. Mom's death would be in vain if I gave in.
I'm sorry, Jay…
Then she saw me.
I froze. She looked right at me—but like I was a stranger.
The woman beside her leaned in and whispered something. Jay-jay's expression shifted, and she turned away.
I started to follow her, but my steps faltered.
I had to stop her. I looked around, desperate.
Then I saw it—Tiger's office.
He was the only one who might help me now.
I marched straight to the guarded door and pushed it open.
The first face I saw was Percy's.
He was lifting a glass, but stopped when our eyes met.
"And here you are, you shameless bastard!" I snarled, pointing a finger at him.
"You're the one to talk," he said coolly.
"You're just sitting and drinking here while Jay-jay is in danger!"
"Relax, Keifer," Tiger interjected. "There's no Forum or Underdog Fight tonight. It's not a hot night."
I turned to him. "I'm not talking about the dirty Forum and fights. Someone gave Jay-jay a weird drink," I said, pointing out the door.
"Tsk! Looks like Jay-jay has lost herself," Percy muttered, putting down his glass.
He stood and glared at me.
"I don't know what your problem is, but you hit hard! You made her cry and now you act like you care."
"You don't know what's going on."
"I know, Keifer. I know exactly what's going on. Your revenge failed and karma hit you back. You fell for Jay-jay."
I didn't respond. Of course he knew. David must've told him everything.
"I have no reason to deny it."
"But you deny it to Jay-jay."
Because I had to.
"It's none of your business," I said flatly.
He stared at me for a long time before turning to Tiger.
"Sorry. I need to take Jay-jay home. She might suddenly freak out."
Tiger nodded. Percy walked away, but not before giving me a sharp look.
I still didn't trust him—but for now, Jay-jay needed someone.
If he ever hurts her… I will make sure he never comes back alive again.