**Keifer's POV**
"Did you give her a phone?" I asked Percy in a low voice.
He looked at me while standing beside his car. He was about to leave, but I stopped him.
"Yeah, Felix told me she broke her old one."
I took my phone out of my pocket. "Give me her new number."
He smiled widely before sticking out his tongue like a child. "I don't want to."
"I'm not in the mood to play games with you," I said, my voice a threat.
"I ain't playing games with you!" he rapped, moving his hands like a real rapper.
I sighed. He'd been through near-death experiences, yet he was still acting like a fool. What did he need to go through to mature? Did I need to bash his head against a rock for him to change? Just when I was being serious, he was teasing me. Nothing had changed.
"Percy," I said seriously. "…just give me her number so I can leave."
He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. He probably sensed how serious I was. He scratched his cheek for a moment before speaking.
"Sorry, I don't trust you. Honestly, I don't want you to get close to Jay-jay. After what you've done to her," he said, shaking his head. "…and you still haven't explained the incident with Freya."
"You don't understand my situation with Jay-jay, and I have nothing to explain about Freya." I put my phone back in my pocket. "…If you don't want to give it to me, fine. I can still get her number anyway."
I was about to walk away when he called me. I turned back. He frowned like a child and took out his phone.
"Demanding, huh? Annoying!" he said while typing something on his phone. "…Good thing I'm more handsome than you."
I didn't see the connection.
I approached him while waiting for the number. His nostrils flared.
"I have a condition."
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Just explain what happened with Freya."
Like I had a choice. I nodded briefly before he handed his phone to me. But I didn't see any number on his phone. It was a dialing keypad only.
"Type your number. I'll send it to you when you give me what I want," he said, assuring me.
I shook my head while typing my number. He didn't trust me either. It was a tie then. I didn't trust him either.
I gave back his phone and let him do his thing. He put it in his pocket and looked at me, his eyes full of mockery.
Asshole.
"Meet me later at KingsGround," he said before getting into his car.
I let him leave. I just watched the back of his car. Unconsciously, I touched my fist. It was aching!
It seemed I'd gone overboard last night. In my rage at seeing Kiko and Jay-jay together, I might have cracked the skulls of those we faced. It was supposed to be a warning for the other groups who claimed to touch Jay-jay, those who would try to hurt her.
But I wasn't satisfied with just beating them up. Edrix almost laughed at me while shooting a video and taking pictures. I looked like a demon who would wipe out humanity, he said. Tss… I was pissed.
It was worth it because I hadn't heard any response from them. It seemed they were scared.
I returned to school. Lunch break was almost over, and hopefully, Jay-jay had eaten properly. She still didn't want to eat with us.
If Percy didn't give me the number, I would have to resort to trickery. Maybe I should steal his phone so Edrix could install the app, but he might wonder why it was stolen and then returned.
She would surely be suspicious now and find it hard to trust anyone.
I was at the classroom door when I saw Yuri standing in front of Jay-jay. My forehead creased, but when I saw Jay-jay's blouse, I almost lost my sanity.
"What the…" I said, catching Yuri's attention.
He had a worried look.
"Why is she like this?" I asked authoritatively.
"She's tipsy," Yuri answered quickly.
I turned back to Jay-jay. I was shocked to see her slowly taking off her blouse. I quickly took off my polo to cover her. Yuri did the same.
I knew she was going to complain. Before she could say anything, I carried her and put her over my shoulder.
"Damn it! Put me down!" she shouted.
Damn! Profanity.
"Keifer…" Yuri called. "…What are you going to do?"
What was I going to do? I didn't know either. I just had to get her out of here and stop her. Whatever she drank, I knew she couldn't handle it.
"I don't know!" I shouted at Yuri and sighed heavily. "…I just have to stop her!"
I didn't know what to do. I looked at our friends, who were also looking at us.
Whatever!
I walked out of the room with Jay-jay still on my shoulder. I quickly moved away from the room. I was about to put her in the car to take her somewhere, but I looked at the stairs leading to the second floor. That room! It was better than going far.
I climbed the stairs. I could sense Yuri behind me.
"Where are you taking her?" he asked.
I didn't answer. I continued walking until I reached the room at the end of the hallway.
"Put me down! I'm going to throw up!" Jay-jay shouted again.
I took the keys from my pocket. It was hard to get them out. I threw them to Yuri, who caught them.
"Open this goddamn door!" I said in a loud voice.
He obeyed, even though he seemed out of it. I immediately went inside after he opened the door. I put Jay-jay down on the sofa.
"Damn it! You're always so annoying!" she shouted again.
Profanity.
"Calm down, Jay," Yuri said, arching my brow.
He tried to approach Jay-jay, but she quickly threw a pillow at him. I couldn't help but smirk.
I looked at my polo, which had fallen. My eyes quickly shifted to her clothes. I swallowed. Her… was almost showing.
She suddenly shouted, looking at her clothes.
"Why is my uniform open?!"
"You're the one—!" I tried to explain, but she threw a pillow at me.
"Why are you here?! You're planning something, aren't you?!" she added, pointing her fingers at us.
I almost slapped myself. I didn't know what was going on in her mind. Now I started to think she was drunk.
"Are you sure she's not drunk?" I asked Yuri to make sure.
"She's not asking for a virgin sacrifice. So, she's not drunk."
Yeah, I forgot. She transformed into a witch when she got drunk. That was weird.
There were people who broke up with their boyfriends or girlfriends when they got drunk. Some became corny and told jokes. And I knew someone who thought he belonged to the anime world before passing out every time he got drunk.
I'm not saying it was Yuri.
But Jay-jay's was scarier. She might suddenly stab us and offer us to the fire.
Jay-jay automatically lay down on the sofa. She was probably tired or sleepy.
"It's so hot," she said, covering her face with a pillow.
I turned to Yuri and asked, "Who gave her alcohol?"
"I don't know. She was acting weird when she came back after lunch."
After lunch?
She was with Percy the whole lunchtime. Only he could bring alcohol to school. He even let her drink. He probably didn't know what happened to Jay-jay when she got drunk.
It wasn't long before she fell asleep. It was probably the effect of the alcohol. I felt at peace for a while. I sighed to relieve the tiredness in my body.
"Can you…" Yuri started, breaking the silence. "…tell me the real reason."
Here we go again.
"Reason for what?" I said, as if I didn't know what he was talking about.
This was a futile effort, even though I knew Yuri knew I was lying.
It was so hard to keep secrets from him.
But I would try my best to hide it.
"I'm not damn stupid, Keifer."
Tss… You're definitely not.
"If you're not damn stupid, then what are you trying to do? Shouldn't you be happy that I'm out of your way? You can get the girl you want," I said, looking him straight in the eye.
Yes, enjoy the moment I'm not around. Enjoy the moment you're with Jay-jay. Because that's only for a while, and you'll never get her.
He was obviously having second thoughts. He was too proud. He wouldn't take advantage of the situation. He preferred a fair fight, even though I didn't feel the same.
I reached into my pocket for my cigarette. I was restless, so I brought some. I didn't know I would still use them now.
"I still want to know the truth."
"What for?" I asked, offering him a cigarette, but he refused. "Are you really serious about quitting? I thought you were just kidding." He made me chuckle.
I lit my cigarette. I needed to be calm so Yuri wouldn't notice anything. He was too observant. One mistake, and he would suspect even more.
"Don't change the subject. Please answer me, Keifer."
I exhaled smoke, avoiding his gaze.
"You know the answer, why are you asking?"
"I don't, Keifer. I don't know the exact answer."
"You were there when I planned it. I thought you were involved, but you backed out halfway."
He chuckled bitterly. "Your plan. Again?" He shook his head. "That's your reason for this shit! That's your reason for hurting Jay-jay?!"
His voice was rising. I looked at Jay-jay and noticed her slight movement. I couldn't see her face clearly because of the pillow she was using to cover herself.
Was she awake?
She probably was. Yuri's voice was loud enough.
"That's the fvcking truth," I answered in a bored tone.
I needed to be more careful. Jay-jay couldn't hear anything that could give her clues.
"I'm the happiest guy in town when you stay away from Jay-jay. It's great to think I have a chance with her. But when I saw her hurt…" he continued. "…I wanted to punch you. I wanted to blame you for everything and make you pay."
You cared so much for Jay-jay that you forgot your own pain. You were so selfless you forgot to be selfish.
"Why didn't you?" I challenged, feeling like I needed a punch myself.
"Because I know there's something else."
"And that something is?"
"You're lying," he said, stopping me. "…You lied to us, you lied to Jay-jay, and you lied to yourself."
His observation skills were so good. I wanted to curse him because of his perceptiveness.
"I lied to no one."
"I told you. I'm not damn stupid!" I heard his heavy breathing. "…You stopped your plan a long time ago. That's why the whole Section E stopped. We're not that insensitive."
I finished my cigarette because of the tension. I was about to slip up.
Think wisely, Keifer!
"Keifer," he called my name, almost begging. "…If you can't tell Jay-jay and Section E, at least tell me."
"I have nothing to tell you."
I couldn't tell him. I couldn't tell anyone.
"Damn it, Keifer! You're in love with Jay-jay, but you choose to hurt her! Why?! What's the fvcking reason?!"
Because I have to! I fvcking have to! I'm sorry, Jay!
"I'm not Yuri. I'm not in love with her."
Out of nowhere, his fist hit me straight in the face. I fell to the floor and quickly wiped my lip.
I almost lost my temper, but then I realized I deserved it.
"I know when you're lying, but you keep doing it!"
"I'm not."
I'm in love with her! I am! I really do!
"If you don't feel anything for Jay-jay, why are you so angry when other guys approach her?"
I shook my head. I had nothing to say to what he wanted to say. I chose to stand up and walk away. But I left words he might believe.
"I'm just playing around," I said, walking away.
I sighed as I left the room. I had to do this. Jay-jay was awake; I saw her for a moment.
I felt so weak. I couldn't do anything but hurt her to save her. Damn this family! Damn this Watson family! They only cared about money. They would use anything to get what they wanted.
This was frustrating. I was hopeless. I was Keifer Watson; I could do everything I wanted, but why couldn't I do anything for her?
I was fvcking useless.
I didn't know who to talk to anymore. I didn't know who to turn to. I took my phone out of my pocket.
Angelo, the Demon King, was the only person I knew who could help me. But the price would be high. It couldn't be him! It couldn't be her!
If I talked to Keigan, he would only be practical. He would give the same solution he always gave.
Get rid of Jay-jay.
Who else would I talk to?
I looked at my phone again when I received a message from an unknown number.
From: +639*********
Message: Don't keep the handsome one waiting. KingsGround later. It's Percy.
I sighed. This guy was adding to my problems. Maybe it was better if I went to him first. Maybe liquor could help me find someone to talk to.
I walked away from the building. I knew Yuri would take care of Jay-jay without taking advantage of her situation. It was irritating to think of them hugging. But I couldn't do anything if Jay-jay needed a shoulder to cry on.
So, I would leave them be for now.
I reached my car and immediately got in. I started the engine and drove fast. I badly wanted to taste some alcohol now. I needed it! My tongue needed it, my body needed it, and my fvcking mind needed it.
But my heart needed Jay-jay.
When I arrived at KingsGround, I just parked my car. I didn't care if it got carjacked. I went inside, and Tiger's men, who were managing the place, greeted me.
"S-sir… We're still closed," one of them said. "And Boss is still asleep."
"It's okay. I'm not here for him. I'm here to drink." I didn't wait for his response and approached the bar counter where a bartender was wiping glasses.
"My usual," I said, sitting on a stool.
He quickly grabbed a glass and poured a drink. He handed it to me before returning to his work.
I accepted it and drank it.
After putting down the glass, I immediately took out my phone and texted Percy.
To: +639*********
Message: Don't keep me waiting, dummy! I'm here!
After sending it, I put my phone back in my pocket and drank the contents of the glass again. I finished it quickly and immediately asked for another.
I was already on my sixth glass when Percy arrived. His hair was messy, as if he'd rushed his styling.
"You're paying for my drinks!" he yelled at me before sitting on the stool beside me.
"Whatever." He gestured to the bartender. "Give me something for a handsome guy."
What the…
The bartender scratched his head, clearly not understanding what he was saying.
I faced the bartender. "Give him poison."
Percy immediately looked at me.
"Okay. But you're drinking it!"
I smirked, shaking my head. I also gestured to the bartender to give me another one.
He quickly gave me one before giving Percy another drink. Percy quickly downed it before asking for another.
We were both silent for a while before he decided to speak.
"What happened, Keifer?" he asked seriously, looking at his glass of alcohol. "With Freya?"
"With you, with Yuri, with Aries, and with our friendship." Our friendship?
I stopped drinking and looked at him. He was still looking at his glass.
"You see it, and you still ask," I said, taking a sip.
"Something's wrong… Very wrong," he shook his head before taking a sip from his glass.
"Wrong that we're broken, or wrong that we're together in the same school?"
"Why are you guys ganging up on Aries?"
"Tss… Didn't know you suffered from amnesia."
"I don't have amnesia!"
He finished his drink and gestured to the bartender.
"Then you shouldn't ask that stupid question about Aries," I said, irritated.
He shook his head and laughed in disbelief.
"I thought you were the best at everything. Except for looks, of course, that's me." I almost rolled my eyes. He actually managed to slip that into the conversation.
"What are you trying to say?" I wanted him to be straight to the point.
"You're so gullible," he gave me a deadpan look.
Whatever he was trying to say, I knew it was between the four of us. It had something to do with our past, and I knew it might affect Jay-jay.