**Keifer's POV**
"You're always with Yuri, but he's such a coward," Percy said, taking a sip from his glass.
I shook my head, pretending he was drunk. His answer was far from what I asked.
How did I become gullible?
"I don't care about Yuri's cowardliness. I'm here for Jay-jay's phone number," I said, signaling the bartender for another round.
"I have a lot of concerns and things to say before I give you her number."
I massaged my temples because of the headache. Why was I even bothering to sit here next to him?
"You know what? I think I'll just find another way to get her number," I said, taking out my wallet to pay.
"Okay… I'll just tell Jay-jay to change her number," he said, smiling like a lunatic.
I couldn't believe it. He was doing this on purpose. I put my wallet back.
"Just tell me all your concerns. Stop acting!"
He suddenly put his glass down on the counter table. It made a loud noise, causing the bartender to look at us.
Percy's seriousness returned.
"I just don't understand why you let Aries suffer like that," he chuckled bitterly. "You should have been the first to stand by him, but you were the first to leave."
I frowned. "Don't act like it's all our fault. If you'd let us know you were alive, this wouldn't have happened."
"My mom never let me contact anyone from here! Not even my family!"
"You should have at least tried. Just one freaking sign that you were alive!"
"And then what? I still couldn't show up; it was useless!"
"But we could have searched for you. Aries, Yuri, Angelo, and I could have searched for you."
I couldn't believe I was saying this. I didn't know this conversation would turn into an argument. I knew he knew I had a lot of things to say to him. And I knew the others felt the same agony.
"…But obviously, it's pointless to fight about it. It's done, so there's nothing we can do," I added, taking a drink.
He shook his head. "The damage caused by my death was huge."
It was so huge it even ruined the reputation of Fer. Corp. Everyone knew Aries was a Fernandez, and the accident involving the four of us was public knowledge. Many investors and stockholders pulled out.
That's when their downfall began. They tried their best to save the company, but the Hanamitchis caused more problems.
Poor Angelo.
"So huge…" I whispered, taking another sip of my drink. "What's the real reason you came back? Obviously, you're not here to get your life back."
"I plan to get Felix and take him to the US. My crazy father left money for them, but they can't claim it because the insurance company can't find them," he explained. "…I'll also take Jay-jay to her father."
"Do you plan to tell her?"
"What?"
"That her father has cancer."
He stopped and looked at me, probably surprised that I knew.
When I said I would help Jay-jay find her father, it was true. But I didn't stop there, as Jay-jay thought. I searched for him using my resources. It was harder because her father was based in another country.
The Marianos were very private. They used different names for their business ventures. There were few family photos available. I couldn't believe someone like him could hide himself from the business world.
Rory and Edrix were lucky to have gotten some information about him and Percy back then.
"Wow…" he said sarcastically. "…I'm impressed with what you can do. You even found that out."
"My lawyer found out. He was in New York and looking for someone who could help me. Then he saw Mr. Fernandez at the hospital getting chemotherapy."
"How did your lawyer know him?"
I cleared my throat. "I had him look for him before for Jay-jay. When I got a picture of him, I gave it to my lawyer to find additional information."
"Tough!" he said, smiling annoyingly. "You're willing to do anything, huh? Is that love?"
Yes, it is!
I ignored him and continued drinking. I asked for another drink after finishing that one. Percy did the same.
"Can I have her number now?"
"Kiss first!" he replied.
I almost threw my glass at him, but I was glad I didn't; I would have wasted the drink.
"Just tell me if you're drunk," I said, almost commanding.
"I'm not! You were here first."
I shook my head and took a sip. It took a long time for me to get drunk. It seemed I inherited that from the Watsons. I only recently found out that we had that trait in the family. I thought it was just because my body was used to alcohol.
There were a lot of things I still hadn't discovered about the Watson family. It was scary to find them out, but it was scarier not to know any of them. What else did they have that I didn't know? I didn't want to know, but I did at the same time. I felt like I could use it against them.
One dark little secret.
"Freya…" he said.
That's what I'd been waiting for him to ask. I just needed to explain, and I could get Jay-jay's number.
"Was she happy when I disappeared?"
I slightly shook the glass in my hand. I hated to say this, but there was no point in hiding it.
"She didn't even cry when we thought you were dead. I thought she was just being brave, but I was wrong." I took a sip from my glass. "…I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I will. She wasn't really into you back then."
I heard his soft chuckle, followed by him suddenly gulping down his drink. He swallowed it like he was drinking water.
He gestured to the bartender. "Give me something hard."
Give him a solid earth rock.
The bartender placed a glass with ice in front of him. He poured the drink before pushing it towards him.
He drank it before speaking again.
"Because she's into Yuri," he said, drinking again. "…I didn't see it back then, but I knew she had a hidden crush on Yuri."
My forehead creased. "Did she date you to get closer to Yuri?"
He shook his head. "I don't know, but…"
He obviously couldn't continue. It was probably painful.
"That's what it looks like," I continued his sentence, and he nodded. "She had her chance with him, but Yuri messed up."
"He's a fvcker!" he shouted, slamming the glass on the counter table. "He took advantage of my Freya! If he didn't really like her, he shouldn't have done that!"
He rested his head on the table while continuing to talk, but I couldn't understand him anymore.
I signaled for another glass from the bartender. He looked at me as if checking my condition.
"Aren't you drunk yet, Sir?" he asked while pouring my drink.
"Nope. Still not drunk," I said proudly.
Percy suddenly stood up. I thought he'd fallen asleep or gotten drunk and couldn't handle it anymore. It seemed he was still wide awake.
"How did you and Freya get together?" he asked seriously.
"I really liked Freya. So, when I saw her crying because of their breakup, I took advantage of the situation and comforted her." I shook my head.
Remembering my actions made me regret our past. I shouldn't have approached her back then. I should have let her fix herself first. She was a mess, and starting a relationship while in that state was a big no.
"Did you take good care of her?"
"With my best," I answered shortly, taking a drink.
"Did you make her cry?"
I did…
I didn't know if I should answer him. I was ashamed of what I did to her in the past.
I promised myself I would take care of her. In the name of Percy—whom we thought was dead. But I didn't because of my anger management issues.
"Silence means yes," he said, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor with a stinging pain on my cheek.
He punched me! He fvcking punched me while I was distracted. Was this why he came here? Because he wanted to punch me?
"That feels good," he said, looking at his fist.
He returned to his seat, and I stood up. I took my glass and pressed it against my cheek. If I didn't need anything from him, I would have returned the punch.
I sat down, the glass still pressed against my face.
"Why did you hurt her?"
"It was an accident," I tried to rub my face. "…I was furious because of jealousy. I saw her with different guys. I even saw her flirting with another guy."
"So you punched her?"
I looked at him in shock. "What? I never punched her!"
"That's what she told me."
"I pushed her hard against the wall, then I punched the wall beside her! I wouldn't do that to her!"
I couldn't believe it. That's why the news I got was different; she was telling different stories. Some even called me a sadist. I chose to ignore them.
"…And it only happened once!" I added.
I swallowed my drink. I regretted our fight that day. That's when our problems started. If I hadn't pushed her so hard, she wouldn't have been so scared of me. I probably wouldn't have punched the wall in anger.
I knew she was hurt, but she chose to cry silently. I was so stupid! If I had just given her the freedom she wanted, things would have been different.
I tried to fix things between us. I bought her a penthouse, a car, and gadgets her parents couldn't afford. She accepted them, and we made out, but I didn't know she was up to something else.
"So, who's to blame?" he asked, uninterested.
"It's useless to point fingers. Think whatever you want to think."
He took out his phone. "As promised."
I was about to take it, but he moved it away slightly.
"I'm telling you, Keifer. If Jay-jay comes running to me crying because of you again," he pointed his finger at me. "…I'll tell her father."
I quickly snatched his phone from him. As I unlocked it, Jay-jay's number appeared. I immediately sent it to my phone before handing his phone back.
I quickly took my phone when I heard it ring. I stared at her number for a while. I wanted to press the call button to call her.
But I was scared.
Fvck this!
I was Keifer Watson, and for the first time, I was scared to call a girl.
I thought Watsons turned into beasts. Why was I the opposite? Why was I becoming a coward?
I started to hate this feeling. Was this what it was like to be in love? Did it make your mind messy? I wasn't like this with Freya and Ella.
Maybe because she was different. She was different. I put my phone back in my pocket. It was better that way; I might be tempted to call her. It wasn't good for her to know I had her number.
I looked at Percy when I noticed he was drinking straight from the bottle. I shook my head.
Honestly, I was envious of him. He was so close to Jay-jay. Before, I was envious of his ability to make people laugh. Even my problems were forgotten because of his antics.
That's why I preferred being with them four before. I could escape my problems at home. I bit my lip.
Because of that escape, I neglected Mom and Keigan. If only I had been stronger back then.
And now, hopefully, I could do what I couldn't do before. Protect those I loved and no longer be weak.
For my brothers and for her.
"You think I'm weak?" I asked Percy, almost whispering.
"Why did you ask?"
"Because I can't protect her without hurting her feelings."
"That's not weakness; that's stupidity."
I didn't know if he was teasing me or what. He called everything I did stupid.
I wished he were drunk. It seemed like he didn't know what he was saying.
"Thanks," I said sarcastically. "Not to mention that I'm also suffering."
He laughed, shaking his head. "You're only looking at the easiest option."
"It's not an easy option. It's actually the hardest for me and for her."
"By hurting her? Bullshit," he said calmly.
"Easy for you to say."
"Yet you still haven't let her go."
I looked away.
Because I fvcking can't.
All of this was temporary. This was what my enemies should see, but that didn't mean I was really letting her go.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't completely let her go." That would kill me!
"Don't you think what you're doing is more painful? You show her you're not really in love with her, but in reality, you still keep her," he chuckled bitterly. "…You're like putting an invisible rope around her neck. And that rope will soon kill her!"
"I won't let that happen!"
He put down the bottle. "It already happened! That's exactly what you've been doing for the past few days!"
I rubbed my face. My actions were true to his words.
"You're fvcking killing her inside."
"Do you think I haven't thought about that? This hurts me too, but I have no choice!"
He suddenly stopped and stared at me. He signaled the bartender, who looked at us.
I didn't like the way he was looking at me.
"Leave us," he said, and the bartender left.
"What's that for?"
"Tell me, Keifer. Who are you trying to protect Jay-jay from?"
I looked away. I didn't plan on telling him the truth. I didn't want him involved.
He shook his head. "Did you get into trouble and involve her?"
"No. It's not like that. I'm trying to protect her from my old enemy."
"From your father?"
I nodded briefly. I wasn't lying. He was one of the people I was fighting against for her and my brothers.
"Fvck! Your fight isn't over yet?" He sighed. "I miss so many things about you."
My lips formed a thin line. "Yeah. I think." He downed the bottle again. It was almost empty.
"If you truly want to protect her, I suggest you let her go—for real. It's obvious; you don't love her, but you can't let her go."
I held my temples. He was drunk, and it was obvious. His eyes were getting droopy. Until the bottle was empty. He suddenly laughed loudly.
"I have a joke. Want to hear it?" he said, laughing.
Oh, fvck!
"No," I said, about to leave, but he grabbed me.
"Wait… No one will hear my jokes. It'll be a waste!"
I forced his hand off me. "Save it for another time."
He shook his head violently. "No."
I took out my phone and dialed Felix's number. He answered after a few rings.
"[Why?]" "Pick up your brother here at KingsGround," I said.
"Hey… Listen to my jokes. Jay-jay really likes my jokes," Percy begged.
"[Is he drunk? Just leave him on the highway.]"
I shook my head. I couldn't believe he was abandoning his brother. Who would want to bring this drunkard home? He was full of corny jokes.
"Just pick him up," I said before ending the call.
"I have sooooooo many jokes."
I sighed. I couldn't stay here any longer.
I saw the bartender he'd sent away earlier returning.
"There's the bartender. He's ready to listen to your jokes."
He let go of me and greeted the bartender. The bartender looked at him questioningly. I put down some cash on the counter before leaving.
I quickly went to my car, which was already surrounded by people interested in stealing it. I approached it and pressed the unlock button right in front of them.
They quickly dispersed. I got in and sped away.
I enjoyed talking to Percy, but I didn't like his advice.
Let go of Jay-jay for real.
How? Wasn't pushing her away enough? Did I need to completely let her go?
I pressed harder on the gas pedal. My car sped up without me realizing it. I didn't know where I was going. I kept driving until I saw the tallest building in front of me.
I was in the business district. My grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Was it time to tell Yuri? I didn't want to involve him, but I was out of choices. Even simple advice would be a big help.
I just needed someone to listen. I turned the steering wheel and headed towards Yuri's building. I went straight to their basement parking. The guard let me in quickly when he recognized me.
After parking, I went straight to the elevator. Unlike other elevators, this one didn't go directly to Yuri's house. Someone from the security section processed face recognition. If someone wasn't familiar or wasn't allowed by the Hanamitchi Family, they couldn't enter easily.
It was a good thing I always visited Yuri. That's why I didn't go through their security process.
When the elevator doors opened, Yuri's mother greeted me. That was weird.
"Tita…" I said, hugging her briefly.
She smiled at me. "Visiting Yuri?"
"Yeah. Is he here?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Maybe on his way."
She grabbed my arm. "I'll take you to his room. Come."
This was really new.
She walked slowly, and I tried to keep up. I was restless. I didn't like the way she held me. It was really awkward.
"You and Yuri have been friends for a long time. I still remember Angelo scolding you in front of us. It was quite painful; I didn't like seeing my son scolded or hurt. But I guess it had a good result," she said, forcing a smile.
"I really didn't like anyone yelling or hurting him. I felt his pain. Especially when he cried; it broke my heart."
What every mother felt for their child. But I didn't understand why she was telling me this.
The last time she talked to me like this, it was about Ella. Who was it now?
"That's why I regretted seeing him cry because of Ella. I thought I did the right thing for him. But I saw him change. My sweet son changed into someone I didn't know. I can't afford to see him like that again."
I stopped, and her hand slowly left my arm.
This was about Jay-jay.
"I know you know what I'm trying to say. That Jay-jay girl. She has to be with my son," she said with teary eyes.
"No," I answered shortly, about to leave, but she stopped me again.
"I'll tell the Watsons the truth!" she shouted.
I turned to face her in shock. How on earth did she know about the Watsons?
"Several people have called from the Watson company. We thought it was about your investment, but it was more than that." Her teary eyes turned fierce. "They keep asking about Jasper Jean. We gave them the same answer we always give. She's my son's fiancée."
Fvck them! They were moving!
I tried my best not to show any emotion. But I was fuming inside.
"But I know that Clyde—your cousin—is waiting for a different answer. And I can give that to him."
My fists clenched. I didn't want to say anything bad to Tita. She had been so good to me that I almost treated her like my mother. But my patience had a limit.
It was true that Yuri's mother was a genius. She knew when to use someone's weaknesses to her advantage.
"Okay. I'll do what you want," I said, and she smiled in relief. "I'll tell your son what you want him to hear." I started walking towards her until I was close enough. "…But if Jay-jay marries Yuri before I receive my inheritance, I will burn your family alive and turn them into ashes."
Her smile vanished. "You can't do that."
"You don't know me, Mrs. Hanamitchi. I'm a Watson, and I'm more powerful than you think."
She shook her head and smiled arrogantly. "Not without your inheritance. You're still a kid claiming to be powerful." She pointed at me. "They'll still get married before or after you get your inheritance. The Head of our family wants to meet her, and that's not a good sign for you."
I smirked. "You think I'll let that happen? I assure you, someone will be in checkmate, and that won't be me."
I passed her and went straight to Yuri's room.
I didn't expect Yuri's mother to interfere. But I didn't give a fvck.
What I said would be done. She had threatened the wrong person.