**Keifer's POV**
"Keifer! Where the hell are you?"
My eyes automatically open. It was Honey's voice echoing in my head.
I forced myself to move my head and pain immediately kicks in. I punched my own head because of the pain. This is the first time alcohol hit me like this. Or maybe it's because I didn't get enough sleep.
I shook my head to remove the pain. I got up and walked toward the door. I stopped for a moment when I realized the door wasn't in front of me.
I forgot! I'm in a different room. The angle of this room is different from mine. I opened my eyes wide and looked for the way out.
"Keigan! I can't find Keifer!" Honey shouts.
The high-pitched and annoying voice of this woman greeted me when I opened the door.
But I'd rather hear this than see her crying again.
"Can you shut your mouth?" I said in an irritating tone.
She looks at me with an arched brow. "So you're just here? Damn it! Your brother even bothered me!" She turned her back on me and walked away.
I entered my room. I removed my shirt and threw it away. I didn't care where it landed.
I also took off my pants and remaining clothes. I entered the bathroom and almost hit my head on the door.
Open your eyes widely, Keifer!
I placed myself under the shower and turned it on. Cold water poured over me to clear my head. I have to go to school today… I need to.
Fvck! I don't like what I feel right now. The weird feeling in my chest is dragging my whole body with it. Why does it still feel like there's a hole in my chest?
"Jay… What have you done to me?" I said and started sobbing.
Why am I like this? I'm a man—I shouldn't cry like this just because of a girl and the pain she caused. I shouldn't feel this way.
She's ruining me. She's breaking me into pieces, and the worst part is I'm letting her do this to me.
Why did I let her? Why am I letting her?
She's the only one who made me feel like this. I never reacted this way before. Even with Ella, all I felt was anger, even knowing she never loved me.
Is this the price of loving Jay-jay too much?
They say Watsons aren't allowed to fall in love, they'll turn into beasts. But I'm not turning into one… I'm breaking like shattered glass.
The pain, it's making me feel empty and numb.
I hate this feeling. But even so, I still want to see her. I badly want to see her.
She's my strength.
Without her, I'm completely weak.
"I love you, my Jasper Jean…" 🥹❤️
I ended my dilemma and turned off the shower. I grabbed a towel and dried myself. I walked toward my walk-in closet. I faced the mirror and looked at the bruises caused by Clyde's men. They were now fading.
My stupid cousin is a big pain in my ass. Honestly, he's more like a real brother to me than Angelo. We're alike in many things.
One of our few differences is how he always smiles and looks down on women. He's also better at dealing with people, business partners or not.
But I'll admit, sometimes I envy him for having so much confidence. He's not afraid of anything.
He even got the CEO position at Watson Enterprise without breaking a sweat.
I took some clothes and got dressed—my regular white polo shirt uniform.
When I wear this, I feel like a normal person. Just a typical student, studying, making friends, and falling in love.
Honestly, I've long had the option to transfer schools. Same with Yuri, but we both chose to stay. I don't know his reason, but I assume he's doing what I'm doing.
I want to annoy Aries. I want to show him that he can never beat me. I'm smarter than him and better in sports. I planned to beat him.
But the jerk was clever—he already enrolled us in Section E. Worse, he dragged Felix into it too.
He also made sure the board members would ignore us.
They're fools for following Aries.
After completing my attire, I looked at my reflection.
I look miserable.
I've never felt self-conscious about my appearance until now.
Jay-jay can't see me like this. I don't want her to think I was hurt this much. She'll be hurt too if that happens.
I always end up hurting her. I don't want that to happen anymore.
I tried to fix my hair, but I still looked the same.
I sighed. I looked for a hair comb but couldn't find one.
I opened one of the drawers to look inside. While rummaging, I found something.
It was a wallet-size picture of Jay-jay. 💞
She's wearing the Sexy Santa Claus costume that she received at our Christmas party. 😆
I printed those pictures she sent to me as a souvenir for myself. 🥹
I can't stop smiling.
Those were the days I want to return to.
Because those were the days we could be happy without risking anything.
"My Jay-jay."
I heard a loud knock on my door.
Sounds like someone wants to break it down.
"Kuya! Are you still there?!" Keigan said while knocking hard.
I put Jay's picture in my chest pocket. I walked over and opened it.
Keigan looked so stressed. His hair was messy and he wasn't even in proper uniform.
"Let's talk" he said.
I turned my back on him and grabbed my bag from the study table.
"Maybe later," I said with no energy and walked past him.
"Can you see yourself?!" he shouted, but I chose to ignore him.
I continued walking until I reached Keiren's room. I knocked and waited for him to open it.
"What?" he said while rubbing his eyes.
He was still wearing his pajamas. Looks like my knock woke him up.
I can't believe Keigan didn't wake him.
"Get ready. You're going to be late for school."
"I'm not going to school. I don't want to go," he said seriously.
I glared at him. "Why? Did I give you permission? Get ready or I'll make you." I commanded with authority.
"Kuya Keigan said I don't have to go. You won't even notice anyway."
I immediately looked at Keigan, who was walking toward us.
He looked different now. He looked clean and was wearing his uniform properly. His hair was also combed neatly. He looked like a different person.
"Why did you say that?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"Why not?" he answered sarcastically.
"You're too busy with your girl. Seems like you forgot you have a brother."
The way he talked made me think he's not Keigan. He was so different in the way he responded to me now.
If it weren't for his face, I'd think he was someone else.
He suddenly smirked. "Do you really think your girlfriend is loyal to you?"
I feel irritated. "What did you just say?"
"See? You can't even pay attention and this all happened because your head is filled with your stupid thoughts about her."
"Shut the fvck up, Keigan!" I shouted while clenching my fist.
"Why? Afraid to hear that you're not the only man in her life?"
I couldn't stop myself. I grabbed his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
For some reason, he showed no fear unlike before.
He could still smile while I was furiously mad.
"Don't you dare!"
"There are more than ten boys in your class. Most of them are her friends. You think none of them felt attracted to her, especially since she's the only girl in your room?" he said and smiled.
"…maybe they're doing something behind your back. Maybe they're fvcking her while you're busy."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"Why don't you ask your friends? Maybe one of them already claimed her before you did." He laughs. "Maybe one of them already fvcked her."
"Don't test my patience!"
He laughed again like an evil person.
"Can't accept it? What if all of this is just a trick? What if Jay-jay has a plan for all of you? What if this was Aries's doing? Maybe he sent that girl to ruin all of you? To flirt with all of you? And you—YOU FOOL—fell for it!"
I'm trying to hold my anger. My breathing feels so heavy.
"She doesn't really love you. She's just fooling you like your ex, Ella. She's just going to use you."
"My Jay-jay will never do such thing!"
She wouldn't do that. She's not that kind of person.
She has no reason to do that to me. She would *never* do that.
"Let me guess, you're convincing yourself now that she would never do that."
"I knew it! But you're too late. He already—"
"No!"
"—fooled you!"
"No! Stop!"
"—probably even flirted with your friends!"
"Shut up! Stop!"
"—and next thing you know? He's flirting with someone else!"
"STOP!"
I didn't want to hurt Keigan. I tried to hold back my anger, but I couldn't anymore. His words—those awful words—were driving me insane. I was burning with rage.
My fist slammed into the wall beside his head. Over and over until a hole cracked through it. My knuckles screamed in pain, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.
Then I stopped. He was crying, eyes shut tight, trembling with fear.
"I-I'm s-sorry. W-whatever I said… P-p-please don't believe it. I didn't m-mean to s-say it…" he sobbed.
I let go of him, stunned. What's happening to Keigan? He wasn't the same person who stood before me moments ago. Something's off.
This isn't the first time. And every time, I fail to understand.
He collapsed to the floor, clutching himself, shaking like a child scared out of his wits. Afraid of me.
What have I done?
I gripped my hair in frustration, only to see Keiren peeking from behind his bedroom door—eyes wide with fear.
What's happening to me? I've never been like this. I'm not this kind of person. Not to them.
"I-I didn't mean it, Keigan." I said, kneeling beside him.
He backed into the wall, desperate to get away. I wrapped my arms around him anyway. He shook, tried to push me off, but I held tighter.
"I didn't mean it. Please, believe me."
"P-please… I'll never do t-that again… Don't s-send me b-back to Dad… P-p-please… I d-don't want to be with h-him… H-he'll hurt me a-again…"
My heart broke.
Even now, he still carries that fear. He still thinks one mistake means I'll send him back. I've said over and over I won't, but sometimes… it's like he can't hear it.
"Ssshhh… I won't. I won't send you back to him. He can't take you from us again."
"H-he pointed a g-gun at my head… H-he'll k-kill me just l-like—"
"No. No, Keigan. I'll never let that happen. He can't hurt you anymore."
"I want Mom. I want her…"
Shit.
"Keigan… Mom's gone. She was killed."
The door slammed shut—Keiren. Hearing that always crushed him. He never got to know a mother. And he lost a father, too.
"Keifer!" someone called.
It was Honey, running in with the maids—the ones who watched over my siblings when I wasn't around.
"S-sir… L-let me take care of Sir Keigan." one of the maids said, stepping closer.
"Help me get him to his room." I ordered.
Together, we helped Keigan up. I didn't let go of him, even as we walked. He kept whispering things I couldn't understand. When we got to his bed, we tucked him in.
He looked so fragile. I felt like I was failing them. I was all they had, but even I was slipping away.
Keigan fell asleep, comforted by the maid's gentle humming. "What's your name?" I asked.
"Kate Kristine Joy, sir. I replaced Keigan's previous caretaker."
I nodded. "T-thank you for looking after him."
I was about to leave when something caught my eye—blood. A few drops on the floor. Then scratches on the wall, on the door. His things scattered in chaos.
"K-Kate…" I called.
"Sir?"
"What happened here?"
No reply. I turned to her—and saw Keigan's hand gripping hers tightly. Still asleep, but the hold… it wasn't normal.
"I-I don't know. M-maybe it's best to leave him to rest," she said. "P-please, sir. I'll stay with him."
I didn't like her tone. But her eyes—she looked like she was pleading.
I nodded and walked out.
Outside, Honey stood with the other maids. "What the hell happened? And why is there a hole in the wall? Did you do that?"
"Honey, I need to talk to the maid inside. And the ones who took care of Keigan before. Make sure he doesn't find out."
She followed me, fuming. "What for? Answer me first!"
"There's something wrong with Keigan. And it's getting worse."
"You're saying he's sick?"
"I'm not sure yet."
She blocked my path. "What are you thinking? You haven't even talked to him in a while, and now you think he's sick?"
She had a point. It's been too long. Maybe he's just afraid to talk to me.
But I can't ignore what I've seen. Dad came back with Keigan, but Keigan wasn't the same. I tried showing him no one would hurt us again.
He started to return to the brother I knew—but something still haunts him.
"Maybe… I'll talk to him after school."
We continued walking. I went straight to the dining area. I needed caffeine—something to wake me up before class.
There was Keiren, eating breakfast, already dressed in uniform.
"I thought you weren't going to school." I said, grabbing a mug of coffee.
"I don't want to stay here. Kuya Keigan's out of his mind again."
"Keiren, don't say that about your brother." I scolded him. "…Do you understand?"
"I do." he said without even glancing at me.
I downed my coffee and waited for him to finish. I'd be the one to take him to school.
He didn't take long. After drinking his water, he walked straight out. I followed, giving the maids last-minute instructions for Keigan. Honey wouldn't stay long either.
I strapped Keiren into the car.
"I can do it." he muttered, but I ignored him.
Only when his seatbelt was secure did I get in and start the engine.
"Kuya…" he spoke up. "…Is it true? Dad's a bad person?"
My grip on the wheel tightened. It's been a while since he asked about Dad.
"Well… he did bad things. He killed our mother."
"What about Mom? Who killed her?"
A monster.
"You're too young to understand." I said.
He fell silent until we reached school. I let him get out on his own, watching him until he disappeared through the gate.
I made sure his bodyguards were in place—blending in, some even working in the school.
The same for Keigan. Guards were nearby, discreet.
But not me. No one watched me. I knew Dad wouldn't come after me. It was always them he wanted. And I could protect myself.
When I arrived at school, I parked quickly. Nearly late for class—again. That woman will say something if Sir Alvin gets there before me.
Aries and his group looked at me like predators eyeing prey. I didn't give a damn.
If he's here… maybe Jay-jay is too.
I need to talk to him. I shouldn't have let my anger take over. I didn't even listen. Just reacted.
Maybe that's why they call us cursed—because when love hurts us, our minds shut down.
Near the room, I saw Mayo and Kit. Arguing. Almost ready to fight.
"Stop it! What if someone hears you?" Kit hissed.
"So what if they do? Scared?!" Mayo snapped back.
They didn't see me. I stood close but unnoticed.
Kit tried to walk away, but Mayo held him back. I rolled my eyes. They looked like a couple—
"Do you like Jay-jay?!"
I froze.
Mayo just asked Kit if he liked Jay-jay.
"I don't like him! Stop it!"
"Then why did you kiss him?!"
I couldn't breathe. He kissed Jay-jay.
*He kissed my Jay-jay.*
Keigan's words came flooding back. Are my own friends betraying me? Worse than Yuri ever did?
Was he just playing me this whole time?
In a snap, I lost control.
I grabbed Kit—and punched him in the face.
And no one could stop me.