Jay-jay's POV
Hey...
When will it be over? When will all my thoughts end? About Percy and about Papa. And when will the one next to me stop shaking me?
"Easy... Jay-jay." Ci-N said while continuing to push me.
"I don't want to... Just you." I didn't feel like answering.
Because! They're going to the Mall again. Kit is going to get ice cream. He's rich in ice cream.
"Come with me... Please..." Ci kept pleading while pouting and puppy eyes.
I really don't want to. I need to be alone to think about how I can return to Hamilton University without Kuya knowing.
"Come with me, Jay... You also need a break from your problems." Felix said.
He had a point in what he said. I really need a break. But if I do that, it might be too late for me.
"Come with me... I'll help you get back to Hamilton University." Keifer suddenly said, causing me to look at him.
"P-what?"
He smirked. "I have my ways."
That's his bank line again. I like what he's offering.
I trust the King of Snakes, so...
"S-okay... I'll come." I replied, causing Ci-N to stand up in joy.
"That's no problem, huh?" Felix said.
I nodded at him. He and Ci-N shook hands.
Looking at Felix, he didn't seem affected by the conversation about Percy. But Kit and the others told me that he had been drinking several times and would look for Percy in different places.
I knew how he felt. It's really hard, add to that the fact that you're still thinking about when you can see him.
Oh, Percy!
When I see you again, I'm going to beat you up real bad. This stress you're giving us is fuel for our fire. I'm already stressed at home, here at school, with Papa and then him.
We have another problem, Aunt Gema and Uncle Julz are going home. That's all the bad news they brought.
I've also heard Kuya talking to someone on his phone several times. All the problems at the company.
Hey...
Our class ended early today. The teachers were too lazy to teach. But that's in our favor, we can go to the Mall early.
I was walking outside when Blaster caught up with me.
"Let's go to the arcade... They say they have new games." He said while smiling at me.
I just smiled in response. We continued walking when I looked at the man approaching us.
Keigan?
He's still wearing his school uniform. He doesn't study here, Yuri said. His eyes were so angry and he looked like he was about to go to war.
We both stopped and looked at him. When he approached, he suddenly punched me. I thought that punch was for me so I couldn't move, but someone else fell.
"Blaster!" They shouted from behind. My body responded a bit late to what was happening.
"Keigan! What's wrong with you?!" I shouted and was about to approach Blaster but Keigan looked at me evilly.
I was stunned. The way he looked at me made me shiver. It was as if he could hurt you with just a glance.
"Don't interfere with this." He said firmly.
He turned back to Blaster but he immediately formed himself and punched him back. That's all Keigan seemed to be unaffected or hurt. He was still standing. He was acting weird right now. It was as if he wasn't the Keigan I had faced before.
Suddenly he kicked Blaster. I just covered my mouth in shock. He was writhing in pain and difficulty moving.
Kit and Eren immediately came over to help Blaster but they also received a punch and a sharp look from him.
"STOP IT! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" I shouted at him angrily.
He looked back at me. He slowly took a step closer. I wanted to step away but my knees froze.
"Call Keifer!"
"Let's help each other."
"That's Keifer's brother! What are you?!"
Keigan stopped in front of me, and I'll admit it. I was scared, scared of what would happen or what he would do to me.
"Please be quiet... Try to mind your own business." His whisper gave my body a chill.
I just swallowed in response. I couldn't move at all but it didn't take long before we heard Keifer's voice.
"Keigan..." He called out.
Keigan moved slightly away from me and that's when I got the chance to breathe a sigh of relief.
Ci-N and I immediately helped him up.
"Are you okay?" He whispered to me.
I nodded immediately. I looked at Keifer who was exchanging glances with Keigan.
"Explain..." Keifer calmly told his brother.
"I have nothing to explain to you," Keigan answered coldly.
Keifer's eyebrows furrowed, and I have to admit there was something about his presence that sent chills down my spine.
"Explain," Keifer repeated, but this time there was no calmness in his voice — it was firm, commanding.
Keifer was scary.
Keigan didn't answer, but he suddenly approached Blaster, who was writhing in pain. He grabbed him by the collar, ready to punch him.
"KEIGAN!" Keifer's shout froze everyone.
"Damn it, bro! I want to teach this Blaster a lesson! He won't stay away from my girlfriend!" Keigan angrily explained.
"You're the one who should stay away from her! You're crazy!" Blaster shouted back, which only fueled Keigan's anger, and he kicked him again.
"Aahhh... Stop it!"
"KEIGAN!" Keifer and I shouted at the same time.
Blaster was crying from the pain. No one dared approach him because they were scared of Keigan, too.
Maybe the rumors were true — maybe he really was crazy.
Keigan was about to hit him again when suddenly, one strong punch knocked him down. It came from… Yuri?
"Take Blaster away from here!" Yuri ordered.
They hesitated at first, but then they quickly grabbed the opportunity to carry Blaster and rush him to the clinic.
Only Ci-N, Felix, David, and I remained.
"Oh no! Keifer and Yuri might fight," Ci-N said, hiding behind me.
Wait a second!
Why was he hiding behind me?! I was the girl here — I should be the one hiding!
"You shouldn't have done that," Yuri told Keigan.
Keigan stood up from where he'd fallen and tried to hit Yuri back, but Yuri dodged.
Keigan suddenly laughed — the kind of laugh you make when you're pissed off.
"Why won't you fight back?!"
"You know I won't do that. What I did was enough."
"Just admit you're a coward! You're scared to fight me because my brother is Keifer!"
Yuri's fists clenched. I hoped he wouldn't retaliate — I didn't want this fight to go on any longer.
"Stop it," Yuri said calmly.
"I'll stop when Blaster stays away from my girlfriend."
This kid was unbelievable. This could've been settled with a proper conversation, but no — he came here just to start a fight.
I thought they were still talking, but before I knew it, they were already exchanging punches. I clung to Felix, who was standing next to me.
"Stop them!" I ordered.
But instead of stepping in, they just stood there, watching like it was a show.
"Yuri! Stop it already!" I shouted again.
They kept exchanging punches until suddenly, Keifer joined in and punched… Yuri?!
Why did he hit Yuri?!
"Keifer!" we all shouted.
"What are you doing?!" I asked angrily.
He just looked at me.
Yuri stood up and hit Keifer back. Keigan also threw another punch. It turned into a three-way brawl.
What the hell!
"You idiots! Stop them!" I yelled at the three who were still just watching.
"You don't understand… It's hard to stop those three," Ci-N answered.
"So what?! We're just going to stand here like idiots?!"
None of them answered. Seriously?! These three were beating each other up, and no one wanted to step in.
Suddenly, Yuri collapsed. I couldn't take it anymore — I ran toward him.
With all my strength, I pushed Keigan, who was about to kick Yuri. He stumbled back a bit, giving me just enough time to shield Yuri by hugging him.
"Jay… What are you doing?!" Yuri asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Get out of the way!" Keifer shouted.
I glared at him. "You get out of here! You and your crazy brother!"
"What did you just say?!" Keigan asked angrily.
I felt him approaching, but for some reason, he stopped.
Silence fell, and we all waited tensely.
"I-I have to go…" Keigan suddenly said, then ran off.
I let go of Yuri and helped him stand.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded. "Y-you didn't have to do that. What if you'd gotten hurt instead?"
"What were you thinking?!" Keifer asked angrily.
I stood up and faced him, meeting his intense gaze.
Hold the stare. I had to hold the stare.
"You! Instead of stopping them, you joined in! Great job on that part!" I scolded him, but he didn't even flinch.
"You don't understand!"
"Then make me understand!"
He didn't answer, but I could feel that he wanted to explain himself. Something was holding him back.
"Damn it!" he shouted. "…Why do I need to explain myself to you?! You're nothing! You're just a piece of shit, just like Yuri!"
It felt like a slap across my heart. You're nothing. What a wonderful thing to hear.
"At least I don't abandon my friends! But then again, you don't even see Yuri as a friend — just a piece of shit to you!"
Tears were welling up in my eyes. I didn't even know why I felt so hurt. Damn it! I hated this feeling.
He was still glaring at me. "Why do you always have to meddle?!"
"Because I care! I worry about my friends! I'm not just going to stand by while some crazy person keeps beating them up!"
"Stop calling Keigan that!"
"Did I mention any names?!"
Keifer's rage was burning even more. I was scared, but the pain and anger I felt outweighed my fear.
"You don't know what Keigan is going through! You have no right to judge him or call him crazy!"
"Before you lecture me, maybe you should've stopped him earlier! Instead of just watching him beat up Blaster! Then when he gets hurt, you're the one who's furious!"
"Would you side with me if Aries started hitting me?!"
"Yes! Especially if Aries was the one in the wrong! Don't even question me about that! I'm not biased like you—"
"Jay!" Yuri called out to me.
I turned to him. David and Felix were already helping him up. He didn't look good.
We needed to take care of Yuri first — that was more important than arguing with this jerk.
I shot one last glare at my enemy before walking away to help Yuri.
"Let's go to the clinic!"