Jay-jay's POV
"Do you know?" I asked Kuya Angelo.
He didn't answer. He just looked at me with his arms crossed.
"Do you know... Am I right?" I asked again.
Kuya took a deep breath and nodded slightly.
That's it!
"Is that why you don't want to let me go?"
"That's not the point here----"
"I don't care about your point!" I shouted, causing his eyebrows to meet.
I was afraid of him but more afraid of knowing the truth.
"If I explain what you're asking, you won't get anything out of me."
"But I have the right to know! That's my dad..." I said and my tears started to fall again.
"I'm not the one who will explain it to you. Aunt Jeana will be here tomorrow. You'll have to ask her."
I looked at my brother in his eyes. "Don't let her come here. I don't want to see her."
I don't want to see her. I'm already feeling bad about what I found out, don't let her make me feel any worse.
"Jay----"
"I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER!" I shouted and quickly ran to my room.
I locked the door as soon as I closed it. I couldn't hold back my tears. It hurt so much to know that they still knew where my dad was but they didn't even tell me anything.
He was just within my reach.
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Aries's POV
I put ice back into the ice bag I was holding. I have to admit, Keifer's punch still hurt a lot.
I don't know if it's because I haven't fought in a while or if he just took out his anger on me.
His looks, it's the same look when he punches because of Ella.
What does it mean?
"Here aries..." Kuya called me. "...I thought you'll keep an eye on her?"
"Sorry... We were separated by the place."
"Your sorry won't change anything. They've met." He said annoyed me.
Why didn't he just let the two meet? Jay-jay is lucky after all. Her father is doing all the effort just to find and be with her. Unlike mine. What is he making an effort for? To meet me to ask for money. Sometimes I think it's better if Jay-jay just killed him. I know, it's a bad thing to think like that but no one can blame me.
My phone rang in a short time and was followed by a text message. I thought it was Ella, so I got my phone immediately. But I'm wrong.
I deleted the text message and shut down my phone. How did he know my phone number?
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Jay-jay's POV
I've beaten the criminal who escaped from prison. Because... I didn't want to see him so I spent my time thinking about how I could escape. Never mind! Here I am now, riding my bike. Going to a place I don't know.
I went through the window behind the house.
Joke!
I just waited for Kuya to leave, then I went through the front to get my bike. Aries saw me but that guy didn't care about me.
I'm also angry with him! He knows too. But after all, let's just quit. I know something he doesn't know.
I know Percy is alive.
Keifer and I told him not to tell him. We're not sure what Percy's plan is yet.
But until now, I'm still waiting for his text or call. There are times when I don't let my phone get out of my sight or away from me.
Speaking of phone, Kuya is calling me. Don't worry! I won't confront that man. He'll leave soon so I can go home today too. I continued to ride my bike and actually, I just noticed that the road was going uphill.
I was having a bit of trouble pedaling. I stopped for a moment and looked around. It seemed familiar to me.
I went back to pedaling while continuing to observe the places I passed by. Until I realized something.
This road leads to Keifer's place!
How did I get here without even noticing? Wow! Does my bike have a mind of its own and decided to go here by itself?
My phone rang again. It was an unknown number calling.
I didn't want to answer, but what if it was Percy?
"H-hello?"
["Where are you?"] asked the person on the other end of the line.
I didn't recognize the voice. But I knew it wasn't Percy. And whoever they were, why would I tell them where I was?
"Who are you? Why do you care where I am?"
["I'm asking you a question. Answer it!"]
My eyebrow shot up at their tone. Wow, they're bossy!
"Hey! Whoever you are, don't be stupid! Why would I tell you where I am?! You didn't even introduce yourself! If you have nothing better to do, don't bother me! Don't me!" I said angrily.
["Tss."]
Ah! I know that! Just from the way they said "Tss," I already had an idea who it was. Only two people I knew did that.
["…You sure know a lot."] the so-called King of Snakes said in an irritated tone.
"What do you want?!"
["Where exactly are you?!"]
I looked around. Should I tell him I was on the road near their place? Better not — he might think I was stalking him.
"On the road," I replied.
["Be specific."]
Oh, come on!
"I don't know. I'm just biking around."
I heard a gate open on his side of the line. Looks like someone was going out.
["Kindly turn around."] he ordered.
Even though I was confused, I did as he said. And the moment I turned, there he was — Keifer, standing by their gate in shorts and a t-shirt.
Why was he here?
I looked around his place. So this was his house — I hadn't paid much attention before when we visited. I hadn't gotten a good look at it.
He ended the call and walked toward me.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I-I'm in front of your house," I answered awkwardly.
"Come inside," he said and walked back through the gate.
I didn't know what to say. I didn't even move from where I stood.
"Jay-jay…" he called me.
I had no choice but to start walking, dragging my bike behind me toward their gate. Their yard was so huge — it felt even bigger than the last time we were here.
I saw Keifer's cars. Yes… cars. Yuri told me they were all his. Apparently, he didn't let Keigan touch the steering wheel because he had… issues.
I parked my bike in the corner, next to his cars. Their house was so big, yet I never saw many people around.
"Do only you guys live here?" I asked him.
"What do you think?" he asked sarcastically.
"I mean… where are the maids? Don't you have a butler, too? And where are your parents?"
He stopped and looked at me. "My parents don't live here. The maids and butlers stay in their rooms. I don't like people wandering around."
He kept walking into the house, and I followed. His answer sounded so serious.
"My parents don't live here."
Is that even possible? Then again, I didn't live with my parents either.
We went through another door, and I realized we were in their living room. There were so many sofas — maybe four sets.
He sat on one of the sofas. I glanced at the coffee table — bottles of alcohol and an ice bucket were piled up. He poured himself a drink and took a sip.
"Isn't it too early for that?" I commented, but he ignored me.
"What exactly brought you to my house?" he asked.
"I was just biking… How did you even know I was outside?"
He took another drink before speaking. "I have my ways."
What are you, a spy?
I looked around again. Their living room was so spacious. The only decorations were paintings — no family pictures at all.
"What do your parents do for a living?" I asked while looking at one of the paintings.
"Nothing," he answered quickly.
I stared at him. "Is that even possible? You have such a huge house. Did someone just give this to them?"
He looked at me before pouring another drink. "No one gave them this house because this house is mine. Only mine."
Huh?! This house was his?
He must've noticed my confusion.
"This house is mine. They don't live here because I didn't let them," he explained.
"How does that even happen? Where are they, then?"
He downed his drink before pouring more. He touched his ear where his earring was before answering my question.
"My mom is dead. My dad is busy with his new wife. I kicked them out because I didn't want to see their faces. Any more questions?"
I looked down. I didn't mean to open that topic. I expected their family to be complete because he lived with Keigan and Keiren.
"S-sorry," I said.
He didn't reply. He just kept drinking. He'd had several drinks already, but he didn't seem affected at all.
"You… What's your family like?" he suddenly asked.
"E-everything's fine… You saw my dad yesterday, right?"
He chuckled bitterly. "You know… you're unfair."
I knew what he meant by that. It's not that I was unfair — I just didn't want to add to his problems. He already had family issues, and I didn't want to pile mine on top.
He suddenly placed a glass of alcohol in front of me.
"Let's play a game. I'll ask you questions — if you don't want to answer, you drink. Same goes for me," he said.
Wait — no way!
"I-I don't want to drink right now."
"Then answer my questions," he said seriously.
"Keifer… but—"
"You won't be going home," he cut me off. "…I have my ways, remember?"
I stared at the glass. Fine! As long as I could answer his questions, I'd answer.
"Game on!"