Yuri's POV
Continuation of Flashback...
Keifer kept screaming in pain. He tugged at his hair multiple times.
"We are waiting for the CT scan and MRI results. For now, we've only given him a pain reliever, which should take effect in a few minutes," the doctor told us.
"Thank you, Doc," Keiren replied.
"No problem. If you need something or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
The doctor left the room. I just sat there, watching Keifer still writhing in pain.
Hahaoya came closer and sat beside me. "Yuri, let's go back to your room? You need to rest."
"Watashi wa koko ni tomaritai."(I would like to stay here.)
"Dakedo—"(But—)
"Hahaoya... Onegaishimasu. Watashitachi wa otagai ga ima hitsuyō desu."(Mother, please. We need each other now.)
She forced a smile at me. "Okay, I understand. But please don't forget to take your medicine."
I nodded. She said goodbye and returned to my room, leaving me here just as I wanted. She also tried to convince Keiren to come with her, but he chose to stay too, just like me.
Little by little, Keifer stopped screaming until he finally fell asleep. I shifted slightly in my seat, and suddenly pain struck my leg and thigh. But the pain inside me hurt even more.
"Kuya will be okay, right?" Keiren asked.
I forced a smile. "Of course... This is Keifer we're talking about."
He stood up from the couch he was sitting on and moved beside me. His eyes looked sad. Keigan was still missing, and now this happened to me and Keifer.
"I wish Kuya Keigan was here." I heard Keiren whisper.
I ruffled his hair. "Your Kuya and I are here for you."
We talked for a little while longer until we both fell asleep. I only woke up when I heard movement inside the room.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Keifer sitting at the edge of the hospital bed, staring blankly. His eyes looked lifeless. I slowly stood up and approached him.
"Keifer... D-does anything hurt? Should I call—"
"Yuri..." he cut me off. "...Do you still remember anything from the accident?"
My mouth opened slightly. I knew he would ask about it, but I hadn't really thought about what I would say.
"I-I don't." The words came out of my mouth on their own.
Bullcrap, Yuri!
I still remember. I remember Percy and Aries were inside. But I didn't want to tell that to Keifer. I knew that because of what happened, everyone would be looking for someone to blame.
"How's Aries?" he asked again.
Truthfully, I still haven't visited Aries. I've only spoken to Angelo, and he told me not to see Aries for now. He still wasn't talking, and it might not be good for us to see each other yet—he might think we're blaming him.
"I'm not sure, but Angelo said that he's alright."
Suddenly, he stood up and pulled out the IV again. He quickly walked out. I tried to chase after him, but pain shot through my thigh.
Just as I stepped out the door, Hahaoya arrived. Her expression was filled with worry and confusion as she looked at me.
"Yuri—"
"Please... Can you check on Keiren first? I just need to follow Keifer."
I didn't wait for her response. Even though every step hurt, I pushed myself to catch up with Keifer. I managed to catch him just as he got into the elevator.
"Where's Aries' room?" he asked seriously.
"You have to rest, Keifer! What do you need from him?!"
He didn't answer. He just pressed the button for the floor above ours. I had no idea what he planned to do. I couldn't read anything from his actions.
But I feel nervous!
When the elevator doors opened, he quickly walked over to a nurse station.
"Where is Aries Fernandez's room?"
"S-sir?" the nurse answered, slightly startled.
"Where is Aries Fernandez?!"
One of the nurses picked up the phone and started dialing a number. Looked like she was about to call security. I rushed over to try and stop Keifer.
"Let's just visit him later. Maybe he's—"
"I don't freaking care!"
"Sir! Please calm down!" one of the nurses tried to intervene.
"Just tell me his freaking room!"
"Keifer! That's enough!"
Just as a few nurses were about to approach him, someone suddenly grabbed Keifer and slammed him against the wall.
We all froze. Angelo had no expression on his face, while Keifer glared at him with hostility.
"What do you think you're doing?" Angelo asked with authority.
Keifer quickly pushed him off. "Where's Aries? I just want to know something."
Angelo looked in another direction, which I assumed was where Aries' room was.
"He's resting. Come back another day." he replied quickly.
He was about to push Keifer away, but Keifer blocked his hand. His calm demeanor quickly vanished. His brows furrowed immediately.
"What happened? Why did Percy die?" Keifer asked.
I glanced at the nurses who looked like they were watching the scene unfold. Angelo noticed it too.
"Do you have a vacant room we can borrow? We just need to talk," he asked the nurses.
They quickly pointed to a room not too far away. The two of them headed there, and I followed behind. As soon as the door closed...
"Damn it! What were you thinking?! You're drawing too much attention!"
Angelo snapped at Keifer.
"I want to know what happened! Why did Percy just disappear like that!"
Angelo looked at me as if asking a silent question. Maybe he was wondering why I wasn't saying anything. I didn't want to speak. I didn't want the truth to come from me.
"The car fell off the—"
"I already know that!" Keifer cut Angelo off.
"...I want to know why none of you did anything!"
"We did something." I interrupted. "...we already requested a rescue mission to search—"
"What rescue mission?! Are you telling me there's no dead body?! Then how can you make that conclusion if there's no body found?!" His vision seemed to darken from the rage.
"They found the car... My car, to be exact. The car you stole to do your stupid plans!" Angelo met Keifer's furious gaze. "...But there was no body inside. With how strong the river current was and how high the car fell from, do you really think anyone could survive that?! Think, Keifer!"
I lowered my head. Honestly, what happened was our fault. If we hadn't tricked Aries into coming with us, none of this would've happened.
But it already did—what's the point in blaming each other now?
"Percy's strong! I know he's alive! I know—"
"HE IS DEAD! The police already declared it. It's been 72 hours since he went missing."
It felt like something punched me straight in the heart. So hard to believe. It was just moments ago when he called out to me for a picture while inside that car before the accident happened.
"Aries clearly saw how the car fell—"
"And he didn't do anything?!"
"Keifer!" I snapped at him.
"I know you're freaking devastated right now. But you need to understand! You weren't there, so you have no idea how hard it was for Aries to even get out of the car!" Angelo took a deep breath. "...even he almost didn't make it out. So maybe think for once about what he must be feeling."
I agreed with what Angelo was saying, but at this moment... Keifer's mind was completely closed off to understanding anything.
"Aries and Percy were in the car together?"
It felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over me the moment he said that. I looked at Angelo—on the brink of yelling at him, wanting to scream how wrong that was.
No one spoke. One word from any of us, and Keifer would explode like a bomb. I didn't take my eyes off Angelo, and he didn't take his eyes off Keifer either.
"They were together in the car?!" he asked again.
A few more seconds passed, then suddenly he turned toward me. He was about to storm out of the room, and I knew exactly where he was going—to Aries. I tried to block his way, but he pushed me aside like I was just a curtain.
Damn it, Keifer!
I collapsed to the floor, pain shooting through my thighs and legs. Angelo rushed to help me.
"Go after Keifer!" I yelled, and he did.
I rested for a moment before stepping out completely. I wasn't even close yet, but I could already hear Keifer shouting. He was furious, cursing non-stop. Even the nurses were in a panic.
People were peeking out from other rooms, clearly disturbed by Keifer's outburst.
As I got closer to Aries' room, Angelo was already trying to restrain him while Keifer kept trying to break free.
Aries was on the floor, his face covered in blood.
"Percy died because of you! You let him die!" Keifer shouted in rage.
"Stop it, Keifer!" Angelo shouted, still trying to pull him away.
"I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
I saw how much Angelo was struggling to hold him back.
Eventually, a few nurses ran over and tried to help. One of them injected something into Keifer's arm.
Within seconds, Keifer began to weaken. Moments later, he collapsed unconscious. I just stood there, staring at them.
Just staring at the friends who had been with me through everything in my life.
Staring at a friendship that now seemed to be falling apart because of one death.
I wanted to say sorry. I did nothing for them. I felt so useless.
Forgive me, Percy...
End of Flashback...
Jay-jay's POV
"That whole mess just got worse because of the issue with Ella and the beating Aries took in the cafeteria," Yuri added.
That was also the reason why Section E couldn't go back to the cafeteria afterward.
"His mind is so narrow," I said, a bit annoyed. "...Kuya Angelo was right! He wasn't even there, he didn't see what happened! Why is he blaming everything on Aries?!"
"I can't blame Keifer."
I looked at him, puzzled. "Why not?"
"Because that's what he's been doing to himself all along. He's been blaming himself for not being there... for being unconscious while his friend was dying." He took a deep breath and put down the glass he was holding. "...he always does that. Whenever something goes wrong, he blames himself. He thinks that because he wasn't there, that's why it happened."
He actually believes he could've stopped it if he'd been there.
"How do you know that?"
"He tells me. When we smoke... or when we've had a drink."
I pouted. Their closeness really was something else. Straight-up bromance. Could they be...?
"Then why did he go off on Aries if he was really blaming himself? Just for kicks?"
He let out a slight laugh. "No. He's done blaming himself. So now, he's going to blame whoever he thinks should be blamed."
That guy really is a aashole.
I had nothing more to say about the King of the Ulupong. But yeah, what they went through seemed really tough. They thought they'd lost a friend, and then one day, he shows up right in front of them, alive and well, messing around.
"So, what did you guys feel when Percy suddenly showed up?" I asked again.
"All kinds of things. Shock, happy, sad, anger... threat." The last word was almost a whisper from him.
I understood. They'd already told me that when they found out he was alive. Maybe they thought he was planning revenge—and I'd be the one he'd use for it.
But just like Percy said... he's not that kind of person. He's not like Keifer.
Something stabbed at my chest.
Here it goes again... Like a cycle. Spinning endlessly in my head.
"You okay, Jay?" Yuri asked, snapping me back to reality.
"Y-yeah... I just feel something in my stomach."
"Maybe you're just bloated. You ate like crazy." he teased.
I scowled. "Have you ever been hit in the face with a plate?" I asked sarcastically, holding the one near me. "Wanna find out?"
He chuckled and flashed a peace sign. Lucky he's good-looking. What a waste it would be if a plate hit that face. Though it might be more of a waste for the plate.
I mean, you could use that shine to check your reflection.
We chatted a bit longer, mostly about the place. I found out the resort was actually his idea. It was supposed to be a beach resort, but he built it a bit farther from the sea because he wanted to turn the path to the beach into a huge infinity pool.
He said there was still a lot he wanted to show me, but he prioritized finishing this garden first because he originally planned to set up a garden dinner. But it ended up being a picnic instead.
That was some serious effort.
It took a few more hours before we finally decided to head home. Yuri left all the used utensils and plates behind, saying his staff would take care of cleaning up.
I was hugging the bouquet of flowers he gave me as we walked back to his car.
"Thanks for the dinner. I missed eating sushi," I said, lightly punching his arm.
Sushi was the only thing I actually liked out of everything!
He winced and rubbed his arm. "Welcome. Come on, I'll drive you home. Still a long way to go."
I nodded and got into the car. While we were on the road, I heard my phone go on several times. I took it out of my bag and checked.
There were messages from Kuya Angelo and from GagongBaliw. I opened Kuya's message first since he also had some missed calls.
From: Kuya Angelo
Message: where are you? Why aren't you answering your phone?
I felt a bit anxious, so I quickly replied saying I was on my way home. Next, I opened the messages from GagongBaliw. I was a little surprised because they came in a string.
From: GagongBaliw
Message: hey, i miss you.
From: GagongBaliw
Message: R u busy?(Are you busy?)
From: GagongBaliw
Message: I really wanted 2 talk 2 u.
From: GagongBaliw
Message: Can i Call u?
From: GagongBaliw
Message: c'mon, i want to hear ur voice.
From: GagongBaliw
Message: where r u?
From: GagongBaliw
Message: who's with u?
From: GagongBaliw
Message: Jasper Jean.
"Who are you texting?" Yuri asked.
I glanced at him for a moment before putting my phone back in my bag. "K-Kuya... He's looking for me." I answered.
He nodded, accepting my answer. I don't know why, but I felt like I shouldn't tell him I was texting with GagongBaliw. I couldn't explain it, but a big part of me just wanted to keep him secret.
I wanted me to be the one to figure out who he really is.
"Have you and your brother talked yet about the... cancellation of the engagement?" he asked cautiously.
"Not yet." I replied almost in a whisper.
"He didn't say anything at all?"
"Nothing."
"He probably won't scold you." he said with a smile. "...He even thanked us."
I frowned at what he said. Thanked us? For what? That sounds weird. Maybe Kuya Angelo wasn't in his right mind when he said that.
"What do you mean he thanked you?" I asked curiously.
He glanced at me briefly before turning his eyes back on the road. "He said he didn't want to drag you into the company's problems."
My eyes suddenly widened. I felt like jumping for joy.
Kuya really didn't want me to be married off. He was just being forced into it. Kuya Angelo really is the best. I love that guy to bits!
"R-really? He said that?"
He nodded, eyes still on the road. "Actually, Angelo has been giving us alternative business proposals even before. Ones that didn't involve a marriage. But I told the Old Man not to accept them."
My smile instantly vanished, and I felt like punching this guy. Good thing I suddenly remembered—it's all in the past. That was before, and we're not engaged anymore.
Stay calm, calm...
"You really did that? You must be insane." I said, annoyed.
He let out a soft laugh like he was completely unbothered by what he did. Lucky for this guy I was well-fed—otherwise, I would've punched him already.
Then I suddenly went quiet when I remembered something—how Kuya was drinking the other night and how miserable he looked.
"W-what about the partnership between Kuya's company and yours? Is there no hope for that anymore?" I asked.
I could see the sadness on his face even though he was focused on the road. From that alone, I already had a guess at what his answer would be.
"I'm sorry, Jay. The Old Man won't let me get involved in that matter anymore."
I knew it!