Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Chapter 11: Chapter 135 - Unexpected Visitor



Jay-Jay's POV

Should I go through with this?

No, I shouldn't! I can just head straight to school. But I need to see him.

What a bad trip!

"Jay-jay..." Ci-N called out to me. "...Keifer will be mad at me!"

"That's your problem!" I replied, irritated.

He's the one who should be worried about Keifer's anger, not me. They're all insane! They showed no remorse for Kiko, and yet they did that to him.

Ci-N tried to explain what I had seen in the video, claiming that what happened to Kiko was merely a "reward" for what he had done to me.

But I couldn't contain my anger. Yes, Kiko had wronged me, but what they did to him was excessive.

Wasn't it enough that they had already beaten him up on the night they rescued me from him?

"Don't go… Keifer might come looking for me, and I won't know what to say," Ci-N pleaded.

"Just tell him I woke up late," I suggested.

"No Way!"

I raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"

"Keifer always knows when I'm lying," he muttered, scratching his head in frustration.

"You're such a—"

"It's not like that!" he interrupted, clearly annoyed.

"Tsk! Get out of my way!" I snapped, attempting a high kick.

I had practiced that move so many times, but I was still too weak to pull it off.

"Because you're Jay-jay!"

Ignoring him, I quickly hailed a taxi and got in. Before the driver pulled away, I glanced back at Ci-N, who stood there looking like he was about to cry.

"Sir, take me to Benedict Hospital," I instructed.

The driver nodded, and the taxi sped off, leaving Ci-N behind. He'd have to deal with Keifer on his own.

Benedict Hospital was quite a distance away. Fortunately, Ci-N had admitted that Kiko needed medical attention, so I wouldn't have to force him to go.

I gazed out the window. The roads were clear, and the weather was pleasant. It was shaping up to be a good day—

Wait… why did the reporter's voice suddenly sound so urgent?

The flight took just 20 minutes, but my pocket was completely empty—I had no money for the fare. Mud! I should have asked Ci-N for some, considering it was their fault I was coming here in the first place.

The hospital was smaller than I had imagined, only four floors high. There were only a few cars parked outside, and not many people were going in or out of the main entrance.

The surroundings, however, were beautiful. There was a well-maintained park with plenty of trees, a few cottages with tables in the center, a small playground, and a pathway along the side.

Is this really a hospital?!

I headed straight to the main entrance, where a security guard stopped me. He quickly checked my bag before allowing me inside.

At the information counter, I approached the receptionist. The sign in front of the counter read "Information."

"Good morning... Do you have a patient named Kiko Evans?"

I asked the woman.

The woman glanced at me for a moment before offering a polite smile.

"Yes, we do... Are you one of his classmates?" she asked, noticing my uniform.

I simply nodded in response.

"May I see your ID?" she requested.

I took out my ID and handed it to her. As she typed on her keyboard, I glanced around. The hospital looked like a place for wealthy patients, yet it was surprisingly quiet with very few people around.

"A classmate of yours just left earlier. You just missed them," she mentioned while continuing to type.

"Ahh… They didn't inform me," I quickly replied, making up an excuse.

She handed my ID back. "I see… He's in Room C9," she informed me.

"Thank you," I said and turned to leave, but then I realized I had no idea where C9 was.

"Uh, where exactly is C9?" I asked, turning back.

"Third floor. You can take the elevator or the stairs," she said, pointing to the other side of the counter.

"Thanks..." I replied before hurrying toward the elevator.

Just as I reached it, the doors opened, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the third floor.

This hospital didn't feel like a typical one. The air smelled pleasant—not like medicine, disinfectant, or that usual hospital sterility.

When the elevator doors opened, it felt even less like a hospital and more like a luxury hotel. The hallway was elegant, with beautifully arranged plants lining the sides.

I started looking for Kiko's room.

C5… C6… C7… C8… C9!

I stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath. Nervousness crept in—I knew what I was about to do would be a big step.

I knocked lightly. No answer.

I knocked again. Still nothing.

Summoning my courage, I slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door.

The sound of the TV filled the room, likely drowning out my knocks.

The room was spacious, with a sofa set near the bed. There was a small kitchen sink, a refrigerator, a dining table, and another door that I assumed led to the bathroom. The bed was positioned in the corner, facing a large window and a flat-screen TV.

"I'll eat later… I don't feel like it yet," Kiko said, still focused on the TV.

I had no idea how long he had been here, but just looking at him…

His left leg was in a cast, stretching from his sole to his thigh—the same leg Keifer had kicked in the video.

His other leg was wrapped in bandages around the ankle. His right arm was also in a cast, leaving him with only his left hand free, which he used to hold the remote.

A neck brace supported his head, and his face was covered in wounds and bruises.

I bit my lower lip, struggling to process it all. I couldn't believe those guys had hurt him this badly. Yes, they fought, but only with people who challenged them. It was hard to accept that they could take someone down without a proper fight.

"K-Kiko..." I called his name hesitantly.

He turned to look at me. Once he recognized me, he simply stared before using the remote to switch off the TV.

He remained silent, showing no reaction. It was impossible to tell if he was angry at me.

"H-how are you?" I asked, slowly stepping closer.

My voice wavered with uncertainty.

"I just found out… this is what happened to you," I admitted, taking a deep breath. "...I-I wanted to say—"

"Don't." He cut me off.

"Huh?"

"Don't apologize. I deserve this," he said, making me pause in surprise.

"But—"

"What I did was unforgivable. I deserve this," he forced a small, fleeting smile. "...I'm the one who should be apologizing to you."

I was at a loss for words, just staring at him. At that moment, I saw a glimpse of the Kiko I once had a crush on.

"Please… accept my apology," he pleaded. "I wasn't myself. I was heartbroken because you humiliated me, and I acted recklessly. I'm really sorry, Jay."

I stepped closer and took his hand in mine.

What he had done was undeniably wrong, but he had already paid the price—more than enough. I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Apology accepted," I said, offering him a small smile.

He smiled back. "Thank you."

He glanced around, as if looking for someone. "...Did you come alone?"

I nodded. My eyes shifted to the other side of the bed, where I noticed a bench. Sitting down, I reached into my bag.

I took out the container I had brought and placed it on the bedside table.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Soup… I wasn't sure what I could bring you. Manang made this because broy Angelo was sick," I explained.

"Thank you… At least I'll have something to eat."

I let him be, knowing he probably didn't have much of an appetite. Meanwhile, I quietly observed him—his face, his frail body. He had lost some weight, and his hair had grown longer.

A strange silence settled between us. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know where to start.

The atmosphere was awkward!

Suddenly, my phone rang, and I quickly pulled it out of my bag.

King Ulupong Calling… 🐍

I immediately put it on silent without answering. I had no intention of picking up—he could deal with whatever it was himself.

"Looks like your classmates are looking for you," Kiko said with a smile.

"Ahh… Haha… N-no way… It's just them… Haha…"

Damn it! I couldn't bring myself to mention or talk about those guys in front of him. Considering what they did, it would be in bad taste to even bring up their names.

"You're really lucky, Jay… Your classmates and friends care about you a lot. They're willing to fight for you," he said seriously, making me pause. "...They weren't like that with Ella before."

His words left me confused. They weren't like that with Ella? Why?

Did they think Ella wasn't worth protecting? That's harsh!

"Maybe…" I mumbled, clearing my throat awkwardly. "...S-so how are you doing here? When will you be able to leave?" I changed the subject.

"It's going to take a long time. Around 6 to 8 months for a full recovery. Then, I'll have to go through therapy."

I swallowed hard at his words. Damn! The damage done to him was beyond excessive.

"...I've been here for over a month now. So, I still have 5 to 7 months to go," he added with a small chuckle.

I lowered my head, feeling guilty. The time he should have spent studying was now being wasted lying in a hospital bed.

"H-how are your studies going?" I asked, though I felt bad even bringing it up.

Expelled man!

"Home schooling… My teacher comes here before 10 a.m. We decide how long we study," he explained.

Whoa! So, he's actually homeschooling? That's impressive! Honestly, I kind of want that too.

"What about Freya?" I asked, taking the opportunity to fish for some gossip.

"Nothing… We broke up," he answered quickly, turning to look at the large window. "...She said she doesn't want a disabled boyfriend, so she left me."

Wow!

That's extreme! First, there was Grace—who laughed at her friend instead of supporting her during pregnancy. And now Freya, who dumped her boyfriend instead of standing by him.

How wonderful!

"That woman is really something," I muttered.

"She's always been like that… Once someone is no longer useful to her, she discards them."

"Ugh… That's obvious," I commented, and he let out a small laugh.

"But she wasn't always like this. She changed after getting hurt," he added.

I looked at him skeptically. Freya? Hurt? Impossible! She's the one who does the hurting.

"She doesn't seem like someone who's been hurt," I pointed out.

Kiko suddenly laughed. "You really don't like Freya, huh? But I'm serious—she wasn't always like this. Back in grade school and summer classes, she and Mykel used to be day-dreamers. Then, as soon as she entered high school, she changed."

I suddenly recalled the photo Edrix had shown me. Freya looked so different back then—beautiful and innocent.

"What happened to her?" I asked.

Kiko didn't answer right away. He stayed quiet, as if lost in thought.

"Ask Keifer and Yuri," he finally said in a low voice.

I gave him a questioning look. It took me a moment to remember that Keifer was actually Freya's first boyfriend.

But why Yuri too?

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, pressing for more details.

He lowered his gaze slightly. "It's not my story to tell… But from what I remember, Freya's boyfriend died, and after that, Keifer, Yuri, and Aries got involved with her."

So many names at once!

I couldn't process it—I really couldn't! It felt like worms were crawling inside my brain. I was completely shocked by what I had just heard.

F-Freya… Argh!


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