Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Jay-Jay's POV

I don't want to ask. I don't even want to. It's a mess, but I really don't want to bring it up.

I don't want to talk about the accident, even though I'm itching to know the truth.

I know some parts, but the whole truth? Not at all.

I feel like such a busybody!

"We're here..." he said, stopping the car in front of my house. "...Shall I pick you up tomorrow?"

"Maybe not... Ci-N and I will be together. He still doesn't know." I explained.

"Ahh... okay. Maybe next time."

I just smiled at him. I was about to open the car door when he suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Wait a second..." he said.

"Why?" I asked.

He suddenly let out a sigh and closed his eyes. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You want to kiss my fist?" I asked, shooting him a glare.

"Just one!" he said, annoyed.

"That's too much!"

"I'm just trying to make up for lost time."

Make up for lost time?!

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"W-well... Keifer has kissed you so many times, but me... only a few." he explained.

I immediately felt irritated by his words. He was competing with someone over me?!

"What do you mean by that?" I asked seriously.

"W-it's nothing... I'm just jealous," he answered like a child.

"You sound like a kid... Besides, this isn't a competition!" I said, annoyed.

"Sorry..."

"Oh, just be quiet!" I said, offering a hug.

He immediately smiled and hugged me. That sly guy took full advantage of it and didn't let go for a while.

I opened the car door and got out. I waited for him to leave before approaching our gate.

I was about to step inside when another car stopped in front of me.

Who is this?!

The car door opened, and... Keifer was standing there, looking at me angrily.

"W-why not—"

Before I could finish my sentence, he suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me toward his car.

"Get in!" he ordered.

I stood frozen in front of the car. I looked at our open gate, then back at him.

If I ran inside, he might not be able to catch me. He wouldn't dare enter the house because Aries and brother Angelo were there.

"Don't even think about it," Keifer said.

Am I that obvious? He already figured it out.

Damn it!

The moment I got into his car, the situation completely changed! He got in immediately, and before even starting the engine, I was already gripping the seat tightly.

Because this idiot drove like a maniac! He really thinks he's a race car driver. But what about me, his poor passenger?!

As he drove, I watched him. His brows were furrowed, and he looked like he was ready to wage war against the world.

"W-where are we going?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

Turn right, turn left, straight ahead.

I looked up at the sky. The sun was setting. Brother and the others must be worried about me.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I was about to text Ci-N and brother when Keifer suddenly snatched my phone and tossed it toward the dashboard.

"I need to let my brother know!" I said angrily.

He didn't answer. He just kept his eyes on the road.

Frustrated, I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. He's really testing my patience!

Ugh, so annoying!

The drive felt so long. How long? I have no idea. All I know is that the sky was pitch black by the time we arrived. And the place we reached was even darker.

Does he have something planned for me?!

We had stopped at the side of the road. There were no houses, no lights—nothing.

It felt like we were in a newly built subdivision because of the gate we passed earlier.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"What did you and Yuri do?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with anger.

Gulp.

"W-we went to church," I hesitantly replied.

"What else?"

"W-went grocery shopping and cooked."

"What else?"

I was starting to feel scared.

I had no intention of telling him everything. If I did, he might get even angrier, just like before.

And I don't want that to happen again.

"We talked and looked at a picture," I answered.

"What else?"

"Nothing more!"

"What. Else." He emphasized each word.

I swallowed hard. What was his problem this time?

"N-nothing more… Is there supposed to be?"

He looked straight into my eyes, and once again, my fear overpowered my courage.

"Don't lie to me," he said firmly.

I turned my gaze away and took a deep breath.

Because he's a king!

"N-n-we… kissed—"

I couldn't even finish my sentence. He suddenly got out of the car and slammed the door so hard that the entire vehicle shook.

He just stood there, staring off into the distance, his back turned to me. I watched as he ran his fingers through his hair multiple times, a clear sign of his frustration.

I bit my lower lip. It was pitch dark outside, and the only light we had came from the car's headlights.

I had no choice but to step out of the car. I slowly approached him, but I stopped when he turned to face me.

"Keifer..."

"Why are you doing this to me?" he asked.

My heart clenched painfully when I saw his eyes—soft, vulnerable. He looked like a completely different person.

"...You're mine. Only mine. Everything about you belongs to me."

No… That's not true.

"No, I'm not. I'm not yours, Keifer. You don't own me," I said calmly.

This had to stop. He needed to stop. We needed to stop.

"Why? Because you like Yuri?"

Stop it! Please, just stop!

"Yes. That's why I accepted his marriage proposal," I said directly.

He slowly stepped closer, and I met his gaze head-on.

"Liar."

My eyebrows furrowed.

"...You can't lie—"

"I'm not," I cut him off.

"—to me."

"What I'm saying is true," I insisted.

"And yet, you responded to my kiss that night," he said bitterly.

No! Don't bring that up! I don't want to remember it!

"...You responded to my touch. You moaned my name. And now you say you like Yuri? What about me? What am I to you?"

No! That was a mistake. Just a mistake!

"...You almost gave yourself to me! Tell me, how can you say Yuri is the one you love?!" he yelled in frustration.

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. They streamed down my face, one after another.

"YES! I'M NOT SURE WHAT I FEEL! BUT I KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE! YURI IS THE ONE! I JUST MADE A MISTAKE—A MISTAKE THAT ALMOST INVOLVED YOU!" I shouted back.

"You chose Yuri. Why?! Because of that fucking engagement?!"

"NO!"

"THEN WHY?!"

I wiped my tears and gasped for air several times, trying to steady my breathing.

My chest felt unbearably heavy. I never imagined we'd end up in this situation.

"Because it's the right thing to do… I can't bear to see Yuri get hurt again for the same reason," I said, my voice trembling. I leaned against the car as my knees weakened. "...So even though I'm not sure, I accepted. I want him to experience happiness."

"So you chose to sacrifice your own feelings?" he asked, his voice calmer now.

I didn't answer. I just sat on the ground, continuing to wipe my tears.

"Ha! It's always about Yuri!" he scoffed, making me look up at him.

"...The 'oh-so-genius kid.' The perfect boy. The heir of Hanamitchi. Yuri—the one everyone loves and cares for."

He took a few steps back and looked up at the sky. I could see his frustration in every move he made.

"...Why is it always about him?! Always?! When we thought Percy was dead, he was the first one they worried about! But me?! What about me?! Nothing! No one even asked if I was okay! It was all about him! And now, even the woman I love?!" he shouted in anguish.

I didn't understand what he was saying. Did he hold a grudge against Yuri?

I forced myself to stand, watching him closely.

But I felt my resolve shatter even more when I saw him crying.

Keifer…

"...Me. I grew up without a mother by my side. A father who was never there to guide me. I've been taking care of my siblings for so fucking long! And yet, no one ever asked if I was okay!"

My heart broke into pieces.

I couldn't bear to see him like this. He wasn't the Keifer I knew.

This… this hurts.

"...But him? Just because of a few scars, they almost rushed him to the hospital! As if being loved by everyone wasn't enough."

I didn't wait for him to say more.

I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him, holding him as tightly as I could. ❤️

And at that moment, my tears fell again.

"That's enough! Please..." I pleaded.

"Not you too, Jay-Jay!" he whispered, hugging me back even tighter. "Please..."

This is wrong. So wrong.

But no matter how hard I try, I can't fix it.

I keep saying we need to stop.

But how do I even do that?

Here...

How? It's okay if we both get hurt.

I don't want to say a word. I don't want to make promises. Because, as Ci-N once said, promises are meant to be broken.

But in our current situation…

"No… I'm not," I said, feeling his deep, shaky breath.

"I can't lose you..." he whispered.

I simply closed my eyes. I didn't care if this was wrong. I was ready to make it right in any way possible.

"I love you so much, Jay..." 💕

I gripped his shirt tightly. It felt strange hearing those words from him, but it felt even stranger when I said…

"I love you too, Keifer." 💕