Chapter 38: The settlement

"Who did you say you are?!" King stood and asked. He heard it, but he wasn't able to control his fury. The man who entered wasn't wearing his police uniform anyway.

"I am Kirt Valdez's uncle."

"What are you doing here! Are you trying to silence us! Huh?" King boldly asked. Gio and Leandro were silent. They knew very well that this man is hard to offend, but King who was truly enraged was fearless.

"No. I am here for a peace talk." The man calmly answered despite King's provocation. "That's the reason I am not wearing my police uniform because I don't want to use my authority in settling this matter, so could you please spare me some time?"

The police chief humbled himself, so King calmed down a bit. Leandro invited the man to sit.

The four sat around a small table. There was an awkward silence. King was looking at Kirt's uncle warily.

"I am Daniel Santos. As I have said earlier, I am Kirt's uncle."

"Please cut the crap and go to the main point." King was very disrespectful. Gio and Leandro were worried about his boldness.

"I'm sorry sir. We didn't mean to be disrespectful, but look at how pitiful our friend is." Gio said pointing at Jovanni. "It was all your nephew's doing, so we are really mad right now."

Daniel turned his head to the bed. He is a police chief who has witnessed and experienced the worst happenings, so he was just calmly looking at Jovanni. "I know. That's why I am here. I will pay the hospital bills and I will give Jovanni financial assistance."

"Is that all you can do!" King yelled. "I can pay the hospital bills. We don't need your financial assistance."

"Enrique Garcia. I advise you to calm down. I have humbled myself to settle things here and help your friend."

"Thanks, but no thanks, chief Santos. If that's all you can offer, then please leave now."

"Then what. You are going to take revenge against Kirt?" Daniel asked.

"I know your nephew is capable, especially with a strong backer like you. But you don't own the entire province. You are not invincible!

"I know your families are capable, especially you, Enrique, but what about Jovanni? He is someone who has no one to rely on, so how can you protect and support him when you are still relying on your family?"

"It's none of your business, chief Santos."

"If it has something to do with my nephew, then it is my business. My nephew is spoiled, but I love him. I cannot allow you to harm him."

"Huh? You won't allow others to harm him, but your nephew toying our friend and beat him almost to death is just fine. It is fine because Jovanni is just a lowly person while your nephew is rich and powerful! Am I right?"

"Your prejudice and rage misled your thought! Do you think I will be here calmly talking to you if I am that kind of person you're talking of?"

King and the chief were in a stalemate. Gio was quietly listening while Leandro was busy on his phone, chatting. Jefferson was checking them on their boarding house. He was anxious when he found no one in the room and his calls to King didn't get through. Leandro told him everything.

King warned them not to tell Jefferson, but Kirt's uncle is now involved. Leandro thought that they now need an adult on their side.

King and Daniel were still arguing when Jefferson entered. King was stunned.

Daniel looked at Jefferson, but the latter headed to the lying Jovanni. Worry was shown on his gentle face looking at Jovanni's pitiful figure.

It took few minutes before Jefferson calmed his emotions. He turned to the table where the four people were seated.

Daniel had properly investigated the people surrounding Jovanni, so he recognized Jefferson.

"Architect Garcia, I am here to offer appropriate help, but your brother is very stubborn." Daniel stood up.

"With all due respect Chief Santos, your financial help is unnecessary, but there is one thing you can help." Jefferson said. He is really a good man. Even if he was angry, he managed to talk calmly.

"Please say it." Daniel said.

"Make sure your nephew won't harm Jovanni, my brother, and their friends again."

"If that's the only thing you want, then I will do everything to protect them." Daniel assured.

"Thank you."

"Pia has been taken care of." Daniel said looking at King. "I have sent her to Manila. She will continue her study there. I also provided enough financial assistance to her and her family, so you can rest assured that she will be fine."

It was a piece of good news, but King's contemptuous look didn't disappear even after hearing Daniel's assuring words.

King was disrespectful until the end, but Daniel wasn't offended. King and Kirt have almost the same temperament, so he was very tolerant.

Daniel left when he was assured that everything was settled. Jefferson didn't think about filing any complaint because he knew Jovanni wouldn't do it. King didn't think of filing a complaint too. He was just thinking of taking revenge, but Jefferson assured Daniel that his brother wouldn't do it.

The room turned still when Daniel left. Jefferson emitted a very cold aura that scared King. It's very rare for his brother to get angry, but when he does, he's very scary. He didn't yell, but his silence is very chilling.

Gio and Leandro felt the cold atmosphere too, so they were sitting still on their seats.

"...Kuya..." King faintly uttered.

"Kuya... I'm sorry!" King uttered again, but Jefferson was still ignoring him. When his brother isn't talking, it means he is annoyed or angry, but King knew that his brother is both annoyed and angry at the moment.

"Kuya, I'm sorry!"

Jefferson was staring at Jovanni. His emotion was chaotic. It took a long while before he responded to King.

"Enrique, I reminded you to behave properly. You promised that you will take good care of Jovanni but your impulsive decision harmed him to this extent."

"I was wrong. I underestimated that bastard's ruthlessness..."

"You should not do that stupid plan in the first place! How dare you played Jovanni's feelings? How are you different from Kirt Valdez in that aspect? Both of you are just playing his feelings!" Jefferson yelled. Then he turned back to Jovanni, clenching the edge of the bed.

King was stunned. It was the first time he heard his brother yelled. It was also the first time his brother scolded him this way. For a moment, he felt betrayed. It seemed that his brother cared for Jovanni more than him, but it was just a fleeting feeling because he also cared about Jovanni. He will be happy if his brother will see Jovanni as his little brother too.

"Kuya, I felt betrayed. It seemed that you cared Jovanni more than me now." King jested. He is spoiled and shameless. He knew his brother won't get mad at him for too long.

"Good thing you know!"

King was truly feeling betrayed.

"How could you? You only met him a few days ago while I am your dearest little brother." King resented.

"You are my dearest brother for a long time, yet all you give me is worry. It's about time I will find another person to take care of." Jefferson replied.

"Kuya... you can't be serious!" King pouted. He's used to acting childish in front of his brother, especially when he's asking for something.

Jefferson turned to him with a self-satisfied smile drawn into his gentle and handsome face. "Well, I am serious."