Chapter 155 - Friendship

Keifer's POV

I'm dead!

I'm so dead!

Mom is going to be furious. Dad will definitely be furious. And here I am, facing my punishment.

What have I done?!

"It's so annoying! This isn't my fault! Keifer was the one who started the fight!" Percy grumbled beside me.

As if I needed to hear more of his whining. He could've just said it to my face—we were practically sitting next to each other.

"Shut up! It's your fault too!" Aries snapped at him.

I didn't understand. There were so many of us fighting earlier, yet only the four of us got called to the guidance office.

"Why me?!" Percy groaned, clearly frustrated.

"Idiot! If you hadn't punched me and pushed me toward Keifer, I wouldn't have gotten involved in this!" Aries shot back.

Now I get it!

That's why he suddenly lunged at me—Percy was the one who pushed him!

"Oops… Sorry. I thought you were that skinny classmate of ours," Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck.

I turned to Yuri. He was looking at me, calm as ever. Earlier, I was so irritated by him, but now… I felt ashamed.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"W-Well… Nothing. Your face just annoys me. Besides, I was getting revenge for our last fight."

He gave me a puzzled look. "We had a fight?"

"Of course we did!"

He frowned slightly, as if trying to recall. What's with him? Does he have amnesia or something? It wasn't that long ago!

"I don't remember," he finally said. "...But if that's true, I apologize."

Seriously?

He apologized even though he didn't even remember what happened. But why?

"Don't apologize for that!" Percy interrupted.

"But it was my fault. If we hadn't fought before, maybe we wouldn't be in trouble now." Yuri turned back to me.

"...Again, I'm sorry, Keifer, for what I've done."

I suddenly felt even more ashamed. Maybe I was wrong for picking a fight with him.

"S-Sorry too. I shouldn't have made a scene and started trouble," I muttered.

Yuri smiled at me, so I smiled back.

"Apologize to me too!" Percy demanded.

I frowned. "Why would I?"

"Because I suffered because of the mess you made!"

"You only care about yourself! Keifer and Yuri were the only ones really fighting!" Aries said.

Percy shot him a glare, but before he could reply, the guidance office door opened, and in walked—what's he doing here?

"Brother..." Aries mumbled.

The guy scanned the room, his sharp gaze making me shiver slightly.

"Good thing you're here. Their parents haven't responded yet," the guidance counselor said.

"What happened?" Aries' older brother asked.

The guidance counselor turned to me. "Care to explain?"

I looked away. No way was I explaining anything to them. How was I supposed to say I started a fight just because I was bored? Mom would be heartbroken if she found out.

Suddenly, Percy raised his hand. "Me! Me! I'll explain!"

Yuri and I exchanged glances. What is he going to say?

"So, Keifer started a fight, then he and Yuri went at it, then I ran to help, then I accidentally punched Aries, and then—"

"Mr. Collins! That's enough." The guidance counselor cut him off.

The counselor and Aries' brother started discussing something. I wanted to listen in, but I couldn't hear much.

I looked down, feeling a wave of guilt hit me.

After a moment, the guidance counselor left, and now it was just the five of us in the room. Aries' brother quietly closed the door—then locked it.

We all swallowed hard at the same time.

"B-Brother A-Angelo…" Aries stammered.

His name is Angelo!

Angelo slowly turned to face us. The moment he stopped, Yuri, Percy, and Aries all pushed me forward.

"W-What… Stop! Don't push me!" I shouted.

"You face him! You started it!" Yuri said.

What the hell?!

He just apologized to me a minute ago, and now he's throwing me under the bus?

"My brother is scary when he's mad!" Aries yelped.

Oh, great.

"You can do it! You're brave!" Percy added.

Brave, my ass!

With three of them pushing me forward, I had no choice—I stumbled right in front of Angelo.

From where I stood, I could see him looking down at me.

B-B-Why am I this scared?!

"You… You're Keifer, right?" he asked slowly.

"O-o-oro."

Angelo just nodded at me. I thought he was going to say something, but he remained silent.

I turned to look at Yuri for a moment—a mistake.

Suddenly, Angelo grabbed me, flipped me upside down, and started shaking me like a soda bottle.

"Aaaahhhhh! Waaaaahhhgggg!" I screamed.

"How dare you start a fight?! Huh?! What?! Answer me!" he shouted angrily.

"ToaAaaaAmmmAaaa nAaaa pooo!" I babbled, completely disoriented.

He finally stopped shaking me and dropped me onto the floor. That's when the full effect of what he did hit me.

I collapsed on my own, dizzy and nauseous. I felt like my stomach was about to turn inside out.

I'm too young to suffer like this. Why is he doing this to me?!

"Who's next?!" I heard Angelo ask.

Before he could take another step, the other three bolted toward the door, banging on it in desperation.

"I don't want to die yet!"

"Open the door!"

"I won't do it again!"

They all screamed at once. That's it?! Is this our punishment for causing trouble? I think I'd rather just tell Mom what happened than go through this again.

I don't want it!

Something felt strange when I got home. Only Dad's driver picked me up—Mom wasn't there.

As I entered the house, Keigan ran up to me.

"Where's Mom?" I asked him.

"Mom sick. In bed."

I grabbed his hand and quickly led him toward Mom's room.

"Dad mad again. Keigan hear shout," he said.

Dad got angry again? He wouldn't hurt Mom again… would he?

I picked up my pace, and Keigan did the same.

When we reached their room, I knocked, but there was no answer. I couldn't wait any longer—I pushed the door open.

Keigan was right. Mom was lying in bed, asleep. I walked over and leaned down to check on her. Gently, I touched her forehead to see if she had a fever, but her temperature seemed fine.

"Keifer…" Mom whispered weakly. "How was school?"

Oh no! I woke her up!

"Sorry… I didn't mean to wake you."

"No, don't apologize. I wasn't really sleeping—I was just resting my eyes," she said with a small smile.

I hesitated for a moment before admitting, "Mom… I had a fight with Yuri."

Mom slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. "What happened?"

"It was my fault. I wanted to get revenge, but… we're okay now. We apologized to each other. We're friends."

She sighed. "Please don't do that again, Keifer." Her voice held a hint of disappointment.

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again."

She reached for my hands and gave me a weak smile. But something about her felt… off.

Her eyes weren't the same as before. There was something different in the way she looked at me.

Then, I noticed a red mark and a wound on her neck.

She quickly covered it with her hair when she saw me staring.

"Get dressed… and prepare some snacks for the maids," she said, her tone gentle but firm.

I nodded. "Okay."

She kissed my forehead before I walked away, holding Keigan's hand as we left the room. I wanted Mom to rest.

As I got dressed, Keigan stayed close, still following me around.

"New guy!" Keigan suddenly shouted, pointing at the window.

I turned to see what he was talking about.

A new guy? I had never seen him before.

"His name is Dylan. Keigan will play with him!" he said before running off.

"Keigan! Wait!"

He disappeared from my sight.

Who is that guy? He was wearing a uniform like the rest of Dad's staff… Did Dad hire someone new? For what reason?

Something about him made me uneasy.

"Dylan has a tattoo and a gun," Keigan suddenly said.

I froze. "What?!"

"Keigan saw it!"

A gun? Why does he have that?!

I crouched down to Keigan's level, my voice firm but calm. "Listen to me. Don't talk to that Dylan guy again."

"But why?! Keigan likes him!"

"Because I don't. I'm your older brother, so do as I say."

Keigan pouted but nodded. "Okay…"

I didn't trust that Dylan guy.

Earlier, I overheard him talking to Dad. He said something about killing someone.

Mom always says killing is bad.

So if Dylan is planning to kill someone… that means he's bad.

I just hope he doesn't do anything to us.

Especially not to Mom and Keigan.