Chapter 182 - Bridge

Jay-Jay's POV

Take each step gently. Move like a ninja—silent, unseen. Hide in the dark, blend into the vegetation. No one should notice.

"What are you doing?" the King asked me.

I looked at him standing right next to me, completely visible. Meanwhile, I was crouched low, hidden in the shadows like a ninja.

"Don't stand there! Someone might see you," I whispered urgently.

Camouflage, people!

"Jay... it's midnight. Everyone is asleep," he pointed out.

He had a point. Who else would be awake at this hour—except us? But where did Yuri go?

We turned toward the hallway when we noticed a small light, faint but visible. It flickered, reflecting off a surface like a mirror.

Then, as it moved, we saw the source—a cellphone. Yuri was using it to light his way, while his face, which had reflected the light earlier, was partially illuminated.

"That's Yuri," I whispered, about to follow him when Keifer grabbed my arm.

"W-why?" I stammered.

"Too close. Wait until he gets farther away," he instructed.

I obeyed. This King of Snakes sure knows a lot. Only when he was certain the distance was safe did he start moving again.

Yuri headed straight to the back of the hall, and we followed. I could only think of one place he might be going—the fish pond, where a bridge led to a gazebo in the middle.

I wasn't wrong. We hadn't even gotten close when we spotted Yuri and… Ella?

I glanced at Keifer, but he didn't react. He quickly found a hiding spot near them.

That brute shoved me into thick vegetation while he stood behind a tree. I turned my attention back to Yuri and Ella. Neither of them was speaking yet.

"What do you want?" Yuri finally broke the silence. "…Does Aries know about this?"

Ella shook her head. "I just really need to talk to you."

For what?!

'Yuri deserves to know the truth.' —Ella

Is this what she and Mica were talking about in the bathroom? They mentioned meeting someone. So, this was it. But what truth? What is this all about? The curiosity was killing me.

I felt a mix of anxiety and unease. A part of me wanted to leave, to respect their privacy. But my instincts told me to stay and listen.

Social instinct!

"About what?! Can't we just talk at school?" Yuri's voice carried a hint of annoyance as he adjusted his glasses.

I understood him. Who would be happy about meeting up at 12 a.m.? Even I would be irritated.

You should be sleeping!

"Yuri!" Ella's voice rose. "…Please, listen to me. It's important!"

Yuri didn't say anything, just waited for her to speak. Ella hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers, clearly anxious.

"Do you really love Jay-jay?" she finally asked.

T-sell!

Yuri sighed, visibly holding back his irritation. He even forced a laugh.

"You asked me to meet you just for that?"

"Please, just answer," Ella pleaded.

"Yes, I do!" Yuri declared, his voice filled with conviction.

I glanced at Keifer. Even though he was focused on the conversation, I noticed his clenched fist. He was trying to hide his emotions, but I could see through him.

"...And if that's all you have to say, I'm leaving," Yuri added, turning to go.

"Yuri!" Ella called out, and at the same moment, tears streamed down her face.

"…I'm sorry."

Yuri stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. I was confused by Ella's words. Why was she apologizing? Was it because she had hurt Yuri before?

What was she talking about?

"I lied—No, we lied to you," Ella admitted, still crying. Yuri slowly turned to face her.

"W-what are you talking about?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.

"Your mother spoke to me," she explained through her sobs. "She told me to stay away from you. She said she wouldn't allow us to be together."

"I… I don't understand," Yuri murmured.

"She said I wasn't right for you. She warned me that if I didn't leave you, my family would never be allowed back in Korea. I was scared, Yuri. I was terrified."

"I don't get it! Just get to the point, Ella!" he snapped, his frustration evident.

"I really loved you… Not Keifer!" she blurted out.

Damn it!

It felt like a punch to the chest. That's how heavy this moment felt. I turned to look at Keifer. He had his back to them, leaning against the tree with his head down.

I couldn't see his expression clearly, but I could feel his anger. His fists were still clenched. I wanted to go to him, to say something—but what?

Now I finally understood the depth of his resentment toward Yuri.

I looked back at Yuri and Ella. No one spoke. Ella continued to cry, while Yuri stood frozen in shock.

So that's why Ella was acting strange in my room. She still cared about Yuri. She really did. I couldn't believe it. This was a mess.

What was the real truth?!

"W-why?" Yuri finally spoke, his voice trembling. "W-why are you telling me this now?"

"Yuri…" Ella whispered.

"Usotsuki!" Yuri suddenly yelled. "Usotsuki!"

(Usotsuki means Liar)

I didn't understand what he said. Even Ella seemed confused. Yuri ran a hand through his hair repeatedly, pacing back and forth. Then, he removed his glasses and rubbed his temples.

"I-I don't understand, Yuri."

Yuri stepped toward her, pointing a finger. "Urusai!"

(Urusai means Shut up)

"I don't understand!" Ella shouted back.

You're not the only one! Seriously!

Yuri took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He wiped his face several times.

"Why now? Why are you telling me this now? Why not back then?" he asked, his voice calmer but still filled with hurt.

Why now? What was her reason?

"Because I was scared… You know what we were going through, right? If my father couldn't return to Korea, we would have lost everything," Ella admitted, wiping away her tears.

"So, you chose to hurt me?" Yuri asked, exhaling sharply. "…And you expect me to believe you?"

"It's the truth… Keifer knows it too. Your mother spoke to him as well. And… I told him everything on the day he attacked you."

I instinctively looked at Keifer. This time, he was staring off into the distance, lost in thought.

"You know?" I asked in a whisper.

"I don't want to talk about it," he answered quickly and sighed.

Suddenly, my conversation with Ci-N came back to mind. If he had seen Keifer angry…

*Flashback*

"Ci..." I called out to the Kumag child.

"Hmm?" he responded while continuing to scoop ice cream.

"Have you ever seen Keifer get angry? Like, really angry?" I asked.

He had been with Keifer longer than anyone, so I couldn't help but ask him.

"Of course... many times," he replied.

"Really?"

"Yes... But what I will never forget is when he got so angry at Yuri." He stopped eating.

I adjusted my seat to face him properly.

"W-what happened?"

"We never really knew the reason. He was just so furious, and he wouldn't stop punching Yuri. Ella was crying, trying desperately to separate them," he explained.

*End of Flashback*

So that was the real reason. Keifer was so angry because Ella didn't love him. The girl he liked still wanted Yuri.

I couldn't listen anymore. I wanted to leave, but my body refused to move. My gaze shifted back to them when I heard Ella shout Yuri's name.

"That's enough!" Yuri shouted back.

I didn't understand myself. It felt like something was hurting deep inside me as I watched them—how much the past still affected them.

Because there shouldn't have been anything left to hurt over.

"Answer my question! Why are you only saying this now?!" Yuri demanded angrily.

"Because... because I can't hide it from you anymore. For so long, I hoped you would talk to me again. I waited," Ella wiped the tears from her cheeks. "...That's why I left Section E—to pull myself together and find a way to talk to you. But you pushed me away."

"Because I had no reason to approach you! You were with Keifer! My friend's girlfriend!" He took a deep breath. "...Do you know how much it hurt me? How many times I wished I could have been Keifer? I almost ended my life at Kingsground."

Yuri's tears fell. My chest felt heavier watching him like this. I could tell he wanted to let out all the pain he had been holding inside.

"...It hurts so much," he said, clutching his chest. "...I changed myself. I became someone different, thinking that maybe then you would choose me. But you still didn't... because you wanted Aries!"

"I'm sorry, Yuri," Ella whispered.

"Sorry?" He let out a bitter laugh. "...Do you think your sorry changes anything?"

Ella tried to approach him, but he immediately stepped back.

"Yuri... please."

"Why? Ella, WHY?!" Yuri screamed, his tears falling again. "...Why didn't you fight for me?"

Tears rolled down my own cheeks. I couldn't help but feel hurt by his words. I also didn't understand why he needed to ask that.

Did she still love him?

"Jay..." Keifer called my name.

I quickly wiped my tears and took a deep breath to lighten the weight in my chest. I looked at him and forced a smile.

Keifer exhaled deeply and turned back to Ella. I saw his eyes widen in shock, and I felt my heartbeat accelerate. I almost didn't want to look. I prayed I was wrong.

But my head turned on its own as if it had a mind of its own. My eyes landed on them.

Why am I feeling like this?

Something inside me wanted to stop them. To pull them apart. To keep them from hugging each other.

"ELLA DIANNE!"

A voice boomed through the air. Aries.

Yuri and Ella immediately broke apart. Keifer and I turned to look at Aries at the same time. His face was filled with fury as he walked toward them.

Without thinking, I stepped out from where I had been hiding. I had forgotten they didn't even know I was there.

Yuri looked at me in surprise. "Jay?"

"What is this?!" Aries demanded, his voice laced with anger, pulling all our attention toward him. "...What is this, Ella?!"

Fear flashed across Ella's face. "A-Aries... I-it's not what you think..."

"Explain yourself. NOW!"

Even I felt afraid. I had never seen him this angry before. It was terrifying.

They really are a dramatic group!

"Aries... I-I just told him the truth," Ella explained through her tears.

"For what?" Aries glanced at Yuri before turning back to her. "...Do you still have feelings for him?"

Ella didn't speak. Even I was waiting for her answer. But at the same time, I was afraid to hear it.

Was that the reason?

"ANSWER ME!" Aries yelled.

"N-no... It's not like that," Ella stammered, reaching out to him, but he pulled his hand away. "Please... Aries."

Aries shook his head and looked away. His stance, the way he ran his fingers through his hair—it was exactly how Yuri had acted before.

"You told me before," Aries spoke, his voice calmer but still cold. "...You told me clearly that you would forget your feelings for him." He pointed at Yuri. "...So what the hell is this?"

"Aries..." Ella continued to sob.

"You begged me. You asked me to save you from Keifer because you didn't want to end up like Freya... I gave you what you wanted so you could be happy."

Tears welled up in Aries' eyes.

It hurt me even more to see him like this. Even more than seeing Yuri or Keifer cry. He was still my family. We used to be close. No matter what, I couldn't just ignore his pain.

"...Instead of what we agreed on, instead of staying away from Section E, instead of forgetting Keifer—and most of all, your feelings for Yuri..." Aries took a deep breath. "...What is this?!"

Ella collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. She couldn't answer. She could barely breathe.

Aries turned to Yuri and, without warning, punched him.

I gasped in shock and immediately ran to break them apart. Yuri fell, and Aries was about to hit him again when I stepped in between them.

"Move!" Aries shouted at me as I struggled to hold him back. "Get out of the way, Jay-Jay!"

I pushed him back, almost losing my balance. The two of them were already throwing punches. I didn't know what to do—I was completely overwhelmed.

Push them into the fishpond!

"THAT'S ENOUGH! WHAT THE HELL?!" I screamed.

Shit! Keifer!

I immediately looked toward the tree where he had been standing. He was still there, watching like it was some dramatic movie scene.

"Keifer! Wean them off!" I ordered.

He didn't react or move closer. I thought he was going to pick them up, but instead, he suddenly punched Aries. Aries fell, nearly losing consciousness.

Dirty! Wean, not whip!

"Aries!" Ella shouted, immediately running toward him.

I was about to yell at Keifer, but I stopped. Keifer and Yuri were facing each other, exchanging sharp glances. At any moment, they would throw punches.

"You knew... but you didn't tell me anything," Yuri said calmly.

"For what? Why should I tell you?"

Keifer's tone sounded annoyed. I wanted to step between them, but I hesitated. If I interfered, they might turn their anger on me. Maybe this fight would end on its own.

"What did Hahaoya tell you?"

Keifer took a deep breath. I knew he didn't want to say it. But why was Yuri's mother involved in this?

"I'll keep Ella away from you. That's all."

Yuri looked up and inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes and bit his lip, staying like that for a few moments until—

"FVCK!" He suddenly shouted, then stormed off.

I was about to follow him, but I saw Ella crying as she shook Aries.

I rushed toward them. "Aries."

"Jay... h-he won't wake up," Ella sobbed.

I looked at Keifer. Was his punch really that strong? Strong enough to knock Aries out like this?

"...He said he couldn't breathe and then passed out," Ella added.

Panic surged through me. I didn't know what illness Aries had, but I knew he had lung problems.

"Keifer... help us," I pleaded.

He didn't say a word. Instead, he lifted Aries onto his back with all his strength. Ella and I supported him, and we hurried to the organizers' office.

Unlike us, they didn't sleep in tents. They had proper rooms—with a roof, walls, doors, windows, and even air conditioning.

There's something suspicious going on here!

Before I could dwell on it, a loud knocking snapped me out of my thoughts.

Ella was pounding on the door with all her strength—she was probably hitting it harder than she would an enemy.

I bet even the people in the next room could hear it.

"Help us!" she screamed.

A light flickered on inside the room she was knocking on, and the door opened. One of the organizers peeked out, frowning.

"Please help Aries," Ella repeated, her face filled with worry.

The organizer's expression immediately shifted to concern.

"What happened? Bring him inside! I'll call an ambulance," he said, helping Keifer carry Aries inside.

I stopped at the doorway. Aries will be fine. They'll call for help. Maybe I'm not needed here anymore.

I quickly turned around and ran back toward the fish pond, trying to figure out where Yuri had gone. He hadn't gone straight to our site—he had taken a different path.

Shit! He went into the forest!

I sprinted in the direction he had taken. It was dark, and I could barely see anything, but I had to find him. He was alone, with no one to help him.

But where was he?!

"YURI!" I shouted, but only my echo answered.

"YURI! ANSWER ME!"

Still nothing. I kept moving forward, nearly tripping over unseen obstacles.

Then, I spotted something glowing in the distance. I rushed toward it, hoping it was Yuri, but it turned out to be just a cellphone.

I picked it up and looked at the screen.

It was Yuri's phone!

I was on the right track—he had passed through here. He couldn't be far.

"YURI!" I called again.

I was scared, but my fear for him was even stronger.

Where is he?!