Gift
Keifer's POV
I dare not to move. Angelo's gun is pointing directly to my head. Is he planning to kill me? "W-what's with the gun?" I tried my best to calm down but my voice is cking shaking. He smirked at me. "You look so funny Keifer." "Put that thing down, this ain't funny." I point his gun down. He slowly put the gun down but he picks it up again. I step back that makes him laugh so hard. "I can do this all day." He said. "What the hell is this all about?!" He smiled wickedly. "Testing you. Part of initiation." He ï¬nally put the gun down and put it back inside his tuxedo. He tucked it in his side where the holster was. He smirks when he turns back at me. I'm sweating bullets after what he did. Yes, I'm familiar with guns but this is Angelo in front of me. Besides being angry with me, he's just cursing me. "Congratulations, you past my ï¬rst initiation. You didn't surrender." How will I surrender, when all I want is to kick his balls. "Seriously? That's how you do initiation?" He raised a brow. "Do you want hazing? I am more than willing to paddle your face." My forehead crease. "Is this what our discussion are all about?" He turned serious before shaking his head. "The group is in a hurry to recruit you. Now that you're 18, they keep calling and asking me about your initiation." He took something from his coat pocket. A folded piece of paper. He handed it to me and I stared at it for a few minutes. "Relax, this is just a paper." I see a glimpse of happiness through his face. I want to wave my ï¬st towards his face. He enjoys teasing me. I take the paper and open it. It's an application form for the group. I stare at the symbol at the top of the paper. I saw this before. This must be the group's apparent identity. Surprisingly, the form had an answer. From the name, to the details of my personal life and even the area where he said I would put Jay-jay's name. "Signature please." He said while handling me a sign pen. I took it and without hesitation signed the form. I returned both of the things he had handed to him. He looked at the paper before folding it again and putting it back in his pocket. I remembered that we still had something to talk about. "Now, I believe you have something for me." He said. "The last will of your Dad." He pursed his lips before nodding. "I've been longing to have it." "Tell me, why did you agree to Mom's will?" He smirked. "So, you knew." "I just found out." "I was stupid for agreeing to her will. But I have my personal reason." Maybe he doesn't know what my Mom did to his Dad. I prefer that he not know about that matter. "You can get it after the party. I'll add my supporting documents so you can get it without a problem. You're not named after him. You're not a Watson." He paused for a while before touching his lips using his index ï¬nger. "I'm just thinking, what would happen if I tell everyone here..." He smirked at me. "...that I'm a real Watson, and I'm your older brother." I laughed from what he said. Angelo is really impossible sometimes. "You could try. Trust me, they will deï¬nitely be glad to hear that." He shook his head. "Naah... I won't take the risk. I'm not interested with your money. I have my own." I simply nodded. He checked the time from his wristwatch. "I only have limited time here. I need to get back home as soon as possible." He said before getting his phone. "I have a task for you. Part of your initiation." "Bring it on." "Find her. Find Janine Ion Borromeo." He said with soft features. "And tell her that I forgive her. She no longer needs to hide." Why do I have this feeling that he's bidding goodbyes? I know that he knew that Ion is with me. His task is not really a task but more like a favor. "I will." "Thank you." I saw pain from his eyes but he turned around immediately before I could conï¬rm it. "Now, help me ï¬nd Schnee." He opened the door and went out. I was left staring at her. Ion is a very kind woman. She deserves to be happy and I know she's doing this engagement for a reason. I know she also wants to see Angelo. But she might not be able to when she ï¬nds out that Angelo is ï¬nishing everything with them. This could be her last chance. I immediately went out to follow Angelo. I tapped him on the shoulder and walked with him. "Stay here for a while. I want to show you something." I said but I didn't wait for his answer. I immediately went looking for Ion. I went to the same place where I left them earlier. I saw Hazel but no Ion besides her. I look around hoping that I'll see her. I saw Honey as if someone was following her. I immediately approached her. "Have you seen Ion?" She pointed her ï¬ngers through the kitchen door. Same area that she's looking at before. I immediately walked towards it. Kitchen is busy for the whole night. It doesn't seem like anyone else has noticed. I tried to look around. The kitchen is too big until I reach the area near the ï¬re exit. There aren't many people in that part. Ion is standing while resting his back at the wall. She's crying while trying her best to calm down. "Ion." I called her. She looks at me and shook her head. She signals her hand for me to hide behind the post. My forehead creases but I sill followed her. She also told me to be in silent. Few minutes after and I heard running footsteps toward her. A man wearing a waiter uniform immediately hug her. Rafael "Are you okay? Calm down. He's here. Everything is according to plan. You just need to show up with Keifer." He said while helping her to calm down. "N-no. I can't do this anymore." She said while pushing Rafael. "Keifer is just a kid. Let's not bring him here." He holds her face. "He's our only hope for returning to the Philippines. Your parents need you. I'm all gone, Ion, and someone is waiting for me. Please." He is begging. "I'm so sorry. I can't. I can't even face Angelo. After all what I've done to him." Rafael let go of him. I saw frustration from his eyes. He pulled his hair and rubbed his face. "Is this how we're going? Let's just leave your parents in jail ? Me? What about me? The girl I love is waiting for me." He said and punched the wall beside him. "Keifer deserves better. Let's not use him for our personal problems. My parents made a mistake if they deserve to be in jail so be it. And you, you need to show your brother." "How about we talk about his brother?" Keigan? Ion shook her head. "He is just a kid. I don't understand why are you letting him manipulate you." "I'm desperate." "So am I. But I don't want to do this. I never agreed to this. And Keifer has his own battle to ï¬ght with. I'm sorry if I can't help you." So this is what it's all about. Keigan wants to get rid of Jay-jay in my life and he uses Ion to fulï¬ll his plan. Since Rafael and Ion need help my brother take advantage of that. Why do I feel fucked up? My brother is manipulating everything. I don't understand why he's doing this but I feel pain in my chest. I step out behind the post. "I knew it, you guys are up to something." Rafael immediately looked at me. Ion wipes her tears and looks away. "K-keifer." I step forward. "You've changed." "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm just desperateâ€"." "I heard it all. We'll talk about it later. For now, I think Ion needs to come out." She looks at me confused. "W-why? Does he know?" "I'm not sure. But he told me to tell you that you no longer need to hide. He forgives you." There's a pain through her eyes. She knew Angelo was saying goodbye to her. She immediately ran. Rafael is about to follow her but I stop him. "Stay here. If he sees you, what's left between them will get worst." I said and he nodded. I followed Ion. I ran as fast as I could. I caught up with him as he was walking out the door with a handsome waiter. People are looking at her. She's a mess and weak. I held her by the arm and helped her stand up. "Where have you been?" It was Hazel walking toward us. "You're riend is about to leave." I looked at the open door of the hall. I grabbed Ion's wrist and pulled her. We run as fast as we can but her dress and heels are giving her trouble. She almost tripped a few times. We were out of the mansion when I let her go. She just knelt down when she saw Angelo's car leaving. "I'm so sorry." She said and cried. "I shouldn't run away from you." I can't do anything but watch her misery. I would have liked to help her even better if it wasn't for that. I've already contacted them. It's their own faith and destiny. My secret phone vibrates. I took it out of my pocket to see a text message rom him. From: Demon Message: I forgive her but I just realize that I'm not ready to face her. I smirked before putting back my phone in my pocket. I took the handkerchief from my other pocket. I half kneeled and handed the handkerchief to Ion. "I don't think he really can say goodbye to you." He accepted the handkerchief. I took off my coat and wrapped it around her. "You don't know him." "But you don't know how his feelings work." I said and helped her stand. She was still looking in the direction Angelo's car had gone. Maybe not now but in the near future they'll have their chance and it's up to them if they will continue what they started before. I held her hand while helping her enter. I took her to one of the guest rooms of the mansion. "Rest. I will look for Rafael." I said and left him but closing the door she called me. "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry." She said and I heard her subs again. I closed the door and let her cry. I went back to the hall to look for Rafael but the Elders blocked me. "Where is he? Where is Angelo?" The oldest asked. "Gone. He needs to be somewhere." I answered. He faces his brothers. "Get in touch with him. I want to know him better." You're just wasting your time. I left them and went back to searching. I look for him in the kitchen but he's not there anymore. I went back to the hall only to see the party getting wilder. Hazel is obviously drunk with our other cousins. Honey is ignoring the people around her and continue typing on her phone. I have this feeling that I know the person she's having conversation with. I look at my watch. It's nearly 12. My birthday is almost done and my life as the heirs is about to start. I sigh. My real ï¬ght is about to begin. But am I strong enough? I approached the bar area and asked for alcohol. I secretly glance at my secret phone. I didn't have any messages from her. She's probably busy or still sleeping. I put the phone back in my pocket before ï¬nishing the alcohol. After all this, I will ï¬ght for the woman I love even if my opponent is all over the world. I went back to looking for Rafael. I went out into the hall and after a long search I saw him talking on the phone while standing next to the grand staircase of the mansion. Devastation is registered through his face. He put down the phone while staring at nowhere. I walk closer to him. "If you badly want to go back in the Philippines, I can help you with that." I said and stopped besides him. He slightly turned his head. "It's pointless. Angelo will never let me see her. He's getting back to me for helping Ion." "Let's talk about it with Ion." I hand signaled him to follow me. I took him to the room where I left Ion. I knocked before opening the door. "Raphael." Ion said with an apologetic look. "I was wrong. Angelo still found out the truth." He said and looked down. "And my brother already found me." "So what's your plan?" I asked while leaning my back against the wall. They look at each other as if waiting for each other's conï¬rmation to speak. "I need a break." Ion said before looking down at her hands. "Probably a few months of vacation." "How about your residency?" "I'll continue it when I get back." I nodded briefly and we both looked at Rafael. He pursed his lips. "No more running." He said. "I will talk to my brother now." They both decided to stop the plan. Keigan will deï¬nitely not like it. I will take care of these two. He had better stay out of their way. "I will help you both. Let me whatever you needâ€"." "No Keifer." It was Ion who stopped me. "We've done so much trouble." "As long as it will not affect the woman I love the most, I will consider it nothing." They both smiled while smiling at me. I raised my eyebrows at what they said. That's how I wanted to call my Jay-jay. "I'm starting to see Angelo's second version here." Rafael said and Ion laughed a little. "Don't be surprised. Keifer is his apprentice anyway." I rolled my eyes. They even managed to criticize that. We continued our conversation about their plan. They insist to do it without my help but I'm more persistent. In the end, Ion will travel to Paris to visit her friends. While Rafael will wait for his brother to pick him up which is no other thanâ€"Mr. Moscow. I was not surprised, from the moment we met and asked about Rafael and Angelo. My guts are telling me something suspicious. After our conversation they decided to go home. They live in the same place. The house where I met Ion again actually belongs to Rafael's grandmother. I just stood there watching their car leave. I checked the time and it was now past 12. And here's come the Watson's heir. I went back to the hall where the party was still going strong. I went straight to the mini stage to grab the mic and speak. The shrill sound echoed, drawing everyone's attention. The music from the speakers also faded. "Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to my birthday's ï¬nal celebration. It's already past 12 and you know what it means?" Most of them shook their heads. Hazel raised her ï¬ngers. "It's the end of the party?" She asked. Some of them laughs. I saw the Elders looking at me ï¬ercely. "It means, that I'm no longer a kid. I am now a truly heirs of the amily. So those whose about to get on my way, be ready to crash." I look at everybody. "So If I were you my dear cousins, uncles and aunties." I look at the Elders. "Grandfathers." I smirked while enjoying seeing them pissed. "I'll choose wisely. Be my alliance and help me out or be my enemy and die unpeacefully." I let go of the mic and got off the mini stage. I walked to the middle and I felt Honey following me. "Stay cool. It's okay." She commented. I ignore her and continue walking. We left the mansion. I stop or a while and for some reason I ï¬nally breath normally. No more pressure. No more worries. I am freed to move and I can do everything now. For my brothers and for my Jay-jay.