Longing
Keifer's POV
I had a nightmare about my Jay-jay and it give chills in my spine. I repeatedly washed my face with water trying to wash away the scary images from my head. But it keeps roaming in my mind. I took the face towel next to the mirror. I wipe my face and look at myself in the mirror after. I was sweating even though I wasn't wearing a top. I threw the towel at the dirty clothes basket before going back to my bed. I looked for my secret phone. I really couldn't get comfortable in my dream. Everything I saw in front of me seemed real. Jay-jay running toward me while calling my name. Behind him is a tattooed man with a gun pointing at her. Before she could reach me I heard a gun shot and she slowly fell while crying and begging for me to help her. No! Not my Jay- jay. I choose a number from my phone book and press the call button. Few rings before I heard someone answer my call. ["Hello, if you're a collector, Drew is not there. If you're a loaner, tell me how much."] It was obviously Drew trying to pretend as an answering machine. "I will take your house as a payment." I said and I heard him snorted. ["That's it! No more joking. Why did you call me?"] "Do me a favor, double your attention to Jay-jay." ["Loan ï¬rst."] I immediately hung up the call. Seriously? He can't breathe without borrowing. It would be nice if he had a job to pay the bills but he just gambles his money away. I choose another phone number. Just one ring and it was answered. ["Keifer, you called so early."] Eren sounds sleepy. "Can you do me a favor? Pay more attention to Jay-jay please." I heard him groan. ["Seriously Keifer? Did you wake me up just for that? I can't even pay attention to my girlfriendsssssssss."] He intentionally added to many 'S'. I sigh heavily and hold the bridge of my nose. "Eren." I said and I knew he'd pay attention. "I know all your girlfriends." ["Oh now?"] He asked arrogantly. "And I have their numbers." He humorless laugh. ["Just kidding. Don't worry,We'll take care of Jay. I'll get up and go to school early."] I heard a few ruffling sounds from his end. "Please make sure that she's safe." I hung up the call but dialed another number again. My chest tightened with nervousness. ["Keifer."] David doesn't sound sleepy but I can hear something frying. ["I'm not calling Jay-jay if that's what you're calling me."] "No. It's something else." I sighs, if it wasn't for Jay-jay I will never call him. "Her safety is bothering me." ["There are three people watching her from their house. Do you want me to add more?"] "If you have to." ["I'll talk to them later."] "Thanks." I said and about to end the call but I heard him laugh. "What's so funny?" ["You. I can't believe you would turn to something like this."] I rolled my eyes. "Fvck off David." I heard him laugh before I ï¬nally ended the call. He can't believe? And what does he mean? That I'm incapable of falling in love? He underestimated me too much. I put aside my annoyance with that guy. My focus should be on my Jay-jay only. Her safety and that bad dream. I dialed another number again. It was Kit's number and it took a few rings before he answered. ["Hey Keifer! Don't call Kit!"] It wasn't Kit who answered. ["Did you type him? Huh? Just go â€"oh!"] I heard a few ruffling sounds as if the phone was being taken away.["Don't interfere with the phoneâ€"."] It was Kit's voice. ["â€"Hello Keifer? Sorry, si Mayo. Why did you call?"] Mayo? They're together this early in the Philippines? "What is he doing there?" I ask out of curiosity. ["Eating breakfast."] I raised a brow. I heard what happened to them with our friends and Jay- jay is really worried with their situation now. I don't know how our friends will accept the truth. "Eating breakfast or eating you as breakfast?" I ask nonchalantly. ["Eww! No way! Where do you think you're coming from?"] He answered sounds pissed. "From Mayo. Can you do me a favor?" I heard him hit something and Mayo's whimpered in pain. ["About where? Jay-jay?"] I can sense his seriousness. "Yes." ["I'll take care of it. He's always been close to us so I won't be in trouble."] He explained. "Thank you for helping me and for not being a straight guy." ["Wow. And I'm thankful for your thank you."] He turned sarcastic. I smirked before ending the call. But the calls I made were still not enough. I felt like they were still not enough. I dialed Rory's number and he answered it immediately. ["Pre..."] He said while brushing somethingâ€"which is obviously his teeth. "Any leads with Sato?" ["Noneâ€""] he stopped brushing his teeth. ["None. He's hard to ï¬nd. Then Yuri doesn't seem to want to get involved."] What's wrong with him? "Tell me if you need more resources. Work with Edrix if you have to." ["Okay. I'm taking a bath."] He said and ended the call. It's really early in the Philippines. But most of them wake up early because they need to work with the other gangs. They need to do that before they go to school so Jay-jay won't notice them. And speaking of Edrix, he was the next one I called. He didn't answer the ï¬rst time so I had to repeat the call and it took a few rings before he ï¬nally answered. ["Keifâ€"."] He yawned like a cat. ["â€"er. Your morning call was early . Did something happen?"] "Nothing but I'm looking for an update." ["Nothing yet. It seems someone is blocking the Japanese Embassy databaseâ€"it would be more accurate to say that I'm blocked. Talk to Yuri."] Why aren't he helping them? I have this feeling that Yuri don't want us to get involved with their rivalry. But Jay-jay is involved in this so I'll get involved and I'll get involved. "I will. Work with Rory, please." ["Okay. I'll take care of it."] I ended the call and looked for another number to call. If I have to call the whole nation I will do it. I choose Calix for the next number to call. ["Oi. Pre..."] He greeted me. ["Good morning. Are you in the Philippines?"] "No. Maybe sooner I will be." ["Is it Jay-jay? Do you want me to say hello to him?"] "No. Just make her safe for me." ["No problem. That's what we're really planning to do."] He said and we both say our goodbyes. Like what I said I will call the whole Nation if I had too. Felix name shows up but I'm having second thoughts. Percy might interrupt my plan. That one is always a nuisance. Whatever. It's for my Jay-jay. I press the call button and in just a second it was answered but not by Felix. ["Helllow..."] A little girl said slowly. Dalia? The kid with blue eyes like Percy. "H-hi Dalia, can you talk to Kuya Felix?" ["He'sâ€"he's taking a bath."] She said and giggled. ["Who are they?"] "It's me Keifâ€"." I heard someone calling her. ["Dalia! Who are you talking to?"] It was Percy. Dalia giggled again before answering her brother. ["My boyfriend."] She said and I almost hit my head. ["What boyfriend?! You can't have a boyfriend! I'll kill the men who come near you! It's mine!"] I heard Dalia cried which later slowly fade away. ["Hello! Who is this?"] This time it's Percy. I sigh in disbelief but before I could say anything, Percy starts talking none sense. ["Aahhh! He's got a boyfriend!â€"Who are you?! My god! My brother is still a baby! Stay away from him or I'll kill you!"] He said and I heard a door opening. ["Is that your phone?"] It was Felix then Percy starts to sob. ["Our baby has a boyfriend! He's still a baby! It's not possible!"] Even though I can't see him, I know Felix is confused by what he's saying. He's gone crazy again. Maybe he didn't have breakfast. ["You're crazy! My phone is mine!"] I heard the familiar ruffling sound. ["It's you. Why did you call?"] "About Jay-jay." He sightly chuckled. ["Yes, of course. I kept askingâ€"what?!"] He sounds struggling. ["Tell Dalia's boyfriend I'll kill him!"] It was Percy. ["My towel! He's going to fall!"] Felix sounds pissed. ["Why? Didâ€"aray retreat?"] Percy was obviously hit and I don't need to see it. Too much information. I was forced to hang up the call because it was obvious they were ï¬ghting. I just texted Felix to tell Jay-jay. I knew he would read it after they fought. I just called the others to tell him what I had to tell him. Eman, Denzel, Blaster and Josh are all agreed. And I dial the number of the last person I'm thinking. ["Feed me! Feed me! Feed me!â€"Good morning Keifer!â€"Feed me!"] Yup! Ci-N is fully awake. "It's night here." ["I'm having breakfast!â€"That's it? Okay Good evening Keifer!â€" Manang! I'm hungry!"] Actually, it seems like he just moved house. That's still what he's doing. Being fed by this woman he called Manang from the mansion to his new unit. "Enjoy your breakfast, I know you know the reason for my callâ€"." ["It's Jay-jay, right? I have something to tell youâ€"Manang! The hotdog is missing!"] I sighed. He keeps calling this Manang and now I'm not sure if he's meant to say something to me or to that Manang. "Are you going to tell me or to Manang?" ["Youâ€"Manang, I need water!"] Oh c'mon! "Who is it really?" ["You! About Sato."] I shut my mouth to let him continue. ["My cousin came from Japan, he studied there to be a doctorâ€" do you know that one, Lianah Saguirer? That's my cousin who became a surgeon and then â€"."] "Please, get to the part about Sato?" I almost beg. Like seriously? What do I care about his cousin? I already know that it runs in their family. So I'm not surprised to hear that one of his cousins is studying in medical schools abroad. I heard him laugh. ["He said the Satos are known as torturers. They don't choose their age or gender. He also said that the family was tortured a lot but the police couldn't catch them and the only ones they expected to stop them were the Hanamitchisâ€" I think I know a Hanamitchiâ€"it's Yuri."] He said and laughed again. And he was saying all this while eating. It was as if he was telling his cousin's adventure story. Didn't he think that Jay-jay was the target of that torturer? And if he gets Jay-jay she'll deï¬nitely be in danger. I hung up the call and immediately got ready. I'm about to get change when someone knocks on my door. I hide my secret phone and let that person come in. "Kuya?" It was Keigan. I come out of my walk in closet. "Keigan." He faced me and handed me a piece of paper. "Good thing your awake. We need to travel to Australia now. That's an order from Clyde." I almost cursed because of this. I was planning to go home to the Philippines. Jay-jay needs me more. "I have to go somewhere else." I said and got back to my walk in closet but he followed me. "This is important. Where are you going?" "Someone needs my help." "And who's that someone? That Jay-jay again?" I can senses the irritation in his tone. "None of your business." I heard him sigh. "I won't stop you but I hope you do your obligation here ï¬rst before you understand him." He said and walk away. I stopped and leaned one hand on the wall. Keigan is right. I still need to do things, I still have obligation that I haven't ï¬nished. But my future needs me too. If I put him ï¬rst I'll deï¬nitely disappoint the Keigan and Elders. They'll ï¬nd a loophole and use it against me. I'm still thinking of what I should do when I receive a message from an unexpected person . Why is that?"] "Feel jealous?" ["Well I should be, I'm your best friend."] He mockingly said. I shook my head. "What do you want?" ["Ask Rory and Edrix to stop investigating. They're putting themselves in danger."] "Why is that? Don't you trust them?" ["Not that I don't trust them. Sato is the second largest Yakuza family in Japan. They have lots of connectionâ€"."] "I already know that part." ["Leave it to me. It's my job to catch him."] "And Jay-jay? How will you protect her?" ["The same way you're protecting her. Silently."] I feel slightly relieved. Yes, Yuri is my rival but he's still my best friend who never left me after all that happened. Protect her no matter what. "I'm almost done here. Sooner or later we'll see each other again and ï¬nish what we started." ["Then I'll wait."] He ended the call. I sit on the floor feeling so weak. After this, I will tell the Elders that I need to go back. This is the last one and I will actually do my original plan. For my brothers and for my Jay-jay. I continued with my plan. I got dressed for the business meeting that was waiting for me. I also organized the things I needed. When I left the room, I found Keigan drinking coffee. I saw him surprised but he immediately shrugged it off. "I thought you had other plans." "I guess I have to set it aside and prioritize this business meeting." I said and started to walk. "Thank you Kuya." He said that made me stop. I turned and looked at him. He pursed his lips and looked down. "These past few weeks, I keep controlling you thinking that it's the best for us. But you still look at me like I never did anything that hurt you. Thank you for still trusting me." I smiled at him before nodding shortly. I walked out and headed straight to the lobby where my driver was waiting. He greeted me before I took my things. Getting into the car I took my secret phone. I still wanted to make sure that Jay-jay would be safe. And I'm thankful for our friends whose updating me from time to time. When we arrived at the airport the private jet was ready and ready for take off. I was the only one waiting. We had been on the road or a few hours. I still couldn't get comfortable. The same image of Jay-jay crying for help still haunts me down. For some reason I suddenly feel nervous. I press the intercom to contact the pilot. "Change route. To the Philippines now!" I said and I'm thankful that he didn't say a thing. It's good that we're in Asia now too. He asked for permission to land and in almost an hour we were at the airport too. I spoke to the Pilot personally. Keigan doesn't know about this and he has no choice but to let him know. I just let him go as long as I can leave now. He didn't say anything when I got off the plane. I chose to take a taxi rather than wait for the service they called. I need to see my Jay-jay now. I immediately called Rory and my suspicions were conï¬rmed when he conï¬rmed them to me. ["Mica, Freya, Ella, Rakki and Honey are involved. We don't know why there's no guard at the gate."] He said and I almost threw my phone. That's why Honey wasn't there because she came home to me ï¬rst. If her Uncle found out about this, I'm sure she's deï¬nitely dead. "Send me the address, I'm on my way." I hung up the call and waited for the address. I gave it to the taxi driver as soon as I received it. I asked him to drive faster and his eyes almost widened when I told him I would pay triple. I'm on my way. I will save you. I reached the address. As expected, that Sato wouldn't really hide in a crowded place. It was an old building of a Japanese wood products. I'm not sure if this is still functioning. I went inside and saw the others. Helping the girls but I can't ï¬nd Jay-jay. "Where is Jay-jay?" It was Percy from behind. He looked like he had just arrived. They looked at us because of the loudness of his voice. "Keifer?" It was Calix. "Jay-jay is his own." "Why did you see him? I'm more handsome." I heard Percy say. I look at him deadly. Will he prioritize that over his stepsister who needs help? I can't believe him. I saw Ella and Yuri helping Aries but he pushed them away. "My sister needs me!" He shouted and ran away. I followed him immediately. He knows where Sato is. "Aries stopâ€"Keifer?" It was Yuri and we all stopped. "I'm here too." Percy said. "What are you doing here?" Aries turned and glared at us. But I turned to Yuri. "What? You don't plan on telling me this?!" "We're all in a hurry to ï¬nd them. Do you think I'll even consider reporting you?" "You should have at least asked our friends to do so if you can't. If I didn't follow my instinct, all this would probably be over before I knew it." "Sorry to interrupt but If you're here to ï¬nght do it later. Jay-jay needs help and you two are not helping." Aries said obviously pissed. "Hala! Go home! Aries and I will take care of this." Percy added and pushed us aside. He walked ï¬rst and Aries followed. We exited the building. I wanted to slap him because we looked like we had lost our way because of what Percy had done. "It's the wrong way." He said and was about to turn back but stopped when he saw us. "The hell Percy!" I shouted at him. "Do I know?! I just got here too!" He defended himself. I'm about to hit him when I notice Aries. He's in silence. He raised his ï¬nger to signal us to shut up. We did and he observed the sounds that he hear. "Here." He said and we followed. And there I saw almost the same image in my dream.