chapter 25

Escape plan

Jay-jay's POV

Just a few inches!

Just a few inches between Keifer's car and his dad. I thought he was really going to run him over, but he suddenly hit the brakes. My heart almost stopped. I nearly died from shock. Damn it!

Keifer stepped out of his car and glared at his dad.

"You're blocking my driveway!" he said. His dad didn't answer. He just smiled and walked back into the house. Weird. He didn't even look scared.

Then I saw Yuri walking towards us, looking very serious—especially when he saw Aries and Ella.

"Why did your dad pick us up?" Felix asked Keifer. But Keifer didn't answer. He just walked straight into that huge mansion through its rich-people doors.

I looked at Yuri, hoping he'd say something, but he just followed Keifer.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Since it was obvious no one could answer, we all just stood there in silence.

A few minutes passed, then Aries suddenly walked into the house, followed by Ella.

Wow! So comfy already?

"What was that?!" Eren asked.

"Nothing's gonna happen if we just stand here! Let's go!" Rory said, immediately heading inside the house.

Since no one really knew what to do, we followed. As soon as we stepped in, my shoes got shy at how shiny the floor was.

Sia once talked about a chandelier… This one's even bigger than the one in Yuri's hotel. Damn! I wouldn't just swing on it—I'd sleep on it too.

Where Keifer lives is nothing compared to this mansion. The President of the Philippines might as well live here.

"Good morning," greeted a woman in a maid's uniform. I suddenly felt small. I looked more like the maid than she did. Her skin was flawless and her uniform was spotless. Mine looked like it ran away from the iron.

"Please follow me," she said and started walking.

Eren went ahead. Of course—there's a girl!

While walking, I kept looking around. The paintings on the wall were huge—probably the size of my bed.

She opened a door and gestured for us to go inside. We walked in single file. It felt like a field trip.

Nice, nice!

We were greeted by two sets of sofas. This must be the receiving area. The guys immediately flopped onto the couches like they owned them. Others just looked around.

Someone tapped me. I looked—it was just Ci-N. She leaned in and whispered,

"Come with me… I need to pee." Thank God he said that! I've been dying to pee too. I nodded and we walked out.

"Where do you think the bathroom is?" I asked. Ci-N didn't answer and just walked away. Even though I was confused, I followed him.

We went all over the place. We passed at least four maids, but Ci didn't even talk to a single one.

I felt like we were getting lost.

Then she suddenly climbed the stairs to the second floor. Damn! Even the staircase is rich-looking. What would Sia call this—Stairway to Heaven?

"Hey, Ci!" I called. "Where are we going? I thought we were going to the bathroom?" he didn't answer and just kept walking. I had a feeling this wasn't about peeing anymore.

We entered another hallway. I was starting to get annoyed at this brat. Then he stopped in front of a door.

He knocked and listened. Then he looked at me and motioned for me to come over.

"Why?" I asked as I walked toward him.

He slightly opened the door. "Go inside," he ordered.

I didn't want to, but then I heard a familiar voice inside. I stepped in and saw Keifer, Yuri, Keigan, and Keiren having a serious conversation.

So Keigan's here too?

"What's going on?" I whispered.

Yuri was the first to notice me. "Jay…" he said.

I slowly walked toward them.

"W-what's happening?" I asked.

"We need your cooperation here," Keifer said.

I pointed at myself, confused.

"Dad is up to something. He wouldn't ask me to come here for nothing," Keigan said.

I stayed quiet and waited for them to explain further.

"We don't know exactly what, but one thing's certain," Yuri said, looking at Keiren. "...Keiren's his target, and he might use all of us."

I looked at Keiren. He looked so weak, like he was sick.

"I'm begging you, Jay… if things go wrong, please run away with Keiren. Keigan will help you escape," Keifer said.

"Y-you want me to leave you all?" I asked.

Yuri looked away. Keifer did too.

"Don't worry, Jay... They won't hurt your friends and classmates. But I can't promise they won't hurt Kuya," Keigan said.

Wow! Thanks for the comfort, Keigan. Leave them all if chaos breaks out? That doesn't sound right.

"Please do what I said. Don't think about anything else," Keifer said with authority.

I didn't want to. That's not like me. But I looked at Keiren. He looked so pitiful.

"O-okay… I'll do it."

"Great! You know what to do, Keigan!" Keifer said, looking at his brother. Keigan just nodded and started walking toward the door. The meeting was over.

As Keifer passed by me, I grabbed the edge of his shirt. He looked at me, confused.

"W-where's your bathroom?" I asked.

He looked at Keigan and Yuri. He signaled for them to go ahead. Then he pointed at a door behind me. I ran toward it. I couldn't hold it anymore. My bladder was about to explode.

Inside, I was embarrassed to even sit on their toilet—it was so shiny! But I couldn't hold back anymore. The cleaner can just drown it in disinfectant later.

But honestly, I enjoyed peeing there. The bathroom had everything—alcohol included!

When I got out, the room was empty. Keifer probably got tired of waiting. I was about to leave when someone suddenly hugged me from behind.

Oh no! Oh no!

"Ssshhh…" he said. "..I fucking miss you."

Uhhh—wait a second!

"I've just been really busy. But after this, I swear I'll make it up to you."

W-what is this?! H-hold on!

"Please say something."

How am I supposed to talk? I froze on the spot. He's hugging me! Wow!

"K-Keifer…" I called him.

He suddenly buried his face in my shoulder. He didn't say anything, but I could feel his hug tightening every now and then.

I understood now.

He didn't just hug me because he missed me. He needed someone to lean on right now.

Even if he didn't say a word—I could feel how much he was struggling.

I held his arm.

"Ssshhh…" I began. "I missed you too."

I felt him lift his head slightly.

"Don't think about that. There's still plenty of time to make up for it. Focus on what you need to do now," I said and tapped his head.

He rested his chin on my shoulder.

"Thank you…" he whispered. "...Thank you for being here."

I couldn't help but smile at what he said. It felt so light and warm.

He let go of the hug. "Let's go," he said and walked to the door.

What? No kiss?

Pfft… I thought he missed me. I was expecting something more.

I followed him. He was about to open the door when he suddenly stopped.

"Before we go…" he said, then suddenly kissed me on the lips. It was quick but enough to make my heart stop.

Eeeep!

He opened the door and walked out. I saw Ci-N leaning against the wall, playing on his phone.

"Hey!" I called. "..Let's go!"

"What did you talk about?" he asked me.

"Nothing…" I replied and started walking. he immediately followed.

"Come on, tell me… What was it about?" he pressed.

"Whatever…"

"If you don't tell me, I'll tell Keifer you already have a boyfriend," she threatened.

I laughed. If only he knew…

But my laughter died when I saw Yuri. Crap! Did he hear what Ci-N said?

"What are you talking about?" he asked us.

"U-uh… N-"

"There's no hope for you and Keifer anymore! Jay-jay already has a boyfriend!" Ci-N suddenly blurted out.

Damn it!

"Boyfriend?" Yuri asked, confused, and looked at me.

I signaled to him like, "That's nothing!" I didn't want Ci-N to say anything more.

"Yup! So—mmmpphh! hmmm!" I quickly covered his mouth.

"Hahaha… he's just super drunk on his own jokes!" I said awkwardly.

Yuri just smiled at me and nodded before walking away. I let go of Ci-N and glared at him.

"Your hand stinks!" he complained.

What the hell!

I smelled my hand. All I could smell was the alcohol I used earlier.

"Come on! It's lunchtime!" he said and quickly walked off.

Nice! Food time!