Chapter 23
Keifer's Perspective
The countdown began.
"1"
No...
"2"
Dammit...
"3"
I love you, Jayjay...
And the gun went off...
Suddenly, Sato fell to the ground. Blood began to pour from his head.
Jayjay?
Nothing had happened to her...
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at Sato. Then, she looked at the masked man standing with the gun in his hand.
Who is this?
"W-who are y-you?" Jayjay asked.
The man said nothing.
He simply removed his mask...
Percy?!
W-wait a m-minute, wasn't he d-dead?
He's alive...
But how can this be? How?
W-we were told he was dead...
"I'm asking again... who are you?"
"I am... Percy Mariano."
"Marian–"
"Grace!"
Denzel's sudden shout cut Jayjay off.
We all looked at Grace at the same time. She was lying on the ground unconscious, covered in blood. Denzel was sobbing over her, murmuring her name.
What happened?
Everyone rushed toward them.
"What happened?!"Jayjay asked.
"I don't know... She was standing right next to me and suddenly collapsed. The baby will be okay, w-won't it?"
"No, it's likely just from the stress. Don't worry, it's probably nothing serious. But let's go to the hospital," Ci-n said.
She knew about these things best; after all, her family were all doctors.
"You guys should get checked out too," Jayjay said.
"No need, we're fine," Yuri replied.
"Are you sure? You're covered in blood," Jayjay said, looking at Yuri's bloody clothes.
"It's not mine... it's theirs," Yuri said, pointing to the men lying in pools of blood on the ground.
After a brief glance, Jayjay turned back to Grace.
"Denzel, take her. Let's get in the car."
Denzel quickly gathered Grace in his arms and walked with hurried steps toward the door we came through.
Section E and the others followed behind him.
Only Jayjay and I remained...
Percy had vanished...
We looked at each other...
Jayjay suddenly jumped into my arms.
"Keifer... I was so scared... I thought I was going to die..."
"I was terrified too, Jayjay... that I was going to lose you..."
We pulled apart...
---------------------------------------
Jayjay's Perspective
I looked directly into his eyes. Then, my gaze drifted to his pink, full lips...
Involuntarily, I reached toward them. At that moment, we were sharing the same breath...
Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, and we pulled away from each other instantly.
"Jayjay? Aren't you coming? What are you two doing here?"
Tripp said this as he walked toward me.
"We're not doing anything, Tripp. Let's go," I said, walking quickly toward him. I grabbed his arm and led him outside. I walked in front, and he followed behind.
"Are you in love with him?"
That question made me stop dead in my tracks.
I don't know... am I really in love with him?
I slowly turned to him.
"Of course not, my love. Where did you get that idea?"
"I don't know. Some things just tell me so."
"Don't listen to them... it's not true. I'm only in love with you. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be dating you, and when he asked me out, I would have accepted instead of telling him I loved you.
You know that, right?"
"Yes."
I smiled at him and turned back around to keep walking. We got into the car and went to the hospital...
---------------------------------------
Aries's Perspective
"She is fine, don't worry. This was just due to stress. Both mother and baby are doing well. You can handle the discharge papers tomorrow. Get well soon," the doctor said as he left the room.
My wounds still hurt immensely.
Ella rested her head on my shoulder, and I winced in pain.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, it just hurt when you leaned on my wounds."
"See a doctor, Aries. These won't heal on their own."
"Okay, but not right now."
"Fine."
I looked at Jayjay. She was leaning against the wall, staring at the floor.
What was she thinking about? Was she blaming herself for what happened?
I was about to get up and go to her side, but I paused when the door opened and he entered.
Percy...
"What are you doing here?" Jayjay asked, still looking at the floor.
"I came to talk to you," he said in a calm tone.
It had been a long time since I'd heard his voice...
"What is there to talk about?" Keifer said sternly.
"I won't be talking, exactly... I'll be answering your questions."
Questions?
"What questions?" Freya asked, her voice trembling.
"I know you have many questions for me. Here I am. Safe and sound in front of you. Ask your questions. I will answer all of them."
"Where have you been all this time?" Yuri asked sadly.
"I was paralyzed. I was receiving treatment," he said.
Right... he couldn't move when we were in the car... that was the reason...
"How did the accident happen? Did Aries kill you?" Keifer said, looking into my eyes.
What does this kid want?
"The accident?" Jayjay asked.
The accident...
Flashback;
"Aries, the Boss won't be mad that we took his car, right?"
"He won't be mad, Yuri. I'll handle it. Don't think about it. This night is going to be our night."
"Tsk, you stupid boy," Keifer said with a mocking grin.
Finally, we arrived. We parked the car and got out.
"Whoa! This place is beautiful!" Percy shouted excitedly.
"Right... the view is perfect..." I said, looking at the landscape in awe.
Yuri and Keifer joined us and began watching the view as well. They offered us drinks...
"No, I'll pass. I'm driving, you know," I said.
Keifer nodded.
"Guys," Percy called out.
"Hmmm," Keifer hummed.
"What is it now?" Yuri asked.
"Tell us what nonsense you're going to spout this time," I said.
"If something happens to me... if I die... take good care of Felix and Freya..." he said, his voice shaking.
"What are you talking about? Are you drunk?" Keifer shouted.
"I told you. He's talking nonsense again," I said.
"Someone needs to get this guy a brain transplant," Yuri said, and everyone laughed.
"Still, if anything happens to me, look after them," Percy said.
Why is he talking like this?
Just then, my phone rang. It was Kuya Angelo calling...
"Who's calling?" Keifer asked.
"My brother..." I said.
"Hey! We put our phones on silent! You traitor!" Percy yelled.
"Sorry, guys. I was distracted. I didn't hear it," I said as I silenced the phone.
"Why are you distracted?" Yuri asked.
"I don't know. I have a thousand things on my mind," I said.
"Ugh... leave all that... you were the one who said this was our night, if I recall," Keifer said.
"You're right," I said.
Jayjay was on my mind... That bloody Jayjay holding a knife...
She didn't seem like Jayjay then... she didn't look like my sister... It was like she wasn't herself. She had stabbed me without mercy... That moment was etched into my mind...
"Hey, Aries!"
I snapped back to reality. A few raindrops fell on my face.
"Aries!" Yuri shouted.
"Y-yes?" I said.
"Are you okay? It's starting to rain. Let's go," Keifer said.
I didn't say anything; I just turned around and walked toward the car. I could feel them looking at me strangely from behind.
They got to the car before the rain got too heavy. I started the engine and began to drive.
"Aries? Are you sure you're okay?" Yuri asked with an anxious tone.
"I told you. He just got out of the hospital. We should have done this another day," Percy said.
"It's no problem, guys. I'm fine," I said.
But they didn't seem convinced. The rain began to intensify. We could barely see the road ahead.
"Aries, pull over. We're going to crash at this rate."
"Keifer's right. Pull over," Yuri added.
I slowly pulled the car to the side. We waited...
Percy and Yuri fell asleep... Keifer and I were waiting for the rain to let up.
"Aries, who stabbed you?" Keifer asked.
...
"I don't know... I don't remember..."
"Okay."
"The rain doesn't seem like it's going to stop... I need to start the car... it's getting dark... it'll only get harder..." I said.
"Are you sure? Can you do it?" Keifer asked.
"There's no other choice. We can't stay in the car until morning," I said.
He nodded. Just as I was about to start the car, Yuri woke up.
"What happened? Did the rain stop?"
"No. But we need to go before it gets any darker," I said.
"Are you sure, Aries?"
"Yes... if we wait, it will be harder for us."
"Alright, but be very careful."
I looked at Percy. He was still sleeping. Is he dead? I wondered. The things he said came back to me: "If something happens to me... look after them..."
What is he talking about?
I started the car. Driving under heavy rain was incredibly difficult... As I drove, Yuri and Keifer kept saying "Be careful" from the back.
We were passing through the forest... the road was full of stones... And despite the heavy jolting, Percy never woke up. I began to get even more scared. I was looking at him more than I was looking at the road.
What did he really mean? He must have just said it for no reason. Right?
"Aries! Look out!"
A car was coming from the opposite direction... but I couldn't see it clearly because of the rain... I jerked the steering wheel to the right and squeezed my eyes shut...
A few minutes passed...
I opened my eyes in horror... I was breathless... Everything hurt...
I looked at myself in the broken rearview mirror...
I was covered in blood.
Forcing myself, I turned to the side... and... I saw Percy's eyes looking at me in agony...
"Percy..."
Only that word could escape my mouth...
I looked back and couldn't see Yuri or Keifer... also, the back doors were gone... My door was gone too... We were on the edge of a cliff... I moved slightly, and the vehicle swayed violently.
Dammit!
"Aries... Go... Leave me here..."
"What are you talking about... I can't leave you... never... if we're going to die, we'll die together... no..."
"Aries... don't... I don't have a life left to live anyway... but you have so much more to experience... go... just do it... go..." he said in pain.
He seemed unable to move... Tears streamed from his eyes... Suddenly, I started sobbing.
"P-Percy... no... I can't... I'll blame myself... I'll be consumed by guilt... no..."
"Aries... I'm telling you... go..."
"Perc–"
I couldn't finish my sentence because Percy pushed me out through the open door, and I fell to the ground. The last thing I saw... was the car tumbling down the cliff...
"No!" I screamed, weeping... P-Percy...
Flashback ends...
"Aries had no fault in that accident... I wanted to die... in fact, I had to want it... I couldn't move then... I was paralyzed... I couldn't let us both die... so I chose to let myself die... I pushed him... and... I chose to fall down that cliff myself... but my mother found me... she found me in the sea, covered in blood... I wanted... to come before you, to show myself to you... but... you had already assumed I was dead and moved on with your lives... I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Aries..." Percy said with tearful eyes.
"For years... I was blamed because everyone thought I killed you... I suffered through the guilt... and... you're only showing up now?" I said, clutching my chest in pain.
Ella came to my side and tried to hold my hand, but I pushed her hand away... I walked out of the room with slow steps... I ignored the voices calling from behind me.
He came back. But can that friendship of ours ever be the same? When so many things pull us apart... who will keep us together?
I walked out of the hospital. I was walking slowly, covered in blood... I ignored the stares and the whispers of the people... My head began to spin... I couldn't see what was in front of me...
But thousands of horns were honking...
Suddenly, everything started to become clear. I was in the middle of the road. Cars were speeding toward me... I shut my eyes tight... I was ready for death now...
"Aries!"
When I opened my eyes, I saw the person running toward me...
Keifer?
It was too late... Now we were both in the middle of the road, our eyes locked onto each other... Tears fell from my eyes...
And then, the car hit...
We were both thrown into the air... At that moment, I didn't know what I felt... pain? ... happiness? ... sadness? ... fear? ...
With a great surge of pain, we both hit the ground. We lost consciousness...
The last thing I felt... was his warm hand wrapping around mine.