Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 3) English (On-going)

Keifer's POV

Keiren was riding behind me as we got off the plane. He was very sleepy, probably because of the long flight. We arrived in the Philippines early in the morning.

As expected, the person picking us up was already waiting—leaning against his car, arms crossed, a crease forming on his forehead. I approached him.

"How long have you been waiting?" I asked.

Tiger looked at me. "Maybe half an hour." He yawned and didn't even bother to cover his mouth.

He opened the backseat door of his yellow car and helped me get Keiren inside. When he closed the door, I noticed him staring at the plane I had just disembarked from.

I turned to look as well and saw the flight attendant stepping off the plane. She was carrying the belongings I had forgotten. I ran a hand down my face.

Damn this woman. Her chest rose and fell with each step.

"Mr. Watson, you forgot this," she said in a sweet voice.

I took the items from her and placed them inside the car. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Tiger grinning widely. Any trace of sleepiness seemed to vanish when he saw the stewardess.

"Hi, Miss," he greeted, and the woman waved back at him.

I rolled my eyes. Men are so easy to please.

During the entire trip, I prayed—hard. I called on all the saints, and even though I'm not religious, I think I prayed every kind of prayer imaginable.

I belong only to Jay-Jay. She is the only one who can touch my body. She is my everything. I'm a man, and temptation is real, but I can fight it.

"That was a chick," Tiger teased, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"What did you do during the flight?"

"Slept," I answered before getting into his car.

I was immediately struck by the interior. His wheels were covered with yellow fur, and the dashboard had the same texture but a different design—still with a strong touch of yellow. It was a headache to look at. The headrest pillows had eyes and tails, resembling a certain Pokémon.

I think it's Pikachu.

Tiger got into the car as well, still grinning while driving.

"You really didn't do anything with that girl? That's a waste," he said.

"I'd regret it more if I did," I replied.

He shook his head. "Why are you so patient with Angelo's cousin?"

"Excuse me?"

"No offense, but there are plenty of girls out there who are prettier and more feminine."

"Jay-Jay is a woman," I said, crossing my arms. "She may be a little boyish, but she's still a woman."

"A tomboy," he countered.

"No, she's not."

"She is!"

"She's not!"

"I'm telling you, she is!"

What the—

"Why do you keep insisting she's a lesbian?" I asked, exasperated.

Yes, Jay-Jay moves like a man, fights like a man, punches like a man, eats like a man, and trash-talks like a man—okay, almost everything she does is like a man! But to me, she's still a very beautiful woman.

"I've seen her before," Tiger said, making me look at him. "Back when we visited Angelo's province, I saw her there."

I didn't know they had gone there. Not that it would have made a difference—they wouldn't have let me or the others come along. Angelo's friends always claimed we were too young to hang out with them. But the moment they saw me, they made me their errand boy.

"That was a long time ago. How do you even remember that? I thought you had a bad memory," I said.

"Harsh," he muttered, smirking. "You underestimate my memory."

I squinted as a car approached with its headlights on full beam.

"No, but I do know you have a small brain."

Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes. I nearly hit my head, but my first thought was Keiren, who was still fast asleep in the backseat. Luckily, he didn't wake up or fall over.

"What the hell was that?!" I snapped.

Tiger leaned out of the window, staring behind us. I followed his gaze, but there was nothing on the dark road.

"What are you looking at?"

He looked back at me, shocked.

"I think I saw someone. I swear I saw Raffy and Ion," he muttered.

"Who?"

He frowned slightly. "Who has memory problems now?"

"Oh! Right. I remember Raffy—Rafael. Your friend with glasses, always smiling and laughing."

He straightened up. "I swear it was them."

"How would they be here? I thought Rafael went missing with... Ion."

It didn't make sense. I had nearly forgotten about it, but Rafael and Ion had been missing for a long time—Angelo's friend and that girl, both gone for who knows how long. If Angelo found out what Tiger saw, he'd go crazy. He'd act impulsively, without a second thought.

"You probably imagined it. The driver I saw was an old man," I lied.

"I know what I saw," he insisted.

"You're just sleepy. I'll drive," I said, reaching for the door handle.

"Ihh! No!" he yelped, hugging the steering wheel like his life depended on it.

"Only I can drive Baby."

Baby? He called his yellow car a baby?

"Did you just call your car a... freaking baby?"

He suddenly hit me on the arm. I was shocked by what he did—it was like he was a woman sulking at her boyfriend.

"Don't curse my Baby!" he said, kissing the steering wheel before hugging it again. "Don't worry, Baby. Daddy loves you."

I winced. Damn. No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend—he loves his car more than the girls he meets. He restarted the car and began driving. I stayed quiet while he kept talking.

He mentioned again that he had seen Jay-Jay before. But when exactly had he proven that? I smiled as I imagined what he must have looked like back then.

"She was dirty, barefoot, and always hanging around with boys. They even used to get into fights," he continued.

I wondered—what if I had met her before? If Aries had introduced us? Maybe we would have been friends… or maybe enemies, just like the first time we met. Maybe things wouldn't be so complicated.

As he continued talking, I didn't even realize when I drifted off to sleep. By the time I woke up, the sky was already light.

"Breakfast?" Keiren asked, handing me a piece of bread.

I took it and thanked him. Looking at Tiger, I saw that he was also eating something while driving.

"Are we still far?" I asked.

"We're here," he said, pointing to a house not too far away.

Now that I was fully awake, I started noticing the surroundings. The area was surrounded by tall, towering trees, as if the house was deliberately hidden from the public. There were no other houses nearby—just a long road leading to this isolated destination.

That creepy house.

We stopped right in front of it. At first glance, it looked like an old provincial house, but something was off. The front had wooden posts and narrow windows, but on closer inspection, the wood was just painted on, and the ''window" was actually tinted glass.

Tiger got out, but Keiren and I stayed inside the car. He rang the doorbell and waited. Minutes passed, but no one answered. Tiger rang the bell again and knocked on the door. Finally, the door opened—but instead of a person, a gun greeted him. Tiger quickly raised his hands and took a step back.

"You're such a nuisance, Leo!" said the woman holding the gun.

One of our teachers at HVIS. The only teacher feared and obsessed over by Section E.

Ms. Cindy Smith.

Leo grinned widely. "Did I disturb the eleven of you?"

Ms. Cindy narrowed her eyes and raised the shotgun slightly. Tiger quickly backed away, still laughing.

"Hey! Hey! Don't scare me like that!" he said, trying to find a place to hide.

"I'm not scaring you. I really will shoot you," she said flatly.

Tiger didn't seem to take her seriously—he was still laughing.

"Kuya, who's that?" Keiren asked.

"That's my teacher," I replied.

The two of them continued bickering until the person I was actually looking for stepped out of the house.

"Enough," she said in a deep, serious voice. "...Just teasing you, that's Leo."

"Tsk! It's Tiger, not Leo," Leo said, annoyed.

I opened the car door and got out. The three of them turned to look at me.

"Sir Alvin," I greeted.

"Just Alvin. We're not at school," he said before heading back inside.

Ms. Cindy and Tiger followed him. I helped Keiren out of the backseat and grabbed his things. This—this is the reason I needed a disposable phone.

Honey.

I needed a place where Keiren could hide, far away from our monster of a father.

But Keigan knew nothing about this. Our original plan was to send Keiren to the United Kingdom, which I thought was a dumb idea. That man has eyes everywhere—he'd find him no matter where we sent him. And I knew I'd have to fight them when they realized I had brought Keiren to the Philippines.

We had nothing here. So, I thought of asking for help from people who weren't just anyone. People like Angelo. But he would definitely ask for payment, so I needed someone else.

That's when Sir Alvin came to mind.

As we stepped inside, the door automatically shut behind us. The house was much bigger than I had expected. Though it looked old from the outside, the interior was modern and well-maintained. There weren't many decorations or figurines—just the essentials.

I placed our belongings on the black sofa before following everyone to the dining area, which was right next to the kitchen. Tiger was already seated at the table, stuffing his face with food.

"What's your brother's name?" Ms. Cindy asked.

"Keiren," I answered.

She nodded, placing a plate full of fried rice on the table. Then, she pulled out an empty plate and a glass.

"Keiren, sit here and have some breakfast," she said, pulling out a chair for him.

Keiren glanced at me as if asking for permission. I gave him a brief nod and let go of his hand. He hesitated but then sat down.

"Eat a little, Keifer," Tiger said with his mouth full, spraying bits of food as he spoke. His plate was piled high, but he still managed to eat at a steady pace.

I sighed. I wasn't here to observe them. I needed to find Sir—no, Alvin. We still had things to discuss since our phone conversation hadn't gone well. I noticed movement in a room with an open door. Peeking inside, I saw my target.

I knocked lightly. "Mind if I disturb you?"

He turned slightly. "Come in."

I stepped inside and immediately saw what was keeping him busy. He was cleaning his guns. A row of firearms was lined up on the table, along with all the tools he used for maintenance.

By watching him now, I'm starting to see a different side of Sir Alvin—far from the teacher who always tells us to settle down.

"How long are we going to watch over your brother?" he asked without looking at me.

He held a gun, pointing it in different directions.

"After my birthday, I will take him back."

"I just want to remind you that my wife is not wife material, so don't expect anything," he explained. "Besides, she might witness us holding guns from time to time. My wife doesn't know how to cook properly—she knows how to use a bazooka, but she doesn't know how to use a vacuum." He sighed and rested his hands on the table. "I really don't want to have a child at home, but I owe you a debt, and I want to pay you back. So, I'll leave your brother here for now."

My lips formed a smile, though it was more like a smirk.

"Are you and your wife having some kind of couple's issue?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He sighed again before facing me. "She wants a child."

"But you can't?"

He chuckled. "No one knows we're married. If my grandfather finds out, he'll have her killed."

"It's tough having family issues."

He shook his head. "You said it."

A moment of silence filled the room. He briefly handled the guns, placing them one by one in the bags.

"I'll just take my inheritance. When I can, I'll help you too."

"Don't bother. I don't want to feel indebted to you."

I smiled. He's really a man full of pride—too proud to change into someone different.

"Are you still going to work?" I asked.

"Yeah. Looks like you have to go too."

Just like that, he finished what he was doing and took out the bags. I followed him and watched as he stored the guns in his secret compartments. I think every corner of the house has one.

"Does Angelo know you brought your brother here?"

"I have no reason to tell him."

He shrugged and continued hiding the guns in different places—under the table, in the ceiling, beneath the tiled floor, and other unexpected spots. We covered almost the entire house, including the second floor and their bedroom.

The kitchen was our final stop. There, I saw Ma'am Cindy taking care of Keiren. Her expression changed quickly when she saw us. Alvin opened one of the drawers and placed a gun inside.

"Look! Your cooking spoon in the kitchen isn't a ladle," Tiger commented, eyeing us from the kitchen entrance.

"Don't swear!" Ma'am Cindy scolded.

Alvin finished storing the gun. I patted him on the shoulder before heading to the table to eat.

"Eat now, Keifer," Tiger said.

He acted like he owned the house. I simply joined them at the table. While we were eating, Alvin explained the household setup now that Keiren was staying with them.

They had alternating schedules to make sure someone was always home. In the morning, Ma'am Cindy was with my brother; at noon, it was him. After eating, I took Keiren to the living room to talk.

"Hey, do you like this place?" I asked.

He nodded. "Am I staying here for now?"

"For a while. When everything is settled, I'll take you back."

"It's okay. I know you have a lot to do. Kuya Keigan keeps telling me not to bother you. I don't want to be a burden."

"No, you're not a problem. My mind is just a mess. I don't know what to prioritize. I just need a friend's help."

"I understand, Brother," he said, hugging me. "Just take me back someday."

"Of course, I will," I promised, hugging him back.

He let go and looked at me. I smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Don't leave the house. Don't answer the phone. Don't talk to strangers. Don't open the door. And don't be naughty—Ma'am Cindy might shoot you," I joked, laughing.

He smiled and nodded. I handed him his bags and let him go to the room where he was supposed to stay.

I watched him run upstairs. I couldn't help but think back. We were traumatized when Keigan was taken from us. Although the circumstances were different, the effect on me felt the same. I really didn't want to keep him away, but it was necessary.

I took a disposable phone from the paper bag and texted one of my targets from when I returned to the country.

To: Demon

Message: Any updates about the initiation?

I looked at Tiger as he walked toward me. He sat on the long sofa, sprawling across it.

"Aren't you leaving yet?" I asked him.

"Just wait. I'm just going to rest."

I looked at him straight in the eyes. "Tiger, make sure you don't talk about this."

He put two fingers to his lips and gestured as if zipping his mouth shut.

He's still talkative, so I need to make sure he stays quiet. We both stared at the stairs as Alvin came down, followed by his wife and Keiren.

"Let's go," Alvin said.

He headed straight for the door, and Tiger followed him. I turned to Ma'am Cindy and Keiren.

"We're leaving. Take care of him," I said before looking at Keiren.

"Be good. I'll call from time to time."

He waved and said goodbye. I turned and left, heading straight to Alvin's car, holding the disposable phone and waiting for a reply.

This place was far from the city. Our flight took almost two hours. No one spoke—the only sound was the radio.

When we arrived at school, Alvin suddenly seemed like a different person. He was smiling and looked completely relaxed—his usual self inside the school.

"Where are you" he asked while removing his seatbelt.

"I'll be here first. I'll wait for the students to leave."

He nodded. "Okay. Got to go."

He opened his car door and stepped out, even greeting the students he passed. I stayed inside his car until class started and the students had dispersed.

Once I was sure there were no more students around, I got out and looked around briefly. Then, I walked straight to our building, where the Demolition Notice was still wrapped in a tarpaulin.

This can't be serious.

I really need to talk to Angelo before heading back to London. The demolition cannot continue. I kept walking. I almost went straight to our classroom but remembered that I couldn't show up just yet.

Instead, I headed to the second floor. As usual, the wind was a little stronger in this part of the building, maybe because of the tall trees outside. I looked around—almost nothing had changed.

I thought about going to the picture room at the end of the hall, but first, I grabbed the key hanging from one of the broken benches in the previous room. No one ever comes up here, so no one notices what I leave behind.

I went inside and switched on the light. After locking the door from the inside, I let my body collapse onto the sofa.

I felt exhausted.

There was still so much to do—so much that I wasn't sure if my body could handle it. I closed my eyes and, without meaning to, drifted off to sleep.

I woke up suddenly to a sharp pain in my stomach. Grabbing my phone, I checked the time. It was almost lunchtime. My stomach must have been hurting from hunger.

I got up and stretched, then glanced at my disposable phone. Angelo still hadn't texted me. I think I should just pay him a visit.

I opened the door, ready to step out, but then I suddenly saw someone, it was her — Jay-Jay— My Jay-Jay. Shocked, I slammed the door shut again.

Fuck!

My hands turned cold as I gripped the doorknob, sweat forming on my palms. My heart almost stopped when I heard the doorknob move.

It's her! It's her!

Yes, I do miss her, but now is not the right time to face her.