Chapter 3: The Truth He Couldn't Tell
(Keifer's POV)
The classroom was silent.
Too silent.
The door of Section E had already closed behind Jay-jay Mariano, but the echo of her footsteps still lingered in the room.
And somehow…
That sound hurt more than her words.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The boys of Section E looked at me like I had just committed the worst crime imaginable.
Maybe I had.
I leaned back against the desk and ran a hand through my hair.
"She'll be fine," I said coldly.
No one believed me.
Not even myself.
Finally Yuri Hanamitchi slammed his fist on the desk.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Watson?!"
The room flinched.
"You didn't have to say it like that!" Yuri continued. "You humiliated her in front of everyone!"
I didn't respond.
Because if I opened my mouth…
I might say something I shouldn't.
"She trusted you," Yuri added quietly.
Yeah.
I know.
That was the problem.
If she kept trusting me…
She would become the easiest target.
Across the room, Drew looked uneasy.
"Was it really just a game?" he asked.
I stared at the floor.
A game.
If only it were that simple.
Before I could answer, the classroom door opened again.
Everyone looked up.
It was Aries.
But he wasn't supposed to be here.
He belonged to Section A.
Aries scanned the room.
His eyes landed on me.
The atmosphere instantly turned colder.
"Where's Jay?" he asked.
No one answered.
Yuri looked away.
Drew scratched the back of his neck.
Then Aries slowly walked toward me.
Each step heavy.
Each step dangerous.
"You did something," he said quietly.
It wasn't a question.
I shrugged.
"Ask your cousin."
Aries grabbed my collar before anyone could react.
The classroom gasped.
"You think this is funny?" he said through clenched teeth.
His grip tightened.
"You think you can play with her feelings and walk away?"
I grabbed his wrist and pushed him back.
"Control your temper."
"Answer the question."
I stared at him for a moment.
Then I said the same words again.
"I used her."
The classroom froze.
Aries' fist shot toward my face.
I didn't dodge.
The punch landed hard.
Pain exploded across my jaw.
But I didn't fight back.
Because maybe…
I deserved that one.
Aries breathed heavily.
"If you hurt her again," he said, voice shaking with anger, "I swear I'll—"
"You'll what?"
A new voice interrupted.
Everyone turned.
Standing at the door was Kuya Angelo.
The room immediately quieted.
Angelo wasn't a student.
He was older.
Much older.
But everyone respected him.
Even feared him a little.
His eyes moved between Aries and me.
"Enough."
Aries stepped back reluctantly.
Angelo walked inside slowly.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Did you really use her?"
I didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The word tasted like poison.
Angelo studied my face for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"Disappointing."
He turned toward the door.
"Let's go, Aries."
Aries glared at me one last time before leaving.
The classroom felt heavier after they left.
Yuri kicked a chair angrily.
"You're unbelievable, Watson."
Then he walked out too.
One by one…
Everyone left.
Until the classroom was empty.
Except for me.
I sat down slowly.
The desk in front of me still had Jay-jay's pen on it.
She forgot it.
I picked it up.
My chest tightened.
"Sorry," I muttered under my breath.
But apologies meant nothing now.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"What."
A cold voice responded.
"Mr. Watson."
My eyes darkened immediately.
"Who is this?"
"Your uncle sends his regards."
Of course.
The Watson family.
The vultures were already circling.
"What do you want?" I asked calmly.
"You know exactly what we want."
My inheritance.
The fortune my mother died protecting.
The fortune that would make me the youngest trillionaire in the Philippines.
The fortune my father Keizer Watson killed her for.
"Give up the inheritance," the voice continued, "or the girl gets hurt."
My grip on the phone tightened.
Too late.
I already removed her from the game.
"She's not my problem anymore," I said coldly.
The man laughed.
"We know she is."
Silence filled the line.
Then he added something that made my blood run cold.
"She already left the school."
My eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"We're watching you, Keifer."
The call ended.
I stood up immediately.
Something was wrong.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Yuri.
He answered after two rings.
"What."
"Where's Jay-jay?"
Silence.
Then Yuri said slowly,
"You don't know?"
My heart dropped.
"Know what."
"She left."
The room felt like it tilted.
"Left where?"
"No idea."
I clenched my jaw.
Then Yuri added quietly,
"Maybe you should've thought about that before you broke her heart."
The call ended.
I stood there for a long moment.
Then I laughed bitterly.
Perfect.
The one person I tried to protect…
Was now gone.
My phone vibrated again.
This time it was a message.
London flight – tonight.
Right.
I had almost forgotten.
The Watson inheritance meeting.
Forty-five days.
In London.
Forty-five days to secure the fortune.
Forty-five days to destroy every relative trying to take it.
But one thought kept repeating in my head.
Jay-jay leaving.
I walked toward the classroom door.
Then stopped.
For the first time in years…
I felt something close to fear.
Because if she ever learned the truth…
She might hate me even more.
And somehow…
That possibility scared me more than the entire Watson family.
I looked at the empty seat where she used to sit.
"Stay safe, Jay-jay," I whispered.
Then I turned off the lights and walked out.
Tomorrow…
I would be in London.
And the war for the Watson empire would begin.