I ran inside with Ci-n. When we reached the place, Mykel and Calix were already fighting in the same spot where Aries had fought before. They were throwing punches and kicks at each other without stopping.
Calix was already covered in blood, but he still refused to back down.
Behind the Ulopong group, Mica stood trembling. Fear was clearly written on her face as she shouted desperately.
"Leave Calix alone… please!"
I didn't wait for another second. I rushed forward and punched Mykel hard in the face. He stumbled back and fell to the ground. When he looked up at me, his eyes were burning with anger.
"What the hell are you doing right now?" I asked coldly.
"Stop interfering in my matters and leave," he replied.
He tried to push me away, but I didn't move an inch. I just glared at him.
"What. The. Hell. Is going on?"
"I just want to take Mica with me," he said with a smirk.
From behind us, Calix shouted angrily.
"You fucking liar! You tried to kiss her and forced her to go with you!"
I looked toward Mica. She was still hiding behind the group, trembling badly. I didn't need to ask anything else. It was obvious what he had done.
What made my blood boil even more was the crowd around us. Teachers and students were standing there like they were watching a show.
"Leave her alone," I said firmly.
"You don't get to order me around," Mykel snapped.
Then Yuri stepped forward.
"Leave it, Mykel. Let Mica stay with us."
Mykel walked toward Yuri, staring straight into his eyes with a mocking smile.
"Watson is no longer here. So you think you're the strongest guy now, huh? What can you even do, Hanamachi?"
Yuri didn't respond. He just stared back at him without breaking eye contact. When he didn't get a reaction, Mykel burst out laughing.
"What else can I expect? You all act brave when Watson is around. But look at yourselves now. You're nothing but trash."
Some boys from Section D started laughing and making fun of us.
My blood was boiling. My body felt like it was burning. But I forced myself to stay calm. If I lost control right now, he might never come out of the hospital.
"Maybe you're done now," I said. "We're leaving."
I turned around to go to Mica, but suddenly Mykel shoved me hard. I fell to the ground.
"You and your cousin are both useless," he sneered. "Just like he's lying in the hospital right now, I'll make sure you end up beside him."
Two boys suddenly grabbed my arms from both sides.
A dry laugh escaped my throat. He was really full of himself.
Enough.
I kicked both of them hard, and they fell to the ground. Then I stepped closer to Mykel, looking straight into his eyes with a wide smirk.
"You're right, Mykel," I said slowly. "Watson isn't here to protect us. Hanamachi isn't doing anything. But you're forgetting one person."
I leaned closer.
"A Mariano. Let me show you what a Mariano can do."
My fist slammed into his face. Within a minute, he was lying on the ground coughing blood. I was about to hit him again when someone suddenly shouted.
"STOP THIS!"
The guidance counselor came running toward us.
"You are assaulting a student, Miss Mariano! Stop this right now!"
I laughed bitterly.
"Wow. Took you long enough to notice. Where were you when he was doing the same thing? Sleeping? Or pretending you were blind and deaf?"
"Don't talk to me like that!" she shouted angrily. "You are disrespecting the head of the school. I can throw you out!"
"Don't you dare."
A voice shouted from behind. I turned around. My eyes widened.
Kuya Angelo.
I was doomed. He walked straight toward the counselor and stood in front of her.
"Don't you dare do that," he said calmly. "You're forgetting who I am. I'm still the king of this place. I technically own this building. I'm the reason this school is still alive."
"Not now, Angelo," she snapped. "You have nothing left to brag about. You're no longer in control. You can't intimidate us anymore."
He chuckled mockingly.
"I don't need a company to intimidate you," he said. "I can burn this school down again and take all the students out. Remember that."
Her face instantly turned pale. She stepped back.
"See?" Angelo smirked. "I'm still the king."
Then he turned toward Mykel, who now looked like a terrified zombie, covered in blood and shaking.
"You really have a death wish," Angelo said coldly. "You hurt my brother and tried to hurt my cousin. Do you want to die or something?"
"W-what do you think you are?" Mykel stuttered, trying to sound brave but failing miserably.
"Your worst nightmare," Angelo replied. "If you ever come near them again, you'll be dead. Remember this — they are my family."
"I'm not."
The words slipped out of my mouth. I looked at him… then ran away. I rushed to the classroom, grabbed my bag, and was about to leave.
Suddenly the door burst open. Angelo entered and locked it behind him.
Shit. What should I do now? He slowly walked toward me.
"Jay… please listen to me."
"Sorry," I said quietly. "I can't."
"Jay-Jay, please don't do this. You're still my family."
"No, Mr. Fernandez," I replied coldly. "I'm not."
"If I were your family, you wouldn't have traded me. If I were your family, you wouldn't have tried to control me."
My voice trembled.
"I'm not your family. Because family isn't supposed to be the reason you suffer. Tears burned my eyes. Aries is in the hospital because of me. If I hadn't broken the engagement, none of this would have happened."
"No, Jay-Jay," he said desperately. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I was the one who forced that engagement. You already gave me the company papers. The company will recover in time… but I won't if you leave like this."
"No," I whispered. "It's my fault."
"I've been bad luck since the very beginning. I never had a father. My mother left me and never protected me when I needed her the most. I'm the reason Aries suffered all these years. I'm the reason Section E got divided again because of my stupid love life. And today… I'm the reason you're suffering too."
"I'm a burden."
"No, Jay—"
I didn't let him finish. I ran out.
I got into my car and drove away. Far away from the school. I stopped in the middle of the highway. I stepped out of the car.
Tears kept falling down my face. My head was pounding, and my whole body felt like it was burning.
I felt so alone. I didn't want Kuya Cris or Ate around me. They were already doing so much for me. I didn't want to burden Percy either. He was taking care of Aries. I had already cut off my family and friends. Even Keifer had left me alone here.
I felt… lonely. So lonely. After crying for a while, I pulled out my phone.
There were a few messages from GagonBaliw.
FROM: GagonBaliw
MESSAGE : Where did you go?
FROM: GagonBaliw
MESSAGE : Hey! Talk to me.
FROM: GagonBaliw
MESSAGE : Is there any problem? Tell me. Please.
FROM: GagonBaliw
MESSAGE : It's been hours now. Why aren't you replying? Did something happen?
At least someone was there… maybe ready to listen to my nonsense.
I called him. He picked up after a few rings.
"Don't say anything. Just listen to me… please," I said.
"Today I feel like the worst person alive. My brother got hurt because of me. Kuya Angelo's company is suffering because of me. All because I broke the engagement they forced me into."
I paused for a moment.
"Sorry if I disturbed you… but right now I don't have anyone to rely on. I feel like a burden. Like everyone is just carrying me. They don't show it… but I know they blame me. I feel alone."
A dry laugh escaped my mouth.
"Call me dumb… foolish… or an idiot. But right now I want only one person beside me. The only person I love. The only person who makes my heart shatter. My Keifer. I hate him… but I still want him right now."
Suddenly—
SCREEECH!
Two cars stopped in front of me.
Several men stepped out. They looked like criminals. Don't tell me they were Sato's people. I didn't even have the energy to fight.
"Not now… please not now."
I immediately cut the call, jumped into my car, and drove away like a maniac.
Both cars started chasing me. I pushed the speed to 200 km/h.
My head was spinning badly. Then I saw a hospital ahead. I checked the rearview mirror. No one was following me anymore.
I stopped the car in front of the hospital. I barely had enough strength left. I somehow walked toward the reception.
But suddenly…
Everything went black.