Key's Point of View
“Why aren’t Merville and Kobe here yet? Where could those two be?” Yvo asked between bites of his food.
We’ve been at the canteen for a while now since it’s already lunch hour. And yes, the two of them still haven’t shown up. Could it be that they’re together?
“Didn’t you see Merville earlier?” I asked Yvo.
“I saw her leave the classroom right after our class ended. She even left before our teacher did. The only problem is, I don’t know where she went,” Yvo answered me.
“Kobe was the same. Left class early and I have no idea where he went either,” Gio chimed in.
“Could it be…” Denim cut himself off.
We all turned toward the cafeteria entrance just as the two of them walked in. Merville’s brows were furrowed, while Kobe was smiling—and even worse, they were holding hands.
Yvo dropped his spoon, his mouth left open with a bit of rice still in it.
“We knew it,” he said, stunned.
“Hi, guys,” Kobe greeted us with a smile.
I dropped my fork and took a small step back. Gio, Denim, and Devon were all wide-eyed, staring at them. Yvo still hadn’t changed his expression.
“I told you we shouldn’t have admitted it yet,” I heard Merville say.
“Y-you two are… together?” I asked, pointing slightly at their still intertwined hands.
“Yes,” Kobe said happily.
“Son of a—just yesterday…” Yvo couldn’t finish his sentence.
What the hell?
“I thought you guys wouldn’t be surprised if we got together? Why do your faces look like that?” Merville asked irritably.
“Well, it’s just—” Gio couldn’t finish his sentence either. “Ugh. Just sit down, you two.”
They sat beside Devon, who looked like she was video calling Bolt again. I’m really starting to suspect something between those two.
“What’s going on there?” we heard Bolt ask from Devon’s phone.
“Kobe and Merville are officially together,” Devon answered. She turned the phone toward us to catch everyone on camera.
“What about you, Harrington? When are you going to court my twin?” Denim asked, and her twin laughed.
“You haven’t told them yet?” Bolt asked again.
“Told us what?” we all asked at once.
“B-Bolt and I… we’re together,” Devon said shyly, stammering and blushing as she lowered her head.
“What the hell?” Yvo said, dazed.
Suddenly Denim shouted, “Yey! Freebies! Freebies!”
Everyone at our table looked at us.
“Free lunch for the whole week!” Yvo added loudly.
“You guys are the worst!” Gio said and fist-bumped Kobe.
I could only shake my head, wishing the chair I was sitting on would swallow me whole. I was embarrassed for the three of them. I was also happy that everything was finally out in the open, but did they really have to shout it like that? Everyone was staring at us—I was so embarrassed. Couldn’t they have saved at least a little dignity?
“WAHAHAHA! This is awesome!” Kobe shouted. Merville pinched him, making him grimace and stop.
“Whipped,” Yvo said with a laugh.
Merville turned to him. “It’s fun teasing someone who’s easily annoyed. Try me and I’ll punch you.”
Yvo just laughed. Ours was once again the loudest table at lunch. When I went to the second classroom, Gio didn’t come with me since he was heading straight to the complex to finish his task with Ingrid for the upcoming event.
My day was peaceful after that. I was really wondering why Spiro wasn’t around. I didn’t even bother asking Shaun. Oh, speaking of Shaun—it’s honestly a miracle he didn’t bother me today. Maybe he finally got the message after how many times I pushed him away.
When school ended, we all met at the gate because they wanted to leave together. This group we’ve formed really is something else. They even planned for us to hang out over the weekend. And of course, everyone agreed—especially now that we know Bolt will be out of the hospital by then. They even planned to have a sleepover at Bolt’s mansion for extra fun.
Denim and Devon were the first to leave in the same car since their driver arrived early. It took some effort to send Gio and Kobe home. They wanted to come with me, but I said we had a family dinner, so they finally agreed to head home.
The truth is, we were planning to go to the hospital. I said I’d only visit Bolt once he was discharged, but I just couldn’t wait—especially not the other two. We had to discuss everything, especially now that I was starting to suspect the Carters and Albion. Bolt could help a lot if he still remembered what happened.
And I just hope that he can still remember everything.
We all left in our own cars. The hospital was quite far, so we had to hurry. While driving, I was talking to the two using my earpiece.
“I am nervous,” I heard Merville’s voice.
“I feel you,” I replied. “I don’t know if this fight of ours is going anywhere.” I shook my head.
I heard Yvo chuckle softly through the line. “I feel like we’re going to fail.”
“Just you, Yvo. Not us,” Ville snapped.
“That’s what I said.”
We arrived at the hospital. We entered almost at the same time, walking briskly inside.
“Hi, Ms. Van Fraser.” There go the male interns staring at me again.
I heard Merville chuckle. “Nice name, huh?” She shook her head.
“Tss.”
We quickly got into the elevator. A few people joined us, but I wasn’t paying attention to any of them. When the elevator dinged, we exited quickly. I didn’t know why, but the interns automatically made way for us. The two flanked me as we walked. We stopped at the door. I cracked my knuckles, knocked twice, and then opened the door.
Kuya Chord wasn’t there when we entered. Bolt looked surprised to see us. He hadn’t expected us to come. He set down his phone and turned to face us. Yvo sat in the chair next to Bolt, while Ville and I both dragged over single sofas in front of Bolt’s bed.
I flopped into my seat and leaned back, resting my elbow on the armrest and my chin in my hand.
“What happened to your face, Agent Key?” Bolt asked.
He really knows when to call me Mavis—and when not to.
“I’ll explain later.” I sat up properly. “It’s time to discuss everything regarding your case, Bolt.”
“Please remember anything. Don’t fail us,” Merville added seriously.
Bolt frowned, clearly confused by what we were saying. Ville and I exchanged glances.
“The incident that happened to you,” Yvo said.
I leaned back again. “We already knew it was an ambush, Agent Bolt. It wasn’t just a fucking accident. We investigated while you were still recovering.” I crossed my legs. “We checked your car and found two Sig Mosquito pistol bullets. That same night, we were dragged into a shootout. They ambushed us like it was all planned. And of course, we managed to escape those bastards.” I explained everything.
Bolt smirked. “I thought you weren’t going to ask me about that. I was just waiting.”
I shook my head. Damn. Still the same Bolt Harrington. If we hadn’t asked, he probably wouldn’t have said anything.
“I didn’t see their faces—only their eyes,” he answered. “And I’m sure it was a man. Whatever his intentions were that night, I don’t know.”
“That’s the thing, Bolt. You’re in the hospital because his intention was to kill you,” Yvo clarified.
“The guy who broke into my condo was a man too,” I added. “I didn’t see anything but his eyes. Hazel nut-colored, just like mine.”
“Yes. He looked about 5'9", with a masculine build. Right, Agent Key?” Bolt added, making us lock eyes.
“How did you know?” I asked, shocked.
“Because that’s exactly the same man who shot at my tire. But I don’t think killing me was his intention. If it was, he would’ve finished me off right then and there. But he didn’t.”
“Well, I guess his intention was to make you suffer,” Merville said, her chin resting on her clenched fist.
“I think they plan to pick us off one by one. First Bolt, then Mavis…” Yvo glanced at Merville. “Who’s next among the three of us—me, you, or Hayes?”
“No. That’s not going to happen. What happened to Mavis and me is more than enough. Whoever he is, he better not push it,” Bolt said seriously.
I held the side of my face where the wound was. We’re all left puzzled by these events. We haven’t even finished dealing with Arturo and Nikolai, and now we’ve got a new enemy.
Who are you? And the Carters—what is their real identity?
@rrrrrylleism