Chapter 10:the night the sea heard everything.
If I thought Ulupong Island was chaotic during the day...
Night proved me wrong.
Because Section E + fire + night sky = disaster waiting for Felix.
The boys had somehow managed to build a bonfire that was just big enough to feel dramatic but not big enough for Kuya Angelo to sue the ocean.
Aries was sitting on a rock, arms crossed, watching Felix like a tired father supervising a hyperactive child.
"Felix," he warned.
"I am doing nothing," Felix replied, holding a stick with a marshmallow.
The stick was on fire.
"That is literally something," Aries said.
Ci-N was already lying on the sand, hugging his cooler like it was his emotional support animal.
"Wake me up when the food is ready," he mumbled.
"YOU'RE HOLDING THE FOOD," Denzal yelled.
Meanwhile…
I was sitting near the shoreline, knees pulled to my chest, watching the waves glow under the moonlight.
The island felt different at night.
Quieter.
Softer.
Like the chaos took a breath.
And then—
Warm arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"You disappeared," Keifer's voice murmured near my ear.
"I didn't disappear," I said softly. "I just escaped Section E before Felix tried to interview me about our future children."
He chuckled, sitting behind me and pulling me gently against his chest.
The sound of the waves. The warmth of him. The fire crackling behind us.
For once…
Everything felt still.
"You're quiet tonight," I said.
He didn't answer immediately.
His chin rested on my shoulder, his arms tightening slightly around my waist.
"I'm thinking," he finally said.
"That's dangerous."
"Very."
I turned my head slightly. "About what?"
There was a long pause.
"About how fast everything changed."
His voice was softer than usual.
"No board meetings." "No family expectations." "No pretending I don't care."
His fingers intertwined with mine.
"Just you."
My heart did that dangerous thing again.
The one that felt like falling and flying at the same time.
"Do you regret it?" I asked quietly.
His grip tightened instantly.
"Never."
Then softer—
"I just don't want this world to break you."
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
He rested his forehead against the side of my head.
"My family. The business. The people who smile in front of you and try to destroy you behind your back."
His voice dropped.
"The Watson name comes with enemies, Jay."
I turned fully this time, facing him.
Moonlight hit his face, and for once…
The King of Ulupongs looked tired.
Not dramatic tired.
Heavy tired.
The kind that doesn't come from school or sleep.
The kind that comes from carrying things alone.
I reached up and held his face.
"Keifer."
He looked at me.
"You already told me the deal," I said.
"The good, the bad, and the gago moments."
That made him breathe out a quiet laugh.
"I'm not leaving just because your world is complicated."
I leaned closer.
"I grew up in the Fernandez house. We argue before breakfast. Complicated is our family tradition."
He smiled a little.
But his eyes were still serious.The island was quiet.
Too quiet.
Which, in Section E terms, meant something bad was about to happen.
I was sitting near the dying bonfire, poking the sand with a stick while Felix and Ci-N argued about who ate the last barbecue stick.
"I counted it," Ci-N said dramatically. "There were twelve."
"There were eleven," Felix shot back. "You ate one during counting."
"That was a counting snack!"
Aries was lying on his back, staring at the sky like he was questioning every life decision that led him here.
Meanwhile…
Keifer's phone rang.
And everything changed.
Because Keifer Watson never ignored calls.
But this time?
He froze.
The screen lit his face.
And for the first time since I met him…
The King of Ulupongs looked tense.
Not annoyed.
Not irritated.
Tense.
"Who is it?" I asked quietly.
He didn't answer.
He just stared at the screen for three seconds.
Then he stood up.
"I need to take this."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
He walked away toward the shoreline.
Something in my chest tightened.
Because I've seen Keifer handle:
• Kuya Angelo
• Section E fights
• Business calls
Even Keigen's worst days
But this?
This was different.
Aries noticed too. He sat up.
"Who called him?" he asked.
"I don't know," I whispered.
Aries didn't look relieved.
"That's not good."
The moment Keifer ended the call, I knew something was wrong.
Not the normal Keifer-wrong.
Not the "Felix did something stupid" wrong.
This was different.
His shoulders were stiff.
His jaw locked.
His eyes?
Cold.
Dangerously cold.
We were still on the island with Section E. The others were laughing near the bonfire, arguing about who finished the last barbecue stick.
But around Keifer…
The air had changed.
"What happened?" I asked quietly.
He didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the screen again.
Then he exhaled once.
Slow.
Controlled.
"My father."
Silence.
Not shock.
Because this wasn't new.
I had met him before.
Not properly.
Not politely.
The last time I saw him…
Section E and I were practically taken to the Watson mansion.
Not invited.
Not asked.
Brought.
Like we were part of a situation that needed to be controlled.
So hearing his father called didn't make my heart drop.
It made it tighten.
"What does he want?" I asked.
Keifer's eyes moved to me.
"He knows you're on the island."
I blinked.
"How would he even—"
"He always knows where I am."
Right.
Of course he did.
Control.
Information.
Power.
That was the Watson world.
Aries walked over, already reading the tension.
"What did Keizer say?" he asked.
Felix immediately sat up.
"Why does that name sound illegal?"
Ci-N whispered, "Because it probably is."
Keifer ignored them.
"He's sending a helicopter."
Silence.
Felix blinked.
"…For fun?"
"No," Keifer said.
"For us."
The bonfire suddenly felt very small.
"Us… as in Section E?" Aries asked.
"Yes."
Ci-N clutched the cooler tighter.
"I don't like rich people transportation."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
Keifer's expression darkened.
"He said we've had enough 'unsupervised freedom.'"
Aries swore under his breath.
Felix raised a hand.
"I would like to formally apologize for whatever crime we accidentally committed."
"This isn't about you," Keifer said.
Then his eyes moved to me.
"It's about her."
My chest tightened.
"Me?"
"He doesn't like variables."
I remembered the mansion.
The long halls.
The guards.
The way his father looked at people like they were pieces on a board.
I remembered how Section E went quiet that day.
How even Felix didn't joke.
"How long?" I asked.
"Thirty minutes."
Right on cue—
A distant sound filled the air.
Thup. Thup. Thup.
Felix slowly turned his head toward the sky.
"…That better be someone else's rich problem."
It wasn't.
The helicopter appeared over the trees.
Section E collectively lost their minds.
"IS THAT FOR US?!" "ARE WE BEING ARRESTED?" "I DIDN'T EVEN DO MY ASSIGNMENT YET!"
Aries pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is why I hate your family," he told Keifer.
Keifer didn't react.
His attention was on me.
"Listen to me," he said quietly.
"If he says anything to you—"
"I know," I interrupted.
"I've met him before."
His eyes softened slightly.
But the tension stayed.
"This time will be different."
"How?"
"He called you an 'influence.'"
That word did not sound positive.
Felix walked over.
"Quick question. If we disappear, will the school at least send flowers?"
"Get in the helicopter, Felix," Aries said.
The ride was silent.
Section E had never been this quiet in their lives.
Even Ci-N wasn't eating.
That alone was terrifying.
The Watson mansion came into view.
Huge.
Cold.
Imposing.
Felix whispered, "This house looks like it has its own government."
When we landed, staff were already waiting.
Not welcoming.
Just… prepared.
Like they knew exactly how chaotic Section E could be.
We were escorted inside.
The doors closed behind us.
And there he was.
Mr. Watson.
Keifer's father.
Keizer.
Standing in the center of the grand hall.
Hands behind his back.
Expression calm.
Watching.
Always watching.
His eyes went straight to Keifer.
"You took longer than expected."
No greeting.
No warmth.
Keifer stepped forward.
"You don't summon me."
Not obedient.
Not respectful.
Just firm.
Keizer's gaze didn't change.
"I didn't summon you."
Then his eyes moved.
To me.
"I brought everyone," he finished.
The hall went very quiet.
Section E slowly shifted behind me like nervous background characters.
Keizer walked closer.
Each step slow.
Measured.
He stopped in front of me.
"Jay," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
"You've been here before."
"Yes, sir."
He studied my face.
Same analytical look.
Like last time.
Like he was calculating something.
Then he said:
"Last time, you were an accident."
Pause.
"This time…"
His eyes flicked briefly toward Keifer.
"…you are a factor."
The air tightened.
Keifer stepped forward immediately.
"She's not part of your analysis."
Keizer didn't even look at him.
"All influences on my son are my concern."
There it was again.
Influence.
Control.
Power.
Section E looked like they wanted to disappear into the floor.
I took a breath.
Then said calmly:
"I'm not here to influence him."
That got his attention.
"Oh?"
"I'm here because he chose me."
Silence.
Keifer's hand moved slightly closer to mine.
Not holding.
Ready.
Keizer watched us both.
Then—
A small nod.
Not approval.
Not rejection.
Acknowledgment.
"Good," he said quietly.
Then his tone shifted.
Colder.
"Because the situation has changed."
Aries straightened.
Keifer's eyes sharpened.
"What situation?" he asked.
Keizer finally looked at his son.
"You're no longer being watched by competitors."
Pause.
"You're being targeted."
The hall went completely still.
Felix whispered, very softly:
"…I knew this house had government problems."
Keifer didn't react.
"By who?" he asked.
Keizer's answer was calm.
"People who believe your attachment to her…"
His eyes moved to me again.
"…is your weakness."
Silence.
Then Keifer stepped forward.
Cold.
Certain.
"She's not my weakness."
Keizer held his gaze.
"No," he said.
"That's what makes her dangerous."
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Author's note
It's a big chapter.
Guys you can call me Riya cause that is my name
I'll upload 2 chapters tomorrow because tomorrow is Sunday.
Bye bye🫶🏻🌷