The silence of the Watson penthouse was officially dead.
The moment the elevator doors opened, a blur of neon yellow hair and high-pitched screaming invaded the living room. Ci-N rushed in, skidding across the marble floor in his socks, followed closely by Felix, who was carrying a suspiciously large box of spicy fried chicken.
"JAY-JAY! MY BEST FRIEND! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN THREE DAYS! I ALMOST EXPIRED!" Ci-N wailed, throwing his arms around Jay-jay, who was still holding a spatula.
Keifer's eye twitched. He checked his watch. "It's been exactly forty-eight hours, Ci-N. Get off my wife."
"Don't be so grumpy, King! Marriage has made you even more 'killjoy' than usual," Felix laughed, slamming the chicken box down on a million-peso mahogany coffee table. Behind them, Edrix and Josh walked in more calmly, though Edrix had a mischievous glint in his eyes that usually meant trouble.
"Nice place, Keifer," Edrix said, looking around. "A bit too quiet for my taste, but the fridge is probably full, so I'll allow it."
The Unspoken Tension
While Jay-jay was busy laughing and trying to stop Ci-N from trying on her expensive jewelry, Keifer pulled Edrix and Josh toward the balcony. The playful atmosphere didn't follow them there.
"You got the message?" Keifer asked, his voice dropping an octave.
Edrix's smile faded. He leaned against the railing, looking out at the city skyline. "Yeah. Someone is buying up the old properties around our high school. Not just any developer—it's a dummy corporation linked to the Vanguard Group."
Keifer's jaw tightened. The Vanguard Group was a name associated with the darker side of the Hanamitchi underworld. "They're trying to flush us out. They think if they touch the old 'territory,' I'll react."
"And will you?" Josh asked, crossing his arms. "You're a married man now, Keifer. You have more to lose."
Keifer glanced through the glass door. Inside, Jay-jay was currently having a pillow fight with Ci-N, her laughter echoing through the room. She looked happy. She looked safe.
"That's exactly why I'm going to finish this before she even finds out there's a problem," Keifer said. "Keep a tail on the Vanguard representative. I want to know who is pulling the strings."
A "Peaceful" Lunch
The reunion moved to the dining area. It was a scene of pure nostalgia—the "Mutya" surrounded by her boys. Even though they were all older, wearing designer clothes instead of school uniforms, the energy was exactly the same.
"So, Jay," Felix said through a mouthful of chicken. "How's the 'Queen' life? Does Keifer let you out of the house, or does he keep you locked in a vault like his gold bars?"
"Oi! I'm not that strict!" Keifer defended, though everyone—including Jay-jay—gave him a look.
"Please," Jay-jay laughed. "Yesterday I tried to go to the grocery store alone and I found four bodyguards hiding in the vegetable section. They were literally pretending to be very interested in eggplants."
The table erupted in laughter. For a moment, the mystery of the Vanguard Group felt miles away. They talked about the old days, about the legendary fights in the hallway, and how everyone thought Keifer and Jay-jay would never actually make it to the altar.
But the peace was fragile. Jay-jay noticed that Keifer hadn't touched his food. He was staring at his phone, his thumb tapping a rhythmic, nervous beat against the table.
She reached under the table, squeezing his hand. I'm here, her touch said.
Keifer looked at her and forced a small smile, but Jay-jay knew him too well. The "King" was hiding something, and in the world of Section E, secrets usually led to a fight.
The Warning Shot
The lunch ended abruptly when a loud CRASH echoed from the balcony.
Everyone stood up instantly. The Section E instincts kicked in—the boys moved into a defensive formation around Jay-jay without even thinking.
Keifer stepped out onto the balcony. A small drone was hovering there, having dropped a black envelope onto the floor. It buzzed once before self-destructing, falling into the street below as a pile of scrap metal.
Keifer picked up the envelope. Inside was a single photo: the old Section E classroom, empty and covered in red spray paint. Across the chalkboard, one word was written:
"CHECKMATE."
"Who is it, Keifer?" Jay-jay asked, stepping up beside him. She saw the photo and felt a cold shiver.
Keifer crumpled the photo in his hand. He looked at his friends—his brothers—and then at his wife. The "After Marriage" peace was officially over.
"Someone who wants to play a game," Keifer said, his eyes turning cold and sharp. "And they just made the mistake of bringing the game to my home."