Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Book - 2) English

Jay-Jay's POV

Percy is such a pain! He's so insistent. He keeps pushing for that creepy amusement park, even though I don't want to go.

"I'll just get my car," he said before quickly running off.

Since the parking lot in front of the Mini Mart is small, he had to park farther away. That left me standing there like an idiot, pacing around.

I can't forget what David said. It's a king! My ex, still has feelings for Keifer. That's obvious, considering how much David's words affected him.

Why does it always turn out like this?! I don't have any feelings left for him!

Maybe he's just acting. Give that guy an Oscar—he'd beat Leonardo DiCaprio. What a shame!

But here I am, getting my hopes up again. And for what? Just to be let down? To cry once more? My tears don't turn into pearls—but I sure do turn into an idiot!

While waiting for Percy, I noticed a group of men entering the Mini Mart. They were college students. Their uniforms looked familiar, and they were making a lot of noise. I was sure I had seen them before.

"It hurts! When I looked for that girl, she was just like me!" the leader of the group said.

"Come On, Pre! A girl knocked you down?!" one of his friends teased.

"You said she was Savannah's friend. Why don't you look for her—"

I didn't hear the rest of what they said as they walked into the store. But the name Savannah caught my attention. Where have I heard that before?

Then it hit me. Savannah Shane!

Damn it! That girl from last night! How could I forget? But what's worse is that the guy who was just talking… he looks like the one who I kicked on the chest.

Shit.

I looked around, searching for Percy. Why is he taking so long? Where the hell is he? I can't stay here.

I decided to go look for him. Damn it, I don't even have his phone number!

Just as I was about to walk away, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I turned around with a glare, but my anger quickly turned into shock when I recognized him.

What kind of bad luck is this?!

"Well, well," the guy I kicked in the chest said arrogantly. "We were just talking about you, and here you are, right in front of me."

I tried to pull my arm free. His grip wasn't too tight, so he let go easily. I turned to run, but before I could, another body blocked my path.

I stepped back, realizing too late that they had surrounded me. There were only five of them, but they all looked ready for a fight. I wasn't sure if I could take them on—especially since I was already in pain.

The pain of bad luck in love!

"Where's all your bravery now?" the guy I kicked, taunted.

He looked like the leader of this group of idiots. He had the most arrogant expression out of all of them.

"I'm not in the mood to argue. Can you guys just move out of my way?" I said calmly.

"And what if we don't?" the guy in front of me sneered.

"Then I'll have to force you," I threatened, cracking my knuckles.

But instead of being intimidated, they burst into laughter. My knuckles didn't even make a sound. Damn it!

One by one, they cracked their knuckles in response, the noise echoing around us. I swallowed hard.

I am so not ready for this fight.

They kept laughing, exchanging amused looks. I needed to get out of here. I wasn't planning on fighting them.

I quickly analyzed their positions and focused on the guy closest to the road.

Taking a deep breath, I suddenly shoved him with all my strength. He stumbled and fell, giving me the perfect opening. Without hesitation, I ran.

"Bastard! Get her!" someone shouted.

I just kept running, not knowing where I was going. I just needed to get away from them.

Damn it! Where's my courage now? I must have left it at home.

Shit!

A sharp pain shot through my head, making me wince. I thought the medicine had taken care of that. Running became even harder as the pain intensified.

I had to stop. I turned into a narrow alley and hid, breathing heavily. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

Please don't find me here!

"Where is she?!" I heard their leader shout. "Find her!"

This is all Percy's fault! What's taking him so long? It's just a car, not a damn limousine. At this rate, it must have broken down or something!

The voices faded. Maybe they had given up. I was about to peek out when—

Shit.

The five of them were standing right in front of me, panting from all the running.

"Hehe… Hi?" I said awkwardly.

Two of them grabbed me before I could react, holding me tightly. They dragged me forward and shoved me in front of their leader.

"You made us chase you!" he growled, wiping sweat from his chin. "Did you really think you could escape us?"

"What's your problem?! Who even are you?!" I snapped.

I knew he was the guy I had kicked last night, but I had no idea who he actually was.

"You seriously don't remember?! You kicked me last night, and now you're asking who I am?!"

Oh… right.

"This idiot!" one of his friends scoffed. "What are we gonna do with her?"

The leader stepped closer, eyeing me from head to toe before smirking.

"You really hurt me last night," he said, tapping his chest where I had kicked him. "Now, I'll make sure you experience a pain you'll never forget."

I took a deep breath. "Too late," I muttered, my voice hollow.

"I've already experienced a pain I'll never forget."

The air around us shifted. They looked at each other, confused by my words. It was almost amusing how slow they were.

But their hesitation gave me the perfect opening.

I felt one of them loosen his grip slightly. Without wasting a second, I yanked my arm free and landed an uppercut straight to his jaw.

I turned to the other guy holding me—he was still frozen in shock. He didn't even have time to react before my fist slammed into his face, sending him to the ground.

Their leader's eyes widened in shock.

In that moment, something shifted in my mind. It felt just like the fights I used to get into back at Holy Saints High School.

I took a step forward, locking eyes with their leader.

"You picked the wrong opponent," I said, my voice cold.

I stepped closer to them, and they stepped back. My body burned with heat, as if craving more—more fights, more excitement. I wanted to feel the thrill of battle, the mix of fear and courage that churned in my chest.

"Bwisit!" their leader shouted before suddenly charging at me.

Before he could even raise his fist, I kicked him hard in the chest. He crashed to the ground near his companions, curling up in pain.

I turned to the remaining two. With every step I took, they backed away, their eyes flickering between fear and anger.

That's how it always was.

My classmates used to fight me too. But in the end, they always lost. I never fought large groups—it was too much trouble. After all, I'm still a woman.

A woman who tires easily. A woman who is fragile. A woman who breaks. Maybe that's why he managed to manipulate me.

Damn it! I remembered him again.

My fists clenched tight—so tight that the pain mixed with the rage boiling inside me.

"You bastards!" I screamed, rushing at them both.

Men can be such gagos. Instead of fighting me one-on-one, they both ganged up on me.

They pushed me!

Hey! I may be a fighter, but I'm still a woman! You don't just shove a woman!

"Damn it! Why are you pushing?! That hurts!"

"I think this chick is crazy!" one of them sneered.

Crazy?!

"Hey!" A voice suddenly cut through the air.

We all turned toward it at the same time. And just like that, the timing was perfect.

"Why did you push my sister?!" Percy's furious voice rang out.

"Maybe you should see what she did to our friends first!" one of the men snapped, pointing at his fallen comrades.

"Even so! You don't push a woman!" Percy shot back as he marched toward them.

Exactly! That's what I said!

I was watching Percy when something in his expression changed. His annoyance melted into something far more serious as he turned toward the two men.

I don't know why, but for a moment, I saw… a king.

The way he stared down my enemies, the way he slowly approached them—it was different.

"Per—"

Before I could finish, he suddenly spun mid-air, kicking one of them straight in the face.

That move!

I didn't want to say his name, but… Keifer. That was Keifer's move!

Now only one man remained, frozen in place, his body trembling. He looked like he was about to cry, unsure whether to run or stay.

I didn't move. I was too stunned by what I had just seen.

I shouldn't be thinking this, but for a moment… I saw three of him.

Sometimes Aries. Sometimes Yuri. And now Keifer.

And sometimes, even… Ci-N.

The three men who broke me—the ones who shattered my heart—seemed to merge into one. Percy had his own identity, but if I kept seeing them in him… should I stay away?

As he focused on the last remaining man, I slowly stepped back, trying to disappear without him noticing.

Something felt wrong. I wasn't comfortable. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I think… I'm going crazy—

THWACK!

Something struck the back of my neck. My legs buckled, and I collapsed onto the ground.

I tried to look around, to see who had hit me, but my vision blurred. Darkness crept in at the edges.

And then… I heard a voice.

"Nice! We've got his girlfriend!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Percy's POV

Where is she?!

After I took care of those guys, she was suddenly gone.

Where the hell did she go?!

I searched the area where I last saw her, but she was nowhere to be found.

I really need to buy her a new phone. That way, I can call her. I can't even reach her on the one she has now.

I know why. Because there's something wrong with her phone.

I rushed back to the mini-mart, but she wasn't there either. A tight knot of anxiety formed in my chest. This isn't good.

"Where the hell is she?" I muttered under my breath.

I ran back to the spot where we had fought earlier. The men were gone. I sprinted further, scanning the area.

That's when I spotted three kids playing near a convenience store. Without hesitation, I rushed toward them.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I said urgently.

They flinched at my sudden approach. Come on, I'm handsome! Why are they scared?!

"I'm just looking for a girl. She was here earlier, wearing a high school uniform."

No response.

I pulled out my phone and showed them a picture of Jay-jay.

"This girl—have you seen her?"

Their expressions changed. They leaned in closer, eyes wide.

"That's her!" one of them shouted.

"Yeah, we saw her!" another one added.

"Where?!" I asked, my heart pounding.

"Over there!" one of them pointed. "...She was sleeping!"

Sleeping?!

"No, no, no—what do you mean?"

"The guys took her! They put her in a van!"

What the fuck?!

"Thanks!" I barely managed to say before bolting to my car.

I jumped inside, gripping the steering wheel with shaking hands.

Shit! Who the hell took her?!

I pulled out my phone and dialed David's number. I needed backup. I couldn't do this alone.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yuri's POV

I miss her.

She hasn't come to school in days. I wanted to see her, but I can't.

I needed to give her space. I know she's still hurting from what we did to her. But if she keeps skipping school… what will happen to her studies?

I looked at her usual seat—still empty.

My gaze shifted to Keifer. He had returned to his old self—arms crossed, eyes distant, lost in thought.

Poor Keifer. He was torturing himself.

I sighed and glanced toward the front of the class. David and Ci-N were deep in conversation again. They've become inseparable, almost completely detached from the rest of Section E.

My breath hitched. If only I had realized my feelings sooner. If only I had the courage to fight Keifer for her. If only I had confessed. Maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way. Maybe we wouldn't all be suffering now.

I stared at the classroom door.

And then— it opened.

Suddenly, Percy burst into the room.

"Hey, David!" he said angrily. "Why aren't you answering my calls?!"

David looked at him curiously and pulled his cellphone from his pocket. "It was on silent. Sorry."

Percy seemed agitated and restless, as if he were confused and didn't understand what was happening.

"What the fucking are you doing here?" Keifer asked, his voice calm but authoritative.

He finally spoke!

Percy ignored him, running his fingers through his hair several times before suddenly snatching David's phone.

"What's wrong with you?" David asked.

Percy hesitated for a moment, then pressed the phone to his ear. It looked like he was making a call.

"Fuck!" Percy yelled, then threw the phone back at David.

"What's going on with you?" David asked again.

"Jay-Jay is missing." His quick response sent a wave of alarm through all of us—except Keifer.

"What?!"

"Maybe she just went somewhere!"

"Or maybe she went home!"

Percy shook his head in disbelief, turning around in frustration.

"You were with him! How do you not know where she is?!" I asked angrily.

He suddenly turned to me, pointing a finger at my face. "Don't lecture me!"

"What exactly happened?!" Felix asked.

"She just disappeared… I had just finished the fight she started, and then she was gone," Percy explained, clearly irritated.

A fight? This is bad.

I glanced at Keifer, whose expression remained unchanged. It was as if he didn't care about what was happening—as if Jay-Jay's disappearance meant nothing to him.

"You're not even going to do anything?!" I snapped at him.

Keifer met my gaze, then slowly stood up. Without a word, he tossed his cellphone at me and walked out of the room.

"I already know where she is," he said before disappearing through the door.

I looked at the phone, and a text message appeared on the screen.

📩

From: +639********

Message: We have your precious girl. Same place in 30 minutes, or you'll find her naked in our bed. Hahahaha

My grip on the phone tightened. Another message arrived—a picture of Jay-Jay, unconscious.

Sweetie… why now?!