Jay POV
Inside Eman's restaurant, the noise slowly settled.
Not because things were fine.
But because everyone was trying to understand what "fine" even meant anymore.
Keifer didn't let go of my hand.
Not fully.
He was cleaning the cut carefully with the first aid kit Eman brought.
Slow.
Focused.
Quiet.
"This is deeper than it should be," he said.
"It's just a cut," I replied.
"It's not 'just' anything when it's you."
I looked away.
Eman stood nearby, still confused.
"So… someone want to explain who those girls are?"
I sighed.
Then pointed.
"Seraphine Vale."
Seraphine gave a small wave like she wasn't involved in chaos ten minutes ago.
"Rina Solace."
Rina crossed her arms.
Not smiling.
Not joking.
Just watching the room carefully.
"They're from my old school abroad," I said.
"Friends."
Keifer didn't answer immediately.
Just kept cleaning my hand.
Yuri frowned.
"Friends who show up during attacks?"
I opened my mouth.
Then stopped.
"Nothing," I said instead.
Rina exhaled sharply.
"We came out because you guys were about to become targets."
The room shifted.
That got everyone's attention.
Seraphine leaned slightly forward.
"Jay didn't want you involved."
Keifer looked up now.
"Involved in what exactly?"
Silence.
Rina didn't hesitate anymore.
"A group. Illegal operations. Dangerous network."
Felix blinked.
"Okay… that sounds too serious for a Saturday lunch."
Rina continued anyway.
"We stopped them two years ago."
"Now they're back."
Yuri frowned.
"Back how?"
Rina's voice dropped slightly.
"Revenge."
That word sat heavy in the room.
Seraphine added quietly:
"They target people connected to us. Anyone close."
Keifer's grip on my hand paused for a second.
Just a second.
Then he looked at me.
"So you were hiding this?"
I finally pulled my hand back slightly.
"It's not something you just explain over lunch."
Ci-n leaned forward.
"So we're just supposed to accept that people are trying to hurt us and move on?"
"No," I said quickly.
"You're supposed to stay out of it."
Felix scoffed.
"That's not how that works."
Rina looked at him.
"It is if you want to stay alive."
The room went quiet again.
Keifer exhaled slowly.
"I don't understand this."
"You don't have to," I said.
Ci-n stepped forward, voice steady but serious.
"Yes… you are our family. No secrets should be kept."
I felt my jaw tighten.
"It's not that simple," I said.
"The fights you think you understand… you don't."
Felix frowned.
"Then make us understand."
Before I could stop it—
Seraphine spoke.
"Our rivals group name is Black Veil Syndicate."
The room went quiet for a second.
Even the noise outside felt distant.
Then Rory, who had been silent, slowly looked up.
"I've heard of them."
That caught everyone's attention.
"They're not just dangerous," Rory said quietly.
"They're one of the most active criminal groups across Asia."
Rina nodded once.
"Yes."
Seraphine continued, her tone lower now.
"They deal in illegal trafficking and drugs targeting teenagers and young adults."
Felix's expression dropped.
"That's… real?"
"Too real," she replied.
Rina crossed her arms tighter.
"Because of them, a lot of people died."
"Mostly in Vietnam… and parts of the Philippines."
The air in the room felt heavier.
David muttered:
"That's… not just a school-level problem."
Seraphine hesitated for a second before continuing.
"They've also killed—"
"Enough."
My voice came out sharper than I meant it to.
Everyone turned to me.
I stood up from the chair.
Slowly.
"You've said enough."
Rina blinked.
"Jay—"
"I said enough."
The room went silent again.
Keifer stepped forward slightly.
"I'm not done."
I turned to him immediately.
"Yes, you are."
There was a pause.
Heavy.
Ci-n looked between us.
"What is going on?"
I didn't answer.
Because if I did…
it would become real in a way I wasn't ready for them to understand yet.
Seraphine lowered her voice.
"Jay…"
I grabbed my phone.
"This conversation is over."
Keifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're just going to walk away?"
"Yes."
Rina started to step forward.
"Boss—"
I cut her off instantly.
"Not here."
Silence.
I didn't look at anyone again.
Not Keifer.
Not the others.
Not even Rina or Seraphine.
I just walked out.
And this time…
no one followed.
End of Chapter 106 🕶️🔥📖