JAY-JAY POV
We walked into the principal's office, the air heavy with quiet authority.
I knocked softly.
"Come in," she called.
"Hi, Miss P," I greeted, forcing a small smile.
"Hello, Miss Mariano," she replied warmly. "Please, sit."
Percy and I settled into the chairs across from her desk.
"I'm very impressed with your test scores," she began, her tone measured but proud. "With results like these, you could be placed in Section A."
"I don't want to be in Section A," I said firmly, my voice steady even as my stomach twisted.
The room went still.
Miss P raised her brows, surprise flickering across her expression. "Section A is the highest placement, Miss. Mariano. It's where the best students go. Why wouldn't you want that?"
I clenched my bag tighter, my cast pressing against the desk. "Because Section A isn't where I belong."
Percy's lips parted, but he stayed silent, watching me like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Miss P leaned back, studying me carefully. "Then where do you think you belong?"
I swallowed hard, images of Section E flashing in my mind—the chaos, the shouting, the heartbreak, Keifer's silence, Yuri's guilt, Ci-n's tears.
"Anywhere but Section A," I whispered.
Miss P paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Then she nodded once, decisive. "Alright then. Section B it is," she said, typing quickly. "You're all set. You can start in Section B next week."
Her words felt final, like a door closing behind me.
I gripped my bag tighter, the cast on my hand pressing against the strap.
Section B.
A fresh start.
A different chaos.
But as I stood to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that Section E's voices would follow me no matter where I went.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 WEEK LATER AFTER KEIFER LEFT FOR LONDON
JAY-JAY POV
Today was the day I would step into Section B.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection.
The doctor had finally removed my cast, but his words echoed in my head—be careful, don't push yourself too hard.
My wrist still felt weak, fragile, like one wrong move could break me all over again.
I traced the faint marks on my skin, a reminder of everything that had happened.
I sighed, reaching for my bag. Fresh start, Jay, I told myself. No more Section E. No more chaos. Just… breathe.
I brushed my hair back, dabbed a little gloss on my lips, and forced a smile at the girl in the mirror.
She didn't look broken anymore.
She looked nervous, yes—but determined.
"Okay," I whispered to myself. "Section B. Let's go."
I grabbed my things and stepped out of the room, my heart pounding with every step closer to a new beginning.
Percy was in the kitchen, humming to himself while flipping eggs in the pan.
The smell filled the whole room.
"Okay, Baby Sistah, big day with the new Section," he said, grinning like he owned the place.
"But be careful, try not to get into—" he started, wagging the spatula at me.
"Chill," I cut him off, rolling my eyes. "I won't get into fights."
He raised a brow, smirk tugging at his lips. "Who told you not to get into fights? If it's reasonable, then get into one. But avoid chaos—it's bad for you," he said, flicking my forehead lightly.
"Hey!" I yelped, rubbing the spot, glaring at him. "You didn't have to do that."
Percy just laughed, sliding the plate of eggs toward me. "Consider it a reminder. You've got a sharp tongue, Baby Sistah, and sometimes you forget when to use it."
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "Don't worry. Section B isn't Section E. I'll be fine."
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching me carefully. "Fine isn't enough, Jay. I want you happy. Don't let anyone drag you back into the same mess."
His words lingered, heavier than the playful flick to my forehead. I picked up my fork, staring at the eggs, and whispered, "I'll try."
Percy's smirk softened into something steadier. "That's all I ask."
He turned back to the stove, flipping the eggs with casual ease. "And one more thing—I want you to learn how to drive. I can't drop you at school every day."
I blinked, my fork halfway to my mouth. "Really? You'd let me drive?" I asked, my voice lifting with excitement.
Percy chuckled at my reaction, shaking his head. "Yes, but only when that arm of yours is fully healed. No shortcuts, Baby Sistah."
I grinned, leaning back in my chair. "Deal. But when I do, don't complain if I drive better than you."
He raised a brow, pretending to look offended. "Better than me? Impossible. But I'll let you dream."
I laughed, the sound filling the kitchen, light and easy for the first time in days.
When we finished breakfast, Percy grabbed his keys and we headed out.
The ride to school felt strangely quiet—no chaos, no shouting, just the hum of the engine and Percy's occasional humming under his breath.
When we pulled up, he leaned against the steering wheel, his eyes steady on me.
"Be careful, Jay. Call me if you need me," Percy said, his voice softer than usual.
I nodded, clutching my bag tighter. "I will."
Stepping out of the car, the air felt different—lighter, but heavy at the same time.
I walked toward the building, each step echoing in my chest.
Section B.
A fresh start.
A new chapter.
I pushed the door open, my heart pounding, and stepped inside.
The teacher paused mid-sentence, her eyes landing on me. "Hi," she greeted warmly.
"Hello, Miss," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"You must be the new student," she asked.
I nodded quickly.
"Alright then, please introduce yourself," she said, gesturing for me to come forward.
I walked to the front, my palms clammy, and looked at the faces staring back at me.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Jasper Jean Mariano—Jay-Jay for short," I said, forcing a small smile.
The room went quiet for a beat. I could feel it—the recognition in their eyes. They knew I was from Section E.
"Nice to meet you," a girl with kind eyes said, breaking the silence.
Her voice softened the tension, and soon others began to greet me too, their smiles easing the weight in my chest.
"Miss Mariano, you can sit wherever you'd like," the teacher said. "I'm Miss Smith, by the way."
I smiled politely. "Thank you, Miss."
"Jay, you can sit here," the kind girl offered, pointing to the seat beside her.
Relief washed over me.
I nodded and walked toward her, my bag heavy on my shoulder but my heart just a little lighter.
"I'm Mia," she said, offering her hand with a bright smile.
"Jay," I replied, shaking it gently.
Her grip was firm but kind, the kind of handshake that instantly made me feel a little less like an outsider.
"Don't worry," Mia added, leaning closer as if to shield me from the curious stares around us. "Section B isn't as scary as it looks. You'll be fine here."
I let out a small laugh, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. "Thanks… I needed that."
She grinned. "Sit next to me. I'll make sure you don't get lost in all the introductions."
I nodded, sliding into the seat beside her.
For the first time since walking through that door, I felt like maybe—just maybe—this fresh start wouldn't be so bad.
The teacher slipped out of the room, leaving the class buzzing.
"Okay everyone, as you know this is Jay—introduce yourself to her," Mia said, standing up with a smile that made everything feel less intimidating.
"I'm Caleb," a boy said, flashing a grin. He was pretty good-looking, the kind of guy who probably knew it too.
"I'm Olivia," another girl chimed in, her voice soft but friendly.
One by one, they started to introduce themselves, names bouncing around the room until I felt a little less like a stranger.
Then Ben stepped forward.
"Hi, Ben! I didn't know you went to HVIS," I said, surprised.
"Hello, Jay. I didn't know you transformed to Section B," he replied, his tone light but curious.
Mia clapped her hands together. "Good, you two already know each other. That makes things easier."
Ben's eyes flicked to my arm. "How's your hand?" he asked gently.
I glanced down, flexing my fingers slightly. "Better than before," I said, my voice quiet but steady.
Ben nodded, his expression softening. "That's good. Don't push it too much though."
I smiled faintly, grateful for the concern.
The day went by like that—introductions, small conversations, little moments that didn't feel heavy. Section B wasn't bad at all.
They were easy to get along with. No chaos, no shouting matches, no sharp glares that cut deeper than words. Just normal classmates who laughed at silly things and welcomed me without hesitation.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I was drowning.
"Jay, give me your number," Mia said, smiling as she held out her phone.
I nodded and typed it in.
"Give me yours too!" a few others chimed in, voices overlapping with excitement.
I laughed softly and passed my number around, one by one, until everyone who asked had it.
"Bye, Jay! See you tomorrow!" Mia called out, waving as she headed toward the door.
"Bye!" Olivia added, and a few others echoed her.
I stood there for a moment, clutching my bag, watching them leave
I was about to slide into the car when I heard someone call my name.
"Jay."
I turned, my heart skipping, only to see Aries standing there.
"Are you living with Percy now?" he asked, his tone calm but his eyes searching.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Aries shifted his weight, glancing at Percy. "Percy, can I talk to her?"
Percy narrowed his eyes, protective as always.
"Fine. I'm giving you ten minutes," Percy said, his voice clipped.
"Let's go somewhere," Aries suggested.
I nodded, and we started to walk, the silence between us heavy.
"Jay… I'm really sorry about what I said that week," Aries began, his voice low, almost hesitant. "I know I wasn't the best brother for you."
I stopped for a moment, staring at the ground. His words hung in the air, pressing against the ache I'd been carrying.
"You hurt me, Aries," I said quietly, my throat tightening. "You made me feel like I didn't matter."
Aries winced, his hands shoving into his pockets. "I know. And I regret it every single day. I was angry, I was stupid… but I never stopped caring about you."
I looked at him, searching his face for sincerity.
His eyes weren't defiant like before—they were tired, softer, almost pleading.
"Things happened between us when we were little kids," Aries said, his voice trembling. "And when your mom gave me away, I was so mad at you… because it felt like she only cared about you. Maybe that's why I hated you. But please, Jay—give me a chance again, and I'll prove it."
"It's okay, Aries. Let the past stay in the past," I said, wrapping my arms around him.
He hugged me back, tighter than I expected. "So… is Percy treating you okay?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah. He's actually a pretty good cook. But he's a bit self‑obsessed."
Aries pulled back just enough to raise a brow. "A bit?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "Fine. A lot."
Aries chuckled, the tension between us easing into something lighter. "That sounds like Percy. Always bragging about himself, huh?"
"Exactly," I said, rolling my eyes. "He'll cook breakfast and then spend half the time telling me how amazing he is for making eggs."
Aries smirked. "Classic Percy. But… I'm glad he's taking care of you."
For the first time in a long while, standing there with Aries didn't feel heavy.
It felt almost normal—like siblings teasing each other instead of carrying years of hurt.
"You changed your Section?" Aries asked, his voice softer now.
I nodded. "Section B."
"Nice," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
For a second, it felt strange—Aries, the same brother who once threw sharp words at me, now sounding almost proud.
The tension between us wasn't gone, but it wasn't choking me anymore either.
"Jay, let's go," Percy called out, his voice sharp but steady.
I turned back to Aries, giving him one last hug. "Bye, Aries."
"Bye. See you around," he said, his tone softer than I remembered, almost hesitant.
I pulled away, walking toward Percy.
He was leaning against the car, arms crossed, watching us with that protective glare he never bothered to hide.
Aries followed me, and before I could say anything Percy swooped in.
"Hi, Aries baby, you don't want to greet me?" Percy teased, wrapping him in a sudden hug.
"Percy, get off me!" Aries groaned, trying to push him away.
I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing at the sight of Aries struggling while Percy clung to him like glue.
"Jay, control your brother!" Aries complained, shooting me a look.
Percy smirked, refusing to let go. "What? I'm just showing him some love. He missed me, I can tell."
Aries finally shoved Percy off, straightening his shirt with an annoyed huff. "You're impossible."
"Impossible but lovable," Percy shot back, winking at me.
I shook my head, still laughing.
For a moment, the heaviness of earlier melted away, replaced by the ridiculous chaos only Percy could bring.
"Okay, bye baby," Percy said with his usual dramatic flair.
Aries rolled his eyes, but I caught it—the small smile tugging at his lips.
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You two are ridiculous."
Percy grinned, clearly proud of himself. "Ridiculous but unforgettable."
Aries muttered, "More like annoying," but his voice didn't carry the same sharpness as before. It was softer, almost teasing.
For the first time in a long while, it felt like maybe things between us weren't so broken anymore.
I climbed into the car, Percy sliding in beside me, and as we pulled away, I glanced back at Aries. He was still standing there, hands in his pockets, that faint smile lingering.
And somehow, that tiny smile gave me hope.
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💙🔥 Author's Note 🔥💙
Okay guys, some of you asked me to include what happens in between 👀✨.
So the next chapter will skip ahead to when Keifer finally comes back from London ✈️💔.
Please make sure to drop your comments—I want to hear all your thoughts 😭💬.
👉 Who would cry the loudest if Jay ignored them for a month? 😭💔
Maybe I could drop one more chapter if you guys comment