The final bell rang, loud and satisfying.
I was already half out of my seat when Sir Alvin walked back in, carrying a folder like he had unfinished business. Why does it feels like something's fishy.
I think I was right.
Everyone froze.
He placed the folder on the table, adjusted his glasses, and looked at us one by one.
That look alone told me—we were not free yet.
"Before you all disappear," he said calmly, "there will be an extra class after school."
Groans filled the room.
What ! I think it's bcoz I didn't consult horoscope today. Ugh!
Sir Alvin raised his hand. "This is not a punishment. It is for your group project."
The noise slowly died down.
"You have been divided into groups," he continued, voice firm and clear. "This extra period is to help you coordinate, distribute work, and finalize your approach. I don't want chaos, I don't want excuses, and I don't want anyone leaving early."
Mayo raised his hand. "Sir, what about emotional damage?"
Sir Alvin ignored him professionally.
"You will stay," he added, "until I dismiss you. Understood?"
A collective, tired "Yes, sir" followed.
Only after Sir Alvin left did Section E breathe again.
And chaos returned instantly.
Chairs scraped. Bags dropped. Voices collided.
Keifer leaned back against my desk, arms crossed, watching everyone like the king of serpents he was.
"So," he murmured, "extra time with you."
"Extra torture," I replied.
He smirked. "Same thing."
Ci-N suddenly leaned in between us.
"Ate Jay," he whispered loudly, "if I die during this extra class, tell my parents I tried."
Huh! What a dramatist.
I smacked his head. David sighed. He was feeling sleepy but still he have to work as duty of a leader. Yuri didn't even look up from his notebook.
That's when—
"BABY!"
Calix barely turned before Mica wrapped her arms around him. He caught her instinctively, hands on her waist.
She was never like this but this jerk made her like this. Ugh!
"Baby," he replied softly.
"Ew," Kit muttered.
"Love virus," Mayo added.
Mica laughed and waved at me. "Jay! Is this the famous Section E?"
"Unfortunately permanent," I said.
She glanced around. "So… I heard there's a new girl in ur section.
where's the new girl?"
My eyes drifted to the window.
Ellara sat there quietly, hoodie half covering her face, phone in hand. Calm. Unbothered. Like the noise didn't exist.
"She's there," I said.
Mica nodded. "Interesting."
"Would you like to introduce us?" mica asked.
I was a little bit scared of her but I can't lose my pride . I waved mica to follow me.
"Hey elara !" I said.
"She is mica , our friend and calix s girlfriend "
"Hlo ! Nice to meet you" elara answered.
Mica whispered "she seems nice "
Yeah she is nice and feels trustworthy but still scares me.
I was about to say something
then—
The door opened again.
Freya walked in.
Oh god! Not this sketchbook again.
"Should I slap her"
"What about a punch"
I stop thinking when I saw her feet moving.
I thought she want to aim at me but I was wrong she was targeting........elara.
My god!
"Oh," Freya said loudly, "you're still here."
Heads turned.
"who is she refering to?," Felix whispered.
" Jay! Why is she targeting elara?" Drew asked.
"Because she ignored her on her first day"
"Wow , that's why she's ate" rory grinned.
Ellara didn't look up.
Freya stepped closer. "I'm talking to you."
Nothing.
Ellara scrolled her phone. It seems that she was doing something important but this sketchbook was irritating.
She doesn't seemed to be disturbed but my instincts says that she is getting irritated.
"Wow I think I already borrowed some instict from grandpa"
The class went silent—then burst into whispers.
"She ignored her."
"No way."
"That's Freya."
Freya laughed, but it sounded forced. "You think you can act cool in front of me?"
Still nothing.
Mayo leaned toward Kit. "She's winning without speaking."
Freya's smile tightened. "Do you even know who I am?"
Ellara remained seated. Calm. Silent.
"A sketchbook" i said inside me . I wish I could say this on her face. Ugh!
That's when David spoke, voice steady.
"Freya, stop. She's in Section E now."
Ci en also participated.
"Yeah," he added. "You can't treat my ate like this like that."
"What the f*ck! Ate, are u serious" Freya snapped.
I stood too. "Enough."
Freya scoffed. "Why? Because she's suddenly important?"
The class murmured.
"She's pushing it," Felix whispered.
Freya took one more step. "You think sitting quietly makes you special?"
Ellara slowly locked her phone and stood.
The room went dead silent.
She lifted her gaze—calm, unreadable.
"I don't need to be special," she said softly.
"I just don't need to be loud to exist."
The words landed.
Hard.
Freya froze.
Someone gasped.
Someone laughed nervously.
Someone whispered, "Damn."
Ellara didn't look at Freya again.
She simply sat down.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
She glanced at me.
For a solid three seconds after Ellara sat down, no one spoke.
Then—
"DID YOU HEAR THAT?" Ci-N yelled, slamming his palms on the desk.
"That was illegal," Felix added.
"She didn't even blink," Drew whispered.
Ellara put her hoodie back up like nothing had happened.
Freya walked out without another word, heels clicking aggressively.
The door slammed.
Silence again.
Then applause.
Not loud. Not dramatic. Just scattered claps.
Ci-N turned around in his seat, staring at Ellara like she'd just solved world hunger.
"Ate… teach me that power," he said sincerely.
She just smiled gently on that child's words.
Ellara didn't reply.
She just opened her notebook.
Extra class officially resumed.
Sir Alvin wasn't there anymore, but Section E acted like he was—barely.
Chairs dragged. Papers shuffled. Someone threw an eraser.
David stood up, clapping once. "Okay. Focus. We have work."
"Who died and made you leader?" Mayo asked.
"Logic," David replied calmly.
Keifer leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes drifting toward me.
I felt it. That pull. Like gravity worked differently when he looked at me. I have to ignore him. You can do it jay , you can do it. Or maybe not.
Ci-N kept glancing at Ellara every five seconds.
"I swear," he whispered to me, "she destroyed Freya with one sentence. One. Sentence."
"She didn't even raise her voice," I muttered.
"That's scarier," he said seriously.
Then I noticed Felix talking to elara. Pointing finger on his notebook.
For half a second, something weird tugged at me—but I ignored it.
Ellara could handle herself. I knew that now.
David started assigning tasks.
Calix nodded thoughtfully.
Ci-N complained.
Mayo pretended to sleep.
And somehow, amidst all that noise, Keifer was suddenly beside me.
"hey wify?" he asked softly.
I smacked on his arm. "hey shut up"
He tilted his head. "You were brave."
I laughed lightly. "She was braver."
Keifer studied me for a moment. Then he reached out and intertwined his fingers with mine, slow and deliberate.
The room faded.
His thumb brushed over my knuckles, grounding me.
"I don't like how they look at you," he murmured.
I smiled. "Jealous?"
"Territorial," he corrected.
I turned to face him fully now. "You're ridiculous."
He leaned closer, voice dropping. "You love it."
I did.
My heart was pounding, loud enough that I wondered if Ci-N could hear it.
Keifer lifted my chin gently. Not rough. Not possessive. Just… him.
"Jay," he said quietly, "when you stood up earlier…"
I swallowed. "Yeah?"
"I thought—" He paused, jaw tightening. "—that's my girl."
My cheeks burned.
Before I could reply, he pressed his forehead against mine. The contact was soft, intimate, ours.
The world shrank.
Someone cleared their throat loudly.
"WOW," Ci-N announced. "Do we clap or leave?"
"Leave," David said immediately.
Keifer smirked but didn't move away right away.
"You're mine," he whispered. "And I'm yours."
I squeezed his hand. "Always."
Around us, Section E pretended not to notice.
But everyone noticed.
And somewhere across the room, Ellara glanced up—just once— she smiled a little. And focus herself back to her work.
Like she already knew.