Jay's pov:
One day after Papa's discharge, school felt strangely loud.
Not noisy in the usual way — more like everything was happening at once and I hadn't caught up yet. My body was sitting on the bench, uniform neat, hair tied, notebook open… but my mind was still stuck in hospital corridors and antiseptic smells.
Last period dragged on. The teacher was explaining something exam-related, but half the class had already mentally given up. Even I was staring at the clock, watching the second hand crawl like it was tired of life.
Then the classroom door flew open.
Not gently.
Not politely.
It was Cien
.
Breathing fast. Tie loose. Hair messy. That unmistakable look on his face that meant drama incoming.
"EDRIX AND FREYA ARE GOING ON A DATE! I heard them talking"
For exactly one heartbeat, the class froze.
Then all hell broke loose.
"WHAT—" "FINALLY!" "I KNEW IT!" "BRO SECTION E NEVER MISSES!"
Benches screeched as people stood up. Someone started clapping like this was an award ceremony. Someone else yelled, "Invite us too!" like they had no shame whatsoever.
I turned my head slowly, staring at Cien. He looked way too proud for someone who had just detonated the classroom.
Rory blinked at me from across the bench. "Did… did we just accidentally succeed?"
Felix grinned. "Accidentally? That was destiny."
Yuri didn't say a word, but I caught the smallest smile tugging at his lips — the kind that appears once in a blue moon and disappears just as fast.
"Where are they?" someone shouted.
"Did they already leave?" another voice asked.
"we'll Follow them!" Cien added, climbing onto a bench like a motivational speaker. "For emotional support!"
The idea spread instantly.
"Yes!" "Field trip!" "We deserve this after trauma!"
I laughed without meaning to — a real laugh, light and surprised. After everything that had happened, this chaos felt… safe. Familiar.
Then—
The door opened again.
Quietly this time.
Edrix walked in.
The classroom went dead silent.
Not awkward silent.
Terrified silent.
Everyone froze mid-laugh, mid-stand, mid-whisper. Even Cien slowly climbed down from the bench like he suddenly remembered consequences.
Edrix stopped near the door, eyes scanning the room.
"…Why does it feel like I walked into a courtroom?" he asked.
No one answered.
Someone coughed. Someone dropped a pen. Someone suddenly found their notebook extremely fascinating.
I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile.
Edrix narrowed his eyes. "Why are all of you looking at me like that?"
Cien, the traitor, smiled innocently. "So… how was it?"
Edrix frowned. "How was what?"
A pause.
Then a voice from the back — far too loud to be accidental — whispered, "The date."
Edrix's ears turned red.
Not dramatic red.
The quiet, exposed kind.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, walking to his seat.
The class erupted again.
"Ohhh." "Confirmed." "Look at his face!" "Bro is GONE."
Edrix dropped into his chair and rubbed his face with both hands. "You people are exhausting."
Freya wasn't with him.
That alone told the whole story.
I leaned back slightly, watching him. Not teasing. Not laughing anymore.
The bell rang a minute later, sharp and loud.
Everyone jumped up at once.
"So where's Freya?" someone asked.
Edrix slung his bag over his shoulder. "None of your business."
But he smiled.
Just a little.
As he walked out, pretending not to hear the cheers and teasing following him into the corridor, I felt something warm settle in my chest.
Five minutes later, we were outside the school, pretending not to follow Edrix and Freya.
Pretending.
Keifer leaned against his car, arms crossed, watching all of us with that look—the one that means he already knows this will end badly.
"So," he said calmly, "how long before this stupidity peaks?"
"Five minutes," Calix replied.
"Three," Mayo added.
Keifer looked at me. "You're coming or you're pretending not to?"
I smiled sweetly and stepped closer. "What if I say I'm innocent?"
He leaned down, voice low. "Then I'll say you're lying."
I poked his chest. "Stop acting like you're not enjoying this."
He caught my wrist, pulled me closer by the waist, just enough to make my heart forget how to function. "I'm enjoying you. This—" he glanced at Section E, who were already whispering loudly "—is background noise."
"Ew," Josh said. "Please flirt responsibly."
Keifer smirked. "I'll wait in the car. When you're don't embarrassing yourselves, come back alive."
He kissed my forehead softly before I could tease him back. "Go. Supervise your children."
"I hate that you're right," I muttered.
Inside the mall, chaos was born.
Edrix and Freya walked ahead, laughing, unaware.
Behind them—
Felix immediately hid behind a decorative plant that was clearly plastic.
"This plant knows my sins," he whispered.
Rory pressed himself against a pillar. "I'm invisible."
"You're six feet tall," Kit said. "You're a threat."
David leaned on a wall, half asleep. "Wake me when they confess love or someone dies."
Yuri stood still, hands in pockets, silently observing like a disappointed god.
Then there was Cien, who decided Elara was his emotional support person and grabbed her wrist.
"Tall people blend in," he whispered.
Elara stopped walking.
"Remove your hand," she said calmly.
He didn't.
She twisted his wrist—precise, controlled.
"OW—OKAY—RELEASED—WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?"
"I asked politely," she replied.
I rushed in. "Elara, please don't murder him in public."
She crossed her arms. "I am surrounded by fools."
Calix grinned. "But we're your fools.
She sighed. "…Unfortunately."
Edrix and Freya entered a café.
"Oh no," Kit whispered. "Mirrors."
"I told you mirrors expose guilt," Cien said seriously.
They sat.
Freya smiled.
Edrix froze.
"He's buffering," Mayo said.
Freya touched Edrix's hand.
Edrix forgot how to breathe.
"Oh my god," Rory whispered, gripping Drew's sleeve. "He's in love."
Drew smiled softly. "Good for him."
Elara watched quietly, then muttered, "He looks like he's holding a bomb."
Freya laughed.
Edrix laughed back.
A real laugh.
Felix wiped imaginary tears. "I raised him well."
"You barely raised yourself," Josh said.
Elara leaned toward me slightly. "Is this what friendship looks like?"
I smiled. "Unfortunately, yes."
She watched us—Kit shushing Mayo, Rory almost falling over a chair, Cien whisper-yelling commentary, Yuri silently amused, Drew gently laughing.
"…It's loud," she said.
"But?" I teased.
She paused. "…Not unpleasant."
Edrix finally relaxed.
Freya smiled wider.
And somewhere outside, I knew Keifer was waiting in the car, shaking his head, pretending he wasn't smiling.
Because this—this ridiculous, chaotic, embarrassing mess—
Was us.
And now, somehow,
Elara was part of it too.
The second Edrix and Freya's fingers laced together—
"AYYYYYY—"
"FINALLY CONFIRMED!"
"DATE OFFICIALLY RAIDED!"
Section E surrounded the table like it was a crime scene.
Freya slammed her palm on the table. "ARE YOU ALL OUT OF YOUR MINDS?"
Cien beamed. "Completely."
Josh clapped Edrix on the shoulder. "Relax, bro. First date energy suits you."
"I am relaxed," Edrix said stiffly.
Calix leaned in. "Your knee is shaking."
Edrix kicked him under the table. "It's called caffeine."
Mayo peeked at Freya's drink. "Caramel latte?"
Freya narrowed her eyes. "Stop profiling my beverage."
Kit grinned. "That's rich-girl taste."
Freya scoffed. "Excuse you?"
Before Kit could reply, Elara finally spoke, casually pulling a chair.
"Don't worry," she said. "He says that about anyone who drinks sugar."
Edrix frowned. "Why are you all attacking me?"
Cien pointed dramatically. "Because you're in love."
"I am NOT—"
Josh cut in. "He stuttered. He's done."
Freya tried to stay annoyed, but the corner of her lips betrayed her.
"Can you all just… disappear?" she asked.
Mayo shook his head. "Sorry. Group mission."
Calix added, "We planned outfits."
Edrix blinked. "YOU PLANNED THIS?"
Cien nodded proudly. "Two days ago."
Freya stared at Edrix. "You didn't know?"
He raised both hands. "I swear on my dignity."
Josh laughed. "Bold of you to assume you had any."
Elara leaned back, arms crossed.
"Honestly," she said after a pause, "this is the most effort they've put into anything academic."
Freya burst out laughing.
She tried to stop herself. Failed.
"I hate that you're funny," she said, pointing at Section E.
Kit smirked. "That's how it starts."
Edrix leaned closer to Freya, lowering his voice. "I'm really sorry."
She looked at him, softer now. "It's fine. They're… idiots."
Cien gasped. "She said OUR idiots."
Josh placed a hand on his chest. "I feel accepted."
Mayo whispered loudly, "He's blushing again."
Edrix covered his face. "PLEASE."
Elara glanced between Edrix and Freya, then spoke again, calm but sharp.
"He looks like he hasn't smiled this much in years."
Freya froze for half a second.
Then she shrugged. "Maybe because he's finally not scowling."
Calix whistled. "She likes him."
Freya snapped, "I didn't say that."
Elara smiled faintly. "You didn't deny it either."
Freya rolled her eyes—but she didn't let go of Edrix's hand.
Section E exchanged looks.
Cien nodded. "Worth it."
Josh sighed dramatically. "Date ruined successfully."
Edrix sighed. "You're all unbelievable."
Freya looked around the table—noise, laughter, chaos.
Then she shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"…You're ridiculous," she said. "But don't leave."
Section E froze.
Mayo whispered, "Did we just win?"
Elara stretched. "Barely."
And for the first time,
Freya laughed without holding back.