Jay POV
I was lying on my bed, half-propped on my pillows, when my phone buzzed again. I groaned. Another call from Keifer? During homework time?
I answered, "Hello?"
"Jay… it's me," Keifer's voice sounded low but urgent.
I sat up, frowning. "Keifer? Why are you calling? It's… school hours, aren't you supposed to be… somewhere?"
"I know, I know," he said, running a hand through his hair. "But we need to talk. About Trisha."
My stomach tightened. "Trisha? What about her?"
"She's going to get what's coming," Keifer said quietly. "I trust you—you said you'd send the CCTV footage to the police after school?"
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah… I will. She'll be punished by the law. It's the only way."
"Good," he said softly. "I… I just can't believe all this is happening." There was a pause, then he added, almost with a small laugh, "Honestly, I thought today would be just… normal. You know, boring school stuff."
I snorted, letting myself smile a little. "Yeah, normal isn't really our thing, is it?"
"So… what about us?" Keifer said almost teasing but also serious.
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You know… like… us. You, me, all this stuff happening…" he said, voice low, almost hesitant. waiting for me to catch the drift.
We survived the hospital, the fights… Hex going berserk, the funeral…" His voice trailed off.
I felt my chest tighten a little. "Yeah… we survived. Barely."
Keifer laughed softly, then said, "You think… you think Yuri has a crush on Hannah?"
I blinked, trying not to laugh out loud. "Oh my God… yes! It's painfully obvious. She's always saving a seat for him, and he's always trying to make her laugh… classic little crush."
He snorted. "I noticed. And Hannah? She's not hiding it either."
I grinned. "I know, right? I've been watching them for weeks. They're like a live rom-com."
Keifer's laugh faded into a softer tone. "And Hex…? Is he… well…"
I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Yes, he's crushing hard on Mila. You can literally see it in his eyes. But no way would he admit it. He'd rather die than confess."
There was silence on the line for a moment, and then Keifer said quietly, "Figures. That boy hides everything under layers of stubbornness."
I giggled softly. "Exactly. But I kind of like it. The way he cares without realizing anyone notices… sweet, in a messed-up way."
"Hmm," Keifer murmured thoughtfully. "It's funny… all these little crushes, secrets, messes… and yet somehow, we all survive it. Somehow, we keep going."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah… chaos keeps life interesting."
"And somehow," he added softly, "we get to watch it all unfold."
I laughed quietly. "You're terrible. But yes… it's true."
We stayed quiet for a moment, just listening to each other's breathing over the phone. Comforting. Familiar. Safe.
Then Keifer's voice came again, slightly panicked. "Ugh… my mom's calling me. I gotta take this. She'll probably lecture me for… well… everything."
I smiled, shaking my head. "Duty calls, huh?"
He chuckled faintly. "Yeah. Stay here, Jay-Jay… plot your mischief."
I grinned, rolling my eyes. "Always."
As he hung up, I laid back on my pillows, staring at the ceiling. Life was messy, unpredictable, and exhausting. But somehow… talking to him like this, even over the phone, made it all feel manageable.