Hex POV
I woke up to silence.
No dramatic alarms. No suspicious noises.
Just… normal.
Which was suspicious.
I showered, dressed, and headed downstairs.
The dining table was full.
Aries.
Angelo.
Aunty Gemma.
Jeana.
Andy.
But not Jay.
I sat down slowly.
They all looked at me.
Then together—
"Happy Birthday!"
I blinked.
"…Thanks."
Aries grinned. "Thirteen looks dangerous on you."
Angelo added, "Don't start hacking the house."
I took a bite of toast.
"Where's Jay?"
Aries answered casually, "She left already."
I nodded.
"Busy," I said quietly.
In my head, though?
Jay has been very busy with something.
Too busy.
Too secretive.
After breakfast, I went back to my room.
Lay on my bed.
Turned on a movie.
Tried to enjoy my birthday.
I wasn't.
A knock came.
"Busy," I called out.
Another knock.
"Don't enter."
The door opened.
I sat up immediately.
"Didn't I—"
Keiren and Keagan stood there.
"What are you guys doing here?"
James walked in behind them.
Then Mila slipped in last.
They all shouted, "Happy Birthday!"
Keagan looked around. "Your room is cool."
Keiren nodded. "Very… organized villain energy."
Mila smiled. "I like it."
I crossed my arms. "What do you want?"
James grinned. "Fun."
"I'm enjoying my birthday."
"You're watching a movie alone," Mila said.
"…Exactly."
Keiren clapped. "We're going out."
"Just the five of us?" I asked.
Keiren smirked. "Victor is outside. He'll drive."
I paused.
"…Give me a minute to dress."
They all stayed.
"That means wait outside," I said.
Keiren casually flopped onto my bed.
"Take your time."
I stared at him.
Then grabbed clothes and went into the bathroom.
While I was changing, Keiren's voice echoed from the room.
"Hex."
"Hmm?"
"Keifer and Jay are official."
Silence.
"What?" I said flatly.
"Believe it."
I didn't respond.
But I was smiling.
Of course they are.
After dressing, I brushed my hair and stepped out.
Mila clapped lightly. "You look good."
James nodded. "Birthday fit approved."
Keagan gave a thumbs up.
We left.
The Mall
First stop?
Barbershop.
James pointed at the chairs. "Birthday rule. Fresh cuts."
"I didn't agree to this."
"Too late," Keiren said.
The barber asked, "What style?"
Keiren: "Sharp."
Keagan: "Clean fade."
James: "Make him look expensive."
I sighed. "Just trim it."
Mila recorded everything.
After the haircuts, we checked ourselves in the mirror.
Keiren nudged me. "Level 13 unlocked."
"…Stop."
Next stop.
Shoe store.
Keagan picked up sneakers. "These scream speed."
James tried on boots. "These scream danger."
Mila held up neon ones. "These scream mistake."
I ended up buying black high-tops.
Simple. Clean.
Then arcade.
And that's when things got loud.
We tried the VR horror game.
Big mistake.
Keiren screamed first.
James pushed him.
Keagan ran into a wall.
I removed the headset calmly.
"Pathetic."
Mila laughed so hard she almost fell.
Then racing simulators.
Basketball shootout.
Claw machine war.
Keiren lost money. Repeatedly.
We bought snacks.
Sat on a bench.
James looked at me.
"So. How does it feel?"
"Thirteen?"
"Yeah."
I shrugged.
"Normal."
Keiren smirked. "You sure?"
I looked at my friends.
At Mila laughing.
At Keagan arguing about scores.
At James pretending he won everything.
"…Yeah," I said quietly. "It's good."
We went back into the arcade.
More games.
More noise.
I didn't notice the time.
Which means…
I was having fun.
Jay POV
Meanwhile.
Chaos.
Absolute chaos.
The house looked like a tech convention exploded.
LED strips half taped.
Banner reading "ACCESS GRANTED" crooked.
Snacks everywhere.
"Who moved the controller cables?!" Yuri shouted.
"I did!" Ci-N replied.
"WHY?"
"Organizational chaos!"
Hannah was calmly organizing drinks.
"Focus, boys."
Calix and Mica were outside testing the basketball setup.
Calix missed.
Mica laughed. "Ultimate Operator? Really?"
Inside, I was checking the lights.
Keifer walked up behind me.
"You're stressed."
"I am not."
The LED flickered aggressively.
"…Okay maybe."
He gently fixed the tape I couldn't reach.
"You've been running around all day."
"Keiren has been distracting Hex all day."
"Team effort."
Our fingers brushed while adjusting the remote.
Small spark.
He leaned closer.
"You look cute when you're bossy."
"I am not cute."
"You are."
Quick peck.
Soft.
Then Percy screamed from across the room.
"WHO ATE THE TEST CUPCAKE?!"
Silence.
Ci-n slowly raised his hand.
Yuri sighed dramatically.
Across the room, Hannah was adjusting the banner.
Yuri walked over to help her.
"You're very calm," he told her.
She smiled softly. "Someone has to be."
He handed her tape gently.
Their hands brushed.
Small pause.
He looked away first.
Outside.
Calix handed Mica a bottle of water.
"You're competitive."
"You started it."
He smirked. "You like winning."
"I do."
"Prove it tonight."
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
Near the snack table, Ci-N was arguing with Rakki about glow bracelets.
"These are too bright."
"That's the point."
He held one up.
It glowed blue.
She laughed softly. "Fine. They're cool."
He grinned like he just won something major.
Back inside.
I checked the cake.
Perfect.
Black.
Neon letters.
🎂 LEVEL 13 UNLOCKED
I exhaled.
Keifer stood beside me.
"He's going to love this."
"I hope so."
He looked at me softly.
"He will."
Then leaned in.
Kissed me gently.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Just warm.
I smiled against his lips.
Footsteps outside.
Percy burst in.
"They're on the way!"
Instant chaos again.
Lights off rehearsal.
Music queued.
Fog machine tested.
Everyone ran to positions.
My heart was racing.
This was it.
Level 13 was about to activate.
End of Chapter. 🎮🔥✨