Chapter 54 — The First Pre-Exam
Jay's POV
The morning of our first pre-exam arrived.
I wasn't nervous.
I had studied properly, so I felt pretty confident about the exam. Not overly confident—I just knew I had prepared enough.
I got dressed, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs.
The smell of breakfast filled the dining room.
Everyone was already there.
Angelo was sitting at the table with Tita Gemma, while Yuri was eating quietly beside him.
I looked toward Aries.
"Good morning, Horoscope."
Aries immediately looked at me.
"Good morning, Monkey."
I stopped.
"Don't call me that!"
Yuri and Tita Gemma immediately started laughing.
I glared at both of them.
"What's so funny?"
Aries grinned.
"Nothing, Monkey."
"Aries!"
Yuri laughed even harder.
Tita Gemma tried to hide her smile.
Angelo finally looked up from his breakfast.
"Enough, both of you."
I crossed my arms.
"He started it."
Aries pointed at me.
"She called me Horoscope first."
"Because you look like one."
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know."
Yuri started laughing again.
Angelo sighed.
"You two are impossible."
I smiled innocently and continued eating.
After breakfast, I grabbed my bag and walked outside.
Yuri was already heading toward his car.
I started walking toward him.
Aries called from behind me.
"Why are you going in Yuri's car?"
I turned around.
"Because I don't want to see you and your girlfriend being all lovey-dovey in front of my innocent eyes."
Aries stared at me.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Yuri burst out laughing.
Aries shook his head.
"You're unbelievable."
"I know."
I got into Yuri's car.
Yuri climbed into the driver's seat, still laughing.
"You're really avoiding them because they're sweet together?"
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
"It's peaceful."
He started the car.
"Whatever you say."
---
HVIS
When we reached school, Section E was already outside our classroom.
David was going through his notes.
Calix was reading a textbook.
Edrix was asking CN something about the syllabus.
Felix, meanwhile, looked like he had just been informed that exams would last forever.
I walked over.
"Why do you look like that?"
Felix looked at me seriously.
"Jay, I think I've forgotten everything."
"You studied yesterday."
"I know."
"Then you'll be fine."
"What if my brain decides to leave the classroom before I do?"
David laughed.
"Then we'll call it back."
Everyone laughed.
I looked around.
"Where's Keifer?"
"Inside," Yuri said.
We entered the classroom.
Keifer was sitting at his desk, looking through his notes.
When he saw me, he smiled.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
"Ready?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Not nervous?"
"Not really."
"Confident?"
"A little."
He smiled.
"That's better."
A few minutes later, Alvin Sir walked into the classroom with the exam papers.
The room immediately became quiet.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Sir."
He placed the papers on the desk.
"Remember, this is your first pre-exam. Stay focused and do your best."
He began handing out the papers.
When mine reached me, I took a breath and turned it over.
I read the first question.
I knew the answer.
I smiled slightly and started writing.
The exam wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible either.
Some questions made me stop and think, while others were exactly what we'd studied.
I carefully worked through everything.
I wasn't trying to finish first.
I just wanted to make sure my answers were correct.
After checking my paper one final time, I placed my pen down.
A few minutes later, Alvin Sir called,
"Time's up. Pens down."
Everyone stopped writing.
Alvin Sir collected the papers and left.
The second he was gone, Felix dropped his head onto his desk.
"I'm alive."
David laughed.
"It was only a pre-exam."
"Only?!"
Calix shook his head.
I smiled.
"How did everyone do?"
"Fine," Yuri said.
CN nodded.
"It was manageable."
Felix looked at me.
"Don't tell me you found it easy."
I shrugged.
"It wasn't that bad."
David pointed at me.
"See? That's the difference between someone who studies and someone who watches everyone else study."
Everyone laughed.
Felix looked offended.
"I studied!"
"When?"
"...That's confidential."
We all laughed again.
---
After School
We walked out of school together.
Felix suddenly announced,
"I'm hungry."
David looked at him.
"You're always hungry."
"Exams use energy."
Calix sighed.
"That's not how studying works."
Felix ignored him.
"So where are we going?"
"Eman's restaurant," Yuri suggested.
Everyone agreed.
I was walking beside Keifer when Section E suddenly started teasing me.
David grinned.
"Jay, since you're such a successful businesswoman, you should pay for everyone."
I stopped walking.
"What?"
Felix immediately joined in.
"Exactly! Future billionaire!"
CN laughed.
"She's already running businesses."
Calix added,
"Maybe she'll buy the restaurant someday."
I stared at all of them.
"Why are you all suddenly interested in my money?"
David smiled.
"Because we're your friends."
"That's not how friendship works."
Felix put a hand over his heart.
"It is now."
I laughed.
"You guys are ridiculous."
Keifer smiled beside me.
"At least they're proud of you."
I looked at him.
"Don't encourage them."
Everyone laughed.
---
On the Way to Eman's Restaurant
Since everyone was going together, we started walking toward the cars.
Keifer ended up walking beside me.
For a while, neither of us said anything.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Jay."
"Hmm?"
"I know you're hiding something."
I stopped for a moment.
My heart skipped.
Keifer looked at me calmly.
"But don't worry."
I looked at him.
He gave me a small smile.
"I still trust you."
I didn't say anything.
"And I'll wait for you."
His words hit me harder than I expected.
For a second, I didn't know what to say.
I felt terrible.
There were so many things I couldn't tell him.
Things about my life.
Things about the Shadow League.
Things that could put him in danger if he knew too much.
And yet, he was standing there telling me he trusted me.
I looked away.
"Okay."
That was all I could manage.
Keifer didn't push me.
He simply nodded.
Then we continued walking.
I kept my face calm.
But inside, his words stayed with me.
I still trust you.
---
Eman's Restaurant
When we reached Eman's restaurant, the entire Section E group entered together.
Felix immediately looked around.
"Food!"
David laughed.
"That's literally all you care about."
"Correct."
We found a table and sat together.
Soon, the conversation became loud.
Everyone started talking about the exam, summer vacation, and everything except studying.
I looked around the table.
These moments were simple.
No pressure.
No enemies.
No complicated problems.
Just Section E being Section E.
I smiled.
Our first pre-exam was over.
There were still more ahead.
And after all of them...
summer vacation was waiting.
For now, I decided to enjoy the moment.
Because sometimes, peace was worth appreciating while it lasted.
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Author's Note ❤️
Hey, buddies! 🥹❤️
Our first PRE-EXAM is officially DONE! 📚✨
And Jay actually handled it pretty well! 😌
Also...
"Good morning, Horoscope."
"Good morning, Monkey." 😭😂
Yuri and Tita Gemma laughing while Angelo tries to control them was EVERYTHING. 😂
And Section E already wants Jay to become their personal billionaire. 💀💰
But that Keifer moment... 🥹
He knows Jay is hiding something, but he still trusts her and says he'll wait.
What do you think Jay is going to do with those feelings? 👀❤️
And now...
Only more pre-exams stand between Section E and SUMMER VACATION! ☀️📚
See you in the next chapter!
Love you all veryyyyyyy much! 🫂💕
Your Author 💖