Chapter 4: The Unexpected Trio
Jay's POV
I walked into Section E ready for war.
Instead, I found peace.
Suspicious.
Cin was sitting on my desk.
Felix was leaning on the chair next to mine.
"Why are you two looking at me like that?" I asked.
Cin grinned. "We had a meeting."
"That sounds illegal."
Felix nodded seriously. "It is."
I dropped my bag. "Say what you want."
Cin leaned closer. "We decided you're not annoying."
I blinked.
"…Thank you?"
Felix added, "You're entertaining."
Ah.
That makes more sense.
From the back of the room, I felt eyes on me.
Keifer.
Of course.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Breathing like he invented oxygen.
Cin suddenly asked, "Do you actually hate Keifer?"
I tilted my head. "No."
Felix's eyes widened. "So you like him?"
"Absolutely not."
"Then what is it?"
I smiled.
"He talks. I respond. That's equality."
Cin laughed. "He hasn't been roasted like that since Grade 9."
"Good," I said. "Character development."
Felix pulled a chair and sat beside me.
"You know," he said casually, "Keifer only argues with people he finds interesting."
I rolled my eyes. "He argues because silence makes him nervous."
Cin clutched his chest dramatically. "She studied him."
"I observe," I corrected.
From across the room, Keifer suddenly spoke.
"Observe what?"
Oh.
He was listening.
I turned slowly.
"I was observing how peaceful the room is when you're not talking."
The class went "OOOOH."
Yuri whispered, "She woke up violent."
Keifer stood up and walked toward us.
Cin and Felix immediately looked like they were watching a tennis match.
"You seem comfortable," Keifer said, glancing at Felix's chair.
"I adapt fast," I replied.
Felix raised both hands. "I'm neutral. I like chaos but from a safe distance."
Cin nodded. "Same."
Keifer looked at them. "Traitors."
I leaned back in my chair.
"They chose personality over ego."
Keifer smirked.
"Careful. They bite."
I smiled sweetly.
"So do I."
Silence.
Felix whispered, "Why does this feel like foreplay for a war?"
"SHUT UP," we both said again.
The class burst out laughing.
Cin leaned toward me. "You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"You're the only one who talks to him like that."
I glanced at Keifer.
He wasn't smiling now.
He was watching.
Not angry.
Not amused.
Just… watching.
Felix nudged me.
"You three together would destroy the school."
"Three?" I asked.
"Me, Cin, and you."
I smirked.
"Oh. I thought you meant me, Cin, and Keifer."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Cin clutched his chest. "The tension is insane."
Felix whispered dramatically, "Section E just got upgraded."
I shook my head.
"This is not a trio."
Keifer finally spoke.
"No."
He looked straight at me.
"It's a rivalry."
I held his gaze.
"Good."
Because rivals don't get boring.
And I hate boring.