(Jay's POV)
I survived my first class.
Barely.
The bell rang and the classroom instantly exploded back into chaos.
Chairs scraped.
Boys shouted across the room.
Someone threw a paper ball.
Another guy was already halfway out the door before the teacher even finished speaking.
"Homework for tomorrow—"
Too late.
Half the class had escaped.
I stayed in my seat, slowly packing my notebook into my bag.
Across from me, a boy with neat hair and glasses was organizing his things very carefully.
He looked… different from the others.
Calmer.
More serious.
Before I could say anything, Sir Alvin suddenly called out.
"David."
The boy looked up immediately.
"Yes, sir?"
"Please show Jay around the school. She's new and should know where everything is."
David nodded without hesitation.
"Of course, sir."
Sir Alvin looked at me.
"You may go with him."
I grabbed my bag and stood.
As we stepped outside the classroom, the hallway was already busy with students moving between classes.
David adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Hi," he said politely. "I'm David Braselton."
"I'm Jay."
"I know."
Of course he did.
Everyone did apparently.
"You handled the class well," he added calmly.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"It is."
I smiled a little.
"Then thank you."
We started walking down the hallway.
David pointed ahead.
"That hallway leads to the main cafeteria. The gym is on the west side of campus. The library is in the central building."
"You sound like a tour guide."
"I like efficiency."
"Noted."
We turned a corner, and I immediately noticed something different.
This side of the school looked… richer.
Students here looked more polished.
Perfect uniforms.
Designer bags.
Confident attitudes.
David noticed my expression.
"This is where most of the wealthy students spend time."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Most?"
"Class 1-3 B scholars stay near the library. Athletes usually go toward the gym."
"And our class?"
David glanced back toward the building we came from.
"Most people avoid our building."
"That bad?"
He gave a small shrug.
"Depends who you ask."
Just then, a group of girls walked toward us from the opposite direction.
And immediately…
I could feel it.
That strange shift in the air when someone important walks into a room.
The girl in the middle had long, perfectly styled hair and wore her uniform like she was modeling it.
Everything about her looked elegant.
Expensive.
Confident.
Two girls walked beside her like personal assistants.
The moment her eyes landed on me, she stopped.
Her gaze slowly scanned me from head to toe.
Like I was some strange object.
"David," she said coolly.
He nodded politely.
"Matilda."
Ah.
So this was Matilda.
The girl Aries mentioned.
The girl who liked Keifer.
Her eyes returned to me.
"And who is this?"
David replied calmly.
"This is Jay. She's the new student."
Matilda's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh."
Just oh again.
Was that a school thing?
She crossed her arms lightly.
"New students usually don't wander around this part of the campus."
I smiled politely.
"Lucky me then."
One of her friends whispered loudly enough for us to hear.
"Isn't she from that class?"
"The rough one?"
Matilda's gaze sharpened.
"You're from that classroom, aren't you?"
I tilted my head.
"You mean my classroom?"
"Yes."
"Then yes."
Her lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something colder.
"That explains a lot."
I folded my arms.
"Explains what?"
"That you don't seem to understand where you belong."
David shifted slightly beside me.
Probably sensing danger.
But I wasn't leaving.
Matilda stepped closer.
"Students from that class usually stay in their building."
"That sounds boring."
One of her friends scoffed.
"You should watch how you talk."
"Why?" I asked sweetly. "Does the school explode if I don't?"
Matilda's eyes narrowed.
"You're very confident for someone who just arrived."
"I've been told."
For a moment we just stared at each other.
Then she said something quietly.
"Just remember something."
I waited.
"Some people here are far more important than others."
I smiled brightly.
"Good thing I'm not trying to be important."
David gently cleared his throat.
"We should continue the tour."
Matilda's gaze shifted briefly to him.
Then back to me.
"This school has rules," she said.
"Good," I replied. "I like rules."
Her lips tightened slightly.
"Then try not to break them."
With that, she turned and walked away with her friends.
The hallway slowly returned to normal.
David sighed softly.
"That… could have gone worse."
"Really?" I asked. "Because it already felt like a royal interrogation."
David pushed his glasses up.
"Matilda Salvador is… influential here."
"Meaning?"
"She's close to the Headmaster ."
I blinked.
"Wait."
Something clicked in my head.
"Isn't Keifer the school president?"
"Yes."
"And she likes him."
David paused.
"…Yes."
I slowly smiled.
"Well."
"That explains the attitude."
David looked mildly concerned.
"You might want to avoid conflicts with her."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't lose easily."
I glanced back toward the hallway where she disappeared.
"Good."
David looked surprised.
"Why good?"
I slung my bag over my shoulder.
"Because I don't lose easily either."
And somehow…
Something told me that meeting Matilda Salvador today was only the beginning of a much bigger problem.
And knowing my luck…
It probably had something to do with Mark Keifer Watson again. ⚡