Jay POV
Morning came too quickly.
I opened my eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling of my room. For a moment I forgot everything… the school, the prank, the broken phonewatch, the race last night.
Then my forehead stung.
I groaned quietly and reached up, touching the small bandage on my forehead.
"Great," I muttered to myself. "Perfect start to a perfect day."
I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for school. When I passed the mirror, I stopped.
The bandage was small, but it was definitely noticeable.
"People are going to talk," I sighed.
Then I shrugged.
"Let them."
If Section E thought this would make me look weak, they clearly didn't know me yet.
By the time I arrived at Higher Value International School, the campus was already alive with students walking around, laughing, and gossiping.
I stepped out of the car and slung my bag over my shoulder.
As I walked through the hallway, I noticed a few students glancing at my forehead.
Whispers started immediately.
"Is that a bandage?"
"Did she get into a fight?"
"Isn't she the new girl from that crazy class?"
I ignored all of it.
Honestly, after surviving Section E, a few whispers were nothing.
When I pushed open the classroom door, the noise inside was already loud.
Typical.
The boys were scattered around the room like they owned the place. Some were leaning back on chairs, others talking loudly, and a few were half asleep.
Felix was tossing a pen in the air.
Calix and Drew were arguing about something.
David sat quietly near the window.
As soon as I walked in, several heads turned.
Denzel squinted at me.
"Whoa."
Ci-n leaned forward.
"Did you get punched or something?"
Felix smirked.
"First week and already losing fights?"
I dropped my bag on my desk and looked at them calmly.
"Don't worry," I said dryly. "If I fought any of you, the bandage would be on your face."
A few of them laughed.
David looked a little worried though.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Perfectly fine," I said.
I sat down and pulled out my phone.
Across the room, Keifer was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. His sharp eyes scanned the room lazily… then stopped on my forehead.
For a second, his expression changed slightly.
Then it went back to that usual cold look.
He didn't say anything.
Good.
I didn't want to talk to him either.
Not long after, the classroom door opened again.
A tall boy with bright red hair walked in casually.
He looked relaxed… almost too relaxed.
Sir Alvin, who had just walked in as well, raised an eyebrow.
"You're late."
The red-haired boy scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry, sir."
His voice was calm, almost cheerful.
Sir Alvin sighed.
"Take your seat, Yuri."
So this was Yuri,Class rooster.
He walked over and dropped into the chair next to Keifer.
The two exchanged a quick nod.
Then class started normally.
For once, the boys were actually quiet.
Mostly.
After class ended, the room quickly returned to chaos.
Yuri stretched his arms and glanced around the classroom.
His eyes stopped on me.
Then he leaned toward Felix.
"Hey," he said. "Who's the girl?"
Felix grinned.
"That's Jay."
Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"The new one?"
Felix nodded and began explaining everything quickly.
"Scholarship student. Only girl in this class. Already survived a bunch of our nonsense."
Yuri laughed softly.
"Impressive."
Then he glanced at my forehead.
"What happened to the bandage?"
Felix shrugged.
"No idea."
Yuri turned to Keifer.
"You guys the reason?"
Keifer snorted.
"No way."
The boys started laughing and talking loudly again.
I ignored them completely.
Instead, I leaned back in my chair and started playing a game on my phone.
Peace.
Finally.
A few seconds later…
Something hit my head.
A small paper ball.
I slowly raised my head.
Across the room, the boys were watching me.
Felix. Drew. Josh.
Trying very hard not to laugh.
I slowly lifted my phone and pointed it at them like a warning.
"Make me lose this game again," I said calmly, "and see what happens."
For a moment…
They actually looked a little scared.
Then I went back to my game.
I was seconds away from winning.
The final move.
Victory was right there.
Then suddenly—
A shadow fell over my desk.
Before I could react, someone grabbed my phone.
"HEY—!"
I looked up.
Keifer.
He was holding my phone above his head.
"Give me my phone," I said immediately.
He tilted his head slightly.
"No one threatens my friends."
I folded my arms.
"I threaten anyone."
Then I glanced at the boys.
"Also… do these people even get scared?"
Keifer smirked slightly.
"Look at them.
I turned.
They were pretending to shake in fear.
While clearly trying not to laugh.
I sighed.
"Very funny."
Then I turned back to him.
"Now give me my phone."
"No," he said. "Let's see what you do on your phone all day."
I stepped closer.
"Give. It. Back."
He lifted it higher.
I tried reaching for it.
Then suddenly—
My foot slipped.
I nearly fell forward.
But before I hit the floor, a strong arm caught me.
Keifer's hand was around my waist.
For a moment…
Everything went quiet.
We were standing way too close.
His face was only inches from mine.
His dark eyes looked straight into mine.
Neither of us moved.
Then a voice suddenly cut through the silence.
"Keifer."
We both turned.
Matilda.
She was standing at the door.
I quickly stepped back and grabbed my phone from Keifer's hand.
I straightened my tie calmly.
Then I walked toward the door.
As I reached it, Matilda spoke coldly.
"Stay away from my Keifer."
I stopped.
Then looked at her.
"Then tell your Keifer to stay away from me."
And I walked out.
As I walked through the hallway, I exhaled slowly.
"Annoying people," I muttered.
A moment later, I accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh—sorry," I said.
The girl looked at me and smiled.
She had an athletic build and confident posture.
I noticed the ID card around her neck.
Rakki – Class 3-C.
"You're Jay, right?" she said.
"Yeah."
"I heard about you."
"Hopefully nothing too embarrassing."
She laughed.
"So how's school so far?"
I sighed dramatically.
"Survival."
We both laughed.
Just then, more students walked over.
One of them was Aries.
"Hey, Rakki," he said.
She waved.
"Hi."
Then Ella looked at me.
"Wow, Jay. Haven't seen you since you came."
"Yeah," I said. "True."
Rakki gestured to the others.
"This is Kiko and Mykel."
They nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
I checked the time.
"Actually… I should go. Class will start soon."
Aries looked like he wanted to say something.
But I had already started walking.
"See you," I said casually.
And before anyone could continue the conversation…
I left.
End of Chapter 12 📖✨