Jay's POV
By the time Aries' car pulled into the school parking lot, my head felt like someone had placed a drum inside it and was happily testing how loud it could get.
"Jay," Aries said again as I opened the door. "If you're not feeling well, just go home."
"I'm fine," I muttered for the hundredth time.
He clearly didn't believe me.
But I was already walking away.
The hallway felt louder than usual today. Lockers slamming, students talking, footsteps echoing across the floor.
Each sound stabbed straight into my head.
Fantastic.
I pushed open the door to Class 3-E.
And chaos greeted me instantly.
Felix was sitting backward on a chair.
Ci-N was leaning halfway across two desks.
Yuri was casually spinning a basketball on one finger.
David and Calix were arguing quietly about something written in a notebook.
Normal.
Completely normal.
Felix noticed me first.
His face lit up like someone had turned on a spotlight.
"Well well well!"
Ci-N spun around immediately.
"Good morning, Jay!"
Felix grinned.
"Or should I say…"
He clapped his hands dramatically.
"Good morning, lap pillow!"
The room exploded with laughter.
Ci-N pointed across the room.
"Where's the president? We need the sequel!"
Felix nodded seriously.
"Yes, today's episode: The Return of the Lap."
I walked past them slowly.
Normally I would have thrown a pencil.
Or insulted them.
Or started a full war.
But today…
My head hurt too much.
So I just sat down.
Quietly.
The laughter slowly faded.
Felix blinked.
"…Wait."
Ci-N tilted his head.
"That was… too easy."
Yuri stopped spinning the basketball.
David looked up.
Calix glanced over his book.
Felix leaned forward across the desk.
"Jay?"
No answer.
I just rested my elbow on the desk and pressed my fingers against my temple.
The pounding in my head refused to stop.
Ci-N slowly slid his chair closer.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
My voice came out weaker than I wanted.
Felix frowned slightly.
"You didn't insult me."
"That's concerning," David added.
Yuri stood up and walked closer.
He studied my face carefully.
"You look pale."
"I said I'm fine."
Ci-N pointed accusingly.
"She said that too fast."
Felix nodded.
"Suspicious."
Across the room…
Someone else was watching.
Keifer.
He hadn't said a single word since I walked in.
But his eyes had been on me the whole time.
Observing.
Analyzing.
The door opened and Madam Cindy walked in.
"Good morning class."
Everyone quickly returned to their seats.
"Open your books to page—"
Her voice faded into the background.
I lowered my head onto my hand.
Maybe if I stayed still…
The pain would stop.
But it didn't.
And the boys in this class were starting to realize something was wrong.
Especially Yuri.
And especially Keifer.
Because for the first time since I joined this class…
Jayjay Marino was too quiet.
End of Chapter 35 📖