Yuri's POV
I was waiting for Keifer, Aries, and Percy.
Late. Obviously.
I rolled my eyes and headed inside anyway.
The moment I stepped in
"OMG, look who's back!"
"The rooster is back!"
"Yuri, did you bring us gifts?"
Same chaos. Same noise. Same people.
I smirked, handing out the stuff I brought, but my attention?
Locked.
On one person.
Jay.
What the hell is she doing here?
"Oyy, man!" Felix grinned, pulling me into a half hug.
I didn't even look at him. "What the fuck is she doing here?"
"Uh… who? Jay?" he scratched his neck. "She's been here for like… two days."
"And Keifer did nothing?"
"Trust me, I did."
That voice.
I didn't need to turn.
Keifer.
"She's different," he added, calm but firm. "She won't budge. Not like the others."
"And plus," Percy's voice cut in as he slung an arm around my shoulder, "did you miss my handsome face?"
I shoved him off. "In your dreams."
He grinned wider. "Ouch. That hurt."
"Focus," I snapped. "Why is she here?"
Percy exchanged a look with Keifer before smirking. "She's none other than Aries' favorite cousin."
Aries shot him a deadly glare.
Yeah. That confirmed it.
And speaking of Aries—he looked… off.
Tense.
"Hey," I nudged him. "What's wrong?"
"Uh… nothing. Just… I moved out."
"Correction," Percy cut in, way too happy, "ran away."
Aries shot him a look. "Whatever."
"Kuya is coming back," Aries muttered, running a hand through his hair. "And he wants me back, so… you know my problem."
"Oh yeah," Percy clapped slowly, "Aries baby is scared boss is gonna kill him."
"Percy, will you shut up?" Aries snapped. "You're saying that like you're not afraid of Kuya."
"Well, I'm not," Percy said, way too proudly.
We all went silent for a second.
Then
Laughter.
"WHAT?" Percy protested. "I'm the most brave among us!"
"Yeah," I deadpanned. "Brave enough to hide behind Keifer when things go south."
"Lies. Absolute lies."
"Remember last time?" Aries smirked. "You literally"
"WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT THAT," Percy cut in quickly.
"Yeah, because you cried," I added.
"I did NOT cry."
"You almost cried," Keifer corrected, amused.
"Traitors. All of you."
The bell rang, cutting through the chaos.
Perfect timing.
"Duty calls," Percy said dramatically, grabbing his bag. "Try not to ruin the place without me."
"Impossible," Aries muttered, already walking off.
"Try not to die," I added.
"No promises."
And just like that, they were gone.
Silence.
Finally.
Keifer leaned against the desk beside me.
I didn't look at him. My eyes were still on Jay.
"You know what happened last time when a new member came," I said quietly.
"Yeah," he replied. No hesitation. "That's why we're not repeating it."
I scoffed. "You really think this is under control?"
"She's different," he repeated. "We go hardcore this time. No mistakes."
I crossed my arms. "She's Aries' cousin."
"Yeah," he said. "And he doesn't even like her."
That made me pause.
For a second.
Just a second.
Then I looked back at her.
Something about this
Didn't feel right.
"Let's see how long she lasts," I muttered.
Keifer didn't reply.
But the look on his face?
Said he was already thinking ten steps ahead.
Classes went by.
I didn't listen to a single word.
We had a plan.
And honestly?
She was… different.
Felix and Keifer filled me in on everything I missed—and yeah, I'll admit it—that girl's got guts.
She literally called Keifer gago.
I almost laughed when I heard that.
Almost.
"That girl's got some nerve," I muttered, tapping my pen against the desk.
"And a death wish," Felix added under his breath.
But that wasn't the only thing.
"She's close with Ci–n," Keifer said quietly.
That made me pause.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The bell rang, and just like that—
Lunch break.
Showtime.
I leaned back slightly, watching as the target got up from her seat and walked out.
Right on cue.
Rory moved first.
Quick. Clean. No hesitation.
He slipped past the row like it was nothing and passed the "weapon" to Edrix.
A small bottle.
Simple.
Effective.
Edrix crouched near her chair, shielding his hands with his body. One quick squeeze—
Transparent glue spread smoothly across the seat.
Not too much.
Just enough.
No one noticed.
No one ever does.
He stood up like nothing happened and walked away, blending right back into the noise of the classroom.
I exhaled slowly, a smirk playing on my lips.
"Done," Felix whispered.
Now?
We wait.
Waiting for the lamb to walk right into the trap.
Waiting for the moment.
The fall.
My eyes flicked to the door.
Any second now.
Let's see, Jay…
How long that confidence of yours really lasts.
.
.
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Jay's POV
Classes went by…
With Ci–n's nonstop commentary in my ear.
I swear, she could talk through an apocalypse.
But even with all that noise, I could still feel it
The stares.
No.
The glares.
Burning into my back.
I didn't turn.
Didn't react.
Because honestly?
I was too hungry to care.
The second the bell rang
I was gone.
Out of the class in seconds.
Food first. Always.
I reached the canteen, ordered my lunch, and glanced around.
Not crowded.
Weird.
Most of Section E wasn't here yet.
"What are they cooking…" I muttered.
For a second, I considered sitting alone.
Too hungry to go to the park.
Or the music room.
And the snakes weren't here, so technically
Peace.
I was just about to sit when
"JAY!"
I turned.
Mica and Mia.
"Jay, come sit with us," Mica waved.
"Oh—sure."
I walked over.
It was just them…
And one more girl.
"Heyy," I said, sliding into the seat.
"Hi, Jay," Mia smiled.
"Hey, Jay," the other girl said softly.
"Hey, sorry—you are?"
"Uh—oh, sorry, I'm Ella."
Oh.
Ella.
And wow
She looked good.
Like, effortlessly glowing.
I need that level of existence.
"So…" Mica leaned forward, "how's Section E treating you?"
I let out a small laugh. "You mean the part where they pretend I don't exist or the part where they're deciding how to mess with me?"
Mia winced. "Yeah… that sounds about right."
"So it's not just me," I said.
"Definitely not," Mica replied. "They do this with every new person."
"Testing phase," Mia added. "Or bullying phase. Depends on how you survive it."
I nodded slowly. "Good to know I'm part of a tradition."
Ella finally spoke, quieter. "They'll push you till they get a reaction."
"Or till you break," Mia said bluntly.
I smirked. "That's cute."
Mica grinned. "Confidence. I like it."
"Just don't underestimate them," Ella said, meeting my eyes now. "They don't do random things. It's always planned."
That clicked.
So I wasn't imagining things.
"Figures," I muttered.
There was a pause before Mica suddenly nudged Ella.
"Soo… tell her."
Ella stiffened. "No."
"Tell me what?" I leaned in.
Mia snorted. "It's about Aries."
Oh?
Now that was interesting.
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Go on."
Ella sighed. "It's… complicated."
"That's a yes," Mica whispered.
"Are you guys dating?" I asked directly.
"No," Ella said quickly.
Then paused.
"…Not really."
I raised a brow. "Situationship?"
Silence.
Yeah. Thought so.
"It's not like that," Ella muttered, but she didn't sound convincing.
"Sure," Mia said under her breath.
I took another bite, thinking.
Aries.
His "favorite cousin."
And this girl.
Messy.
"I mean," I said casually, "he doesn't seem like the type to settle anyway."
Ella's expression flickered.
There it was.
Something deeper.
Noted.
I stood up, grabbing my bag. "Anyway, I should head back."
"So soon?" Mica asked.
"Yeah," I shrugged. "Wouldn't want to miss whatever Section E is planning for me."
That got a reaction.
"You're bold," Mia said.
"I'm realistic," I corrected. "There's a difference."
Ella looked like she wanted to say something.
But didn't.
"See you," she said softly.
"Yeah. See you."
I walked back toward class.
That feeling?
Still there.
Stronger now.
The hallway felt quieter.
Too quiet.
I stepped inside.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
My eyes scanned the room.
Faces.
Desks.
Nothing obvious.
Still…
Something was off.
I walked toward my seat slowly.
Careful.
Aware.
Watching.
Let's see.
What exactly are you all planning?
.
.
.
.
I reached near my seat.
And noticed something.
Well… you wouldn't see it at first.
But once you do
You can't unsee it.
Glue.
Ahhh.
So childish.
I could see the eagerness in their eyes—the way Yuri and Keifer were smirking.
This Yuri…
I didn't tell anyone.
But yeah
He's in this too.
Of course he is.
Why wouldn't he be?
But I have a real major card to blackmail him.
Bhawhaahahaha.
"Cin, do you know what happened this morning?" I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
And just like that
I had their attention.
"What, Jay? What happened? Tell na," Cin asked, leaning forward.
"Ohh…" I dragged it, glancing at Yuri, a smirk forming, "ask Yuri?"
Now Keifer looked interested.
And judging by his reaction
Yeah.
He didn't know.
Even better.
I turned back to Cin.
"Well, this morning at minimart"
Before I could finish
"Hey…" Yuri's voice dropped low, right beside me, "trust me… you don't want to finish that."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His breath brushed against my neck.
Warm.
Steady.
Dangerous.
"And if you do…" he added softly, almost like a tease, almost like a warning,"I might have to stop being nice about it."
I swallowed.
Not fear.
Just
Something.
"What is going on here?" Keifer cut in, eyes shifting between us.
Yuri didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Just looked at me
Like he was waiting.
Like this was a game.
"Hey Jay, tell na, what happened?" Felix asked.
"Yeah, why did you say ask Yuri?" Cin added.
"Uh… uh…"
Before I could say anything
The teacher walked in.
Saved.
Thank. God.
I don't know why Yuri had that effect on me.
So I sat.
Shit.
I sat.
Ahhh.
Because of this Yuri
Ahhhh.
All of them were smirking.
Like they'd achieved something big.
Just waiting.
Waiting for my embarrassment.
But
No.
I'm smarter than that.
Hahaha.
Little did they know.
as the classes ended .
I stood up.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
And oh
The look on their faces?
Priceless.
Confusion.
Shock.
Almost disbelief.
Their plan?
Failed.
Because while they were all distracted
I had slipped a plastic sheet over the glue.
And sat on that.
Hahaha.
Hahaha.
Bhwahahahaha.
I walked up to Yuri.
Close.
Just like he did.
Leaning in slightly, voice low
"You almost got me."
A small pause.
Then
"Next time… try harder."
I pulled back, grabbed my bag.
Turned.
"Byeeee guysss"
Then glanced at him one last time.
"Bye, Yuri."
And walked out.
What.
A.
Day.
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Hey loveysss 💌✨
Did you like this chapterrr 👀
Tell me in the comments what you think and drop your suggestions too I read everything 🥺💗
And if you're enjoying the story, don't forget to add it to your library 📚 it really means a lottt
Alsooo… I know I changed the OG scene a bit 👀
But I thought why not make it a little different this time 😏
Like that whole moment where Jay threw Cin's jacket on Keifer's face—HELLO?? 😭💀 priceless.
And this twist… I hope you liked it as much as I did 🤭
Okay bye for now 💋✨