Aries' POV
Three consecutive P.E. periods.
Meaning Section A had to share the court with Section E.
Normally, I wouldn't have cared.
The rivalry between our sections had existed long before Keifer and I became friends. Some people treated it like a battlefield; I simply stayed out of it.
But today was different.
Because she was here.
The moment we stepped onto the court, I spotted Jay laughing with Cin while tossing a volleyball between them.
Of course.
She always had a way of fitting into places she wasn't supposed to.
I looked away before she noticed me.
Keifer was already standing near the net, arms folded, watching the same scene with an expression I knew all too well.
I walked over.
"Still think it's a bad idea?" I asked quietly.
He didn't even look at me.
"She shouldn't get involved with us."
I hummed in agreement.
For once, we wanted the same thing.
Not because either of us hated Section E.
But because Jay had a habit of getting tangled in things she didn't belong in... and somehow dragging everyone else in with her.
and also I don't want her anywhere near my friends
Knowing Keifer, he wouldn't stop until he got his way.
Knowing Jay...
She'd fight him every step of the way.
A loud whistle echoed across the court.
While everyone began splitting into teams, Percy suddenly lifted his arm and waved dramatically.
"baby M !!"
WTF!!
BABY M??
She looked over almost instantly.
A grin spread across her face as she waved back.
Seriously?
I shot Percy a look.
Didn't I tell him to keep his distance?
He either ignored me...
or simply didn't care.
Moments later, he jogged over as if nothing had happened.
"Morning," he greeted casually.
Before I could reply, Kiko wandered over too.
Great.
Kiko and I weren't exactly close.
Our groups constantly competed against each other, but we got along well enough.
Still...
Lately, he'd developed an irritating habit.
Every other sentence somehow involved JJ.
Whether it was a joke she'd made...
something she'd done...
or simply mentioning her name for absolutely no reason.
It bothered me more than I cared to admit.
I knew exactly how Kiko looked at romance.
I wasn't stupid.
And I didn't want him anywhere near her.
Not him.
Not Percy.
Not Yuri.
and specially keifer . (a/n : hehehehe)
No one.
Why was she making everything so complicated just by existing?
Keifer nudged my shoulder.
"They'll probably mess with her today."
I glanced at him.
There wasn't even a hint of guilt on his face.
Only determination.
I sighed.
"As long as it doesn't go too far."
He smirked.
"I know what I'm doing."
For some reason...
those words didn't reassure me.
I ended up sitting near the benches while everyone warmed up.
Ella dropped down beside me, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"You're actually sitting out?" she teased.
"I'm observing."
She laughed.
"Right. Since when?"
Before I could answer, Percy plopped down on the other side.
He looked between Ella and me with an exaggerated grin.
"Ohhh..."
Ella rolled her eyes immediately.
"Don't start."
"I'm just saying," Percy continued dramatically. "The chemistry is—"
"Percy."
He raised both hands.
"Fine, fine."
Ella shook her head, muttering something about him being impossible.
For a brief moment...
everything actually felt normal.
Then
"Mariano!"
Keifer's voice rang across the court.
"Do you even know how to take a serve?"
My eyes instinctively followed his voice.
Jay laughed, rolling the volleyball between her hands.
"Watch me."
She stepped into position.
She looked distracted...
like she wasn't entirely focused.
Keifer tossed another ball toward her.
"Ready?"
She nodded absentmindedly.
Someone behind her called her name.
She turned.
Just for a second.
The serve came flying.
Too fast.
Too high.
Too late.
Thud.
The ball slammed directly into her face.
Everything stopped.
Jay didn't move.
She simply stood there...
completely still.
Then...
a thin line of blood trickled from her nose.
My heart dropped.
No.
No.
Not again.
Her knees buckled.
"Jay!"
I didn't even realize I was running.
One second I was standing near the benches.
The next
I was on the court.
She collapsed before anyone could catch her.
For one horrifying second...
she looked lifeless.
My breathing turned uneven.
No...
No, no, no...
Please.
Not again.
I slid to my knees beside her, lifting her carefully into my arms.
"Jay!"
No response.
"Jay, look at me."
Nothing.
The noise around us disappeared.
I couldn't hear the whistle.
Couldn't hear people shouting.
Couldn't hear anything except my own heartbeat pounding against my ears.
Come on...
Please...
Her eyelids fluttered.
Then suddenly
She gasped sharply.
"Aries..."
"I'm here."
Her breathing became erratic.
"No..." she whispered, shaking violently. "I can't... I can't..."
"Jay."
She grabbed the front of my shirt with trembling fingers.
"I can't anymore..."
"Look at me."
Her eyes darted everywhere except at me.
She wasn't seeing the court.
She wasn't seeing any of us.
She was somewhere else.
"Jay, breathe."
"I can't!"
Panic.
Pure, uncontrollable panic.
Students had already gathered around us.
Someone crouched nearby.
Kiko.
Without thinking, I snapped.
"Can you give her some space?"
He froze.
"Aries, I was just—"
"I said move!"
Everyone stepped back.
No one argued.
Jay's breathing slowly steadied.
After a few long seconds...
her eyes finally focused.
"...Aries?"
"I'm here."
She stared at me for a moment before suddenly throwing her arms around me.
"You're okay..."
My body stiffened.
For a split second...
I almost hugged her back.
Almost.
Instead, I gently held her shoulders and created some distance between us.
"You'll be fine."
My voice sounded much colder than I intended.
"You need to go to the nurse."
She looked dazed.
Confused.
Like she hadn't fully returned yet.
I looked toward Cin.
"Take her."
Cin nodded immediately, carefully supporting JJ as she slowly stood.
Only after they started walking away did I finally turn around.
Keifer stood a few feet away.
His face had gone pale.
The confidence from earlier was gone.
Only guilt remained.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
I walked straight up to him.
"You wanted to scare her."
He stayed silent.
"I agreed to that."
Another step.
"But this?"
I pointed toward the direction JJ had gone.
"This is not what I agreed to."
His brows knitted together.
"Aries, I didn't know—"
"You don't know anything."
My voice cracked with anger.
"You have absolutely no idea what could've happened today."
"What are you talking about?"
I looked at him for a long second.
He deserved an explanation.
But I couldn't give him one.
Not yet.
Without another word, I turned around...
and walked away.