Chapter 24 – JJ Mariano: Certified Matchmaker Disaster
Everyone in HVIS learned one thing very quickly.
JJ Mariano was dangerous.
Not because she fought people.
Not because she roasted everyone.
Not even because of Baracudda.
No.
The real danger?
She started meddling in people's love lives.
And somehow—
it worked.
Unfortunately for everyone involved.
---
Target Number One: Mica & Calix
JJ noticed it first.
Of course she did.
Because apparently she had supernatural abilities when it came to spotting emotional idiots.
It started small.
Mica looking at Calix too long.
Calix suddenly fixing his hair when Mica entered class.
Mica getting quiet whenever he smiled at her.
Calix becoming ten times louder near her.
JJ watched all this while eating chips.
Then slowly turned toward Keifer.
"…they're in love."
Keifer didn't even look up from his notebook. "Who."
JJ pointed dramatically.
"Mica and Calix."
Keifer looked once.
Paused.
"…oh."
JJ gasped. "YOU SEE IT TOO."
"I'm not blind."
Percy appeared out of nowhere. "WHO ARE WE SHIPPING."
Aries immediately behind him: "Why are you always appearing like a ghost."
Cin leaned over. "Wait… Mica and Calix?"
Felix blinked. "OH MY GOD."
Rory whispered dramatically, "Forbidden idiots."
JJ slammed the desk lightly. "Exactly."
Keifer narrowed his eyes slightly. "Don't interfere."
JJ looked offended. "Excuse you? Interfering is my talent."
"That's what worries me."
Too late.
Her mind was already working.
Which was always terrifying.
---
Operation: Push The Idiots Together
Over the next few days—
JJ became unbearable.
Purposely making Mica sit near Calix.
Sending Calix to "accidentally" help her.
Leaving them alone together.
Even forcing group projects.
Calix was clueless.
Mica was suffering.
And JJ?
Thriving.
"You're evil," Freya told her one lunch break.
JJ smiled proudly. "Thank you."
Keifer sighed beside her. "One day this will backfire."
JJ pointed at him. "You literally kissed me because I cursed."
"…valid point."
---
Mica Panics
One afternoon, JJ found Mica near the library looking like she was about to pass out.
"Mica."
Mica jumped. "WHAT."
JJ blinked. "Why are you screaming."
"I'm not screaming."
"You look like you saw a ghost."
Mica covered her face. "I think I like him."
JJ grinned instantly. "FINALLY."
"DON'T SAY IT SO LOUD."
JJ ignored her completely.
"Mica. Listen carefully."
Mica looked terrified already.
"If he likes you too, then what's the problem?"
"The problem," Mica hissed dramatically, "is that what if he doesn't."
JJ stared at her.
Long.
Then said:
"…you're both stupid."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
---
The Public Proposal Disaster
The next day—
everything exploded.
Lunch break.
Whole school gathered near the courtyard because apparently someone was planning a public confession.
JJ already hated it.
"Public proposals are risky," she muttered while eating fries.
Keifer looked at her suspiciously. "Why do you sound worried."
Then—
they saw who it was.
Michael.
Senior from another section.
Holding flowers.
Walking toward—
Mica.
JJ froze.
"…oh no."
Calix, standing beside her, also froze slightly.
Mica looked completely shocked.
The whole courtyard started cheering.
Michael smiled confidently.
"Mica," he said loudly, "I've liked you for a long time."
Freya whispered, "This is getting bad."
Percy whispered louder, "THIS IS CINEMA."
Aries smacked his arm.
Michael continued:
"You're kind, beautiful, smart—"
Calix looked away.
JJ noticed immediately.
And that expression?
That tiny hurt expression?
Yeah.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
Michael held the flowers out.
"So… will you be my girlfriend?"
The courtyard exploded.
People cheering.
Phones out.
Drama everywhere.
And Mica?
Frozen.
Completely frozen.
Because she didn't know what to do.
JJ saw it instantly.
The panic.
The pressure.
The way Mica looked toward Calix for half a second—
only for him to look away.
Keifer quietly grabbed JJ's wrist.
"Don't."
JJ looked at him.
Keifer shook his head slightly.
"Stay out of it."
JJ glanced back at Mica.
Then at Calix.
Then at Michael.
Then sighed.
"…yeah no."
And pulled her hand away.
Keifer closed his eyes immediately. "Of course."
---
JJ Steps In
Before Mica could answer—
JJ walked straight between them.
Whole courtyard went silent.
Michael blinked. "…what."
JJ pointed at him.
"You."
Michael frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You're doing too much."
The crowd gasped.
Percy whispered proudly, "That's my baby sistah."
Aries: "Please stop claiming her right now."
Michael looked annoyed. "This isn't your business."
JJ nodded calmly. "Correct. But you made it everyone's business by proposing in front of the entire school."
Mica whispered, horrified:
"JJ WHAT ARE YOU DOING."
JJ ignored her.
Then turned toward Calix.
Who looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him.
JJ narrowed her eyes.
"You."
Calix blinked slowly. "…me?"
"Yes you. Stop standing there looking emotionally constipated."
The entire courtyard LOST IT.
Cin fell against Felix laughing.
Rory almost choked.
Even Freya covered her face.
Calix looked betrayed. "JJ."
"No. I'm tired of both of you acting stupid."
Mica turned red instantly.
Michael looked furious now. "Can someone explain what's happening."
JJ pointed dramatically at Calix.
"This idiot likes her."
Then pointed at Mica.
"And this idiot likes him."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Calix: "…I'm going to die."
Mica looked seconds away from evaporating.
Michael slowly lowered the flowers.
"…seriously?"
JJ crossed her arms. "Yeah."
A pause.
Then Michael sighed.
Looked at Calix.
"…bro?"
Calix looked like his soul left his body.
The crowd BURST OUT laughing.
---
Confession Chaos
Mica immediately grabbed JJ's arm.
"I HATE YOU."
JJ smiled brightly. "Love you too."
Keifer walked over finally, rubbing his forehead. "You really can't stay out of anything."
JJ grinned. "Nope."
Michael shook his head with a laugh now. "Well… this is embarrassing."
JJ patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"You'll survive."
Then she shoved Calix forward.
"GO."
"JJ—"
"GO BEFORE I RUIN YOUR LIFE MORE."
Calix looked at Mica.
Mica looked at Calix.
Silence.
Then finally—
very quietly—
"…I do like you," Calix admitted.
Mica stared.
Then covered her face immediately.
"Oh my god."
JJ screamed from behind them:
"YES FINALLY."
Keifer grabbed her hoodie before she could run closer. "Stop traumatizing them."
Too late.
The whole school was cheering now.
Mica looked embarrassed beyond repair.
Calix looked relieved.
And JJ?
Standing there like she personally solved world peace.
---
Ending – Matchmaker Menace
Later that day—
Keifer walked beside JJ toward class.
"You're impossible," he said.
JJ looked proud. "And yet I'm effective."
Keifer sighed. "You interfered in someone's public confession."
JJ pointed at him. "For LOVE."
"That sounded criminal."
JJ gasped dramatically. "You wound me, Watson."
Keifer leaned slightly closer.
"…wifey."
JJ narrowed her eyes instantly.
"Say that again and I'll expose your search history."
Keifer paused.
"…you bluffing?"
JJ smirked.
Keifer immediately: "Okay never mind."