Jay jay (pov)
"Jay, baby, wake up. You're late."
Keifer's voice was soft.
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head.
"Keif… five minutes, please…"
"Jay, you've said that seven times. Get up, or we will be late."
I cracked one eye open.
And there he was.
Fully ready. Uniform perfect. Bag on one shoulder.
Reality hit.
"Oh no—"
I grabbed my phone.
Time.
"Ohh no, I'm late!"
I bolted upright—
bad idea.
The room spun.
Fast.
I grabbed the headboard to steady myself.
"…okay," I whispered, eyes shut for a second, "not that fast."
"Exactly," Keifer said calmly.
I didn't argue this time.
I rushed to the bathroom.
"Come down once you're ready," he said before I shut the door.
I got ready as fast as I could—
hair, uniform, everything rushed.
When I came out, I looked around.
"…my bag?"
Then I remembered.
I left it downstairs yesterday.
Of course.
I hurried down—
and the moment I reached—
The moment I stepped in—
I froze.
All three of them were already there.
Standing near the dining table.
Done eating.
Waiting.
For me.
No.
I quietly turned—
ready to escape.
"Sit."
Three voices.
At the same time.
I blinked.
"…wow," I said slowly, looking at all of them, "so I don't have any rights?"
Keifer didn't even hesitate.
"Yes. For now, you don't."
Keiren laughed under his breath.
Keigen just nodded like it made perfect sense.
I sighed dramatically and walked to the chair.
"This is illegal."
"Eat," Keifer said calmly.
I did.
Because clearly—
I had no choice.
A few minutes later, I was done.
"Let's go," I said, standing up.
This time—
no one stopped me.
Good.
🚗 Car
We all got in.
The next moment—
Keiren started talking.
"And then he said that—no wait, listen properly—"
Keigen shook his head.
"That's not what happened."
"It did!"
"It didn't."
I leaned back slightly, listening to them argue.
Then—
Keifer spoke.
"We're going to drop them first, okay."
I nodded.
"Okay."
And just like that—
the day officially started.
We dropped them first.
Keiren jumped out quickly.
"Bye!" he shouted, already running off.
Keigen paused for a second.
Looked at me.
"Take care," he said softly.
"I will," I replied.
Then they were gone.
The car felt quieter after that.
Soon—
we reached our school.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door—
but my wrist was caught.
I looked down.
Keifer.
His hand wrapped around mine.
Firm.
Not hurting—
just stopping me.
"What?" I asked, confused.
He didn't answer.
Just looked at me.
Straight into my eyes.
That look—
soft.
Serious.
"…Keif?"
Still nothing.
I sighed softly.
Instead of pulling away—
I leaned closer.
My hand moved to his collar—
pulling him slightly toward me.
I rested my forehead gently against his.
"You worry too much," I whispered.
His grip on my wrist tightened just a little.
"I mean it… I'm okay."
A pause.
"…don't prove me wrong," he said quietly.
I smiled.
"I won't."
For a second—
we just stayed like that.
Close.
Quiet.
Then—
he moved.
Just a little.
And pressed a soft kiss on my lips.
Gentle.
Warm.
Short—
but enough to make my breath pause.
I blinked at him.
"…that was unexpected."
"Focus," he said calmly.
I laughed softly.
"Okay."
He let go of my wrist.
Then stepped out of the car.
I followed him.
Walking beside him—
into school.
And somehow—
everything felt a little steadier.
We entered the class.
Still holding hands.
Not because we were showing anything.
But because—
Keifer was scared.
Scared to lose me again.
And this time—
he wasn't going to let me fall apart alone.
The moment we stepped in—
every face turned.
All of them.
For one second—
silence.
No one spoke.
Just eyes.
On us.
Then—
chaos.
"JAY—?!"
"YOU'RE BACK?!"
"ARE YOU OKAY?!"
Too many voices.
Too fast.
Before I could react—
someone rushed toward me.
Cin.
And the next second—
he pulled me into a hug.
Tight.
Sudden.
My body froze.
A sharp flinch.
Pain shooting slightly through my side.
But—
I didn't push him away.
I didn't want to hurt him.
It's fine… just for a second…
Then—
"Cin."
Keifer's voice.
Low.
Cold.
Scary.
Cin immediately stiffened.
Pulled back like he just realized something.
Keifer stepped slightly forward.
Still holding my hand.
His eyes—
sharp.
"If I see a single sign of discomfort or pain," he said slowly,
"I'll throw you out of the window."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Cin blinked.
"…I—sorry—" he stepped back quickly.
Hands up.
"I didn't know—"
"It's okay," I said softly.
Trying to ease it.
But Keifer didn't move.
Didn't relax.
His grip on my hand tightened slightly.
Like he was reminding everyone—
I wasn't alone.
I looked at him.
"…I'm fine," I whispered.
He didn't answer.
Just glanced at me once—
then back at everyone else.
Still serious.
Still protective.
And just like that—
everyone understood.
No one came too close again.
But the chaos didn't stop.
Only…
kept its distance.
And somehow—
I felt safe.
The lecture started.
Sir Alvin walked in.
Calm.
Too calm.
He placed his books on the table—
then looked at all of us.
"Today," he said, "at the end of this lecture, I have an announcement."
The class reacted immediately.
"What announcement?"
"Sir, tell now—"
"No interruptions," he said strictly.
And then—
he started teaching.
And honestly?
It was boring.
Very boring.
I tried to focus.
Really.
But—
no.
Cin leaned slightly toward me.
"Are you alive?" he whispered.
I looked at him.
"Barely."
He smirked.
Then we both started silently pointing at people.
That guy sleeping.
That other one pretending to write.
Cin made a face.
I almost laughed—
but stopped.
Pain.
Still there.
So I just smiled instead.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
I looked at the clock again.
"…is it broken?"
Cin shook his head.
"No, we are."
I pressed my lips together.
From the side—
I could feel it.
Keifer's eyes.
On me.
Again.
Always.
I didn't look at him.
If I did—
he would know everything.
Finally—
the bell rang.
LOUD.
Everyone straightened.
Relief.
But—
Sir Alvin didn't leave.
Of course.
He turned back.
"As I said, I have an announcement."
The class went quiet.
"From tomorrow," he continued, "there will be half-day classes."
"YES—"
"Finally—"
He raised his hand.
"Because your exams are in two weeks."
Silence.
Then—
"Noooo—"
"Sir please—"
I blinked.
"…I just came back."
Cin dropped his head on the desk.
"We are finished."
Sir Alvin ignored all of us.
"Start studying," he said calmly.
"You can do group study if you want."
Group study.
I slowly turned my head—
toward Keifer.
He was already looking at me.
And I already knew—
this was going to be a problem.