Jay POV
After our conversation, I stepped outside and saw Aries leaning against his car, arms crossed, waiting like he always did—calm on the outside, but never really relaxed.
He looked up and smiled the moment he saw me.
I didn't say anything. I just walked past him and slid into the backseat.
A second later, he got in and started the car.
"Ari… can you stop at a mobile store before we go to school?" I asked, my voice quieter than usual.
He glanced at me through the mirror, his brows slightly furrowed."Yeah, Jay… but why? Is something wrong?"
I looked out the window, avoiding his eyes."Nothing serious… my phone's been hanging again and again. It's annoying."
He nodded."Alright. Let's fix it first."
The car turned toward the nearest store. Neither of us spoke after that. The silence wasn't uncomfortable… just heavy.
We stopped, and Aries looked back at me, giving a small nod.
I returned it and stepped out.
The bell above the door rang softly as I entered. A woman at the counter immediately greeted me with a polite smile.
"How may I help you, ma'am?"
"My phone's been lagging a lot… can you check it?" I said, handing it over.
"Of course. Please wait, I'll take a look."
She disappeared into the back room.
For a moment, I just stood there… then realized I hadn't brought any money.
I sighed and stepped back outside.
"Ari, give me some money."
He blinked, confused."Why? What happened?"
I rolled my eyes slightly."Idiot… do you think they repair phones for free?" I said, a hint of sarcasm slipping through.
He let out a small, embarrassed laugh and handed me the cash."Right… sorry. Here."
"Thanks."
When I walked back inside, the employee was already waiting for me.
"Ma'am, I fixed the issue… but I found something strange."
My steps slowed."What do you mean?"
She hesitated for a second."There's an app on your phone—OTJ101. I tried opening and deleting it, but it's locked with a password. Do you know anything about it?"
I froze.
"…No." My voice came out lower than I expected.
I frowned, taking the phone from her, my mind already racing.
"Just tell me the total."
"It's 150 dollars."
I paid without another word and walked out.
The moment I got back in the car, Aries looked at me sharply.
"Jay… what happened? Is everything alright?"
I stared at my phone, my grip tightening around it.
"There's an app… I didn't install it. It won't open, it won't delete… it's just there."
His jaw tightened instantly.
"Then someone else put it there."
The air in the car shifted.
"And if it's locked… only that person can remove it." He paused, then looked at me."Do you know anyone who's good with this kind of stuff?"
My body went still.
Only one name crossed my mind.
Edrix.
I swallowed.
"…Yeah. I know someone. I'll talk to him."
Aries didn't push further. He just nodded and started the car again.
When we reached Ella's house, she stepped out—but instead of taking the front seat, she walked straight to the back and sat beside me.
Close.
Too close for someone who didn't understand what was going on.
She looked at me, her eyes soft but steady.
"You know… you're not alone, right?" she said gently."We're all with you."
My throat tightened.
I wanted to respond… but the words wouldn't come out.
So I just nodded.
We reached school soon after.
The moment I stepped out of the car, something inside me shifted.
The confusion. The fear. The doubt.
I buried it.
For now.
I walked straight toward Section E.
They were all there.
Waiting.
Watching.
A faint, controlled smile formed on my lips.
"Alright, Section E…" I said, my voice calm—but carrying weight.
I looked at each of them, one by one.
"Let's test you."
+++++++++++ END +++++++++++
what test is jay talking about ?