The night had settled into that comfortable League buzz — laughter echoing off metal walls, noodle boxes scattered across the table, Jay half-sitting, half-lying on the couch again with chopsticks dangling like weapons.
"Okay," she announced suddenly, mouth still full, "Rule number one. No one — and I mean NO ONE — tells Yuri or the girls about the League. Not a word."
Mason groaned. "Noted."
"Noted and highlighted," Percy added dryly.
"Good," Jay said, grinning. "Because if anyone spills—"
Angelo raised an eyebrow. "You'll what?"
Jay smirked. "You'll find your car's engine in your cereal bowl."
The room burst out laughing — even Keifer cracked a quiet smile, watching her reclaim her chaotic spark.
Everything felt light again.
Until the door creaked open. and in walked Riva, eighteen, sharp, stunning, and carrying herself like the hallway was a runway.Instantly, half the Aces groaned.
Sam leaned toward Jay, whispering under his breath."Oh great. Trouble just got legs."
Jay stifled a snort. "Last time she visited, she tripped Rico into the pool and blamed gravity."
Percy muttered, "Gravity filed a complaint after that."
Aries, already rubbing his temples, sighed. "Rico's sister… what's she doing here again?"
Before anyone could answer, Riva smiled sweetly."Missed me?"
Jay plastered on a diplomatic grin. "Like I miss exams."
The League room broke into muffled laughter.
Riva turned suddenly, spotting Jay and Sam seated together, half-sharing noodles, half-arguing over sauce.
Her grin brightened. "Wait— you two. Don't tell me… you're a thing?"
Jay blinked. Sam choked. Percy's drink sprayed across the table.
Jay coughed out, "Excuse me, what—?"
Sam raised both hands. "NOPE. Absolutely not. Never. We're like— siblings but with trauma."
Jay deadpanned. "Yeah, the only chemistry here is hydrochloric acid meets mistake."
Riva giggled, unfazed. "Really? You two look so close. I could've sworn—"
And then, without even looking up from his drink, Keifer said it.
Calm. Possessive. Deadly smooth.
"he's not her type."
The room fell silent.
Jay froze, chopsticks midair.Sam raised a brow. "Oh? And you know her type, Watson?"
Keifer looked up slowly, locking eyes with Jay. "Yeah. I do."
Cue the chaos.
Percy whispered, "And there it is. Jealousy unlocked."
Angelo muttered, "Oh, he's so dead."
Aries added, "Nah, she's enjoying this."
Jay tried to play it off, grabbing her drink. "Someone's dramatic today."
Riva's tone turned silky. "And who's this? Haven't seen you around before."
Keifer, polite but clearly uninterested, gave a small nod. "Keifer Watson."
Riva smiled wider. "Ohhh, the famous one. Rico mentioned new in the League… didn't think he'd look like that."
Jay felt the temperature drop a full ten degrees beside her.
She glanced at Keifer. His face was calm, unreadable — but the flick of his jaw muscle said it all.
Meanwhile, Sam looked entertained. "This is gonna be fun," he muttered.
Jay elbowed him. "Shut up."
He didn't even look at Riva. Just leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on Jay, voice steady — but something electric in the air shifted.
Riva blinked, flustered. "O-oh. My mistake, then."
But her fluster didn't last long. That smirk returned. "Then maybe you're more my type."
Jay's chopsticks froze midair.
Riva stepped a bit closer to Keifer, smiling with practiced charm. "You look like the kind of guy who doesn't talk much but says a lot when he does."
Percy quietly elbowed Angelo. "Oh no… she's flirting with the human landmine."
Angelo whispered back, "Pray for her."
Keifer stayed still, his expression neutral — polite but cold. "Not interested."
"Oh, come on," Riva teased. "You don't even know me yet."
Jay set her food down slowly and stood up, walking toward them with the kind of calm that only meant chaos was coming.
The others started ducking back, pretending to check their phones.
Jay smiled sweetly. "He already told you, didn't he?"
Riva blinked. "Told me what?"
Jay leaned in, grin turning sharp. "That I'm taken."
The entire table went oooooohhh.
Riva laughed nervously. "Oh— you're dating someone?"
Jay's tone was honeyed and lethal. "Yeah. And by the way…" she gestured toward Keifer. "The guy you've been flirting with for the last one minute and twenty seconds? That would be him."
Keifer, still calm, crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying her realization.
Riva's smile faltered, but she tried again, "Wait, you two are actually—"
Jay nodded, smirk returning. "Yup. The thing you just called me and Sam? Replace him with Watson and increase the chaos by 300%."
Sam coughed theatrically. "Correction: 500%. ."
The girl stepped closer to Keifer, smiling too sweetly. " You and Jay make such an interesting pair. Tell me—how do you handle someone like her?"
Before Keifer could answer, Jay slid between them with the kind of queen-level grace that could silence a kingdom.
"By not flirting with my people," she said, voice dangerously calm.
The girl blinked, surprised. "Oh relax, Alpha. I was just teasing."
Jay's smile sharpened. "And I was just warning."
The silence was deafening. Even Sam looked mildly terrified.
The girl laughed nervously, stepping back. "I didn't mean to offend—"
Jay tilted her head, that signature glint returning to her eyes."Oh, you didn't. But you should know something…"
She leaned in slightly."Every guy you've ever tried to flirt with? dated me . Maybe you should stop chasing leftovers."
The entire room erupted.Percy choked on air. Aries tried not to laugh. Even Keifer looked stunned, half-smiling in disbelief.
Sam whistled. "Queen behavior unlocked."
Jay turned to him with mock glare. "Samuel, shut your royal mouth before I revoke your existence
Riva quickly excused herself, muttering something about "needing air," and vanished faster than Jay's emotional stability on Mondays.
Jay turned back to Keifer, face half shocked, half amused. "You enjoyed that."
Keifer's smirk deepened. "A little."
"Jealous?" she teased.
He tilted his head. "Maybe."
Jay gasped dramatically. "Ladies and gentlemen, Watson admits to jealousy! History has been made!"
Angelo groaned. "You two need therapy."
Jay grinned. "Nah, we have sarcasm."
The room filled with laughter again — tension broken, chaos restored, balance achieved.Jay, sitting
As soon as she disappeared, the whole room burst into laughter.
Percy: "Jay, she was ready to fight you for your boyfriend."
Jay: "She wouldn't survive the pre-fight dialogue."
Sam: "You mean your threat monologue?"
Jay: "Exactly."
Keifer chuckled quietly beside her, murmuring, "You really scared her off in under two minutes."
Jay turned to him, proud. "Personal best."
"Should I be concerned that you're timing it now?" he teased.
Jay shrugged, smirking. "You love it."
Keifer met her gaze, eyes softening but still carrying that dangerous calm. "Yeah. I do."
beside him, nudged his shoulder. "Next time someone flirts with you, I'm charging them an entrance fee."
He chuckled quietly. "You'll make a fortune."
Jay smirked. "Obviously. I'm dating the most wanted man in the League."
Keifer looked at her, eyes softening — the smile still there, but the warmth unmistakable. "You always were the most dangerous one, Jay."
The room fell quiet for just a second — the kind of silence that carried warmth instead of tension. Until adam broke it.
"So… Cyrus, Sam, and now Keifer?" he said, grinning. "Damn, Jay, she is literally behind ever men you date and now she was behind ."
Jay threw a napkin at him. "Shut up before I tell her you are single"
The whole room erupted again — laughter, teasing, the kind of noise that made the League feel alive.
Keifer just leaned closer, whispering so only Jay could hear,"Remind me to thank her later."
Jay blinked. "For what?"
He smiled faintly. "For seeing your jealous side ."
Jay rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing. "You're impossible."
He smirked. "You like impossible."
She grinned back. "Yeah. Especially when it's you."