Jay's POV:
It had been a month since everything crashed and somehow rebuilt itself in pieces that didn't look the same anymore.
But maybe that was okay.
Life at the Fernandez house had grown quieter — the kind of quiet that doesn't choke anymore. Aries and I… we were fine now. After everything, we'd stopped pretending we weren't siblings. It wasn't a magical fix — just small things. Shared breakfast, stolen chips, random arguments about the TV remote — tiny moments that stitched us back together.
And school?
Section E wasn't the battlefield it used to be. The tension had faded; laughter filled the air again. Cin was back to cracking jokes, eren was back to being eren , and kit was still the designated chaos-controller. Even Yuri had learned when to step close and when to give space. For once, it didn't hurt to see them.
Made a textmate well anonymous gagong baliw ughhh he knows about me so much and the only thing I know that he knows him..
But something still felt missing.
Keifer..
I sat on my bed that evening, wrapped in my blanket, the phone propped up against a pillow as the screen blinked to life.
Three faces appeared — Cole, Stella, and David.
"Finally!" Stella groaned, adjusting her camera. "Do you even check your phone anymore?"
"I was studying," I said, grinning faintly. "Some of us have exams, you know."
Cole chuckled. "Studying and you?"
"trying," I admitted, half a smile curling at my lips.
David leaned forward, his voice calm as always. "You look better, Jay. The color's back in your cheeks."
"Yeah," I said softly. "Guess the peace and quiet helps."
They filled me in on their lives in London — meetings, travel chaos, Stella's caffeine addiction, Cole's late nights at the firm. They didn't talk about Keifer, not even once. And I didn't ask.
Because even hearing his name… still hurt.
When the laughter between them faded, Stella's tone softened. "We'll be back soon, okay? It's just… a lot to handle right now. But we'll make it quick."
Cole nodded. "You just keep that smile, Jay. That's your job for now."
"Yeah," I said, a quiet chuckle escaping. "I'll manage."
When the call ended, I stared at the blank screen a moment longer. It was strange — how three people could make an entire room feel full, even when they were thousands of miles away.
Then I set the phone down, curling up under the blanket.
Aries knocked softly on my door. "You awake?"
"Kind of," I mumbled.
"School tomorrow," he said simply. "Don't oversleep."
I smiled faintly. "Goodnight, kuya."
He didn't answer, just closed the door gently — a silent 'goodnight' in its own way.
And as I stared at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder…
Why did I feel like something was moving behind the scenes?
Like a storm was quietly gathering — one I didn't know was meant for me.
But for now…
I closed my eyes, letting sleep take over, unaware that the people I trusted most were working with the one name I still couldn't bear to say out loud.
----
The morning sunlight cut through my curtains, too bright, too cheerful for a Monday.
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head before Aries' voice echoed from outside my door.
"Jay, up. You'll be late again."
"I'm up!" I yelled back, though I clearly wasn't.
Ten more seconds of denial later, I dragged myself out of bed, pulled on my uniform, and tied my hair up. Breakfast was quick — eggs, toast, and Aries' disapproving stare as he watched me pour a mountain of sugar into my coffee.
"Sweet tooth is going to kill you," he muttered.
"Good," I said, deadpan, taking a sip. "At least it'll be sweet."
He just rolled his eyes, but I saw the faint curve of a smile before he grabbed his keys and left first.
By the time I reached school, the familiar noise of Section E hit me like a warm wave — loud, messy, chaotic, but comforting in all the right ways.
Cin was arguing with Felix about who had eaten his lunch last week, kit was trying to separate them while failing miserably,
It was almost poetic — my version of normal.
"Morning, Jay Jay!" Eren called out, throwing a paper ball that I caught without flinching.
"Morning, idiot," I replied, tossing it back with twice the force.
The laughter that followed felt good — light, unburdened.
But before I could settle into my seat, the PA system crackled, and the principal's voice echoed through the halls.
"Attention, Section E. Please gather your belongings. Effective immediately, your class will be relocated to Room 302 in the main building ."
The room went still for a moment. Then chaos exploded again.
"Wait— the main building?"
"That's the elite floor!"
"Holy crap, we're moving up in the world!"
"Yeah, probably because we were too noisy here!"
Cin turned to me, eyes wide. "Jay, that's… section A building."
I blinked. "Yeah, so?"
Eren leaned in with a grin that spelled trouble. "So, you think Aries pulled strings for us? Maybe to keep an eye on us after all that drama?"
The murmurs grew — speculation, excitement, a bit of unease. I could see some of them shifting nervously, old grudges flickering at the mention of Aries' name.
They hadn't forgotten how things had been before.
I sighed, standing up. "Guys, relax. Even if Aries talked to management, it's not a trap. He's just… being Aries. And if he did help, then maybe he's trying to make up for old times, alright?"
The room fell into uneasy silence.
For a moment, no one dared to speak — the kind of silence that weighed heavy on your chest.
I took a deep breath, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"I get it," I said softly. "You all have reasons to be cautious. But trust me, Aries isn't the same person anymore. He's… trying."
Rory crossed her arms. "Trying doesn't erase what happened, Jay."
"I know," I admitted. "And I'm not asking you to forget — just… don't let the past stop us from seeing that people can change.And even if he did try I'm still here okay no can mess with section e I guess we all know it by now don't we..."
They looked at me for a long moment, and I could feel their walls soften — not fully, but enough.
Mayo gave a small nod. "We trust you, Jay."
That line — simple, quiet — made something in my chest unclench.
I smiled, eyes stinging a little. "Then let's make this room ours. Aries or not."
A few of them chuckled, the tension fading like mist. Eren and Cin started arguing about which side of the room had better light, and soon, Section E was back to its usual chaos — dragging desks, marking corners, calling dibs on window seats.
It felt normal again.
Or at least, close enough.
As soon as we were done my phone buzzed..
From: Horoscope
> Meet me outside. Now.
I blinked, half annoyed, half nervous. Of course. Timing as usual.
"I'll be back," I muttered, grabbing my bag.
"Where are you going?" Yuri asked, still rearranging chairs.
"Aries," I said simply. "He wants to talk."
The groans that followed were loud enough to echo down the hallway.
"Tell him not to get us kicked out again!"
"Bring back snacks if you survive!"
"Text us if he kidnaps you!"
I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. "Very funny."
My shoes squeaked against the polished floors, my heart hammering so fast it almost hurt.
The sunlight hit me as soon as I stepped out of the building, warm and blinding.
But Aries was nowhere.
Instead—
"Jay-Jay?"
I turned sharply.
Freya stood near the school gates, arms crossed, looking as if she'd been waiting for someone too. Her expression softened when she saw me, but before I could speak, another voice—sharp and all-too-familiar—cut in.
"Well, well, look who's here."
Honey.
In all her perfect, untouchable glory, tapping her heel against the pavement like she owned the entire block.
I frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for someone," she said curtly, flipping her hair. "Percy, actually. He's not answering my calls."
That made my jaw tighten. "And you think he's just going to appear if you stomp your feet enough in front of me ?"
"Oh please," she sneered. "i know you know where he is"
I groaned. "Seriously? I don't know where he is but I guess freya knows.."
But Honey only smirked at her. "oh so you know where he is text him otherwise it would be dirty.. "
Freya's patience snap. "You know what—"
That was when I heard it.
The sharp screech of tires.
Before any of us could react, a black van swerved to a stop beside us. Doors flung open.
And then—hands. Rough, gloved hands. Grabbing. Pulling.
"H-Hey! What the hell?!" Freya screamed.
"Let go of me!" I shouted, kicking, struggling—but there were too many of them.I could also gear ella and mica who were standing near us before...
A cloth pressed over my face. Darkness swallowed everything.
When I came to, the world spun. My wrists ached, my vision hazy.
I blinked against the light filtering through a broken window and realized—my eyes were covered no more.
We were in an abandoned building.
Freya was tied beside me, muttering curses under her breath.
Honey was there too, pale but silent for once.
And then I saw him.
In the far corner, sitting on the floor, blood smeared across his cheek—
"Aries?"
My voice cracked.
He looked up weakly, eyes glassy, lip cut open.
Hearing me ella looked in the same direction and started wailing.. Ughh why is she his gf..
But seeing aries like that made my blood boil..
I turned furiously to the man standing near the doorway, one of our kidnappers, his stance cold and confident.
"Who the hell are you? What do you want?!"
The man smirked, lowering the mask that had covered half his face.
His voice was calm, chillingly polite.
"Let's just say," he drawled, "yuri has something of ours that I require..," his gaze flicked over us with disturbing ease, " and you are his leverage."
My blood ran cold.
Aries tried to speak, his voice hoarse. "Jay—don't—"
But the man silenced him with a sharp kick to the ribs.
I screamed, struggling against my ropes. "Stop it! Don't touch him!"
The man chuckled, crouching so we were face to face.
"Oh, don't worry," he murmured, almost mockingly gentle. "You'll all be treated just fine… as long as yuri and the gang starts cooperating."
His grin widened.
"And if they don't well you'll be dead..."