Chapter 12 — Shadows That Linger
By Monday morning, the whispers had already made their rounds.
"They fought off three guys," someone hissed near the lockers.
"No, Keifer and Drake saved them," another voice countered.
"My cousin says it was gang-related."
"I heard Jay hit someone so hard, his nose broke."
Jay kept walking, jaw tight, ignoring the sideways glances. The whispers slid over her like rain, but each one still left a mark. She could still feel the scrape on her knees and the phantom grip of Ram's hand on her arm.
Beside her, Alys was holding her head high, eyes sharp enough to cut glass. If anyone tried to stop them and "ask what really happened," they'd regret it.
When they stepped into the classroom, the buzz shifted. Section E didn't whisper. They looked — and Jay swore it wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was sharper. Protective.
Keifer's gaze found her instantly, like he'd been waiting. She could tell by the way his eyes swept over her — shoes to hair — checking for something wrong.
"Morning," she muttered, sliding into her chair.
He leaned forward across the desk. "You sleep at all?"
She gave him a small smirk. "Define sleep."
He didn't return it. His jaw flexed. "You should've told me you were having trouble after—" He stopped himself, glancing at the rest of the boys.
Jay frowned but didn't push. The last thing she needed was an audience for whatever lecture he was planning.
Too Close for Coincidence
By midday, she noticed it. No matter where she went, one of the boys was there.
Eman "coincidentally" showed up in the library, pretending to browse the shelves two aisles over. Kit sat at the next table during lunch, spinning a pen like he wasn't watching every person who passed. Ci-n lingered in the hallway when she went to the restroom.
It was ridiculous. It was also… strangely comforting.
Across the cafeteria, Alys stabbed at her food like it had personally offended her. "Drake walked me to class again," she said, her tone flat.
Jay looked up. "And?"
"And he didn't say anything. Just hovered. Like—" she gestured vaguely, "—a silent bodyguard."
"You hated that?"
"Yes." A pause. "…Obviously."
Jay smirked, but she didn't miss the tiny, traitorous curve at the corner of Alys' lips.
After School
Classes ended, but Keifer was leaning against the school gate like he'd been waiting all afternoon.
Jay stopped a few steps away. "What's this?"
"I'm walking you home," he said. No smile, no teasing — just firm.
She folded her arms. "You think Ram's just going to pop out of a bush?"
His jaw tightened. "I think I'm not giving him another chance."
There were a dozen retorts she could've thrown at him, but for some reason, none of them made it past her lips. Instead, she fell into step beside him.
The walk was quiet, but not the comfortable kind. She was too aware of him — the way he kept himself between her and the street, the slight twitch in his hand like he wanted to reach out but didn't.
A motorbike roared past, and without thinking, Jay flinched.
Keifer slowed, glancing down at her. "You're safe," he said, so quietly she almost didn't hear.
Meanwhile
In a dimly lit room, Ram flicked his lighter open and shut. The flame danced, casting flickering shadows across his face.
"You think that was the end?" he muttered.
From the corner, a shadow stepped forward — taller, broader, someone Jay and Alys had never seen.
"Not even close," the man replied.