Sir Alvin had barely crossed the door when the class slipped back into its natural habitat-noise, chaos, unnecessary opinions.
I was leaning back on my chair, half bored, half alive, when the target shifted.
Ellara.
Again.
It always started small. It always did.
Mayo nudged his chair back loudly.
"Oi, new girl. You planning to camp there or what? Move your bag."
Her bag wasn't blocking anything. Not even imagination-wise.
Ellara looked up, eyes calm, like she had been interrupted while counting clouds.
Ellara (soft, polite):
"Oh. Sorry."
She bent down immediately and pulled her bag closer.
That's when it started.
Not loud bullying.
Not shouting.
The worse kind.
Casual.
Drew (snickering):
"Bro, she moves faster than my shadow. Too obedient."
Kit:
"Yeah, man. She's like-press one button and she follows."
Laughter rippled. Light. Lazy. Effortless
.
I watched Ellara's fingers pause on her notebook. Just for a second. Then continue writing.
Like she hadn't heard.
That annoyed them more.
Calix, leaning against her desk, smirked.
"So... Ellara, right? You always this quiet or are you scared of us?"
Ellara didn't even look up this time.
Ellara:
"I just don't talk unless I need to."
Mayo:
"So... boring."
More laughs.
Something snapped then-but not in me.
Felix stood up suddenly, chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Felix (sharp):
"Oi. Enough."
The room quieted just a little. Enough to notice.
Felix pointed vaguely at Ellara's desk.
Felix:
"You can't judge a book by its cover, alright?
Just 'cause she's quiet doesn't mean she's weak."
For half a second, I thought-good.
Then Ellara looked up.
She didn't say anything.
She just glanced at Felix.
Once.
Not angry.
Not grateful.
Just... warning.
Felix's mouth opened, then closed.
He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly very interested in the floor.
It feels like he knows something
And just like that, the protection vanished.
Worse-
they turned it into a joke.
Mayo:
"Oho, Felix defending her now?
What is this, love at first silence?"
Kit:
"Careful, bro. She might glare you into marriage."
Felix laughed awkwardly, trying to play along.
Ellara stood up.
Quietly.
Ellara:
"Can I sit somewhere else?"
No drama.
No shaking voice.
That somehow made it sting more.
Mayo:
"Why? Afraid we'll corrupt you?"
She nodded once.
Ellara:
"Yes."
That made a few boys laugh harder.
She picked up her bag and walked toward the corner seat near the window. The loneliest seat in the room. The kind even noise avoided
As she passed by me, our eyes met.
There was no fear there.
Just exhaustion.
She sat down, opened her notebook again, and resumed writing like nothing had happened.
Like she had erased herself.
I didn't move. Didn't speak.
I hate myself a little for that.
Instead, I leaned toward Keifer, lowering my voice.
Me:
"What do you think?"
Keifer hadn't laughed once.
Hadn't spoken either.
His jaw was tight. His eyes were fixed on Ellara's back.
He took a moment before answering.
Keifer (slow):
"She doesn't seem... weak."
That was it.
Not reassurance.
Not judgment.
Just an observation.
I followed his gaze.
Ellara sat straight. Calm. Writing. Alone.
Everyone thought they had figured her out.
And I had this strange, crawling feeling at the back of my neck-
Like we were all laughing too Early
Next day_____
the cafeteria buzzed with noise, trays clattering, laughter bouncing off the walls.
I dragged my tray toward the corner where Ellara was sitting, perfectly calm, her lunch neatly arranged as if she were the queen of some secret palace.
My stomach growled so loudly I was sure the whole cafeteria heard it.
"Hey!" I called, trying to sound casual. "Mind if I sit here?"
Ellara looked up from her sandwich, one eyebrow raised. "Well, well... look who decided to come join the plebeians."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't start with that. I just... wanted to eat in peace for once."
Yeah! She talks a bit more now as it's been almost 1 months, she is here, she is almost friendly with everyone.
She smirked. "Peace, huh? In this cafeteria? Bold choice."
Before I could respond, a chorus of voices interrupted from the other side of the cafeteria.
"Hey! Jay-jay! You're sitting with her again?"
I glanced over. Ci-in, Yuri, Keifer, David, and the rest of Section E were all staring at me, some with mock indignation, others with amusement plastered on their faces.
"You're ignoring us now?" Ci-in called, frowning. "Do we need to write a petition?"
"Yeah," David added calmly, shaking his head like a disappointed principal.
"I thought we had some loyalty here. This is... concerning."
Yuri leaned back, smirking. "You're spending too much time with Ellara. Don't fall in love with her or something. I might have to file a formal objection."
Ci-in gasped dramatically. "Formal objection! He's turning into Section E's HR now!"
I groaned, putting my head in my hands. "You're all impossible!"
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. Keifer. The King of Serpents himself-or just Keifer, depending on which version you asked. His dark eyes pierced mine, the tiniest smirk tugging at his lips.
"Hey," he said quietly, leaning down just enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off him. "Don't get too comfortable with her... you know, don't ignore me."
I blinked. "Ignore you? Yeah ofc I am ignoring you, oh god plz."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hmm... sure. But you better not be falling for Ellara. I have my ways of... keeping track." His smirk turned playful yet intimidating, the kind that makes your heart stutter.
I muttered, "Geez, I didn't know lunch could feel like a covert espionage mission."
Ellara chuckled. "Relax, Jay-jay. They're harmless... mostly."
I laughed, trying to ignore the heat creeping into my cheeks. The boys finally gave up their dramatic theatrics, but I caught Ci-in muttering something about "heart insurance" under his breath as he shoved another forkful of rice into his mouth.
Once lunch was over, I noticed Ellara slipping away toward the second floor.
Curiosity-or maybe some irrational obsession-made me follow.
She moved with that calm, fluid grace, like she had rehearsed every step of her life.
I reached the landing just as she ended a phone call and tucked the device quickly into her pocket. "Wait," I said, stepping up behind her. "Hey, Ellara..."
She looked back, eyes scanning me briefly before softening.
"Yes?"
I took a deep breath. "i have something to talk to you"
"Why me"
"Bcoz I are also a girl, i think I you can understand what I mean to say and also you listen more patiently and keep it with urself as compared to those ulupulong"
I stated all this in just one breath.
"Alright! Calm down tell me"
She said everything so calmly,
I think this is the reason she feels more trustworthy.
"I think I want an... oficial relationship with.....keifer"
I said trembling.
"Then what's the problem in this" she asked.
Jay (low voice, half-laughing):
"You know... sometimes I feel like I'm not good for Keifer."
Ellara looked at me, not shocked. Just calm. Like she was waiting for me to say it.
Ellara:
"Why?"
Jay:
"I'm loud. I fight. I mess things up. I bring trouble wherever I go."
I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes.
"He deserves someone... normal."
Ellara tilted her head slightly.
Ellara:
"Do you know what I see?"
I shrugged. "Trouble with legs?"
She almost smiled.
Ellara:
"I see someone kind who pretends she isn't.
Someone who protects people without thinking.
Someone who laughs so others don't see her pain."
I went quiet.
Ellara (soft but firm):
"Keifer doesn't need 'normal'.
He needs someone real."
She paused, then added gently-
Ellara:
"And you don't ruin him, Jay.
You keep him human."
My throat tightened. I looked away.
Jay (murmuring):
"...You talk like you know us."
Ellara:
"I know enough."
She stood up, patted my shoulder lightly.
Ellara:
"You're not too much for him.
You're exactly enough."
"Thank you for understanding me, but still it seems hard"
She tilted her head, smirking slightly. "Ah... so it's not just about daring, huh?"
I groaned. "It's terrifying! He's... he's... Keifer! Calm, scary, and somehow perfect. How do I even start?"
Ellara leaned against the railing, folding her arms. "Jay-jay, sometimes the hardest part is admitting it to yourself. Once you do that, everything else is... a little easier.
And you know what? I can help you."
"You... help me?" I asked, suspicious. "I feel like you're going to make me do something humiliating in front of him."
She laughed softly. "Maybe. But humiliation can be charming, in small doses. And sometimes, a little teasing helps get the courage out."
I exhaled, feeling the tension leave my shoulders just a little. "Okay... fine. But... maybe a tiny plan first?"
Ellara nodded. "Tiny plan first. Big heart attack later."
I laughed.
Suddenly her phone rang and she excuse me and go on some distance from me to call, for some seconds she got disappeared but after few minutes she came back I was just going to ask her about call,
But then... the sudden pressure in my bladder hit me like a lightning bolt.
"Uh... Ellara? I really need... I need to go to the restroom. Like, right now. If I don't, I swear-my bladder will explode."
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Explode? Are we talking literal or metaphorical explosion?"
"Literal! Do you want me to start explaining the physics?" I asked, clutching my stomach. "I can, but it's messy."
She rolled her eyes but grabbed my hand. "Fine. Let's move, emergency scientist."
We ran down the corridor, dodging students left and right, until... bam. I collided with Mychal
. Mychel. yes the same with whom I fought last time after tasting the blood
. He smirked, leaning casually. "Well, well... look who's in a hurry. Where are you off to, Jay-jay?"
I swallowed hard. " that's none of ur business, step aside I have to go now ."
He laughed, stepping closer and grabbing my wrist. "I don't think so. You stay here."
My heart raced, panic rising. The pressure-my bladder, my fear, everything-made the decision for me. I swung my fist and hit him square in the face.
Ellara's eyes widened. "Wow. That was... surprisingly effective."
"I... I couldn't... control myself!" I hissed.
Michael lunged at me again, grabbing my wrist. Ellara, without hesitation, kicked him sharply in his... well, the one spot that worked. He groaned and collapsed to the floor.
"RUN!" she hissed, and we sprinted down the hallway like there was no tomorrow.
When we reached the girls' restroom, I practically dove into a cubicle, breathing heavily. Ellara leaned against the wall, smirking. "Are you always this... dramatic?"
"Yes! Always! Don't even ask!" I muttered.
When I finally finished and stepped out, I decided to call section e.
But
realized my phone was not in my pocket forgot it in class.
"Do u have phone I forgot it in class" I ask
She sighed "I have but I don't have any of their number"
"Looks like we're on our own, Jay-jay. No backup."
I groaned. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
As we stepped out, we froze. Michael and his entire gang were waiting, arms crossed, grins stretched across their faces. My stomach sank.
Ellara nudged me. "Stay calm. We've got this."
I clenched my fists, muttering under my breath, "Jay-jay... don't get humiliated today... please..."