Punishment was over, we all were in class.
I stared at every face like I was choosing a sacrifice for a demon ritual.
Bcoz I need someone to take with me and with my explanation to percy regarding edrix and Freya.
So I start selecting
No.
Too loud.
Too nosy.
Too dramatic.
No.
Just… NO.
I needed someone calm, someone trustworthy, someone who wouldn't tell Keifer or the whole of Section E before I even reached Percy's gate.
My eyes landed on Elara.
Perfectly normal. Quiet. Mature. Doesn't go around sniffing drama like the others.
I marched to her desk.
"Elara," I whispered, leaning down like I'm about to propose a crime.
She blinked. "Yes?"
"I need you after school. Come with me."
She frowned. "Where? Why me? Take anyone else."
Her questions feel like bullets coming from gun.
I clenched my jaw. "I can't take anyone else."
She looked me dead in the eye. "Why? Is this about… a murder? If it's a murder I need to change shoes."
What murder?
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Oh my god, Elara. Not a murder. It's Percy."
Her expression cracked. "Percy? Your Percy? That one? The handsome step brother one who thinks he invented mirrors?"
"Yes." I nodded.
"Why me?" she repeated.
I inhaled sharply and exploded, "BECAUSE IF I TAKE ANYONE ELSE THEY'LL SPILL IT IN FIVE MINUTES, KEIFER WILL GO INTO MAFIA MODE, ARIES WILL START A WAR, YURI WILL BRING ROPE AND DUCT TAPE, ION WILL GO SILENT AND SUSPICIOUS, AND FREYA WILL CRY! AND YOU—YOU ARE… NORMAL!"
Elara stared.
Then blinked.
Then… snorted.
"So I'm your last option?"
"No," I groaned, "you're my ONLY option. Please."
She leaned back, arms crossed. "Convince me."
I gasped. "Convince?! You want a presentation? A PowerPoint?? Or a proposal?"
She smirked.
So I did what every desperate person does.
I dramatically fell to my knees and grab her legs. "PLEASE. My life depends on this. Please."
She panicked, eyes wide. "OH it tickles, OKAY OKAY STOP YOUR DRAMA I'LL COME!"
I hopped up instantly. "Great. Meet me at the gate after school."
She pointed a finger at me. "But I need a reason."
I hesitated.
"It's about Freya and Edrix," I admitted. "Percy needs to know from me… not rumors."
Elara softened, a tiny smile appearing. "Then we'll tell him. Together."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
---
AFTER SCHOOL — SCHOOL GATE
Section E stood like mafia bodyguards as usual.
Section e was on duty to pick and drop me from school to home and whatever...
Today Felix was on duty.
Felix was leaning on the car, sunglasses on, chewing gum like a Bollywood villain.
He spotted me and grinned.
"Mutyaaa. Your carriage awaits."
I rolled my eyes. "Stop calling the car a carriage. It's a Toyota."
Felix gasped. "TOYOTA? How DARE you insult my baby? She has feelings!"
He patted the hood. The hood made a noise that sounded like it was dying.
Elara coughed to hide a laugh.
Felix unlocked the doors and we slid into the back. He looked at us in the rear-view mirror, eyebrow raised.
"You two look like you're planning a heist. Should I be scared?"
I fiddled with my sleeves. "I'm going to meet Percy."
Felix's hands froze on the steering wheel.
The gum fell out of his mouth.
The car horn beeped by itself.
He turned around immediately. "Why?"
I swallowed. "Because I need to explain something. About Freya. And Edrix."
Felix's eyes softened. He reached over and flicked my forehead lightly.
"You don't owe him an explanation, Jay," he said softly.
"But I think I have to "
My heart stung a little.
He leaned back and started the engine.
"But," Felix continued, playful smirk returning, "if Percy cries… tell him I'm not paying for tissues."
Elara and I laughed as he drove us out of campus.
Felix paused, looking serious again.
"So go. Clear his heart. He deserves that."
I touched his shoulder gratefully. "Thank you, Felix."
He shrugged. "For my sister? Always."
---
PERCY'S APARTMENT — CURRENT RESIDENCE
Felix parked near the gate and turned around.
"Okay. Mission 'Not Breaking Percy's Heart' begins now. Don't die. And scream 'pineapple' if you need help."
I frowned. "Why always pineapple?"
He winked. "Because if you shout 'help' Section E will kill everyone in a 3km radius. Pineapple is code for rescue but no murder."
Elara: "Makes sense."
I got out, waving at Felix.
---
KNOCK. KNOCK.
The door opened.
Percy stood there in a silk robe like he owns a mansion in Monaco.
Hair messy, eyes sleepy, looking like a prince who overslept.
He looked at me.
"Jay," he breathed, a small smile forming. "My favorite headache."
Then at Elara.
"Elara. If you fall in love with me, sign the waiting list. It's long."
Elara blinked. "I will… NOT."
Percy pouted. "Your loss."
I stepped in. "Percy, I came here to talk about Freya."
His face fell—but not in heartbreak.
More like… guilt.
He scratched his neck. "Yeah… about that… there's something I need to tell you too—"
"HONEY, WHO'S AT THE DOOR?!" a voice yelled from inside.
My entire skeleton froze.
Elara's breath hitched.
Percy froze like windows XP.
Honey appeared — Angelo's Honey. Wearing Percy's shirt. Hair messy. Eyes puffy like she cried in ten different languages.
I stared.
She stared.
Percy stared.
Elara stared.
Silence.
I broke it.
"WHAT. THE. HELL."
Percy coughed. "Okay okay okay LISTEN—"
Honey raised a hand. "Before you scream, I'm not with Angelo anymore."
Percy proudly added, "She's with me. And honestly? Best upgrade of her life."
Honey smacked him. "Shut up, handsome idiot."
Percy beamed. "She called me handsome again! Mark the calendar."
I felt my life flashing before my eyes.
Elara whispered, "Jay… destiny is on drugs."
I nodded. "On very strong drugs."
Honey huffed. "We didn't mean for this to happen. I was heartbroken. Angelo chose Ion. I ran away, Percy found me crying. We talked. All night. And now…"
Percy wrapped an arm around her waist.
"We're dating," he said simply.
I exhaled. Freya wasn't the only story that moved on.
"So…" Percy said softly, eyes on me. "Whatever you came to say about Freya? I'm okay. Really. I've accepted it. She found someone. I found someone."
He shrugged, a bit dramatically.
"But I will miss being the handsome one in her life."
Honey rolled her eyes. "You still are. Just shut up."
Percy winked at her. My jaw dropped.
This was insane.
Ridiculous.
Absolutely messy.
But… everyone was happy.
And that made me feel lighter.
---
Elara nudged me. "Mission complete?"
I nodded. "Yes. Let's leave before they make babies or whatever."
Percy gasped. "SOON—"
Honey dragged him inside. "NO."
Door slammed.
I blinked.
Then breathed.
Felix was right. Percy wasn't broken.
He was… okay.
And maybe, for the first time in a long time… so was I.