Jay POV
Tuesday mornings were supposed to be peaceful.
Unfortunately, HVIS existed.
😭
The moment I stepped through the school gates, I spotted two familiar idiots.
Well... one idiot.
And Matteo.
Mila was talking animatedly while Matteo listened.
Or at least pretended to.
The poor guy barely got a chance to speak.
"Good morning."
I greeted.
Mila immediately turned.
"JAY!"
Before I could react, she hooked her arm around mine.
"You're early."
"You're loud."
"And you're rude."
"Good morning to you too."
😭
Matteo chuckled.
"Nice to see you're back."
"Nice to be back."
The three of us continued toward the building together.
Mostly listening to Mila talk.
A skill we'd all mastered.
Halfway through the hallway, another voice called out.
"Jay!"
Matilda.
She approached with a bright smile.
Too bright.
"You're finally back."
"Yeah."
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
Matilda smiled again.
Friendly.
Polite.
Perfect.
And that's exactly why I didn't completely trust her.
Not yet.
Maybe it was unfair.
Maybe it wasn't.
Either way, something felt off.
Still, I smiled back.
"Thanks."
Soon Matilda and Matteo were discussing something about an upcoming project.
I wasn't interested.
Not even a little.
"I'll see you guys in class."
Mila waved.
"Don't disappear again."
"No promises."
"JAY."
😭
I laughed and escaped before she could lecture me.
📚 Classroom 3-E
The moment I entered the room...
"LOOK WHO DECIDED TO SHOW UP."
Ci-n.
Of course.
I hadn't even taken three steps.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"You look less dead today."
"Thank you?"
"You're welcome."
"That's not a compliment."
"It was in my heart."
😭
I shook my head.
"You're annoying."
"And yet you keep coming back."
"Unfortunately."
Ci-n placed a dramatic hand on his chest.
"That hurts."
"Good."
He gasped.
"Keifer would never treat me this way."
"Keifer barely acknowledges your existence."
"YOU SEE?!"
😭🔥
Ignoring him, I walked toward my desk.
And stopped.
Keifer was asleep.
Of course he was.
His head rested against his folded arms.
The classroom noise somehow hadn't woken him up.
Which was honestly impressive.
For a moment...
I just stood there.
His hair was slightly messy.
Probably from sleeping.
His expression looked peaceful.
Relaxed.
Different.
Weird.
Because Keifer was usually the responsible one.
The serious one.
The calm one.
Seeing him asleep felt strangely...
cute.
Wait.
No.
Erase that.
Immediately.
😭
I sat down quietly.
Trying not to stare.
Failed.
Spectacularly.
The sunlight coming through the window landed across his face.
And somehow made him look even better.
This was ridiculous.
Why was I even looking?
Then suddenly—
"Enjoying the view?"
I nearly jumped.
😭🔥
Keifer slowly opened one eye.
Then the other.
And there it was.
That annoying smile.
"...You were awake?"
"Just now."
"Liar."
"Maybe."
I rolled my eyes.
"Go back to sleep."
"Can't."
"Why?"
"Someone was staring at me."
😭
"I was not."
"Sure."
"I wasn't."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"You're impossible."
"You keep saying that."
Before I could come up with a comeback—
The classroom door slammed open.
BANG.
Everyone jumped.
Including Keifer.
😭
Calix stood in the doorway.
Breathing hard.
Like he'd sprinted across the entire school.
"GUYS."
Silence.
"What?"
Felix asked.
Calix pointed dramatically.
"PE teacher."
Another pause.
"What about her?"
"She said we should change immediately and meet her at the gym."
The class groaned.
Collectively.
"WHY?"
"IT'S TOO EARLY."
"I HATE RUNNING."
"I JUST SAT DOWN."
😭🔥
Calix shrugged.
"Her words."
Then he imitated the PE teacher perfectly.
"If you're late, you're running extra laps."
The entire class froze.
Then chaos erupted.
"MOVE!"
"I'M NOT RUNNING EXTRA."
"GET OUT OF MY WAY."
"FELIX THAT'S MY BAG."
"CI-N STOP PUSHING."
Within seconds, Section 3-E turned into a stampede.
😭🔥🏃
Keifer stood up beside me.
Shaking his head.
"This should be interesting."
I watched my classmates nearly destroy the classroom trying to leave.
Then smiled.
"When is it ever not?"
End Chapter ☀️🏫😭✨