Jay's pov:
6:30pm.
That's how long it took for the school to end.
9 HOURS of school.
9 hours of handling HVIS. Most tiring month of my life perhaps.....
Every second I see them....the words rush back in my brain throbbing so hard.
Especially the word:
"I used you and the whole section E knows it"
Perfect contrast with the recent words he said:
"I love you and the whole section E knows it"
I was switching off the lights in my president office.
Hallway was quite, dark.
HVIS? Probably in their dorms.
"Which words of your should I believe keifer?" I whispered to the quiet hallway that I was walking....
Then I heard it.....A tiny footstep.
Normal person wouldn't notice but I would. I turned immediately. The person couldn't run or pretend.
He looked short. Eye red. Like he had been crying for hours.
ci-n...
seeing him like this stung. Even bees sting won't hurt this much.
He didn't run away moved closer to me. Reaching my hand.
I didn't pull away.
He whimpered, shivered.
And hugged me tight. Sobbing louder.
I stilled. I stood frozen by his act. But I didn't pull away, neither did he.
Slowly I hugged him stroking his back.
"Shhhhh. Ate is here. She is not going anywhere" I whispered.
He only cried louder.
"Jay....Please forgive me. Please just give me a chance to explain please...." He whimpered.
"Fine....stop crying."
He pulled away looking at me.
"I-I....The plan was real.....But I was never part of it. I never wanted to be....You know how keifer is....He forced me Jay. Please.....I was never part of it. Later even keifer fell in love with you. So I- No. We thought the plan stopped....But then suddenly everything collapsed. Please." He sobbed. Tears falling harder as he closed his eyes tighter.
I couldn't get any words out. I felt like there was lump in my throat.
He held my hand tighter. Firmer.
"You were the only one who cared for me when my family didn't. When my brother and sister hated me. Please....I don't want to lose you....Your not only my ST.....Your my sister.....Please. I know I should have protected you when keifer said those things...humiliated you. Please forgive me....." He held my hand tighter embracing himself for me to lash out.
I laughed in my own thought.
Keifer.
Ofc! Everyone is afraid of him. He is the king for a reason.
Ofc all of them are scared to face him.....
ci-n? he's just a kid. If 18 years old can't stop keifer....How can a kid stop him?
But how can I trust ci-n.....
I took my hand away from his. Slowly pulled him into hug and whispered:
"I don't know If I can forgive you.....Or If I can forget what happened....But I can give you chance ci....I'm your Ate, your ST....That one thing, will never change. You will always have me."
I pulled back slightly looking at his face.
I wiped his tears with my uniform sleeve.
"Your a Mariano?" He asked me.
"Yes." Simple. truth.
"Your a prodigy?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because ci.....I was told to....you know how Mariano's are. They are brutal as the rumors say. It is not....a rumor though. It's the truth."
I took a chocolate bar out of my bag handing it over to him.
He looked at it, then at me.
"Are we....ok now?" He asked hope flickering across his eyes.
Shoulders stiff when he asked me that question.
I smiled. Really one that made me not cold. Not fully warm either. For now....giving a chance to him felt just right.
"Yes." One word. A word that felt right. What I wanted to say.
He smiled and hugged me.
Again.
This time I hugged him back tighter patting his head.
"You should go back. Don't wander around here.....They might worry"
"Can't I stay with you Jay?"
I shaked my head.
Nope. too dangerous.
"Next time."
He wasn't happy but understood.
"Jay?"
"Hmm..."
He pulled away from the hug.
" Who are you going to take as your partner? you know keif-" I cut him off.
Nope not keifer.
"Jason." I blurted out.
I didn't mean to.
But I did. Before My mind could register keifer's name.
ci-n's eyes widened then it went back to normal.
"Oh...ok. I'm happy that you forgave me though." He smiled.
-
-
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Sorry....
Even If I did want keifer as my partner I can't...because if Mariano's get to know him...it will be too dangerous.
Especially when they get to know that he humiliated me....