Jared Alonzo woke up earlier than usual.
Which—
Was already concerning.
Iris noticed immediately.
"…why are you here?"
She had just stepped out of her house.
And there he was.
Standing.
Waiting.
Like a security guard.
"…protection," Jared said calmly.
Silence.
"…you're kidding."
"…negative."
"…you followed me to my house."
"…I arrived before you left."
"…THAT'S WORSE."
Jared checked his surroundings.
Entry points: 3.
Blind spots: 2.
Risk level: moderate.
"…we should leave."
"…I JUST GOT OUT."
"…delays increase risk."
"…YOU are increasing my stress."
They started walking.
Jared stayed slightly ahead.
Eyes scanning everything.
"…you look like a paranoid bodyguard," Iris muttered.
"…accurate."
"…you're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"…no."
A pause.
"…but it's necessary."
They reached the street.
Jeepneys passed.
People walked by.
Normal.
Too normal.
"…this is inefficient," Jared muttered.
"STOP SAYING THAT."
"…noted."
"…you're going to say it again, aren't you?"
"…likely."
"…I knew it."
At school—
Things got worse.
Jared didn't leave Iris alone.
Not even once.
"…why are you sitting here?" Iris whispered.
"…monitoring."
"…this is the girls' side of the classroom."
"…temporary adjustment."
"…people are staring."
"…irrelevant."
"…I'm going to transfer schools."
"…denied."
"…YOU CAN'T DENY THAT."
During lunch—
Jared followed her again.
"…Iris," a classmate said, "is your boyfriend—"
"He's not—"
"…incorrect label," Jared cut in.
Silence.
"…wow," the classmate said.
"…you talk like a robot too?"
"…only when necessary."
Iris covered her face.
"…I'm disappearing."
"…not allowed."
"…PLEASE STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT."
Later—
They sat under the same tree.
Jared scanned the area again.
"…clear."
Iris leaned back.
"…you're taking this too seriously."
"…he warned us."
"…he's messing with you."
"…that doesn't reduce risk."
Silence.
Iris looked at him.
"…you really think something's going to happen?"
Jared paused.
"…yes."
"…to me?"
"…possibly."
"…and you're just… okay with that?"
"…no."
A pause.
"…that's why I'm here."
Silence.
Iris blinked.
"…that sounded almost nice."
"…it's practical."
"…you ruined it."
"…noted."
Suddenly—
Jared's eyes shifted.
"…movement."
"…WHERE?!"
"…left."
Iris turned—
Too fast.
"OW—"
She bumped into someone.
A guy.
"…watch it," he said.
Jared stepped forward instantly.
"…distance."
The guy frowned.
"…what's your problem?"
"…you entered her space."
"…bro, it was an accident—"
"…probability low."
"…WHAT."
Iris grabbed Jared's arm.
"…JARED STOP."
"…potential threat."
"…HE'S A RANDOM STUDENT."
Silence.
Jared analyzed him.
No hostile intent.
No abnormal behavior.
"…false alarm."
"…YOU THINK?!"
The guy walked away, confused.
Iris turned to Jared.
"…you're going to get us into trouble."
"…acceptable risk."
"…NOT ACCEPTABLE."
Later that day—
Iris sat down, exhausted.
"…I can't do this all day."
"…temporary."
"…you've said that three times."
"…adjusting."
She looked at him.
"…Jared."
"…yes?"
"…I appreciate it."
He paused.
"…but you're being weird."
"…define weird."
"…extra weird."
"…noted."
A small silence.
"…just don't treat me like a mission."
Jared looked at her.
For a moment—
He didn't respond.
Because—
That was exactly what he was doing.
"…adjusting approach," he said.
"…good."
Across the campus—
Ethan watched.
Leaning against a wall.
Smiling.
"…he's overcorrecting."
A pause.
"…predictable."
He took out his phone.
Typed something.
"…let's increase the pressure."
Back with Jared—
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
A message.
"Tick tock."
Jared's eyes narrowed.
"…he's moving."
Iris froze.
"…I really don't like this."
"…stay close."
"…I WAS ALREADY CLOSE."
"…closer."
"…THAT'S NOT HOW DISTANCE WORKS—"
Jared grabbed her wrist.
Pulled her slightly behind him.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
"…now it starts."