JAY-JAY'S POV
"WHAAAAAT?!" Drew shouted right in my face.
I immediately slapped him, but David slightly crossed his arm, blocking my hit—probably because his nose was too close to me.
"Sir Alvin and Ma'am Cindy are a couple?" Eren asked tearfully.
"Yes," I answered, annoyed.
"NO! YOU CAN'T!" Rory shouted in distress.
"My future with Ma'am… it's ruined!" Blaster yelled next.
"I still have a crush on Ma'am," Josh said calmly, making me barely glance at him.
Wait… does he have feelings?
I thought he was just indifferent. But now, seeing him react like this—it's surprising. He usually scolds me, argues with me, and teases me. I didn't think he even knew how to like someone. Guess he's human after all, not a ghost.
Eman scratched the back of his neck, watching our classmates lose their minds over the revelation.
As we were hanging out outside the house, Ma'am Cindy arrived with Yuri, but the red-haired girl was gone. I didn't bother asking where she went because the Ulupongs immediately bombarded Ma'am Cindy with questions.
I told them the truth: as far as I knew, Ma'am Cindy and Sir Alvin were married.
They instantly became upset, clearly not accepting what I had just said. Their reactions were dramatic, as if they were in some kind of soap opera.
I knew they all had a crush on Ma'am. Even though this is my first time in Section E, I can already sense it. She's probably the reason they even feel motivated to attend class. But I think they're overreacting a bit.
"I also have a crush on Ma'am, but I'm not this over the top," Calix said, shaking his head.
"Why are all my crushes always unavailable?" Edrix complained.
I feel you, friend.
"You know..." Rory started. "Just accept it."
I let out a small chuckle at his words but quickly hid my smile when I noticed the way Edrix was looking at Rory—clearly observing him. He was pretending like it didn't matter, but his eyes told a different story. He's just trying to act cool, but we all know the truth.
"Don't worry. I have a crush on Ma'am, but I love you more," Mayo said, following Kit, who was completely ignoring him.
"I have a crush on Ma'am too," Ci-N added, raising a hand. "What about you, David? Do you have a crush on Ma'am too?"
David glanced at Ci-N for a moment. "I only have one crush, and I don't plan on adding more."
Wow. I wish everyone was as loyal to their crush as he is.
I can't relate. Imagine having a crush on Liempo but also craving roasted chicken. It's hard to pick just one. So, to make things easier, I like them all.
I was lost in thought when I suddenly felt someone grab my waist and pull me slightly. It was Keifer. He was looking directly at me, his grip firm. I followed his gaze but only saw David watching our classmates.
What's going on?
"When did Ma'am and Sir get married? No one at school even noticed," Felix asked.
"Before they started working at the school. I'm not sure why they kept it a secret, but it's best if we respect their decision without prying," Keifer replied, and I nodded in agreement.
Ma'am and Sir must have had their reasons for keeping their marriage private. It would be rude of us to dig into their personal lives when they clearly didn't want anyone to know. Besides, they never did anything inappropriate. I've never seen Sir Alvin getting close to any female teachers. On the other hand, I have seen some people approach Ma'am Cindy, but it was obvious she had no interest.
I think that even though their marriage is a secret, they don't have any bad intentions. Maybe they just need to hide it for some reason.
That sounds good.
It's like the secrecy of the relationship makes it even more painful. You secretly get jealous, and at the same time, you secretly care and fight.
But it's also a little exciting—like playing hide and seek.
"No! Ma'am Cindy! Why didn't you wait for me?" Drew shouted before dramatically collapsing on the floor.
I winced. He was acting as if Ma'am would punish him. Besides their age gap, he also owed her a lot of money.
Well, at least it's already paid off.
I suddenly thought of Kwanan. If almost all of our classmates liked Ma'am, then maybe he did too. He once praised her in front of me when I first joined our section. It wouldn't be surprising if he had a crush on her.
"Keifer," I called seriously. "Is Ma'am your type too?"
He quickly shook his head, but Ci-N answered for him.
"Yes, Ma'am is his type," Ci said innocently. "He even has a picture of her on his phone."
Interesting.
I stared at Keifer. "Liar."
He kept shaking his head so much I thought he might snap his neck. But another person was already exposing him.
"I-It's not what you think," he stammered. "Yes, I do have a picture of her, but it's for contact purposes."
Why would that be necessary? Does he really need a photo for a contact?
"Your contact display photo?" I scoffed.
"For real! I add photos to all my contacts," he insisted.
"Of course, so you can answer quickly," I teased, watching his expression shift as if I had caught him red-handed. "See? You can't even explain."
He reached out as if to grab my hand, but I pulled away. I could hear David and Felix chuckling in the background.
"Don't take it the wrong way," he sighed. "I had pictures of all my contacts before I changed phones."
"I didn't," David muttered, making Keifer shoot him a glare.
I'm telling you, there's really something going on with Ma'am. But honestly, I can't blame him. Ma'am Cindy is beautiful and curvy, obviously smart and confident—like an action heroine. She's approachable with students, and I've never seen her lose her temper.
And me?
I'm embarrassing to look at. I'm too lazy to fix my hair, let alone comb it. I don't even bother with powder or lip tint. My uniform is always messy. On top of that, I'm greedy and way too talkative. And my intelligence? It's hidden, obviously.
How could I ever compare to Ma'am Cindy, whom everyone admires?
Oh, right.
"There you go," I grumbled, pushing him away. "Go run to your Ma'am Cindy."
Fine, take your island and whatever comes with it. I shouldn't care, but maybe I do. I mean, I even sat through an interview about this mess, and now there's a picture he's trying to hide?
"She's not my Ma'am Cindy. She belongs to Sir Alvin," Keifer muttered.
I was about to snap back at him when the door opened, and Sir Alvin stepped outside. We all straightened up and walked toward him. Even the guys who had disappeared earlier showed up again, probably drawn by the drama.
"I appreciate that the whole section came here," Sir Alvin began, "but I'll be honest—I don't like the idea of my address being exposed to the public. So, if possible, I'd like you all to keep it private."
"Your address is safe with us," David reassured him, and Sir Alvin nodded.
"We're good at keeping secrets. Just like you're keeping Ma'am Cindy's status hidden," Blaster added, making me want to slap my forehead.
He sounded like a total traitor. Maybe he thought he was part of their love life just because he was their student.
"Don't worry, we're not backstabbers. Unlike you, Sir," Drew chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.
This guy, seriously.
"Do you know how cute you are, PO Sir? Give me a hug—around the neck."
Eren and Calix almost hit him.
Sir chuckled while shaking his head. "Just a little joke, mate. Come on, let's head to the back. Ma'am has prepared some snacks."
"You can't just bribe us with snacks," Edrix replied, though he was already walking into the house.
"What kind of plastic is that, Rix?" Rory asked, following right behind him.
The other Ulupong members also entered, and so did we. I glanced at Sir for a moment and noticed that he was looking off into the distance, as if checking for someone or watching out for something. I didn't dwell on it since he had mentioned earlier that he didn't want the public to know about their house.
Maybe he has a hidden creditor.
Everyone headed straight outside, where they had gone earlier with Kuya Angelo to talk. Eman and David made their way to the kitchen to help Ma'am Cindy. I was about to follow them when I noticed Yuri arranging some things.
Kuya and I had a brief conversation, but the moment he saw me, he immediately turned his back and walked out to where Sir Alvin was. I just shrugged at his reaction and approached Yuri to help.
"It's good that you still have some stuff left," I said, picking up a bag from the floor. "I'll help you."
He smiled at me. "Thanks. Honestly, I had already started moving when they came home," he said, referring to those who had entered the house. "I'm also having trouble with the new location."
Is that why his room is empty?
But earlier, he mentioned that thieves had broken into their house. Maybe he was in the middle of moving when they decided to rob him, so he managed to save some of his belongings.
"Where's the Red-Haired Girl?" I asked while picking up some boxes and envelopes from the floor.
"We left her in the city. She can't be here," he said, adjusting his grip before heading up the stairs. I followed him with the handles. "It's good that she agreed."
I heard him chuckle softly. "Maybe you should ask Ma'am Cindy how she convinced her."
I was about to ask why, but I stopped when I reached a room. The door was open, and I saw Keiren sound asleep. He was still wearing pajamas and a white shirt, hugging a mushroom pillow.
Even asleep, he looked adorable.
That kid could use a punch in the gut. He reminded me of Keifer when I was new to our section. Hopefully, he changes as he grows up. Otherwise, he'll have a hard time getting a girlfriend.
I snapped out of my thoughts and continued following Yuri. He opened a door and stepped inside. I quickly followed.
"Just leave that here, Jay. I'll sort it out later," he instructed, and I complied.
As I set the box down, some envelopes and papers accidentally slipped out and scattered. I quickly bent down to gather them.
I froze when I recognized a familiar envelope. Yuri and Freya had fought over this back at the hospital when Grace gave birth. I bit my lower lip. I knew I shouldn't interfere, but as I picked up the scattered papers, curiosity got the better of me.
I was startled when one of the papers unfolded, revealing a photograph of a man with a large red circle drawn around him. The writing on the paper was blurred, making it unreadable, but the man's face sent a chill down my spine. He didn't look like a good person. In fact, he looked dangerous.
My eyes darted to another paper, and I was stunned to see a photo of Sato—the man who had kidnapped us before. Just like the first one, his face was also marked with a red circle.
My curiosity deepened. What did these red circles mean?
Before I could investigate further, I quickly stuffed the papers back into the envelope, not wanting Yuri to catch me snooping. I placed it back on top of the box just as Yuri re-entered the room, carrying more of his belongings.
"That's all for now. I'll sort it out later," he said, placing his things on the bed.
"A-alright. Let's go," I replied.
He nodded, and we left the room.
He turned his back on me, and my eyes widened as I noticed a piece of paper at the foot of the bed. I immediately looked away so Yuri wouldn't notice what had caught my attention. He started walking first, and I followed.
I couldn't get the paper out of my mind. If Yuri found out I had tampered with his things, he might think I was trying to lead him into telling me something.
Grouchy, carefree.
I glanced at the room where Keiren was. An idea suddenly came to mind.
"Yuri, go downstairs first," I said. He stopped and turned to face me. "I just want to check on Keiren for a moment."
He looked around the room before nodding. "Hurry up, or you'll miss out."
He smiled before walking away. I waited for him to go down completely before quickly returning to the room. I grabbed the paper and was stunned to see a photo attached.
"K-Keifer?" I whispered almost inaudibly.
There was no circle mark, but some English words were visible, allowing me to make out a few details—Keifer's full name, address, phone number, and other personal information. However, I couldn't read much more because the rest was in Nihongo.
A wave of nervousness washed over me. Why was Keifer's face and name here? Why wasn't there a circle? The envelope contained other documents as well, but what were they for? I couldn't rest until I found out the truth.
Learn Nihongo.
That would take too long. I could only think of one way—to have someone else read it for me. Besides Yuri, the only person I knew who could read this was Ma'am Cindy.
I folded the paper and hid it in my clothes before rushing out of the room and down the stairs. First, I checked the kitchen, but no one was there. Stepping outside, I found the others gathered together. I hadn't been mistaken—Ma'am Cindy was with them.
"Jay-Jay!" Ci called out to me. "It's snack time!"
I forced a smile, trying to shake off the nervousness creeping up on me. "Maybe you've finished everything without me," I joked.
But it seemed they really had.
"Jay disappeared. You took too long," Eman said.
"You went to Keiren?" the King of Serpents asked. I couldn't hide my nervousness as I looked at him. I could feel sweat trickling down my face. Quickly, I wiped it away and nodded.
"Yes, he was still asleep, so I let him be."
He examined my face for a moment, as if sensing my unease.
"That one stayed up all night playing PlayStation," Ma'am Cindy commented, drawing everyone's attention. "There are still some snacks left. Take some before they're gone."
I nodded. "Go ahead."
"Come with me," she said before heading inside the house.
This was a good opportunity to have her read the paper I had hidden. I followed her silently, taking bigger strides to catch up.
Once inside, we went straight to the kitchen. Without hesitation, I pulled out the paper and quickly handed it to her.
"Ma'am, I need your help. Can you read this for me?" My tone carried a mix of urgency and pleading.
She raised an eyebrow but took the paper from my hand. Her expression gradually shifted, turning unreadable.
"Where did you get this?" Her tone was laced with anger.
I opened my mouth to answer but immediately shut it. My instincts told me this paper meant trouble. Her reaction only deepened my suspicions. If it was something bad, did it involve Yuri and Keifer? Ma'am Cindy might not even tell me the truth.
"Can you at least tell me what it's about?" I asked, trying to steady my shaking hands. I silently prayed that my fears were wrong.
"What is Yuri involved in?"
"Answer me first," she insisted.
"I-I can't say," I stammered. "Just tell me what the paper says."
"You don't understand."
"I'm the one who needs to understand. I'm nervous because Keifer's face and details are on the paper. I need to know what's inside because maybe that's what it's for," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I wanted to scream.
I tried to calm myself, but the fear in my voice was unmistakable. I wouldn't get the answers I needed if I just rushed. I had to make Ma'am tell me the contents of the paper.
"Alright, I'll tell you, but first, tell me who gave you this paper or where you got it from."
I clenched my fists before nodding in agreement. I needed to know the truth.
Ma'am grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the kitchen door, leading me straight out of the house.
She stopped just outside the door, glancing around cautiously before leaning in and whispering,
"This…" she pointed at the paper, holding it up in front of my face. "…is a kill list."
I covered my mouth in shock. I couldn't even speak.
"It doesn't say who it's from, but it states that the person can name their price for the job."
I was stunned. I couldn't process what Ma'am had just said. Keifer was on a kill list. But why? Who wanted him dead?
What confused me even more was why the list was in Yuri's possession.
Yuri…
No. That's impossible. I shouldn't suspect him. He and Keifer had been friends for a long time, and they had been through so much together. My thoughts were a mess. Maybe the paper wasn't even his. Maybe he had just found it or was hiding it for some reason.
Then my mind shifted to Sato and everything he had done to us. I was told he had committed suicide. But why was his name also on the list, just like Keifer's?
I was lost in my thoughts when Ma'am's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Tell me where you got this paper," she demanded.
I stared at her. I couldn't let her know I found it among Yuri's things. What if she reported it and got him into trouble? He already had too many problems, and I didn't want to add to them. What if I was wrong? What if meddling in this would only lead to his downfall?
"I—I picked it up outside earlier… near their building," I lied, hoping she wouldn't see through me.
She didn't look convinced.
"Listen, Ms. Mariano, this is a matter of life and death." She held up the paper in front of me. "Tell the truth so we can find out who's after Watson."
Without thinking, I grabbed the paper, crumpled it, and shoved it into my pocket. She shot me a sharp look and reached for it, but before she could take it back, we heard Sir Alvin's voice.
"Cindy? Mariano? What are you doing out there?" he called out.
"Nothing," I quickly replied before hurrying back inside the house.
I didn't hear what they said next, but I knew Ma'am Cindy wouldn't keep our conversation from Sir Alvin.
I had to make sure they never found out where I really got that paper. I didn't want Keifer to get hurt. But I didn't want anything to happen to Yuri either.
How could I help them both?