Jay jay's POV
If anyone asks, I totally slept last night.(…Okay fine, I didn't. But let's all pretend.)
Because how can you sleep when someone who is supposed to be your friend and tell everything to you sends "don't text me again, it's not safe" and then disappears like some mafia ghost??
So now here I am. Dark circles. Brain fried. Staring blankly at the chalkboard while Sir Alvin rambles about math like it's the cure to cancer.
"Jay."
I jump so hard my pen flies out of my hand.
And of course. OF COURSE. It's Keifer. Leaning back in his chair, smirk tugging at his lips, like he knows exactly what my problem is.
"You look guilty," he says low, so only I hear.
"I look sleep-deprived," I whisper back, snatching my pen from the floor. "There's a difference."
He tilts his head. "Then why were you clutching your phone all night like it was about to explode?"
OH. MY. GOD.
Did he notice? Of course he noticed! He notices everything.
"I wasn't—"
"Jay." His voice dips lower, steady. "What's on your phone?"
"Oh I can tell!!" I hear Ci-n whisper from across the room
"Shut up Ci-n!" I whisper... a bit too loudly
"Any problem Miss Mariano?" Sir Alvin asks me mid way of finishing his equation
"N-no problem, sir!" I squeak, smiling like I'm auditioning for a toothpaste commercial. "Just… uh… what ever that is..." I point at the equation on the board.
Sir Alvin blinks. Slowly. Then sighs.
Ci-n's already holding up a sign he drew in two seconds flat: SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING.
"CI-N I WILL END YOU—"
"Miss Mariano." Sir Alvin's voice sharpens.
I slam my hands on my notes. "Sorry, sir! just um... you uh going to fast?"
Sir Alvin pinches the bridge of his nose like he suddenly regrets every life choice that brought him to teaching Section E."I'm going too fast?" he repeats, deadpan.
"Yes!" I nod so hard my brain rattles. "Way too fast. I mean, look at all of us, we're totally lost!"
The class, traitors that they are, immediately shake their heads.
"Nope, we get it," Edrix says."Crystal clear," Felix adds, already zooming in on my panicked face."Honestly, it's easier than anything," Ci-n says, writing something on his notebook
TRAITORS. ALL OF THEM.
Sir Alvin stares at me a beat longer, then sighs again. "Then pay attention, Miss Mariano. One more outburst and you can explain the lesson to the class."
WHAT.EXPLAIN.TO THE CLASS?!
My soul leaves my body for the second time today.
The second Sir Alvin turns back to the board, two seconds later, Ci-n coughs. Loud. Over-exaggerated. The kind of cough that isn't a cough at all.
Everyone looks at him.
He points his spoon at me. "Suspicious cough."
The class chuckles.
"CI-N—" I slam my notebook shut so hard the desk shakes. "I swear, if you don't stop—"
"Relax!" he grins. "I didn't say what it was… yet."
OH. MY. GOD.
I duck lower in my seat, clutching my phone in my lap like it's radioactive.
Felix, of course, is whisper-commentating. "Ladies and gentlemen, Jay Jay Mariano, currently caught in 4K hiding her deepest, darkest secret…"
And just when I think it can't get worse—
A soft tap against my elbow.
I freeze. Peek sideways.
Keifer.
He's staring straight ahead like the world's best student, but his hand casually brushes my arm again. Another tap. Deliberate.
Then, under his breath: "Whatever it is… I'll find out."
…
EXCUSE ME??? Nah it's probably his 'i have my own ways'
Sir Alvin whirls around. "Miss Mariano?"
"Sorry sir just uh- x=26?"
The entire class explodes in laughter. What the flipppp?
Kill me. Someone. Anyone. Just not Keifer or Kuya Angelo.
Sir Alvin stares at me like I just declared war on mathematics. "Miss Mariano, the answer is not 26. Sit down."
"Right. Yes. Of course. Totally knew that," I mumble, sinking back into my chair. My face is basically a tomato now. Thanks, universe.
Ci-n pats my shoulder like he's officiating my funeral. "RIP Jay Jay's brain, taken too soon by math trauma."
I slap his hand away. "SHUT UP."
I grab my book and throw it at him. He ducks, laughing. Traitor.
And Keifer? Of course. Of course he's leaning back in his chair, calm as ever, that stupid half-smirk tugging at his lips.
When the class noise dies down, he tilts his head toward me, voice low so only I hear: "Don't worry. You're better at breaking rules than solving equations anyway."
EXCUSE ME??
My entire soul combusts. He says it so casually, like he isn't ruining my nervous system in broad daylight.
I grip my pen tighter. "Shut up or I'll—"
He raises his brows, smirk widening. "Swear again, Jay. You remember the rule."
OH. MY. GOD.
Instant panic. Instant red face. Instant brain empty.
I was just texting Yuri! It's not even that bad? What did I even do? Destroy world peace!!??
The bell rings, finally saving me. Everyone jumps up to leave.
Except Keifer.
My heart thuds. Nope. Not today. Im out!
I bolt from my seat, practically running to the door. "BYE SIR THANK YOU SIR LOVE MATH SIR."
…And Keifer's footsteps follow right behind me.
Keifer's footsteps follow. Of course they do. He's like a bloodhound with a smirk.
I speed-walk down the hallway, dodging backpacks and bad decisions, heart thudding like it's trying to escape too.
I yank out my phone mid-run, thumb flying.
To pres. Yuri:
I know you said not to text. But I'm scared. Just tell me you're okay. Please. I won't say anything. Just… something.
Send.
I shove the phone back in my pocket just as—
"Jay."
Nope. Not turning around.
"Jay Jay."
Still nope.
I almost crash into Calix as I run into a dead end
"Jay chill!" He walks past
Keifer skids to a stop, looking way too pleased with himself. "You texted him."
"Huh who?" I ask clueless
"Ci-n already told me"
That kid! I thought he was on my side! ST secret teammate! I'm not giving him any more chocolates
"I don't know anything your talking about"
"You wouldn't be running if u didn't know... and to a dead end"
Checkmate!!! Are you serious? How does this person know everything?
"I'm investigating properties of a dead end" I blurt out. That did not make sense... he definitely doesn't believe me.
Keifer steps closer. "You messaged Yuri."
"I messaged my mum."
"Do you even have your mum's number?"
Omg I should have said like percy or someone! Whats wrong with me?
"Yes I do!" I say confidently.
"Did he reply yet?" he asks
"No-" I knew there was no point in arguing with this idiot anymore especially because of that kid that tells him everything!