The convoy outside the League Base looked like the start of a mafia movie.
Jay wearing white shirt with blue jeans and sneakers paired with cap her 2 necklaces one from keifer other from percy and ofc her ring and stepped out with the exact energy of someone who could stab and yawn at the same time. Behind her, Cin was sprinting with a backpack bigger than his dignity, David was complaining about waking up early, Samuel silently checking med-kits, Adam adjusting his glasses like a lawyer ready to sue God, Mason and Alex arguing over shotgun seat, Rafael half-asleep, and Felix wrapping six sandwiches in tissue as if it was normal.
Jay exited, leading ACES out to the cars.
🚘 OUTSIDE — THE DEPARTURE
Three black SUVs waited.
Cin jumped onto the hood."I CLAIM FRONT SEAT."
David dragged him down. "You claim nothing."
Jay took the middle seat in the lead car, Samuel beside her, typing quietly on a tablet.
Adam said, "I have the legal documents ready, in case we have to sue Holy Saints for existing."
Mason snorted. "Bro, we're kidnapping trouble, not suing it."
Alex muttered, "Same thing at this point."
Felix handed Jay a coffee. "For the chaos you willingly adopted."
Rafael finally woke up. "Where are we going?"
Everyone: "HOLY SAINTS."
Rafael: "Ah. To hell. Great."
As Jay sat, Keifer leaned into the car window.
"Message me every hour."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Yes, dad."
He flicked her forehead gently."And don't get stabbed by Cyrus."
"I WON'T," she said, offended. "You act like I'm some magnet for danger."
ACES in unison:"…you ARE."
Jay slammed the door.
🚪 BACK INSIDE — THE ROAR ABOVE
While everyone was finishing breakfast, a MASSIVE, DEEP ROAR echoed from upstairs.
Every chair squeaked.
Calix whispered, "Is that… a dinosaur?"
Mayo slowly stood. "No. That's worse."
Kit stared at the ceiling like it would fall."WHAT IS UP THERE?"
Mason calmly replied, "Jay's pet."
Everyone: "EXCUSE ME?"
Michael, without looking up from his laptop, added,
"Yes, you can meet him...but you may never come back alive."
The room went SILENT.
"What… is he?" Ella asked.
Michael took a sip of his coffee.
"A black panther. Shadow."
Everyone: "A—A WHAT?!"
"He only likes ACES," Michael added.
"OF COURSE HE DOES," Aries yelled. "WHY WOULDN'T JAY OWN A KILLER CAT—"
BOOM.
Another roar.
Sec-E: NOPE.They collectively pretended they didn't hear a thing.
🚗 ON THE ROAD
Jay's phone dinged.Keifer calling.
She put it on speaker.
"Reached?" he asked.
"On the way. Why?"
"Did Cin jump out the window?"
Jay looked at Cin hanging half out of the car window shouting at a squirrel.
"…maybe."
Jay smiled, small but soft.
Keifer exhaled, relieved just from hearing her voice.
"Be safe, Jay."
She hummed.
"Don't miss me too much."
He laughed, but it sounded pained."As if that's optional."
She blushed and instantly hid her face in cars seat
Samuel didn't react.
Mason yelled from the back,"SIR, YOUR WIFE IS SMILING."
Jay threatened to throw him out on the highway.
Call ended.
While Jay was halfway to Holy Saints…
Keifer, Michael, Percy, Aries, Angelo, Ion, and Tiger reached Greenwood.
🏫 HOLY SAINTS — THE MEETING
Yuri was already waiting at the gates.
Elegant. Calm. Red hair glowing in the sun.
And then—
Cyrus stepped out of the shadows.
Smirk sharp enough to cut steel.
"Well, well," he said, eyes locked on Jay."The ghost returns."
Jay stood unfazed.
"We're not here for your drama, Cyrus."
Cyrus circled her slowly.
"Didn't miss me? Not even a little?"
Cin gagged loudly.
Mason muttered, "This clown—"
Cyrus ignored them.
"Today," Cyrus whispered, eyes dark, "everything changes. By nightfall, I'll be the head of every gang. And you? You'll finally learn your place."
Before he could say more—
Samuel stepped between them calmly.Adam placed a hand on Jay's shoulder.David cracked his knuckles.Yuri glared with freezing politeness.Cin lifted a brick like a weapon.Mason and Alex flanked Jay.Rafael growled under his breath.Felix raised his phone to record "in case murder happens."
Jay smirked.
"Oh, Cyrus…you really think you're the final boss?"
Cyrus froze at her tone.
Jay's eyes glinted.
"You're just side-quest material."
ACES: OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH
Cyrus clenched his jaw.
But he stepped aside.
"Go in, then. Enjoy your last peaceful day."
Yuri guided Jay away, whispering,"Don't let him get to you."
Jay didn't reply.
But her fingers trembled slightly
other hand ...................................
Greenwood had always been massive, but today it felt like a labyrinth of secrets—one Michael was finally done keeping.
He pushed open a heavy steel door coded with layers only he and Jay once knew, and everyone—Keifer, Percy, Aries, Angelo, Ion, Tiger, Mason, Alex—watched with mixed confusion and curiosity.
The lights flickered on.
And the room breathed.
Photos. Everywhere.
Thousands—pinned, framed, taped, preserved—covering every wall.
Jay in oversized hoodies and baggy pants.Jay punching someone twice her height.Jay in a library reading medical textbooks with Samuel.Jay fixing a hacked server beside Michael.Jay stealing Adam's coat and running away with it.Jay laughing—rare, unguarded, almost gentle.
Keifer's breath hitched.He had seen her strong, furious, wounded… but never this Jay.This was childhood carved in memories.
Aries's jaw dropped.Percy whispered, "Wow… baby sis was—uh—actually cute?"
Tiger? Tiger just stared. "I suddenly understand why half of Greenwood boys needed therapy."
Mason chuckled nervously. "You still need therapy after meeting her."
Jay in a hospital gown.Bruises.A bandage near her ribs.
Keifer felt his stomach twist.
Percy whispered, "Holy… s—Jay looked like this?"
But it was Samuel in the photos that shocked most of them.
Calm. Sharp eyes. Protective hand on Jay's shoulder.
And Adam—loud, dramatic, but always standing behind Jay like a silent shadow.
Michael walked deeper inside, voice dropping low."Welcome to the real story. The Greenwood years Jay never talks about."
They followed him.
Angelo stayed at the door, jaw tight—as if he already knew what they'd see next.
Angelo stayed quiet.
Michael finally turned to face everyone. His expression, usually unreadable, softened.
"This… is the old us."
He pointed at a giant central photo.
Jay, Samuel, Adam, Michael — standing together, bruised and grinning like lunatics.
"THE TRIANGLE" — MICHAEL'S REVEAL
Michael placed a hand on a photo of Jay leaning on Samuel's shoulder.
"So… Jay and Samuel," Percy nudged Keifer playfully, "should we sit or—?"
Michael stopped in front of a huge photo.
Jay between Samuel and Adam.All three holding trophies.Jay punching Adam's shoulder.Samuel smiling—soft, the way he smiles only at her.
Keifer clenched his jaw.
"Sam… Adam… and Jay," Michael said. "Greenwood's most famous love triangle."
Percy's eyes widened. "WAIT—JAY HAD A—WHAT?"
Michael nodded.
"Jay liked guys like Sam—quiet, nerdy, stable. Adam wanted to confess to her, but…"
He pointed.
"Adam found out Jay loved Sam. So he backed off. Pretended like he never felt anything."
Keifer's chest tightened.
"So Sam and Jay… dated?" he whispered.
Michael:"Almost."
mayo, hands in pockets, muttered, "Obviously. Look at their faces. They were into each other."
But then Michael sighed.
"And then… everything fell apart."
"Continue," Keifer muttered lowly, eyes sharp but hurt flickering in them.Jealous. But listening.
Michael sighed.
"Sam met Jay first. He was the quiet one. Smartest kid in school. Bookworm. Could dissect a person psychologically in two seconds."
"Then Adam came," Michael continued, pointing at a picture of Adam smiling shyly at Jay. "Adam fell first. Hard."
Percy gasped. "WHAT?! HIM?! I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS—"
"Heartbroken?" Michael smiled. "He was."
Keifer's eyebrows twitched.
Angelo leaned against the wall. "Adam wanted to confess when we were fourteen."
Michael nodded. "But he found out Jay liked… Samuel."
Everyone looked at the picture where Jay clung to Samuel's arm with a big smile.
Aries squinted. "HUH. No wonder Samuel always acts like he owns the world around her."
"Because he did," Tiger whispered.
Michael laughed bitterly. "Then came the stupidest, most dramatic twist of all time."
He tapped a photo where Samuel held his chest dramatically while Jay crossed her arms.
"Samuel told Jay he was gay."
Everyone froze.
Keifer choked on thin air.
Aries burst out laughing. "WHAT. THE. ACTUAL—"
Percy slapped the back of his head. "SHHH LET ME HEAR THIS."
Ion covered his mouth trying not to grin.
Michael forced a small smile.
"You've seen His Villainess Is Star love triangles?"He smirked."Well, Greenwood had one too."
He pointed at a framed certificate:
RUNNER UP — BEST COUPLEJay & Samuel Reyes
Keifer, Percy, Aries: "WHAT—?!"
Michael shrugged.
"Students voted. They thought Sam and Jay were dating. They weren't, but their chemistry was too obvious."
Aries burst out laughing."MY SISTER— BEST COUPLE?! WITH A NERD?! NO—NO—RESET—"
Percy patted him. "Baby, calm down."
"CALL ME BABY AGAIN AND I'LL—"
Chaos. As usual.
Michael raised a brow. "Sam is literally the straightest man on this planet."
Michael ignored him. "He lied. Because Angelo told him to."
"Since Angelo was guardians to Jay back then… he should be the one to say it."
Angelo's jaw tightened.
He stepped forward.
Everyone went silent.
"Sam didn't leave Jay because he wanted to," Angelo began slowly."He left because I told him to."
Keifer's eyes snapped to him."What the hell do you mean?"
Angelo's voice cracked for the first time.
"I didn't want her involved. I wanted to keep her safe. Away from that world."
Aries blinked hard. "So… Sam lied?"
Angelo nodded.
"I made Sam tell Jay he was gay so she'd push him away.
Angelo whispered, "Yes. And that is still my biggest regret."
Michael moved them toward another wall.
This one wasn't photos.
It was broken mirrors.
Shattered glass taped up.
Aries frowned. "Why mirrors?"
Michael stared at them.
"Because this is where Jay changed."
Everyone leaned in.
"One day, Adam and Sam had a fight. A stupid one. A jealous one. Jay tried to stop them—"
He exhaled sharply.
"—but other gang members saw. Boys from rival groups who hated Jay for beating them before. They dragged her into an alley."
Keifer's fists clenched.
Percy muttered, "Tell me this is a joke…"
Michael shook his head.
"She saw blood.And Jay… snapped."
Keifer's chest burned.
"What happened to her?" he whispered.
Angelo spoke again, eyes distant.
"Jay took a bullet."
Everyone went silent.
"Because she jumped between Sam and another gang boy. She wasn't supposed to survive."
Keifer felt horror crawl into his bones.
"She never told us," he whispered.
Angelo's lips trembled.
"She didn't tell anyone. Except aces...."
Michael continued softly.
"She had a fracture too. Got into another gang fight while still recovering."
Percy covered his mouth. "Bro… she was a kid."
Aries' eyes were burning red.
"And no one from Fernandes knew," Angelo admitted."At that exact same month… Aries, Keifer, Percy—all of you were in the hospital because of the car crash. Everyone was focused on you. Nobody checked on Jay."
Keifer blinked.
"What? Jay was hurt… when we—"
"At the same time," Angelo finished.
"She left Greenwood because I forced her.Because after the bullet injury… after the fracture… after the fights…Jay wouldn't stop looking for her father. Tita Serina disappeared long time ago . And Jay was ready to destroy herself searching."
Michael added quietly:
"We promised Jay that once she turned 18, we'd find Serina. That's why Jay allowed the transfer."
Silence.
The deepest kind.
Keifer leaned against the wall, breath shallow.
Jay wasn't just strong.
She was a war.
A war nobody knew she fought.
Keifer muttered, voice trembling.
"She suffered all this… alone?"
Michael nodded.
"Jay always fights alone."
Percy whispered, "But she's not alone anymore."
Aries tightened his fists. "If anyone touches her again—"
Tiger growled. "They die."
Ion exhaled. "Same."
Angelo placed a hand over his face."I just hope she forgives us… one day."
Michael stepped forward.
"And now… we find the masked man.Because this time—Jay doesn't fight alone."
The room—full of ghosts, regret, love, and loyalty—felt like it was waking again.
Aces.
Sec E.
Fernandes.
Watsons.
All united.
Because of Jay.
Because of the girl who took a bullet and kept walking.
Because of the girl who built her own kingdom.
Because of the girl who never broke.